V

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 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 v ine, w ine; a v oirdupois, ha b it, ha v e; sa f e, sa v e; tro v er, trou b adour, tro p e. See U, F, etc.
2. As a numeral, V stands for five, in English and Latin.

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