GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

  1.       
    
    Veil , 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.]
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    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.
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      The veil of the temple was rent in twain.
      Matt. xxvii. 51.

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      She, as a veil down to the slender waist,
      Her unadornéd golden tresses wore.
      Milton.

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    2. A cover; a disguise; a mask; a pretense.
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      [I will] pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming Mistress Page.
      Shak.

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    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.
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    4. (Eccl.) A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun's veil; a paten veil; an altar veil.
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    5. (Zool.) Same as Velum, 3.
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      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.

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  2.       
    
    Velum , n.; pl. Vela . [L., an awning, a veil. See Veil.]
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    1. (Anat.) A curtain or covering; -- applied to various membranous partitions, especially to the soft palate. See under Palate.
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    2. (Bot.) (a) See Veil, n., 3 (b). (b) A thin membrane surrounding the sporocarps of quillworts Isoetes).
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    3. (Zool.) A veil-like organ or part. Especially: (a) The circular membrane that partially incloses the space beneath the umbrella of hydroid medusae. (b) A delicate funnel-like membrane around the flagellum of certain Infusoria. See Illust. a of Protozoa.
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