V (vē). 1. 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
Υ (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.
See Guide to Pronunciation, § 265; also §§ 155,
169, 178-179, etc.
2. As a numeral, V stands for five, in English and
Latin.