[a. F. verve, of obscure origin; in OF. (from 12th cent.) the sense is ‘caprice, fancy.’]
1. Special bent, vein or talent in writing. Now rare or Obs.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, Ded., Ess. (Ker), II. 216. If he be above Virgil, and is resolved to follow his own verve, (as the French call it,) the proverb will fall heavily upon him: Who teaches himself, has a fool for his master.
1756. Gray, in W. Mason, Mem. (1807), II. 119. You will not expect therefore I should give you any account of my Verve which is at best … of so delicate a constitution.
1783. H. Walpole, Lett. to W. Mason, 8 Nov. One of my most fervent wishes has long been that you would exercise more frequently the verve that is so eminently marked as your characteristic talent.
1878. Smiles, Robt. Dick, 412. He had a strong poetic verve.
2. Intellectual vigor, energy or ‘go,’ esp. as manifested in literary productions; great vivacity of ideas and expression. (Common from c. 1870.)
1803. Beddoes, Hygëia, X. 35. Many such processes … are carried on with as high a verve or as true fervour as ever accompanied poetic fiction.
1818. Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 233. There is Madame de Genlis,… approaching her eightieth year, full of verve, and announcing her ‘Mémoires de Dangeau.’
1841. The Era, 10 March, 6/1. The music, though not of a high character, is full of verve and dramatic effect, but little of this has been retained.
1872. Morley, Voltaire, 327. He … launched forth during the rest of the meal with his usual verve and fanciful extravagance of imagination.
1879. M. Pattison, Milton, 172. That thorough enjoyment of the labour, which is necessary to give life and verve to any creation, whether of the poet or the orator.
1894. A. Birrell, Ess., v. 56. Cumberland tells the story with the irresistible verve of falsehood.
3. In general use: Energy, vigor, spirit.
1863. ‘Ouida,’ Held in Bondage, iv. I. 87. There isn’t one half the verve among you new people there was in my young time.
1885. Miss Braddon, Wyllard’s Weird, I. 250. Such a man, not too young nor yet too old,… full of verve and enjoyment of life.
1893. Vizetelly, Glances Back, II. xxiv. 48. Thackeray’s ‘Mahogany Tree,’ which … [Mayhew] gave in his deep bass voice with uncommon verve.
