(also v.)

¦ abbreviation

1. Grammar verb.

2. verse.

3. verso.

4. versus.

5. very.

6. (in textual references) vide.

¦ symbol velocity.

·- As a numeral, V stands for five, in English and Latin.

II. V ·- V, the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. V and U are only varieties of the same character, U being the cursive form, while V is better adapted for engraving, as in stone. The two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, and till a comparatively recent date words containing them were often classed together in dictionaries and other books of reference (see U). The letter V is from the Latin alphabet, where it was used both as a consonant (about like English w) and as a vowel. The Latin derives it from it from a form (V) of the Greek vowel / (see Y), this Greek letter being either from the same Semitic letter as the digamma F (see F), or else added by the Greeks to the alphabet which they took from the Semitic. Etymologically v is most nearly related to u, w, f, b, p; as in vine, wine; avoirdupois, habit, have; safe, save; trover, troubadour, trope. ·see U, F, ·etc.

V¹

(also v)

¦ noun (plural Vs or V's)

1. the twenty-second letter of the alphabet.

2. denoting the next after U in a set of items, categories, etc.

3. the Roman numeral for five.

4. [as modifier] denoting an internal-combustion engine with a number of cylinders arranged in two rows at an angle to each other.

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V²

¦ abbreviation

1. Vatican City (international vehicle registration).

2. volt(s).

¦ symbol

1. the chemical element vanadium.

2. voltage or potential difference.

3. (in mathematical formulae) volume.