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ve·he·ment

(vēə-mənt)

adj.

Characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction; fervid: a vehement denial.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vehemēns, vehement-, perhaps from vehere, to carry; see wegh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

vehe·mence, vehe·men·cy n.

vehe·ment·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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