Veil \Veil\ (v[=a]l), n. [OE. veile, OF. veile, F. voile, L.
velum a sail, covering, curtain, veil, probably fr. vehere to
bear, carry, and thus originally, that which bears the ship
on. See Vehicle, and cf. Reveal.]
[Written also vail.]
1. Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view,
and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen,
usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to
hide or protect the face.
The veil of the temple was rent in twain. --Matt.
xxvii. 51.
She, as a veil down to the slender waist, Her
unadorn['e]d golden tresses wore. --Milton.
2. A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense.
[I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the
so seeming Mistress Page. --Shak.
3. (Bot.)
(a) The calyptra of mosses.
(b) A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a
mushroom with the stalk; -- called also velum.
4. (Eccl.) A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's
veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
5. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Velum, 3.
To take the veil (Eccl.), to receive or be covered with, a
veil, as a nun, in token of retirement from the world; to
become a nun.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Veil \Veil\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Veiled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Veiling.]
[Cf. OF. veler, F. voiler, L. velarc. See Veil,
n.]
[Written also vail.]
1. To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil.
Her face was veiled; yet to my fancied sight, Love,
sweetness, goodness, in her person shined. --Milton.
2. Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal.
To keep your great pretenses veiled. --Shak.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Vail \Vail\, v. t. [Aphetic form of avale. See Avale, Vale.]
[Written also vale, and veil.]
1. To let fail; to allow or cause to sink. [Obs.]
Vail your regard Upon a wronged, I would fain have
said, a maid! --Shak.
2. To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence,
submission, or the like.
France must vail her lofty-plumed crest! --Shak.
Without vailing his bonnet or testifying any
reverence for the alleged sanctity of the relic.
--Sir. W.
Scott.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Vail \Vail\, v. i.
To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by
yielding, uncovering, or the like. [Written also vale, and
veil.]
[Obs.]
Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity.
--South.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Vail \Vail\, n. [Aphetic form of avail, n.]
1. Avails; profit; return; proceeds. [Obs.]
My house is as were the cave where the young outlaw
hoards the stolen vails of his occupation.
--Chapman.
2. An unexpected gain or acquisition; a casual advantage or
benefit; a windfall. [Obs.]
3. Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; --
usually in the plural. [Written also vale.]
--Dryden.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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