Bryson•s Dictionary for Writers and Editors

350
VE Day (or V-E Day) / verbal agreement
VE Day (or V-E Day). May 8, 1945, the date of the Allied victory in Europe
in World War II.
veins, but venous.
Velázquez (or Velásquez), Diego Rodríguez de Silva y. (1599–1660) Spanish
painter.
veld (pref.)/veldt (alt.). Grassland.
vellum. The finest type of parchment.
venal, venial. Venial, from the Latin venialis (“forgivable”), means
excusable; a venial sin is a minor one. Venal means corruptible.
It comes from the Latin venalis (“for sale”) and describes someone
who is capable of being bought.
vendetta.
vendible.
veneer.
venerable.
venerate, worship. Although in figurative senses the words are inter -
changeable, in religious contexts worship should apply only to
God. Roman Catholics, for instance, worship God but venerate
saints.
Venezuela. South American republic; capital Caracas.
vengeance.
Veni, vidi, vici. (Lat.) “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
venomous.
venous. Pertaining to veins.
ventilator.
ventre à terre. (Fr.) Full out, at top speed.
ventricles for the heart valves. Not ventricals.
Venus’ fly-trap. (Note apos.)
veranda is the preferred spelling, but verandah is acceptable.
verbal agreement, because it can mean either a written or spoken
agreement, can be ambiguous. Where the manner of agreeing is
important, it is generally better to describe it as an oral or a written
agreement.