Verbena, R. Sacred herbs torn up by the roots from the enclosure of the Capitoline hill; which the Roman fetiales or ambassadors always carried in their hands on foreign embassies. (Compare Vindiciæ.)
“When an injury had been received from a foreign state four fetiales were deputed to seek redress, who again elected one of their number to act as representative. He was styled pater patratus populi Romani. A fillet of white wool was bound round his head, together with a wreath of sacred herbs gathered within the enclosure of the Capitoline hill (verbenæ, Sagmina), whence he was called Verbenarius.” (Dr. Smith.)
Verber, R. In a general sense, any kind of leather thong; as, for instance, the thong of a sling, the thong of a whip for driving horses or scourging slaves, &c.
Verde Antico. A green mottled serpentine marble, used by ancient sculptors, found at Taygetos. It is much valued for its beautiful markings.
Verde Azurro, It. (1) A native carbonate of copper, of a greenish-blue colour; the Armenian stone of Pliny. (2) A blue-green pigment.
Verde Eterno. A dark green pigment, anciently used by the Venetian painters.
Verdigris. A bright acetate of copper, used as a green pigment.
Verditer (Blue and Green). A hydrated percarbonate of copper. It is generally prepared by decomposing the solution of nitrate of copper, by the addition of chalk. The refined blue and green verditers, see Carbonates of Copper (Mountain blue). The verditer known as Bremen Green is produced by subjecting copper to the action of sea salt and vitriol for three months. (Cf. Chrysocolla.)
Veretonus, Med. Lat. The Vireton (q.v.).
Verge, O. E. A rod. In Mediæval Architecture the shaft of a column.