See Also: vale(1)(dictionary)
vale(dictionary)
vale(2)(dictionary)
Aylesbury Vale(tourism)
Vale of Glamorgan(tourism)
Tempe, Vale of(encyclopedia)
Vale (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Vale of Leven(health)
Vale do Rio Doce(finance)
Vale Royal(tourism)

vale(2) (iou)



vale noun1. Now arch. or poet. exc. in place-names. ME.
[Old & mod. French val from Latin valles, vallis: cf. VALLEY.]
A valley, esp. one which is comparatively wide and flat. ME.
lily of the vale: see LILY noun.
Wordsworth A slumber seems to steal O'er vale, and mountain. Day Lewis Haunted by the rainshine of orchards in the vale of Evesham.
fig. The world in general, esp. as regarded as a place or time of suffering or trouble; the world regarded as the scene of one's earthly existence. Freq. foll. by of. LME.
the vale of years literary the declining years of a person's life; old age. vale of tears literary the world or one's earthly existence regarded as a place of sorrow or trouble (also valley of tears).
Shakespeare 2 Henry VI Great is his comfort in this earthly vale Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
Comb.: vale-lily poet. lily of the valley.