From Middle English lower case letter v (also written u), from Old English lower case u and respelling of Old English f between vowels and voiced consonants.
* Old English lower case f from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case f of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚠ (f, “feoh”), derived from Etruscan letter 𐌅 (v).
* Old English lower case u from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case v of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚢ (u, “ur”), derived from Raetic letter u.
Before the 1700s, the pointed form v was written at the beginning of a word, while a rounded form u was used elsewhere, regardless of sound. So whereas valor and excuse appeared as in modern printing, have and upon were printed haue and vpon. Eventually, in the 1700s, to differentiate between the consonant and vowel sounds, the v form was used to represent the consonant, and u the vowel sound. v then preceded u in the alphabet, but the order has since reversed.
Meanings
A shape resembling the letter.
The impact was so strong, it bent the bar into a v.
From Middle English lower case letter v (also written u), from Old English lower case u and respelling of Old English f between vowels and voiced consonants.
* Old English lower case f from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case f of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚠ (f, “feoh”), derived from Etruscan letter 𐌅 (v).
* Old English lower case u from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case v of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚢ (u, “ur”), derived from Raetic letter u.
Before the 1700s, the pointed form v was written at the beginning of a word, while a rounded form u was used elsewhere, regardless of sound. So whereas valor and excuse appeared as in modern printing, have and upon were printed haue and vpon. Eventually, in the 1700s, to differentiate between the consonant and vowel sounds, the v form was used to represent the consonant, and u the vowel sound. v then preceded u in the alphabet, but the order has since reversed.
Meanings
(letter, lowercase) The twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, called vee and written in the Latin script.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
vs
Number=Plur
lexicographic
V
uppercase
lexicographic
v's
Number=Plur
lexicographic
v en · ADP · etymology 2
Etymology
Abbreviation of versus.
Meanings
(UK, abbreviation, alt-of, qualifier:Ireland and Commonwealth except Canada) Abbreviation of versus.
Attention to the body’s legitimacy surged in the decades after the extraordinary discussion on the topic in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v Casey – the 1992 case that memorably preserved the abortion rights minted in Roe v Wade despite recent conservative additions to the court. 2025 December 19, Ryan Doerfler, Samuel Moyn, “It’s time to accept that the US supreme court is illegitimate and must be replaced”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2025:
You were acting v rude to his boyfriend on New Year's.
I said it wasn't a crush, I just thought he was v attractive. 2007, Dyan Sheldon, Deep and Meaningful Diaries from Planet Janet, Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, →ISBN, page 253:
Sometimes a trip to the spa is not in the cards, even if your gel manicure has seen waaaay better days. These polish remover tools help cut costs and keep your natural nails looking v nice. 2024 October 8, Lauren Gruber, Megan Uy, “We Found Sooo Many Viral TikTok Items on Sale for October Prime Day”, in Cosmopolitan:
I'm v tired. I slept v badly, awake from 3–6 a.m., so I've slept all afternoon. 2006, Cathy Wield, Life After Darkness: A Doctor's Journey Through Severe Depression, Seattle, WA: Radcliffe Publishing, →ISBN, page 109:
Since becoming social media official, Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson have been sashaying around town together and being v cute 2019 July 23, Matt Galea, “Punters Reckon Ashley Benson's New Tatt Is A Tribute To Girlfriend Cara Delevingne”, in Pedestrian, archived from the original on 23 Jul 2019: