Unabridged Dictionary - Letter L
Etext from the Gutenberg project, formatted by r0k
Back to contents
View © info
View fine print
L
L (?).
1. L is the twelfth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal
consonant. It is usually called a semivowel or liquid. Its form and
value are from the Greek, through the Latin, the form of the Greek
letter being from the Ph\'d2nician, and the ultimate origin prob.
Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to r and u; as in
pilgrim, peregrine, couch (fr. collocare), aubura (fr. LL. alburnus).
NOTE: At th e end of monosyllables containing a single vowel, it is
often doubled, as in fall, full, bell; but not after digraphs, as
in foul, fool, prowl, growl, foal. In English words, the
terminating syllable le is unaccented, the e is silent, and l is
preceded by a voice glide, as in able, eagle, pronounced
\'be\'b6b'l, \'b6g'l. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 241.
2. As a numeral, L stands for fifty in the English, as in the Latin
language.
For 50 the Romans used the Chalcidian chi, I. Taylor (The
Alphabet).
L
L (?), n.
1. An extension at right angles to the length of a main building,
giving to the ground plan a form resembling the letter L; sometimes
less properly applied to a narrower, or lower, extension in the
direction of the length of the main building; a wing. [Written also
ell.]
2. (Mech.) A short right-angled pipe fitting, used in connecting two
pipes at right angles. [Written also ell.]
La
La (?), n. (Mus.) (a) A syllable applied to the sixth tone of the
scale in music in solmization. (b) The tone A; -- so called among the
French and Italians.
La
La (?), interj. [Cf. Lo.]
1. Look; see; behold; -- sometimes followed by you. [Obs.] Shak.
2. An exclamation of surprise; -- commonly followed by me; as, La me!
[Low]
Laas
Laas (?), n. A lace. See Lace. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lab
Lab (?), v. i. [Cf. OD. labben to babble.] To prate; to gossip; to
babble; to blab. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lab
Lab, n. A telltale; a prater; a blabber. [Obs.] "I am no lab."
Chaucer.
Labadist
Lab"a*dist, n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Jean de Labadie, a
religious teacher of the 17th century, who left the Roman Catholic
Church and taught a kind of mysticism, and the obligation of community
of property among Christians.
Labarraque's solution
La`bar`raque's" so*lu"tion (?). [From Labarraque, a Parisian
apothecary.] (Med.) An aqueous solution of hypochlorite of sodium,
extensively used as a disinfectant.
Labarum
Lab"a*rum (, n.; pl. Labara (#). [L.] The standard adopted by the
Emperor Constantine after his conversion to Christianity. It is
described as a pike bearing a silk banner hanging from a crosspiece,
and surmounted by a golden crown. It bore a monogram of the first two
letters (CHR)<-- appearing as English XP --> of the name of Christ in
its Greek form. Later, the name was given to various modifications of
this standard. <-- Illustration of monogram, an X (Greek CHI)
superimposed on a lengthened P (Greek RHO) -->
Labdanum
Lab"da*num (?), n. (Bot.) See Ladanum.
Labefaction
Lab`e*fac"tion (?), n. [See Labefy.] The act of labefying or making
weak; the state of being weakened; decay; ruin.
There is in it such a labefaction of all principles as may be
injurious to morality. Johnson.
Labefy
Lab"e*fy (?), v. t. [L. labefacere; labare to totter + facere to
make.] To weaken or impair. [R.]
Label
La"bel (?), n. [OF. label sort of ribbon or fringe, label in heraldry,
F. lambeau shred, strip, rag; of uncertain origin; cf. L.labellum,
dim. of labrum lip, edge, margin, G. lappen flap, patch, rag, tatter
(cf. Lap of a dress), W. llab, llabed, label, flap, Gael. leab, leob,
slice, shred, hanging lip.]
1. A tassel. [Obs.] Huloet. Fuller.
2. A slip of silk, paper, parchment, etc., affixed to anything,
usually by an inscription, the contents, ownership, destination, etc.;
as, the label of a bottle or a package.
3. A slip of ribbon, parchment, etc., attached to a document to hold
the appended seal; also, the seal.
4. A writing annexed by way of addition, as a codicil added to a will.
5. (Her.) A barrulet, or, rarely, a bendlet, with pendants, or points,
usually three, especially used as a mark of cadency to distinguish an
eldest or only son while his father is still living.
6. A brass rule with sights, formerly used, in connection with a
circumferentor, to take altitudes. Knight.
7. (Gothic Arch.) The name now generally given to the projecting
molding by the sides, and over the tops, of openings in medi\'91val
architecture. It always has a Arch. Pub. Soc.
8. In medi\'91val art, the representation of a band or scroll
containing an inscription. Fairholt.
Label
La"bel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Labeled (?) or Labelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Labeling or Labelling.]
1. To affix a label to; to mark with a name, etc.; as, to label a
bottle or a package.
2. To affix in or on a label. [R.]
Labeler
La"bel*er (?), n. One who labels. [Written also labeller.]
Labellum
La*bel"lum (?), n.; pl. L. Labella (#), E. Labellums (#). [L., dim. of
labrum lip.]
1. (Bot.) The lower or apparently anterior petal of an orchidaceous
flower, often of a very curious shape.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A small appendage beneath the upper lip or labrum of
certain insects.
Labent
La"bent (?), a. [L. labens, p. pr. of labi to slide, glide.] Slipping;
sliding; gliding. [R.]
Labia
La"bi*a (?), n. pl. See Labium.
Labial
La"bi*al (?), a. [LL. labialis, fr. L. labium lip: cf. F. labial. See
Lip.]
1. Of or pertaining to the lips or labia; as, labial veins.
2. (Mus.) Furnished with lips; as, a labial organ pipe.
3. (Phonetics) (a) Articulated, as a consonant, mainly by the lips, as
b, p, m, w. (b) Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip
opening, as &oomac; (f&oomac;d), &omac; (&omac;ld), etc., and as eu
and u in French, and \'94, \'81 in German. See Guide to Pronunciation,
4. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the labium; as, the labial palpi of
insects. See Labium.
Labial
La"bi*al, n.
1. (Phonetics) A letter or character representing an articulation or
sound formed or uttered chiefly with the lips, as b, p, w.
2. (Mus.) An organ pipe that is furnished with lips; a flue pipe.
3. (Zo\'94l.) One of the scales which border the mouth of a fish or
reptile.
Labialism
La"bi*al*ism (?), n. (Phonetics) The quality of being labial; as, the
labialism of an articulation; conversion into a labial, as of a sound
which is different in another language. J. Peile.
Labialization
La`bi*al*i*za"tion (?), n. (Phonetics) The modification of an
articulation by contraction of the lip opening.
Labialize
La"bi*al*ize (?), v. t. (Phonetics) To modify by contraction of the
lip opening.
Labially
La"bi*al*ly, adv. In a labial manner; with, or by means of, the lips.
Labiate
La"bi*ate (?), v. t. To labialize. Brewer.
Labiate
La"bi*ate (?), a. [NL. labiatus, fr. L. labium lip.] (Bot.) (a) Having
the limb of a tubular corolla or calyx divided into two unequal parts,
one projecting over the other like the lips of a mouth, as in the
snapdragon, sage, and catnip. (b) Belonging to a natural order of
plants (Labiat\'91), of which the mint, sage, and catnip are examples.
They are mostly aromatic herbs.
Labiate
La"bi*ate, n. (Bot.) A plant of the order Labiat\'91.
Labiated
La"bi*a`ted (?), a. (Bot.) Same as Labiate, a. (a).
Labiatifloral, Labiatifloral
La`bi*a`ti*flo"ral (?), La`bi*a`ti*flo"ral (?), a. [Labiate + L. flos,
floris, flower.] (Bot.) Having labiate flowers, as the snapdragon.
Labidometer
Lab`i*dom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr.meter: cf. F. labidometre.] (Med.) A
forceps with a measuring attachment for ascertaining the size of the
fetal head.
Labile
La"bile (?), a. [L. labilis apt to slip, fr. labi to slip.] Liable to
slip, err, fall, or apostatize. [Obs.] Cheyne.
Lability
La*bil"i*ty (?), n. Liability to lapse, err, or apostatize. [Archaic]
Coleridge.
Labimeter
La*bim"e*ter (?), n. [Cf. F. labimetre.] (Med.) See Labidometer.
Labiodental
La`bi*o*den"tal (?), a. [Labium + dental.] (Phonetics) Formed or
pronounced by the cooperation of the lips and teeth, as f and v. -- n.
A labiodental sound or letter.
Labionasal
La`bi*o*na"sal (?), a. [Labium + nasal.] (Phonetics) Formed by the
lips and the nose. -- n. A labionasal sound or letter.
Labiose
La"bi*ose` (?), a. [From Labium.] (Bot.) Having the appearance of
being labiate; -- said of certain polypetalous corollas.
Labipalpus
La`bi*pal"pus (?), n.; pl. Labipalpi (. [NL. See Labium, and Palpus.]
(Zo\'94l.) One of the labial palpi of an insect. See Illust. under
Labium.
Labium
La"bi*um (?), n. ; pl. L. Labia (#), E. Labiums (#). [L.]
1. A lip, or liplike organ.
2. The lip of an organ pipe.
3. pl. (Anat.) The folds of integument at the opening of the vulva.
4. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The organ of insects which covers the mouth beneath,
and serves as an under lip. It consists of the second pair of
maxill\'91, usually closely united in the middle line, but bearing a
pair of palpi in most insects. It often consists of a thin anterior
part (ligula or palpiger) and a firmer posterior plate (mentum). (b)
Inner margin of the aperture of a shell.
Lablab
Lab"lab (?), n. (Bot.) an East Indian name for several twining
leguminous plants related to the bean, but commonly applied to the
hyacinth bean (Delichos Lablab).
Labor
La"bor (?), n. [OE. labour, OF. labour, laber, labur, F. labeur, L.
labor; cf. Gr. labh to get, seize.] [Written also labour.]
1. Physical toil or bodily exertion, especially when fatiguing,
irksome, or unavoidable, in distinction from sportive exercise; hard,
muscular effort directed to some useful end, as agriculture,
manufactures, and like; servile toil; exertion; work.
God hath set Labor and rest, as day and night, to men Successive.
Milton.
2. Intellectual exertion; mental effort; as, the labor of compiling a
history.
3. That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which
demands effort.
Being a labor of so great a difficulty, the exact performance
thereof we may rather wish than look for. Hooker.
4. Travail; the pangs and efforts of childbirth.
The queen's in labor, They say, in great extremity; and feared
She'll with the labor end. Shak.
5. Any pang or distress. Shak.
6. (Naut.) The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the
straining of timbers and rigging.
7. [Sp.] A measure of land in Mexico and Texas, equivalent to an area
of 177 acres. Bartlett. Syn. -- Work; toil; drudgery; task; exertion;
effort; industry; painstaking. See Toll.
Labor
La"bor, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Labored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laboring.]
[OE. labouren, F. labourer, L. laborare. See Labor, n.] [Written also
labour.]
1. To exert muscular strength; to exert one's strength with painful
effort, particularly in servile occupations; to work; to toil.
Adam, well may we labor still to dress This garden. Milton.
2. To exert one's powers of mind in the prosecution of any design; to
strive; to take pains.
3. To be oppressed with difficulties or disease; to do one's work
under conditions which make it especially hard, wearisome; to move
slowly, as against opposition, or under a burden; to be burdened; --
often with under, and formerly with of.
The stone that labors up the hill. Granville.
The line too labors,and the words move slow. Pope.
To cure the disorder under which he labored. Sir W. Scott.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Matt. xi. 28
4. To be in travail; to suffer the pangs of childbirth.
5. (Naut.) To pitch or roll heavily, as a ship in a turbulent sea.
Totten.
Labor
La"bor, v. t. [F. labourer, L. laborare.]
1. To work at; to work; to till; to cultivate by toil.
The most excellent lands are lying fallow, or only labored by
children. W. Tooke.
2. To form or fabricate with toil, exertion, or care. "To labor arms
for Troy." Dryden.
3. To prosecute, or perfect, with effort; to urge streas, to labor a
point or argument.
4. To belabor; to beat. [Obs.] Dryden.
Laborant
Lab"o*rant (?), n. [L.laborans, p. pr. of laborare to labor.] A
chemist. [Obs.] Boyle.
Laboratory
Lab"o*ra*to*ry (?), n.; pl. Laboratories (#). [Shortened fr.
elaboratory; cf. OF. elaboratoire, F. laboratoire. See Elaborate,
Labor.] [Formerly written also elaboratory.] The workroom of a
chemist; also, a place devoted to experiments in any branch of natural
science; as, a chemical, physical, or biological laboratory. Hence, by
extension, a place where something is prepared, or some operation is
performed; as, the liver is the laboratory of the bile.
Labored
La"bored (?), a. Bearing marks of labor and effort; elaborately
wrought; not easy or natural; as, labored poetry; a labored style.
Laboredly
La"bored*ly, adv. In a labored manner; with labor.
Laborer
La"bor*er (?), n. [Written also labourer.] One who labors in a
toilsome occupation; a person who does work that requires strength
rather than skill, as distinguished from that of an artisan.
Laboring
La"bor*ing, a.
1. That labors; performing labor; esp., performing coarse, heavy work,
not requiring skill also, set apart for labor; as, laboring days.
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet. eccl. v. 12.
2. Suffering pain or grief. Pope.
Laboring oar, the oar which requires most strength and exertion; often
used figuratively; as, to have, or pull, the laboring oar in some
difficult undertaking.
Laborious
La*bo"ri*ous (?), a. [L. laboriosus,fr. labor labor: cf. F.
laborieux.]
1. Requiring labor, perseverance, or sacrifices; toilsome; tiresome.
Dost thou love watchings, abstinence, or toil, Laborious virtues
all ? Learn these from Cato. Addison.
2. Devoted to labor; diligent; industrious; as, a laborious mechanic.
-- La*bo"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- La*bo"ri*ous*ness, n.
Laborless
La"bor*less (?), a. Not involving labor; not laborious; easy.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 822
Laborous
La"bor*ous (?), a. Laborious. [Obs.] Wyatt. -- La"bor*ous*ly, adv.
[Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
Labor-saving
La"bor-sav`ing (?), a. Saving labor; adapted to supersede or diminish
the labor of men; as, laborsaving machinery.
Laborsome
La"bor*some (?), a.
1. Made with, or requiring, great labor, pains, or diligence. [Obs.]
Shak.
2. (Naut.) Likely or inclined to roll or pitch, as a ship in a heavy
sea; having a tendency to labor.
Labrador
Lab`ra*dor" (?), n. A region of British America on the Atlantic coast,
north of Newfoundland. Labrador duck (Zo\'94l.), a sea duck
(Camtolaimus Labradorius) allied to the eider ducks. It was formerly
common on the coast of New England, but is now supposed to be extinct,
no specimens having been reported since 1878. -- Labrador feldspar.
See Labradorite. -- Labrador tea (Bot.), a name of two low, evergreen
shrubs of the genus Ledum (L. palustre and L. latifolium), found in
Northern Europe and America. They are used as tea in British America,
and in Scandinavia as a substitute for hops.
Labradorite
Lab"ra*dor`ite (, n. (Min.) A kind of feldspar commonly showing a
beautiful play of colors, and hence much used for ornamental purposes.
The finest specimens come from Labrador. See Feldspar.
Labras
La"bras (?), n. pl. [L.labrum; cf. It. labbro, pl. labbra.] Lips.
[Obs. & R.] Shak.
Labroid
La"broid (?), a. [Labrus + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Like the genus Labrus;
belonging to the family Labrid\'91, an extensive family of marine
fishes, often brilliantly colored, which are very abundant in the
Indian and Pacific Oceans. The tautog and cunner are American
examples.
Labrose
La"brose` (?), a. [L. labrosus, fr. labrum lip.] Having thick lips.
Labrum
La"brum (?), n.; pl. L. Labra (#), E. Labrums (#). [L.]
1. A lip or edge, as of a basin.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) An organ in insects and crustaceans covering the
upper part of the mouth, and serving as an upper lip. See Illust. of
Hymenoptera. (b) The external margin of the aperture of a shell. See
Univalve.
Labrus
La"brus (?), n.; pl. Labri (-br&imac;). [L., a sort of fish.]
(Zo\'94l.) A genus of marine fishes, including the wrasses of Europe.
See Wrasse.
Laburnic
La*bur`nic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the laburnum.
La-burnine
La-bur`nine (?), n. (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid found in the unripe
seeds of the laburnum.
Laburnum
La*bur"num (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A small leguminous tree (Cytisus
Laburnum), native of the Alps. The plant is reputed to be poisonous,
esp. the bark and seeds. It has handsome racemes of yellow blossoms.
NOTE: &hand; Sc otch laburnum (Cytisus alpinus) is similar, but has
smooth leaves; purple laburnum is C. purpureus.
Labyrinth
Lab"y*rinth (?), n. [L. labyrinthus, Gr. laby`rinthos: cf. F.
labyrinthe.]
1. An edifice or place full of intricate passageways which render
it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance; as,
the Egyptian and Cretan labyrinths. <-- said to be from from the ax
symbol of the "labyrinth" at Knossos, Crete -- a multistoried royal
palace with labyrinthine passages between rooms. -->
2. Any intricate or involved inclosure; especially, an ornamental
maze or inclosure in a park or garden.
3. Any object or arrangement of an intricate or involved form, or
having a very complicated nature.
The serpent . . . fast sleeping soon he found, In labyrinth of many
a round self-rolled. Milton.
The labyrinth of the mind. Tennyson.
4. An inextricable or bewildering difficulty.
I' the maze and winding labyrinths o' the world. Denham.
5. (Anat.) The internal ear. See Note under Ear.
6. (Metal.) A series of canals through which a stream of water is
directed for suspending, carrying off, and depositing at different
distances, the ground ore of a metal. Ure.
7. (Arch.) A pattern or design representing a maze, -- often inlaid
in the tiled floor of a church, etc. Syn. -- Maze; confusion;
intricacy; windings. -- Labyrinth, Maze. Labyrinth, originally; the
name of an edifice or excavation, carries the idea of design, and
construction in a permanent form, while maze is used of anything
confused or confusing, whether fixed or shifting. Maze is less
restricted in its figurative uses than labyrinth. We speak of the
labyrinth of the ear, or of the mind, and of a labyrinth of
difficulties; but of the mazes of the dance, the mazes of political
intrigue, or of the mind being in a maze.
Labyrinthal
Lab`y*rin"thal (?), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a labyrinth;
intricate; labyrinthian.
Labyrinthian
Lab`y*rin"thi*an (, a. Intricately winding; like a labyrinth;
perplexed; labyrinthal.
Labyrinthibranch
Lab`y*rin"thi*branch (?), a. [See Labyrinth, and Branchia.]
(Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Labyrinthici. -- n. One of the
Labyrinthici.
Labyrinthic, Labyrinthical
Lab`y*rin"thic (?), Lab`y*rin`thic*al (?), a. [L. labyrinthicus:
cf. F. labyrinthique.] Like or pertaining to a labyrinth.
Labyrinthici
Lab`y*rin"thi*ci (?), n. pl. [NL. See Labyrinth.] (Zo\'94l.) An
order of teleostean fishes, including the Anabas, or climbing
perch, and other allied fishes.
NOTE: &hand; Th ey have, connected with the gill chamber, a special
cavity in which a labyrinthiform membrane is arranged so as to
retain water to supply the gills while the fish leaves the water
and travels about on land, or even climbs trees.
Labyrinthiform
Lab`y*rin"thi*form (?), a. [Labyrinth + -form: cf. F.
labyrinthiforme.] Having the form of a labyrinth; intricate.
Labyrinthine
Lab`y*rin"thine (?), a. Pertaining to, or like, a labyrinth;
labyrinthal.
Labyrinthodon
Lab`y*rin"tho*don (?), n. [Gr. (Paleon.) A genus of very large fossil
amphibians, of the Triassic period, having bony plates on the under
side of the body. It is the type of the order Labyrinthodonta. Called
also Mastodonsaurus.
Labyrinthodont
Lab`y*rin"tho*dont (?), a. (Paleon.) Of or pertaining to the
Labyrinthodonta. -- n. One of the Labyrinthodonta.
Labyrinthodonta
Lab`y*rin`tho*don"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Labyrinthodon.] (Paleon.) An
extinct order of Amphibia, including the typical genus Labyrinthodon,
and many other allied forms, from the Carboniferous, Permian, and
Triassic formations. By recent writers they are divided into two or
more orders. See Stegocephala.
Lac, Lakh
Lac (?), Lakh (, n. [Hind. lak, l\'bekh, l\'beksh, Skr. laksha a mark,
sign, lakh.] One hundred thousand; also, a vaguely great number; as, a
lac of rupees. [Written also lack.] [East Indies]
Lac
Lac, n. [Per. lak; akin to Skr. l\'beksh\'be: cf. F. lague, It. & NL.
lacca. Cf. Lake a color, Lacquer, Litmus.] A resinous substance
produced mainly on the banyan tree, but to some extent on other trees,
by the Coccus lacca<-- now Laccifer lacca -->, a scale-shaped insect,
the female of which fixes herself on the bark, and exudes from the
margin of her body this resinous substance.
NOTE: &hand; St ick-lac is th e su bstance in it s natural state,
incrusting small twigs. When broken off, and the coloring matter
partly removed, the granular residuum is called seed-lac. When
melted, and reduced to a thin crust, it is called shell-lac or
shellac. Lac is an important ingredient in sealing wax, dyes,
varnishes, and lacquers.
Ceylon lac, a resinous exudation of the tree Croton lacciferum,
resembling lac. -- Lac dye, a scarlet dye obtained from stick-lac. --
Lac lake, the coloring matter of lac dye when precipitated from its
solutions by alum. -- Mexican lac, an exudation of the tree Croton
Draco.
Laccic
Lac"cic (?), a. [Cf. F. laccique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to lac, or
produced from it; as, laccic acid.
Laccin
Lac"cin (?), n. [Cf. F. laccine.] (Chem.) A yellow amorphous substance
obtained from lac.
Laccolite, Laccolith
Lac"co*lite (?), Lac"co*lith (?), n. [Gr. -lite, -lith.] (Geol.) A
mass of igneous rock intruded between sedimentary beds and resulting
in a mammiform bulging of the overlying strata. -- Lac`co*lit"ic (#),
a.
Lace
Lace (l\'bes), n. [OE. las, OF. laz, F. lacs, dim. lacet, fr. L.
laqueus noose, snare; prob. akin to lacere to entice. Cf. Delight,
Elicit, Lasso, Latchet.]
1. That which binds or holds, especially by being interwoven; a
string, cord, or band, usually one passing through eyelet or other
holes, and used in drawing and holding together parts of a garment, of
a shoe, of a machine belt, etc.
His hat hung at his back down by a lace. Chaucer.
For striving more, the more in laces strong Himself he tied.
Spenser.
2. A snare or gin, especially one made of interwoven cords; a net.
[Obs.] Fairfax.
Vulcanus had caught thee [Venus] in his lace. Chaucer.
3. A fabric of fine threads of linen, silk, cotton, etc., often
ornamented with figures; a delicate tissue of thread, much worn as an
ornament of dress.
Our English dames are much given to the wearing of costlylaces.
Bacon.
4. Spirits added to coffee or some other beverage. [Old Slang]
Addison.
Alencon lace, a kind of point lace, entirely of needlework, first made
at Alencon in France, in the 17th century. It is very durable and of
great beauty and cost. -- Bone lace, Brussels lace, etc. See under
Bone, Brussels, etc. -- Gold lace, OR Silver lace, lace having warp
threads of silk, or silk and cotton, and a weft of silk threads
covered with gold (or silver), or with gilt. -- Lace leather, thin,
oil-tanned leather suitable for cutting into lacings for machine
belts. -- Lace lizard (Zo\'94l.), a large, aquatic, Australian lizard
(Hydrosaurus giganteus), allied to the monitors. -- Lace paper, paper
with an openwork design in imitation of lace. -- Lace piece
(Shipbuilding), the main piece of timber which supports the beak or
head projecting beyond the stem of a ship. -- Lace pillow, AND Pillow
lace. See under Pillow.
Lace
Lace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laced (\'best); p. pr. & vb. n. Lacing (?).]
1. To fasten with a lace; to draw together with a lace passed through
eyelet holes; to unite with a lace or laces, or, figuratively. with
anything resembling laces. Shak.
When Jenny's stays are newly laced. Prior.
2. To adorn with narrow strips or braids of some decorative material;
as, cloth laced with silver. Shak.
3. To beat; to lash; to make stripes on. [Colloq.]
I'll lace your coat for ye. L'Estrange.
4. To add spirits to (a beverage). [Old Slang]
Lace
Lace, v. i. To be fastened with a lace, or laces; as, these boots
lace.
Lace-bark
Lace"-bark` (?), n. (Bot.) A shrub in the West Indies (Lagetta
Iintearia); -- so called from the lacelike layers of its inner bark.
Laced
Laced (?), a.
1. Fastened with a lace or laces; decorated with narrow strips or
braid. See Lace, v. t.
2. Decorated with the fabric lace.
A shirt with laced ruffles. Fielding.
Laced mutton, a prostitute. [Old slang] -- Laced stocking, a strong
stocking which can be tightly laced; -- used in cases of weak legs,
varicose veins, etc. Dunglison.
Laced\'91monian
Lac`e*d\'91*mo"ni*an (?), a. [L. Lacedamonius, Gr. Lakedaimo`nios, fr.
Lakedai`mwn Laced\'91mon.] Of or pertaining to Laced\'91mon or Sparta,
the chief city of Laconia in the Peloponnesus. -- n. A Spartan.
[Written also Lacedemonian.]
Laceman
Lace"man (?), n.; pl. Lacemen (. A man who deals in lace.
Lacerable
Lac"er*a*ble (?), a. [L. lacerabilis: cf. F. lac\'82rable.] That can
be lacerated or torn.
Lacerate
Lac"er*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacerated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lacerating ().] [L. laceratus, p. p. of lacerare to lacerate, fr.
lacer mangled, lacerated; cf. Gr. slay.] To tear; to rend; to separate
by tearing; to mangle; as, to lacerate the flesh. Hence: To afflict;
to torture; as, to lacerate the heart.
Lacerate, Lacerated
Lac"er*ate (?), Lac"er*a`ted (?), p. a. [L. laceratus, p. p.]
1. Rent; torn; mangled; as, a lacerated wound.
By each other's fury lacerate Southey.
2. (Bot. & Zo\'94l.) Jagged, or slashed irregularly, at the end, or
along the edge.
Laceration
Lac`er*a"tion (?), n. [L.laceratio: cf. F. lac\'82ration.]
1. The act of lacerating.
2. A breach or wound made by lacerating. Arbuthnot.
Lacerative
Lac"er*a*tive (?), a. Lacerating, or having the power to lacerate; as,
lacerative humors. Harvey.
Lacert
La"cert (?), n. [OE. lacerte. See Lacertus.] A muscle of the human
body. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lacerta
La*cer"ta (?), n. [L. lacertus the arm.] A fathom. [Obs.] Domesday
Book.
Lacerta
La*cer"ta, n. [L. a lizard. See Lizard.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of lizards. See Lizard.
NOTE: &hand; Fo rmerly it included nearly all the known lizards. It
is now restricted to certain diurnal Old World species, like the
green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and the sand lizard (L. agilis), of
Europe.
2. (Astron.) The Lizard, a northern constellation.
Lacertian
La*cer"tian (?), a. [Cf. F. lacertien.] (Zo\'94l.) Like a lizard; of
or pertaining to the Lacertilia. -- n. One of the Lacertilia.
Lacertilia
Lac`er*til"i*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L.lacertus a lizard.] (Zo\'94l.)
An order of Reptilia, which includes the lizards.
NOTE: &hand; Th ey ar e closely related to the snakes, and life the
latter, usually have the body covered with scales or granules. They
usually have eyelids, and most of then have well-formed legs; but
in some groups (amphisb\'91na, glass-snake, etc.) the legs are
wanting and the body is serpentlike. None are venomous, unless
Heloderma be an exception. The order includes the chameleons, the
Cionocrania, or typical lizards, and the amphisb\'91nas. See
Amphisb\'91na, Gecko, Gila monster, and Lizard.
Lacertilian
Lac`er*til"i*an (-an), a. & n. Same as Lacertian.
Lacertiloid
La*cer"ti*loid (?), a. [Lacertilia + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Like or
belonging to the Lacertilia.
Lacertine
La*cer"tine (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Lacertian.
Lacertus
La*cer"tus (?), n.; pl. Lacerti (-t\'c6). [L., the upper arm.] (Anat.)
A bundle or fascicle of muscular fibers.
Lacewing
Lace"wing` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of
neuropterous insects of the genus Chrysopa and allied genera. They
have delicate, lacelike wings and brilliant eyes. Their larv\'91 are
useful in destroying aphids. Called also lace-winged fly, and
goldeneyed fly.
Lace-winged
Lace"-winged`, a. (Zo\'94l.) Having thin, transparent, reticulated
wings; as, the lace-winged flies.
Laches, Lache
Lach"es (?), Lache (?), n. [OF. lachesse, fr. lache lax, indolent, F.
l\'83che, ultimately fr. L. laxus loose, lax. See Lax.] (Law) Neglect;
negligence; remissness; neglect to do a thing at the proper time;
delay to assert a claim.
It ill became him to take advantage of such a laches with the
eagerness of a shrewd attorney. Macaulay.
Lachrymable
Lach"ry*ma*ble (?), a. [L. lacrimabilis, fr. lacrima a tear.]
Lamentable. Martin Parker.
Lachrym\'91 Christi
Lach"ry*m\'91 Chris"ti (?). [L., lit., Christ's tears.] A rich, sweet,
red Neapolitan wine.
Lachrymal
Lach"ry*mal (, a. [Cf. F. lacrymal. See Lachrymose.]
1. Of or pertaining to tears; as, lachrymal effusions.
2. (Anat.) (a) Pertaining to, or secreting, tears; as, the lachrymal
gland. (b) Pertaining to the lachrymal organs; as, lachrymal bone;
lachrymal duct.
Lacrymal, Lacrymal
Lac"ry*mal, Lac"ry*mal (?), n. See Lachrymatory.
Lachrymary
Lach"ry*ma*ry (?), a. Containing, or intended to contain, tears;
lachrymal. Addison.
Lachrymate
Lach"ry*mate (-m\'bet), v. i. To weep. [R.] Blount.
Lachrymation
Lach`ry*ma"tion (?), n. [L. lacrimatio, from lacrimare to shed tears,
fr. lacrima tear.] The act of shedding tears; weeping.
Lachrymatory
Lach"ry*ma*to*ry (?), n.; pl. -ries (#). [Cf. F. lacrymatoire.]
(Antiq.) A "tear-bottle;" a narrow-necked vessel found in sepulchers
of the ancient Romans; -- so called from a former notion that the
tears of the deceased person's friends were collected in it. Called
also lachrymal or lacrymal.
Lachrymiform
Lach"ry*mi*form (?), a, [L.lacrima tear + -form; cf. F. lacrymiforme.]
Having the form of a tear; tear-shaped.
Lachrymose
Lach"ry*mose` (?), a. [L. lacrymosus, better lacrimosus, fr. lacrima,
lacruma (also badly spelt lachryma) a tear, for older dacrima, akin to
E. tear. See Tear the secretion.] Generating or shedding tears; given
to shedding tears; suffused with tears; tearful.
You should have seen his lachrymose visnomy. Lamb.
-- Lach"ry*mose`ly, adv.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 823
Lacing
La"cing (?), n.
1. The act of securing, fastening, or tightening, with a lace or
laces.
2. A lace; specifically (Mach.), a thong of thin leather for uniting
the ends of belts.
3. A rope or line passing through eyelet holes in the edge of a sail
or an awning to attach it to a yard, gaff, etc.
4. (Bridge Building) A system of bracing bars, not crossing each other
in the middle, connecting the channel bars of a compound strut.
Waddell.
Lacinia
La*cin"i*a (?), n.; pl. L. Lacini\'91 (#). [L., the lappet or flap of
a garment.]
1. (Bot.) (a) One of the narrow, jagged, irregular pieces or divisions
which form a sort of fringe on the borders of the petals of some
flowers. (b) A narrow, slender portion of the edge of a monophyllous
calyx, or of any irregularly incised leaf.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The posterior, inner process of the stipes on the
maxill\'91 of insects.
Laciniate, Laciniated
La*cin"i*ate (?), La*cin"i*a"ted (?), a. [See Lacinia.]
1. Fringed; having a fringed border.
2. (Bot. & Zo\'94l.) Cut into deep, narrow, irregular lobes; slashed.
Laciniolate
La*cin"i*o*late (?), a. [See Lacinia.] (Bot.) Consisting of, or
abounding in, very minute lacini\'91.
Lacinula
La*cin"u*la (?), n.; pl. Lacinul\'91 (#), E. Lacinulas (#). [NL.]
(Bot.) A diminutive lacinia.
Lack
Lack (?), n. [OE. lak; cf. D. lak slander, laken to blame, OHG. lahan,
AS. le\'a0n.]
1. Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack of
sufficient food.
She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood. Chaucer.
Let his lack of years be no impediment. Shak.
Lack
Lack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lacking.]
1. To blame; to find fault with. [Obs.]
Love them and lakke them not. Piers Plowman.
2. To be without or destitute of; to want; to need.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i. 5.
Lack
Lack, v. i.
1. To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less
than, short, not quite, etc.
What hour now ? I think it lacks of twelve. Shak.
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty. Gen. xvii. 28.
2. To be in want.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger. Ps. xxxiv. 10.
Lack
Lack, interj. [Cf. Alack.] Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov.
Eng.] Cowper.
Lackadaisical
Lack`a*dai"si*cal (?), a. [From Lackadaisy, interj.] Affectedly
pensive; languidly sentimental. -- Lack`a*dai"si*cal*ly, adv.
Lackadaisy
Lack"a*dai`sy (?), interj. [From Lackaday, interj.] An expression of
languor.
Lackadaisy
Lack"a*dai`sy, a. Lackadaisical.
Lackaday
Lack"a*day` (?), interj. [Abbreviated from alackaday.] Alack the day;
alas; -- an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or
surprise.
Lackbrain
Lack"brain` (?), n. One who is deficient in understanding; a witless
person. Shak.
Lacker
Lack"er (?), n. One who lacks or is in want.
Lacker
Lack"er, n. & v. See Lacquer.
Lackey
Lack"ey (?), n.; pl. Lackeys (#). [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo;
of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E.lick, v.]
An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.
Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey. Shak.
Lackey caterpillar (Zo\'94l.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any
bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called from its
party-colored markings. The common European species (C. neustria) is
striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The
American species (C. Americana and C. sylvatica) are commonly called
tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar,under Tent. -- Lackey moth
(Zo\'94l.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.
Lackey
Lack"ey, v. t. To attend as a lackey; to wait upon.
A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.
Lackey
Lack"ey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lackeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lackeying.]
To act or serve as lackey; to pay servile attendance.
Lackluster, Lacklustre
Lack"lus`ter, Lack"lus`tre (?), n. A want of luster. -- a. Wanting
luster or brightness. "Lackluster eye." Shak.
Lacmus
Lac"mus (?), n. See Litmus.
Laconian
La*co"ni*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Laconia, a division of ancient
Greece; Spartan. -- n. An inhabitant of Laconia; esp., a Spartan.
Laconic, Laconical
La*con"ic (?), La*con"ic*al (?), a. [L. Laconicus Laconian, Gr.
laconique.]
1. Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or
Spartans; brief and pithy; brusque; epigrammatic. In this sense
laconic is the usual form.
I grow laconic even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only
yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard
long. Pope.
His sense was strong and his style laconic. Welwood.
2. Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence, stern or
severe; cruel; unflinching.
His head had now felt the razor, his back the rod; all that
laconical discipline pleased him well. Bp. Hall.
Syn. -- Short; brief; concise; succinct; sententious; pointed; pithy.
-- Laconic, Concise. Concise means without irrelevant or superfluous
matter; it is the opposite of diffuse. Laconic means concise with the
additional quality of pithiness, sometimes of brusqueness.
Laconic
La*con"ic, n. Laconism. [Obs.] Addison.
Laconical
La*con"ic*al (?), a. See Laconic, a.
Laconically
La*con"ic*al*ly, adv. In a laconic manner.
LaconIcism
La*con"I*cism (?), n. Same as Laconism. Pope.
Laconism
Lac"o*nism (?), n. [Gr. laconisme.]
1. A vigorous, brief manner of expression; laconic style.
2. An instance of laconic style or expression.
Laconize
Lac"o*nize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laconized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Laconizing (?).] [Gr. Laconic.] To imitate the manner of the
Laconians, especially in brief, pithy speech, or in frugality and
austerity.
Lacquer
Lac"quer (?), n. [F. lacre a sort of sealing wax, Pg. lacte, fr. laca
lac. See Lac the resin.] [Written also lacker.] A varnish, consisting
of a solution of shell-lac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge,
saffron, or the like; -- used for varnishing metals, papier-mach\'82,
and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other
ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which
ornamental objects are made. <-- shell-lac = shellac; it is the prime
spelling in this dictionary, though not found in MW10! -->
Lacquer
Lac"quer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacquered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lacquering.] To cover with lacquer. "Lacquer'd chair." Pope.
Lacquerer
Lac"quer*er (?), n. One who lacquers, especially one who makes a
business of lacquering.
Lacquering
Lac"quer*ing, n. The act or business of putting on lacquer; also, the
coat of lacquer put on.
Lacrimoso
La`cri*mo"so (?), a. [It. See Lachrymose.] (Mus.) Plaintive; -- a term
applied to a mournful or pathetic movement or style. Moore.
Lacrosse
La*crosse" (?), n. [F. la crosse, lit., the crosier, hooked stick. Cf.
Crosier.] A game of ball, originating among the North American
Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in
England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled
racket, called a "crosse". The ball is not handled but caught with the
crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry
it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the
field.
Lacrymal
Lac"ry*mal (?), n. & a. See Lachrymatory, n., and Lachrymal, a.
Lacrymary, Lacrytory, Lacrymose
Lac"ry*ma*ry, Lac"ry*to*ry, Lac"ry*mose.See Lachrymary, Lachrymatory,
Lachrymose.
Lactage
Lac"tage (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. laitage. See Lacteal.]
The produce of animals yielding milk; milk and that which is made from
it.
Lactam
Lac"tam (?), n. [Lactone + amido.] (Chem.) One of a series of
anhydrides of an amido type, analogous to the lactones, as oxindol.
Lactamic
Lac*tam"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an amido
acid related to lactic acid, and called also amido-propionic acid.
Lactamide
Lac*tam"ide (?), n. [Lactic + amide.] (Chem.) An acid amide derived
from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having
a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.
Lactant
Lac"tant (?), a. [L. lactans, p. pr. of lactare to suck, fr. lac,
lactis, milk.] Suckling; giving suck.
Lactarene
Lac"ta*rene (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk.] A preparation of casein
from milk, used in printing calico.
Lactary
Lac"ta*ry (?), a. [l. lactarius, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F.
lactaire.] Milky; full of white juice like milk. [Obs.] "Lactary or
milky plants." Sir T. Browne.
Lactary
Lac"ta*ry, n. a dairyhouse. [R.]
Lactate
Lac"tate (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactate.] (Chem.) A
salt of lactic acid.
Lactation
Lac*ta"tion (?), n. A giving suck; the secretion and yielding of milk
by the mammary gland.
Lacteal
Lac"te*al (?), a. [L. lacteus milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk. Cf.
Galaxy, Lettuce.]
1. Pertaining to, or resembling, milk; milky; as, the lacteal fluid.
2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Pertaining to, or containing, chyle; as, the
lacteal vessels.
Lacteal
Lac"te*al, n. (Anat.) One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle
from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic
duct; a chyliferous vessel.
Lacteally
Lac"te*al*ly, adv. Milkily; in the manner of milk.
Lactean
Lac"te*an (?), a. [See Lacteal.]
1. Milky; consisting of, or resembling, milk. "This lactean
whiteness." Moxon.
2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Lacteal; conveying chyle.
Lacteous
Lac"te*ous (?), a. [See Lacteal.]
1. Milky; resembling milk. "The lacteous circle." Sir T. Browne.
2. Lacteal; conveying chyle; as, lacteous vessels.
Lacteously
Lac"te*ous*ly, adv. In a lacteous manner; after the manner of milk.
Lactescence
Lac*tes"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. lactescence.]
1. The state or quality of producing milk, or milklike juice;
resemblance to milk; a milky color.
This lactescence does commonly ensue when . . . fair water is
suddenly poured upon the solution. Boyle.
2. (Bot.) The latex of certain plants. See Latex.
Lactescent
Lac*tes"cent (?), a. [L. lactescens, p. pr. of lactescere to turn to
milk, incho. fr. lactere to be milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F.
lactescent.]
1. Having a milky look; becoming milky. [Obs.]
2. (Bot.) Producing milk or a milklike juice or fluid, as the
milkweed. See Latex.
Lactic
Lac"tic (?), a. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactique. See Lacteal,
and cf. Galactic.] (Physiol. Chem.) Of or pertaining to milk; procured
from sour milk or whey; as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc.
Lactic acid (Physiol. Chem.), a sirupy, colorless fluid, soluble in
water, with an intensely sour taste and strong acid reaction. There
are at least three isomeric modifications all having the formula
C3H6O3. Sarcolactic or paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle
tissue, while ordinary lactic acid results from fermentation. The two
acids are alike in having the same constitution (expressed by the name
ethylidene lactic acid), but the latter is optically inactive, while
sarcolactic acid rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The
third acid, ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid in the
juice of flesh, and is optically inactive. -- Lactic ferment, an
organized ferment (Bacterium lacticum OR lactis), which produces
lactic fermentation, decomposing the sugar of milk into carbonic and
lactic acids, the latter, of which renders the milk sour, and
precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so-called spontaneous
coagulation of milk. -- Lactic fermentation. See under Fermentation.
<-- the three are D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, and DL-lactic acid,
the third being merely an equimolar mixture of the first two. -->
Lactide
Lac"tide (?), n. [Lactic + anhydride.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline
substance, obtained from also, by extension, any similar substance.
Lactiferous
Lac*tif"er*ous (?), a. [l. lac, lactis, milk + -ferous: cf. F.
lactif\'8are.] Bearing or containing milk or a milky fluid; as, the
lactiferous vessels, cells, or tissue of various vascular plants.
Lactific, Lactifical
Lac*tif"ic (?), Lac*tif"ic*al (?), a. [L. lac, lactis, milk + facere
to make.] Producing or yielding milk.
Lactifuge
Lac"ti*fuge (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + fugare to expel.] (Med.) A
medicine to check the secretion of milk, or to dispel a supposed
accumulation of milk in any part of the body.
Lactim
Lac"tim (?), n. [Lactic + imido.] (Chem.) One of a series of
anhydrides resembling the lactams, but of an imido type; as, isatine
is a lactim. Cf. Lactam.
Lactimide
Lac*tim"ide (?), n. [Lactic + imide.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline
substance obtained as an anhydride of alanine, and regarded as an
imido derivative of lactic acid.
Lactin
Lac"tin (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactine. Cf. Galactin.]
(Physiol. Chem.) See Lactose.
Lactoabumin
Lac`to*a*bu"min (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. albumin.] (Physiol.
Chem.) The albumin present on milk, apparently identical with ordinary
serum albumin. It is distinct from the casein of milk.
Lactobutyrometer
Lac`to*bu`ty*rom"e*ter (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E.
butyrometer.] An instrument for determining the amount of butter fat
contained in a given sample of milk.
Lactodensimeter
Lac`to*den*sim"e*ter (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. densimeter.] A
form of hydrometer, specially graduated, for finding the density of
milk, and thus discovering whether it has been mixed with water or
some of the cream has been removed.
Lactometer
Lac*tom"e*ter (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + meter: cf. F.
lactom\'8atre. Cf. Galactometer.] An instrument for estimating the
purity or richness of milk, as a measuring glass, a specific gravity
bulb, or other apparatus.
Lactone
Lac"tone (?), n. (Chem.) One of a series of organic compounds,
regarded as anhydrides of certain hydroxy acids. In general, they are
colorless liquids, having a weak aromatic odor. They are so called
because the typical lactone is derived from lactic acid.
Lactonic
Lac*ton"ic (?), a. [From Lactone.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
derived from, lactone.
Lactonic
Lac*ton"ic, a. [From Lactose.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating,
an acid obtained by the oxidation of milk sugar (lactose).
Lactoprotein
Lac`to*pro"te*in (?), n. [L.lac, lactis,milk + E. protein.] (Physiol.
Chem.) A peculiar albuminous body considered a normal constituent of
milk.
Lactory
Lac"to*ry (?), a. Lactiferous. [Obs.] "Lactory or milky plants." Sir
T. Browne.
Lactoscope
Lac"to*scope (?), n. [L. lac, lactis + scope.] An instrument for
estimating the amount of cream contained in milk by ascertaining its
relative opacity.
Lactose
Lac"tose` (?), n.
1. (Physiol. Chem.) Sugar of milk or milk sugar; a crystalline sugar
present in milk, and separable from the whey by evaporation and
crystallization. It has a slightly sweet taste, is dextrorotary, and
is much less soluble in water than either cane sugar or glucose.
Formerly called lactin.
2. (Chem.) See Galactose.
Lactuca
Lac*tu"ca (?), n. [L., lettuce. See Lettuce.] (Bot.) A genus of
composite herbs, several of which are cultivated foe salad; lettuce.
Lactucarium
Lac`tu*ca"ri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. lactuca lettuce.] The inspissated
juice of the common lettuce, sometimes used as a substitute for opium.
Lactucic
Lac*tu"cic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, the juice
of the Lactuca virosa; -- said of certain acids.
Lactucin
Lac*tu"cin (?), n. [From Lactuca: cf. F. lactucine.] (Chem.) A white,
crystalline substance, having a bitter taste and a neutral reaction,
and forming one of the essential ingredients of lactucarium.
Lactucone
Lac*tu"cone (?), n. [From Lactuca.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline,
tasteless substance, found in the milky sap of species of Lactuca, and
constituting an essential ingredient of lactucarium.
Lacturamic
Lac`tu*ram"ic (, a. [Lactic + urea + amic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, an organic amido acid, which is regarded as a derivative
of lactic acid and urea.
Lactyl
Lac"tyl (?), n. [Lactic + -yl.] (Chem.) An organic residue or radical
derived from lactic acid.
Lacuna
La*cu"na (?), n.; pl. L. Lacun\'91 (#); E. Lacunas (#). [L., ditch,
pit, lake, orig., anything hollow. See Lagoon.]
1. A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a
gap or vacancy; a hiatus.
2. (Biol.) A small opening; a small depression or cavity; a space, as
a vacant space between the cells of plants, or one of the spaces left
among the tissues of the lower animals, which serve in place of
vessels for the circulation of the body fluids, or the cavity or sac,
usually of very small size, in a mucous membrane.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 824
Lacunal, Lacunar
La*cu"nal (?), La*cu"nar (?), a. Pertaining to, or having, lacun\'91;
as, a lacunar circulation.
Lacunar
La*cu"nar, n.; pl. E. Lacunars (#), L. Lacunaria (#). [L.] (Arch.) (a)
The ceiling or under surface of any part, especially when it consists
of compartments, sunk or hollowed without spaces or bands between the
panels. Gwilt (b) One of the sunken panels in such a ceiling.
Lacune
La*cune" (?), n. [F.] A lacuna. [R.] Landor.
Lacunose, Lacunous
Lac"u*nose` (?), La*cu"nous (?), a. [L. lacunosus full of holes or
hollows; cf. F. lacuneux. See Lacuna.] (Biol.) Furrowed or pitted;
having shallow cavities or lacun\'91; as, a lacunose leaf.
Lacustral, Lacustrine
La*cus"tral (?), La*cus"trine (?), a. [L. lacus lake: cf. F.
lacustral, lacustre.] Found in, or pertaining to, lakes or ponds, or
growing in them; as, lacustrine flowers. Lacustrine deposits (Geol.),
the deposits which have been accumulated in fresh-water areas. --
Lacustrine dwellings. See Lake dwellings, under Lake.
Lacwork
Lac"work` (?), n. Ornamentation by means of lacquer painted or carved,
or simply colored, sprinkled with gold or the like; -- said especially
of Oriental work of this kind.
Lad
Lad (?), obs. p. p. of Lead, to guide Chaucer.
Lad
Lad (?), n. [OE. ladde, of Celtic origin; cf. W. , Ir. lath. (. Cf.
Lass.]
1. A boy; a youth; a stripling. "Cupid is a knavish lad." Shak.
There is a lad here, which hath fire barley loaves and two small
fishes. John vi. 9.
2. A companion; a comrade; a mate.
Lad's love. (Bot.) See Boy's love, under Boy.
Ladanum
Lad"a*num (?), n. [L. ladanum, ledanum, Fr. (l\'bedan, l\'beden. Cf.
Laudanum.] A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of
Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters,
and for fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]
Ladde
Lad"de (?), obs. imp. of Lead, to guide. Chaucer.
Ladder
Lad"der (?), n. [OE. laddre, AS. hl, hl; akin to OFries. hladder,
OHG.leitara, G. leiter, and from the root of E. lean, v. (Lean, v. i.,
and cf. Climax.]
1. A frame usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and
descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened cross
strips or rounds forming steps.
Some the engines play, And some, more bold, mount ladders to the
fire. Dryden.
2. That which resembles a ladder in form or use; hence, that by means
of which one attains to eminence.
Lowliness is young ambition's ladder. Shak.
Fish ladder. See under Fish. -- Ladder beetle (Zo\'94l.), an American
leaf beetle (Chrysomela scalaris). The elytra are silvery white,
striped and spotted with green; the under wings are rose-colored. It
feeds upon the linden tree. -- Ladder handle, an iron rail at the side
of a vertical fixed ladder, to grasp with the hand in climbing. --
Ladder shell (Zo\'94l.), a spiral marine shell of the genus Scalaria.
See Scalaria.
Laddie
Lad"die (?), n. A lad; a male sweetheart. [Scot.]
Lade
Lade (?), v. t. [imp. Laded; p. p. Laded, Laded (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Lading.] [AS. hladan to heap, load, draw (water); akin to D. & G.
laden to load, OHG. hladan, ladan, Icel. hla, Sw. ladda, Dan. lade,
Goth. afhlapan. Cf. Load, Ladle, Lathe for turning, Last a load.]
1. To load; to put a burden or freight on or in; -- generally followed
by that which receives the load, as the direct object.
And they laded their asses with the corn. Gen. xlii. 26.
2. To throw in out. with a ladle or dipper; to dip; as, to lade water
out of a tub, or into a cistern.
And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying, he'll lade
it dry to have his way. Shak.
3. (Plate Glass Manuf.) To transfer (the molten glass) from the pot to
the forming table.
Lade
Lade, v. i. [See Lade, v. t.]
1. To draw water. [Obs.]
2. (Naut.) To admit water by leakage, as a ship, etc.
Lade
Lade, n. [Prov. E., a ditch or drain. Cf. Lode, Lead to conduct.]
1. The mouth of a river. [Obs.] Bp. Gibson.
2. A passage for water; a ditch or drain. [Prov. Eng.]
Lademan
Lade"man (?), n. One who leads a pack horse; a miller's servant. [Obs.
or Local]
Laden
Lad"en (?), p. & a. Loaded; freighted; burdened; as, a laden vessel; a
laden heart.
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. Is. i. 4.
A ship laden with gold. Shak.
Ladied
La"died (?), a. Ladylike; not rough; gentle. [Obs.] "Stroked with a
ladied land." Feltham.
Ladies' eardrops
La"dies' ear`drops` (?). (Bot.) The small-flowered Fuchsia (F.
coccinea), and other closely related species.
Ladify
La"di*fy (?), v. t. [Lady + -fy.] To make a lady of; to make ladylike.
[Obs.] Massinger.
Ladin
La*din" (?), n. [From L. Latinus Latin. See Latin] A Romansch dialect
spoken in some parts of Switzerland and the Tyrol.
Lading
Lad"ing (?), n.
1. The act of loading.
2. That which lades or constitutes a load or cargo; freight; burden;
as, the lading of a ship.
Bill of lading. See under Bill.
Ladino
La*di"no (?), n.; pl. Ladinos (#). [Sp.] One of the half-breed
descendants of whites and Indians; a mestizo; -- so called throughout
Central America. They are usually of a yellowish orange tinge. Am.
Cyc.
Ladkin
Lad"kin (?), n. A little lad. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Ladle
La"dle (?), n. [AS.hl\'91del, fr. hladan to load, drain. See Lade, v.
t.]
1. A cuplike spoon, often of large size, with a long handle, used in
lading or dipping.
When the materials of glass have been kept long in fusion, the
mixture casts up the superfluous salt, which the workmen take off
with ladles. Boyle.
2. (Founding) A vessel to carry liquid metal from the furnace to the
mold.
3. The float of a mill wheel; -- called also ladle board.
4. (Gun.) (a) An instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon. (b) A
ring, with a handle or handles fitted to it, for carrying shot.
Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a South African tree (Cassine Colpoon),
used for carving.
Ladle
La"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ladled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ladling
(?).] To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a
ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.
Ladleful
La"dle*ful (?), n.; pl. Ladlefuls (. A quantity sufficient to fill a
ladle.
Ladrone
La*drone" (?), n. [Sp. ladron, L. latro servant, robber, Gr. ( A
robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.
Lady
La"dy (?), n.; pl. Ladies (#). [OE. ladi, l\'91fdi, AS. hl, hl; AS.
hl\'bef loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy.
See Loaf, and cf. Lord.]
1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a
mistress; the female head of a household.
Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest
thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. Wyclif
(Gen. xvi. 8.).
2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a
feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell.
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make
thee lady. Shak.
3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman
to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart.
The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor
from his lady's eyes. Waller.
4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title
prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank
than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl.
The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but
not by right.
5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the
feminine correlative of gentleman.
6. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.
7. (Zo\'94l.) The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster;
-- so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It
consists of calcareous plates.
Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies. -- Lady altar,
an altar in a lady chapel. Shipley. -- Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated
to the Virgin Mary. -- Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor.
-- Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. -- Lady crab
(Zo\'94l.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus
ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of
the United States. -- Lady fern. (Bot.) See Female fern, under Female,
and Illust. of Fern. -- Lady in waiting, a lady of the queen's
household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen. -- Lady Mass, a
Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. Shipley. Lady of the manor, a
lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord.
Lady's maid, a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady.
Thackeray. -- Our Lady, the Virgin Mary.
Lady
La"dy, a. Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike. "Some lady
trifles." Shak.
Ladybird
La"dy*bird` (?), n. [Equiv. to, bird of Our Lady.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one
of numerous species of small beetles of the genus Coccinella and
allied genera (family Coccinellid\'91); -- called also ladybug,
ladyclock, lady cow, lady fly, and lady beetle. Coccinella
seplempunctata in one of the common European species. See Coccinella.
NOTE: &hand; Th e la dybirds are usually more or less hemispherical
in form, with a smooth, polished surface, and often colored red,
brown, or black, with small spots of brighter colors. Both the
larv\'91 and the adult beetles of most species feed on aphids, and
for this reason they are very beneficial to agriculture and
horticulture.
Ladybug
La"dy*bug` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Ladybird.
Ladyclock
La"dy*clock` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Ladyrird.
Lady
La"dy` (?). The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25.
See Annunciation.
Ladyfish
La"dy*fish` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A large, handsome oceanic fish
(Albula vulpes), found both in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; --
called also bonefish, grubber, French mullet, and macab\'82. (b) A
labroid fish (Harpe rufa) of Florida and the West Indies.
Ladyhood
La"dy*hood (?), n. The state or quality of being a lady; the
personality of a lady.
Lady-killer
La"dy-kill`er (?), n. A gallant who captivates the hearts of women. "A
renowned dandy and lady-killer." Blackw. Mag.
Lady-killing
La"dy-kill`ing, n. The art or practice of captivating the hearts of
women.
Better for the sake of womankind that this dangerous dog should
leave off lady-killing. Thackeray.
Ladykin
La"dy*kin (?), n. [Lady + -kin.] A little lady; -- applied by the
writers of Queen Elizabeth's time, in the abbreviated form Lakin, to
the Virgin Mary.
NOTE: &hand; Th e di minutive do es no t re fer to si ze, bu t is
equivalent to "dear."
Brewer.
Ladylike
La"dy*like` (?), a.
1. Like a lady in appearance or manners; well-bred.
She was ladylike, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility
of those days. Hawthorne.
2. Becoming or suitable to a lady; as, ladylike manners. "With fingers
ladylike." Warner.
3. Delicate; tender; feeble; effeminate.
Too ladylike a long fatigue to bear. Dryden.
Ladylikeness
La"dy*like`ness (?), n. The quality or state of being ladylike.
Ladylove
La"dy*love` (?), n. A sweetheart or mistress.
Lady's bedstraw
La"dy's bed"straw` (?), (Bot.) The common bedstraw (Galium verum);
also, a slender-leaved East Indian shrub (Pharnaceum Mollugo), with
white flowers in umbels.
Lady's bower
La"dy's bow"er (?). (Bot.) A climbing plant with fragrant blossoms
(Clematis vitalba).
NOTE: &hand; Th is term is sometimes applied to other plants of the
same genus.
Lady's comb
La"dy's comb" (?), (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Scandix
Pecten-Veneris), its clusters of long slender fruits remotely
resembling a comb.
Lady's cushion
La"dy's cush"ion (?), (Bot.) An herb growing in dense tufts; the
thrift (Armeria vulgaris).
Lady's finger
La"dy's fin"ger (?),
1. pl. (Bot.) The kidney vetch.
2. (Cookery) A variety of small cake of about the dimensions of a
finger.
3. A long, slender variety of the potato.
4. (Zo\'94l.) One of the branchi\'91 of the lobster.
Lady's garters
La"dy's gar"ters (?). (Bot.) Ribbon grass.
Lady's hair
La"dy's hair" (?). (Bot.) A plant of the genus Briza (B. media); a
variety of quaking grass.
Ladyship
La"dy*ship (?), n. The rank or position of a lady; -- given as a title
(preceded by her or your.)
Your ladyship shall observe their gravity. B. Jonson.
Lady's laces
La"dy's la"ces (?). (Bot.) A slender climbing plant; dodder.
Lady's looking-glass
La"dy's look"ing-glass` (?). (Bot.) See Venus's looking-glass, under
Venus.
Lady's mantle
La"dy's man"tle (?). (Bot.) A genus of rosaceous herbs (Alchemilla),
esp. the European A. vulgaris, which has leaves with rounded and
finely serrated lobes.
Lady's seal
La"dy's seal" (?).(Bot.) (a) The European Solomon's seal (Polygonatum
verticillatum). (b) The black bryony (Tamus communis).
Lady's slipper
La"dy's slip"per (?). (Bot.) Any orchidaceous plant of the genus
Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly,
in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina).
Lady's smock
La"dy's smock" (?). (Bot.) A plant of the genus Cardamine (C.
pratensis); cuckoo flower.
Lady's thimble
La"dy's thim"ble (?). (Bot.) The harebell.
Lady's thumb
La"dy's thumb" (?). (Bot.) An annual weed (Polygonum Persicaria),
having a lanceolate leaf with a dark spot in the middle.
Lady's traces, Ladies' tresses
La"dy's tra"ces (?), La"dies' tress"es (?). (Bot.) A name given to
several species of the orchidaceous genus Spiranthes, in which the
white flowers are set in spirals about a slender axis and remotely
resemble braided hair.
L\'91laps
L\'91"laps (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ( (Paleon.) A genus of huge,
carnivorous, dinosaurian reptiles from the Cretaceous formation of the
United States. They had very large hind legs and tail, and are
supposed to have been bipedal. Some of the species were about eighteen
feet high.
Laemmergeyer
Laem"mer*gey`er (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Lammergeir.
L\'91modipod
L\'91*mod"i*pod (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the L\'91modipoda.
L\'91modipoda
L\'91`mo*dip"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A division of
amphipod Crustacea, in which the abdomen is small or rudimentary and
the legs are often reduced to five pairs. The whale louse, or Cyamus,
and Caprella are examples.
L\'91modipodous
L\'91`mo*dip"o*dous (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the
L\'91modipoda.
L\'91tere Sunday
L\'91*te"re Sun"day (?). The fourth Sunday of Lent; -- so named from
the Latin word L\'91tare (rejoice), the first word in the antiphone of
the introit sung that day in the Roman Catholic service.
L\'91vigate
L\'91v"i*gate (?), a. [See Levigate.] (Biol.) Having a smooth surface,
as if polished.
L\'91vo-
L\'91"vo- (?). A prefix. See Levo.
L\'91vorotatory
L\'91"vo*ro"ta*to*ry (?), a. Same as Levorotatory. Cf. Dextrorotatory.
L\'91vulose
L\'91v"u*lose` (?), n. (Chem.) See Levulose.
Lafayette
La`fa`yette" (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The dollar fish. (b) A market
fish, the goody, or spot (Liostomus xanthurus), of the southern coast
of the United States.
Laft
Laft (?), obs. p. p. of Leave. Chaucer.
Lafte
Laf"te (?), obs. imp. of Leave. Chaucer.
Lag
Lag (?), a. [Of Celtic origin: cf. Gael. & Ir. lagweak, feeble, faint,
W. llag, llac, slack, loose, remiss, sluggish; prob. akin to E. lax,
languid.]
1. Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy. [Obs.]
Came too lag to see him buried. Shak.
2. Last; long-delayed; -- obsolete, except in the phrase lag end. "The
lag end of my life." Shak.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 825
3. Last made; hence, made of refuse; inferior. [Obs.] "Lag souls."
Dryden.
Lag
Lag (?), n.
1. One who lags; that which comes in last. [Obs.] "The lag of all the
flock." Pope.
2. The fag-end; the rump; hence, the lowest class.
The common lag of people. Shak.
3. The amount of retardation of anything, as of a valve in a steam
engine, in opening or closing.
4. A stave of a cask, drum, etc.; especially (Mach.), one of the
narrow boards or staves forming the covering of a cylindrical object,
as a boiler, or the cylinder of a carding machine or a steam engine.
5. (Zo\'94l.) See Graylag.
Lag of the tide, the interval by which the time of high water falls
behind the mean time, in the first and third quarters of the moon; --
opposed to priming of the tide, or the acceleration of the time of
high water, in the second and fourth quarters; depending on the
relative positions of the sun and moon. -- Lag screw, an iron bolt
with a square head, a sharp-edged thread, and a sharp point, adapted
for screwing into wood; a screw for fastening lags.
Lag
Lag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lagging (?).] To
walk or more slowly; to stay or fall behind; to linger or loiter. "I
shall not lag behind." Milton. Syn. -- To loiter; linger; saunter;
delay; be tardy.
Lag
Lag, v. t.
1. To cause to lag; to slacken. [Obs.] "To lag his flight." Heywood.
2. (Mach.) To cover, as the cylinder of a steam engine, with lags. See
Lag, n., 4.
Lag
Lag, n. One transported for a crime. [Slang, Eng.]
Lag
Lag, v. t. To transport for crime. [Slang, Eng.]
She lags us if we poach. De Quincey.
Lagan
La"gan (?), n. & v. See Ligan.
Lagarto
La*gar"to (?), n. [See Alligator.] An alligator. [Obs.] Sir W.
Raleigh.
Lagena
La*ge"na (?), n.; pl. L. Lagen\'91 (#), E. Lagenas (#). [L., a flask;
cf. Gr. (Anat.) The terminal part of the cochlea in birds and most
reptiles; an appendage of the sacculus, corresponding to the cochlea,
in fishes and amphibians.
Lagenian
La*ge"ni*an (?), a. [See Lagena.] (Zo\'94l.) Like, or pertaining to,
Lagena, a genus of Foraminifera having a straight, chambered shell.
Lageniform
La*ge"ni*form (?), a. [See Lagena, and -form.] (Bot.) Shaped like a
bottle or flask; flag-shaped.
Lager
La"ger (?), n. Lager beer.
Lager beer
La"ger beer` (?). [G. lager bed, storehouse + bier beer. See Lair, and
Beer.] Originally a German beer, but now also made in immense
quantities in the United States; -- so called from its being laid up
or stored for some months before use.
Lager wine
La"ger wine` (?). Wine which has been kept for some time in the
cellar. Simmonds.
Laggard
Lag"gard (?), a. [Lag + -ard.] Slow; sluggish; backward.
Laggard
Lag"gard, n. One who lags; a loiterer.
Lagger
Lag"ger (?), n. A laggard.
Lagging
Lag"ging (?), n.
1. (Mach.) The clothing (esp., an outer, wooden covering), as of a
steam cylinder, applied to prevent the radiation of heat; a covering
of lags; -- called also deading and cleading.
2. Lags, collectively; narrow planks extending from one rib to another
in the centering of arches.
Laggingly
Lag"ging*ly, adv. In a lagging manner; loiteringly.
Lagly
Lag"ly (?), adv. Laggingly. [Prov. Eng.]
Lagomorph
Lag"o*morph (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Lagomorpha.
Lagemorpha
Lag`e*mor"pha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A group of rodents,
including the hares. They have four incisors in the upper jaw. Called
also Duplicidentata.
Lagoon
La*goon" (?), n. [It. or Sp. laguna, L. lacuna ditch, pool, pond,lacus
lake. See Lake, and cf. Lacuna.] [Written also lagune.]
1. A shallow sound, channel, pond, or lake, especially one into which
the sea flows; as, the lagoons of Venice.
2. A lake in a coral island, often occupying a large portion of its
area, and usually communicating with the sea. See Atoll.
Lagoon island, a coral island consisting of a narrow reef encircling a
lagoon.
Lagophthalmia, Lagophthalmos
Lag`oph*thal"mi*a (?), Lag`oph*thal"mos (?), n. [NL. lagophtalmia, fr.
Gr. lagw`s hare + 'ofqalmo`s eye; -- so called from the notion that a
hare sleeps with his eyes open.] (Med.) A morbid condition in which
the eye stands wide open, giving a peculiar staring appearance.
Lagopous
La*go"pous (?), a. [Gr. (Bot.) Having a dense covering of long hair,
like the foot of a hare.
Lagune
La*gune" (?), n. See Lagoon.
Laic, Laical
La"ic (?), La"ic*al (?), a. [L. laicus: cf. F. la\'8bque. See Lay
laic.] Of or pertaining to a layman or the laity. "Laical literature."
Lowell.
An unprincipled, unedified, and laic rabble. Milton.
Laic
La"ic, n. A layman. Bp. Morton.
Laicality
La"ic*al"i*ty (?), n. The state or quality of being laic; the state or
condition of a layman.
Laically
La"ic*al*ly (?), adv. As a layman; after the manner of a layman; as,
to treat a matter laically.
Laid
Laid (?), imp. & p. p. of Lay. Laid paper, paper marked with parallel
lines or water marks, as if ribbed, from parallel wires in the mold.
It is called blue laid, cream laid, etc., according to its color.
Laidly
Laid"ly, a. Ugly; loathsome. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
This laidly and loathsome worm. W. Howitt.
Lain
Lain (?), p. p. of Lie, v. i.
Lainere
Lain"ere (?), n. See Lanier. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lair
Lair (?), n. [OE. leir, AS. leger; akin to D. leger, G. lager couch,
lair, OHG. laga, Goth. ligrs, and to E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate,
and cf. Layer, Leaguer.]
1. A place in which to lie or rest; especially, the bed or couch of a
wild beast.
2. A burying place. [Scot.] Jamieson.
3. A pasture; sometimes, food. [Obs.] Spenser.
Laird
Laird (?), n. [See Lord.] A lord; a landholder, esp. one who holds
land directly of the crown. [Scot.]
Lairdship
Laird"ship, n. The state of being a laird; an estate; landed property.
[Scot.] Ramsay.
Laism
La"ism (?), n. See Lamaism. [R.]
Laissez faire
Lais`sez" faire" (?). [F., let alone.] Noninterference; -- an axiom of
some political economists, deprecating interference of government by
attempts to foster or regulate commerce, manufactures, etc., by bounty
or by restriction; as, the doctrine of laissez faire; the laissez
faire system government.
Lai-ty
La"i-ty (?), n. [See Lay, a.]
1. The people, as distinguished from the clergy; the body of the
people not in orders.
A rising up of the laity against the sacerdotal caste. Macaulay.
2. The state of a layman. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
3. Those who are not of a certain profession, as law or medicine, in
distinction from those belonging to it.
Lakao
La*ka"o (?), n. Sap green. [China]
Lake
Lake (?), n. [F. laque, fr. Per. See Lac.] A pigment formed by
combining some coloring matter, usually by precipitation, with a
metallic oxide or earth, esp. with aluminium hydrate; as, madder lake;
Florentine lake; yellow lake, etc.
Lake
Lake, n. [Cf. G. laken.] A kind of fine white linen, formerly in use.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Lake
Lake (?), v. i. [AS. l\'becan, l\'91can, to spring, jump, l\'bec play,
sport, or fr. Icel. leika to play, sport; both akin to Goth. laikan to
dance. &root;120. Cf. Knowledge.] To play; to sport. [Prov. Eng.]
Lake
Lake, n. [AS. lac, L. lacus; akin to AS. lagu lake, sea, Icel.
l\'94gr; OIr. loch; cf. Gr. Loch, Lough.] A large body of water
contained in a depression of the earth's surface, and supplied from
the drainage of a more or less extended area.
NOTE: &hand; La kes ar e for the most part of fresh water; the salt
lakes, like the Great Salt Lake of Utah, have usually no outlet to
the ocean.
Lake dwellers (Ethnol.), people of a prehistoric race, or races, which
inhabited different parts of Europe. Their dwellings were built on
piles in lakes, a short distance from the shore. Their relics are
common in the lakes of Switzerland. -- Lake dwellings (Arch\'91ol.),
dwellings built over a lake, sometimes on piles, and sometimes on rude
foundations kept in place by piles; specifically, such dwellings of
prehistoric times. Lake dwellings are still used by many savage
tribes. Called also lacustrine dwellings. See Crannog. -- Lake fly
(Zo\'94l.), any one of numerous species of dipterous flies of the
genus Chironomus. In form they resemble mosquitoes, but they do not
bite. The larv\'91 live in lakes. -- Lake herring (Zo\'94l.), the
cisco (Coregonus Artedii). -- Lake poets, Lake school, a collective
name originally applied in contempt, but now in honor, to Southey,
Coleridge, and Wordsworth, who lived in the lake country of
Cumberland, England, Lamb and a few others were classed with these by
hostile critics. Called also lakers and lakists. -- Lake sturgeon
(Zo\'94l.), a sturgeon (Acipenser rubicundus), of moderate size, found
in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It is used as food. --
Lake trout (Zo\'94l.), any one of several species of trout and salmon;
in Europe, esp. Salmo fario; in the United States, esp. Salvelinus
namaycush of the Great Lakes, and of various lakes in New York,
Eastern Maine, and Canada. A large variety of brook trout (S.
fontinalis), inhabiting many lakes in New England, is also called lake
trout. See Namaycush. -- Lake whitefish. (Zo\'94l.) See Whitefish. --
Lake whiting (Zo\'94l.), an American whitefish (Coregonus
Labradoricus), found in many lakes in the Northern United States and
Canada. It is more slender than the common whitefish.
Lake-dweller
Lake"-dwell`er (?), n. See Lake dwellers, under Lake.
Lakelet
Lake"let (?), n. A little lake. Southey.
Lakeweed
Lake"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) The water pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper), an
aquatic plant of Europe and North America.
Lakh
Lakh (?), n. Same as Lac, one hundred thousand.
Lakin
La"kin (?), n. See Ladykin.
Lakke
Lak"ke (?), n. & v. See Lack. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Laky
Lak"y (?), a. Pertaining to a lake. Sir W. Scott.
Laky
Lak"y, a. [From Lake the pigment.] Transparent; -- said of blood
rendered transparent by the action of some solvent agent on the red
blood corpuscles.
Lallation
Lal*la"tion (?), n. [L. lallare to sing lalla, or lullaby: cf. F.
lallation.] An imperfect enunciation of the letter r, in which it
sounds like l.
Lalo
La"lo (?), n. The powdered leaves of the baobab tree, used by the
Africans to mix in their soup, as the southern negroes use powdered
sassafras. Cf. Couscous.
Lam
Lam (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lammed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lamming.]
[Icel. lemja to beat, or lama to bruise, both fr. lami, lama, lame.
See Lame.] To beat soundly; to thrash. [Obs. or Low] Beau. & Fl.
Lama
La"ma (?; 277), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Llama.
Lama
La"ma, n. [Thibet. blama (pronounced l\'84\'b6ma) a chief, a high
priest.] In Thibet, Mongolia, etc., a priest or monk of the belief
called Lamaism. The Grand Lama, OR Dalai Lama [lit., Ocean Lama], the
supreme pontiff in the lamaistic hierarchy. See Lamaism.
Lamaic
La"ma*ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Lamaism.
Lamaism
La"ma*ism (?), n. A modified form of Buddhism which prevails in
Thibet, Mongolia, and some adjacent parts of Asia; -- so called from
the name of its priests. See 2d Lama.
Lamaist, Lamaite
La"ma*ist (?), La"ma*ite (?) n. One who believes in Lamaism.
Lamaistic
La`ma*is"tic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Lamaism.
Lamantin
La*man"tin (?), n. [F. lamantin, lamentin, prob. from the name of the
animal in the Antilles. Cf. Manater.] (Zo\'94l.) The manatee. [Written
also lamentin, and lamantine.]
Lamarckian
La*marck"i*an (?), a. Pertaining to, or involved in, the doctrines of
Lamarckianism.
Lamarckianism
La*marck"i*an*ism (?), n. (Biol.) Lamarckism.
Lamarckism
La"marck"ism (?), n. [From Lamarck, a distinguished French
naturalist.] (Biol.) The theory that structural variations,
characteristic of species and genera, are produced in animals and
plants by the direct influence of physical environments, and esp., in
the case of animals, by effort, or by use or disuse of certain organs.
Lamasery
La"ma*ser*y (?), n. [See 2d Lama.] A mo
Lamb
Lamb (?), n. [AS. lamb; akin to D. & Dan. lam, G. & Sw. lamm, OS.,
Goth., & Icel. lamb.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) The young of the sheep.
2. Any person who is as innocent or gentle as a lamb.
3. A simple, unsophisticated person; in the cant of the Stock
Exchange, one who ignorantly speculates and is victimized.
Lamb of God, The Lamb (Script.), the Jesus Christ, in allusion to the
paschal lamb.
The twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev. xxi. 14.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John i. 29.
-- Lamb's lettuce (Bot.), an annual plant with small obovate leaves
(Valerianella olitoria), often used as a salad; corn salad. [Written
also lamb lettuce.] -- Lamb's tongue, a carpenter's plane with a deep
narrow bit, for making curved grooves. Knight. -- Lamb's wool. (a) The
wool of a lamb. (b) Ale mixed with the pulp of roasted apples; --
probably from the resemblance of the pulp of roasted apples to lamb's
wool. [Obs.] Goldsmith.
Lamb
Lamb (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lambed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lambing.] To
bring forth a lamb or lambs, as sheep.
Lambale
Lamb"ale` (?), n. A feast at the time of shearing lambs.
Lambaste
Lam*baste" (?), v. t. [Lam + baste to beat.] To beat severely. [Low]
Nares.
Lambative
Lam"ba*tive (?), a. [L. lambere to lick. See Lambent.] Taken by
licking with the tongue. "Sirups and lambative medicines." Sir T.
Browne.
Lambative
Lam"ba*tive, n. A medicine taken by licking with the tongue; a
lincture. Wiseman.
Lambda
Lamb"da (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
1. The name of the Greek letter , l, corresponding with the English
letter L, l.
2. (Anat.) The point of junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures
of the skull.
Lambda moth (Zo\'94l.), a moth so called from a mark on its wings,
resembling the Greek letter lambda ().
Lambdacism
Lamb"da*cism (?), n. [L. lambdacismus, Gr. la`mbda the letter lambda
().]
1. A fault in speaking or in composition, which consists in too
frequent use of the letter l, or in doubling it erroneously.
2. A defect in pronunciation of the letter l when doubled, which
consists in giving it a sound as if followed by y, similar to that of
the letters lli in billion.
3. The use of the sound of l for that of r in pronunciation;
lallation; as, Amelican for American.
Lambdoid
Lamb"doid (?), a. [Gr. la`mbda the letter lambda () + e"i^dos shape.]
Shaped like the Greek letter lambda (); as, the lambdoid suture
between the occipital and parietal bones of the skull.
Lambdoidal
Lamb*doid"al (?), a. Same as Lambdoid.
Lambent
Lam"bent (?), a. [L. lambens, -enlis, p. pr. of lambere to lick; akin
to lap. See Lap to drink by licking.]
1. Playing on the surface; touching lightly; gliding over. "A lambent
flame." Dryden. "A lambent style." Beaconsfield.
2. Twinkling or gleaming; fickering. "The lambent purity of the
stars." W. Irving.
Lambert pine
Lam"bert pine` (?). [So called from Lambert, an English botanist.]
(Bot.) The gigantic sugar pine of California and Oregon (Pinus
Lambertiana). It has the leaves in fives, and cones a foot long. The
timber is soft, and like that of the white pine of the Eastern States.
Lambkin
Lamb"kin (?), n. A small lamb.
Lamblike
Lamb"like (?), a. Like a lamb; gentle; meek; inoffensive.
Lamboys
Lam"boys (?), n. pl. [Cf. F. lambeau. Cf. Label.] (Anc. Armor) Same as
Base, n., 19.
Lambrequin
Lam"bre*quin (?), n. [F. Cf. Lamboys, Label.]
1. A kind of pendent scarf or covering attached to the helmet, to
protect it from wet or heat.
2. A leather flap hanging from a cuirass. Wilhelm.
3. A piece of ornament drapery or short decorative hanging, pendent
from a shelf or from the casing above a window, hiding the curtain
fixtures, or the like.
Lambskin
Lamb"skin` (?), n.
1. The skin of a lamb; especially, a skin dressed with the wool on,
and used as a mat. Also used adjectively.
2. A kind of woolen.
Lambskinnet
Lamb"skin`net" (?), n. See Lansquenet.
Lamb's-quarters
Lamb's-quar"ters (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to several plants of the
Goosefoot family, sometimes used as pot herbs, as Chenopodium album
and Atriplex patulsa.
Lamdoidal
Lam*doid"al (?), a. Lambdoid. [R.]
Lame
Lame (?), a. [Compar. Lamer (?); superl. Lamest.] [OE. lame, AS. lama;
akin to D. lam, G. lahm,OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ.
lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]
1. (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or
temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle.
(b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a
limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of one leg." Arbuthnot. "Lame in
both his feet." 2 Sam. ix. 13. "He fell, and became lame." 2 Sam. iv.
4.
2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. "A lame
endeavor." Barrow.
O, most lame and impotent conclusion! Shak.
Lame duck (stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his
contracts. [Cant]
_________________________________________________________________
Page 826
Lame
Lame (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laming.] To
make lame.
If you happen to let child fall and lame it. Swift.
Lamel
Lam"el (?), n. See Lamella.
Lamella
La*mel"la (?), n.; pl. L. Lamell\'91 (#), E. Lamellas (#). [L.
lamella, dim. of lamina plate, leaf, layer: cf. F. lamelle. Cf.
Lamina, Omelet.] a thin plate or scale of anything, as a thin scale
growing from the petals of certain flowers; or one of the thin plates
or scales of which certain shells are composed.
Lamellar, a. [Cf. F. lamellaire.] Flat and thin; lamelliform; composed of
lamell\'91. -- Lamellarly
Lam"el*lar (?), a. [Cf. F. lamellaire.] Flat and thin; lamelliform;
composed of lamell\'91. -- Lam"el*lar*ly, adv. In thin plates or
scales.
Lamellary
Lam"el*la*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to lamella or to lamell\'91;
lamellar.
Lamellate, Lamellated
Lam"el*late (?), Lam"el*la`ted (?), a. [See Lamella.] Composed of, or
furnished with, thin plates or scales. See Illust. of Antenn\'91.
Lamellibranch
La*mel"li*branch (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Lamellibranchia. Also
used adjectively.
Lamellibranchia, Lamellibranchiata
La*mel`li*bran"chi*a (?), La*mel`li*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See
lamella, and Branchia, Branchiate.] (Zo\'94l.) A class of Mollusca
including all those that have bivalve shells, as the clams, oysters,
mussels, etc.
NOTE: &hand; Th ey us ually ha ve tw o (r arely bu t on e) fl at,
lamelliform gills on each side of the body. They have an
imperfectly developed head, concealed within the shell, whence they
are called Acephala. Called also Conchifera, and Pelecypoda. See
Bivalve.
Lamellibranchiate
Lam`el*li*bran"chi*ate (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Having lamellar gills;
belonging to the Lamellibranchia. -- n. One of the Lamellibranchia.
Lamellicorn
La*mel"li*corn (?), a. [Lamella + L. cornu a horn: cf. F.
lamellicorne. See Lamella.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) Having antenn\'91
terminating in a group of flat lamell\'91; -- said of certain
coleopterous insects. (b) Terminating in a group of flat lamell\'91;
-- said of antenn\'91. -- n. A lamellicorn insect.
Lamellicornia
La*mel`li*cor"ni*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Lamellicorn.] (Zo\'94l.) A
group of lamellicorn, plant-eating beetles; -- called also
Lamellicornes.
Lamelliferous
Lam`el*lif"er*ous (?), a. [Lamella + -ferous: cf. F. lamellif\'8are.]
Bearing, or composed of, lamell\'91, or thin layers, plates, or
scales; foliated.
Lamelliform
La*mel"li*form (?), a. [Lamella + -form : cf. F. lamelliforme.] Thin
and flat; scalelike; lamellar.
Lamellirostral
Lam`el*li*ros"tral (?), a. [Lamella + rostral : cf. F. lamellirostre.]
(Zo\'94l.) Having a lamellate bill, as ducks and geese.
Lamellirostres
La*mel`li*ros"tres (?), n. pl. [NL. See Lamella, and Rostrum.]
(Zo\'94l.) A group of birds embracing the Anseres and flamingoes, in
which the bill is lamellate.
Lamellose
Lam"el*lose` (?), a. [Cf. F. lamelleux.] Composed of, or having,
lamell\'91; lamelliform.
Lamely
Lame"ly (?), adv. [See Lame.] An a lame, crippled, disabled, or
imperfect manner; as, to walk lamely; a figure lamely drawn.
Lameness
Lame"ness, n. The condition or quality of being lame; as, the lameness
of an excuse or an argument.
Lament
La*ment" (?), v. i. [F. lamenter, L. lamentari, fr. lamentum a
lament.] To express or feel sorrow; to weep or wail; to mourn.
Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. 2 Chron. xxxv. 25.
Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. John xvi.
20.
Lament
La*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamented; p. pr. & vb. n. Lamenting.] To
mourn for; to bemoan; to bewail.
One laughed at follies, one lamented crimes. Dryden.
Syn. -- To deplore; mourn; bewail. See Deplore.
Lament
La*ment", n. [L. lamentum. Cf. Lament, v.]
1. Grief or sorrow expressed in complaints or cries; lamentation; a
wailing; a moaning; a weeping.
Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Milton.
2. An elegy or mournful ballad, or the like.
Lamentable
Lam"en*ta*ble (?), a. [L. lamentabilis : cf. F. lamentable.]
1. Mourning; sorrowful; expressing grief; as, a lamentable
countenance. "Lamentable eye." Spenser.
2. Fitted to awaken lament; to be lamented; sorrowful; pitiable; as, a
lamentable misfortune, or error. "Lamentable helplessness." Burke.
3. Miserable; pitiful; paltry; -- in a contemptuous or Bp.
Stillingfleet. -- Lam"en*ta*ble*ness, n. -- Lam"en*ta*bly, adv.
Lamentation
Lam`en*ta"tion (?), n. [F. lamentation, L. lamentatio.]
1. The act of bewailing; audible expression of sorrow; wailing;
moaning.
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping Matt. ii.
18.
2. pl. (Script.) A book of the Old Testament attributed to the prophet
Jeremiah, and taking its name from the nature of its contents.
Lamented
La*ment"ed (?), a. Mourned for; bewailed.
This humble praise,lamented shade ! receive. Pope.
Lamenter
La*ment"er (, n. One who laments.
Lamentin
La*men"tin (?), n. See Lamantin.
Lamenting
La*ment"ing (?), n. Lamentation.
Lamentings heard i' the air. Shak.
Lamentingly
La*ment"ing*ly, adv. In a lamenting manner.
Lames
Lames (?), n. pl. [F. lame a thin plate, L. lamina.] (Armor) Small
steel plates combined together so as to slide one upon the form a
piece of armor.
Lametta
La*met"ta (?), n. [Cf. It. lametta, dim of lama a thin plate.] Foil or
wire made of gold, silver, or brass. De Colange.
Lamia
La"mi*a (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.) A monster capable of
assuming a woman's form, who was said to devour human beings or suck
their blood; a vampire; a sorceress; a with.
Lamina
Lam"i*na (?), n.; pl. L. Lamella.
1. A thin plate or scale; a laying over another; -- said of thin
plates or platelike substances, as of bone or minerals.
2. (Bot.) The blade of a leaf; the broad, expanded portion of a petal
or sepal of a flower. Gray.
3. (Zo\'94l.) A thin plate or scale; specif., one of the thin, flat
processes composing the vane of a feather.
Laminability
Lam`i*na*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being laminable.
Laminable
Lam"i*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being split into lamin\'91 or thin
plates, as mica; capable of being extended under pressure into a thin
plate or strip.
When a body can be readily extended in all directions under the
hammer, it is said to be malleable; and when into fillets under the
rolling press, it is said to be laminable. Ure.
Laminar, Laminal
Lam"i*nar (?), Lam"i*nal (?), a. [Cf. F. laminaire. See Lamina] In,
or consisting of, thin plates or layers; having the form of a thin
plate or lamina.
Laminaria
Lam`i*na"ri*a (?), n. [NL. See Lamina.] (Bot.) A genus of great
seaweeds with long and broad fronds; kelp, or devil's apron. The
fronds commonly grow in clusters, and are sometimes from thirty to
fifty feet in length. See Illust. of Kelp.
Laminarian
Lam`i*na"ri*an (?), a. Pertaining to seaweeds of the genus
Laminaria, or to that zone of the sea (from two to ten fathoms in
depth) where the seaweeds of this genus grow.
Laminarite
Lam"i*na*rite (?), n. [See Lamina.] (Paleon.) A broad-leafed fossil
alga.
Laminary
Lam"i*na*ry (?), a. Laminar.
Laminate
Lam"i*nate (?), a. [See Lamina.] Consisting of, or covered with,
lamin\'91, or thin plates, scales, or layers, one over another;
laminated.
Laminate
Lam"i*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laminated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Laminating (?).] [See Lamina.]
1. To cause to separate into thin plates or layers; to divide into
thin plates.
2. To form, as metal, into a thin plate, as by rolling. <-- 3. To
form by uniting two or more layers (in sheet form) of a material,
so that the layers are bonded tightly. 4. (With material as object)
To unite (layers in sheet form) by bonding, so as to create a
single object with multiple layers. -->
Laminate
Lam"i*nate, v. i. To separate into lamin\'91.
Laminated
Lam"i*na`ted (?), a. Laminate.
Laminated arch (Arch.), a timber arch made of layers of bent planks
secured by treenails.
Laminating
Lam"i*na`ting (?), a. Forming, or separating into, scales or thin
layers.
Lamination
Lam`i*na"tion (?), n. The process of laminating, or the state of being
laminated.
Laminiferous
Lam`i*nif"er*ous (?), a. [Lamina + -ferous.] Having a structure
consisting of lamin\'91, or thin layers.
Laminiplantar
Lam`i*ni*plan"tar (?), a. [Lamina + L. planta sole of the foot.]
(Zo\'94l.) Having the tarsus covered behind with a horny sheath
continuous on both sides, as in most singing birds, except the larks.
Laminitis
Lam`i*ni"tis (?), n. [NL. See Lamina, and -itis.] (Far.) Inflammation
of the lamin\'91 or fleshy plates along the coffin bone of a horse;
founder. Youatt.
Lamish
Lam"ish (?), a. Somewhat lame. Wood.
Lamm
Lamm (?), v. t. See Lam.
Lammas
Lam"mas (?), n. [AS. hl\'bemmesse, hl\'befm\'91sse, loaf mass, bread
feast, or feast of first fruits; hl\'bef loaf + m\'91sse mass. See
Loaf, and Mass religious service.] The first day of August; -- called
also Lammas day, and Lammastide.
Lammergeir, Lammergeier
Lam"mer*geir (?), Lam"mer*gei`er (?), n. [G. l\'84mmergeier; lamm, pl.
l\'84mmer, lamb + geier vulture.] (Zo\'94l.) A very large vulture
(Gypa\'89tus barbatus), which inhabits the mountains of Southern
Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. When full-grown it is nine or ten
feet in extent of wings. It is brownish black above, with the under
parts and neck rusty yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides
of the head and beard black. It feeds partly on carrion and partly on
small animals, which it kills. It has the habit of carrying tortoises
and marrow bones to a great height, and dropping them on stones to
obtain the contents, and is therefore called bonebreaker and
ossifrage. It is supposed to be the ossifrage of the Bible. Called
also bearded vulture and bearded eagle. [Written also lammergeyer.]
Lamnunguia
Lam*nun"gui*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. lamina a scale + unguis a
nail.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Hyracoidea.
Lamp
Lamp (?), n.[OE. (with excrescent p), fr. F. lame, L. lamina. See
Lamina.] A thin plate or lamina. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lamp
Lamp (?), n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, -adis, fr. Gr. Lampad, Lantern.]
1. A light-producing vessel, instrument or apparatus; especially, a
vessel with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable
liquid, for the purpose of producing artificial light.<-- needs
modernization for electric lamps! See def. 3 -->
2. Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally;
anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps.
cxix. 105.
Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared. Cowper.
3. (Elec.) A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity.
See Incandescent lamp, under Incandescent.
\'92olipile lamp, a hollow ball of copper containing alcohol which is
converted into vapor by a lamp beneath, so as to make a powerful
blowpipe flame when the vapor is ignited. Weale. -- Arc lamp (Elec.),
a form of lamp in which the voltaic arc is used as the source of
light. -- D\'89bereiner's lamp, an apparatus for the instantaneous
production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen
on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist
D\'94bereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp. --
Flameless lamp, an aphlogistic lamp. -- Lamp burner, the part of a
lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. Knight. -- Lamp fount, a
reservoir for oil, in a lamp. -- Lamp jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4 (l) &
(n). -- Lamp shade, a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for
softening or obstructing the light of a lamp. -- Lamp shell
(Zo\'94l.), any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied
genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique
lamp. See Terebratula. -- Safety lamp, a miner's lamp in which the
flame is surrounded by fine wire gauze, preventing the kindling of
dangerous explosive gases; -- called also, from Sir Humphry Davy the
inventor, Davy lamp. -- To smell of the lamp, to bear marks of great
study and labor, as a literary composition.
Lampad
Lam"pad (?), n. [Gr. Lamp.] A lamp or candlestick. [R.]
By him who 'mid the golden lampads went. Trench.
Lampadist
Lam"pa*dist (?), n. [Gr. Lamp.] (Gr. Antiq.) One who gained the prize
in the lampadrome.
Lampadrome
Lam"pa*drome (?), n. [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.) A race run by young men with
lighted torches in their hands. He who reached the goal first, with
his torch unextinguished, gained the prize.
Lampas
Lam"pas (?), n. [F. lampas.] An inflammation and swelling of the soft
parts of the roof of the mouth immediately behind the fore teeth in
the horse; -- called also lampers.
Lampate
Lam"pate (?), n. [Cf. F. lampate.] (Chem.) A supposed salt of lampic
acid. [Obs.]
Lampblack
Lamp"black` (?), n. [Lamp + black.] The fine impalpable soot obtained
from the smoke of carbonaceous substances which have been only partly
burnt, as in the flame of a smoking lamp. It consists of finely
divided carbon, with sometimes a very small proportion of various
impurities. It is used as an ingredient of printers' ink, and various
black pigments and cements.
Lamper eel
Lam"per eel` (?). (Zo\'94l.) See Lamprey.
Lampern
Lam"pern (?), n. [See Lamprey.] (Zo\'94l.) The river lamprey
(Ammoc\'d2tes, OR Lampetra, fluviatilis).
NOTE: &hand; The name is also applied to other river lampreys.
Lampers
Lam"pers (?), n. See Lampas.
Lampic
Lam"pic (?), a. [F. lampique, fr. lampe lamp. See Lamp.] (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or produced by, a lamp; -- formerly said of a supposed
acid.
Lamping
Lamp"ing (?), a.Shining; brilliant. [Obs.] "Lamping eyes." Spenser.
Lampless
Lamp"less, a. Being without a lamp, or without light; hence, being
without appreciation; dull.
Your ladies' eyes are lampless to that virtue. Beau. & Fl.
Lamplight
Lamp"light` (?), n. Light from a lamp.
This world's artificial lamplights. Owen Meredith.
Lamplighter
Lamp"light`er (?), n.
1. One who, or that which, lights a lamp; esp., a person who lights
street lamps.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The calico bass.
Lampoon
Lam*poon" (?), n. [F. lampon a drinking song, fr. lampons let us
drink, -- the burden of such a song, fr. lamper to guzzle, to drink
much and greedily; of German origin, and akin to E. lap to drink.
Prob. so called because drinking songs often contain personal slander
or satire.] A personal satire in writing; usually, malicious and
abusive censure written only to reproach and distress.
Like her who missed her name in a lampoon, And grieved to find
herself decayed so soon. Dryden.
Lampoon
Lam*poon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lampooned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lampooning.] To subject to abusive ridicule expressed in writing; to
make the subject of a lampoon.
Ribald poets had lampooned him. Macaulay.
Syn. -- To libel; defame; satirize; lash.
Lampooner
Lam*poon"er (?), n. The writer of a lampoon. "Libelers, lampooners,
and pamphleteers." Tatler.
Lampoonry
Lam*poon"ry (?), n. The act of lampooning; a lampoon, or lampoons.
Lamp-post
Lamp"-post` (?), n. A post (generally a pillar of iron) supporting a
lamp or lantern for lighting a street, park, etc.
Lamprel
Lam"prel (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Lamprey.
Lamprey
Lam"prey (?), n. ; pl. Lampreys (#). [OE. lampreie, F. lamproie, LL.
lampreda, lampetra, from L. lambere to lick + petra rock, stone. The
lampreys are so called because they attach themselves with their
circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are also called
rocksuckers. See Lap to drink, Petrify.] (Zo\'94l.) An eel-like
marsipobranch of the genus Petromyzon, and allied genera. The lampreys
have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but set with numerous
minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth on the palate (see Illust.
of Cyclostomi). There are seven small branchial openings on each side.
[Written also lamper eel, lamprel, and lampron.]
_________________________________________________________________
Page 827
NOTE: &hand; Th e co mmon or se a la mprey of Am erica and Europe
(Petromyzon marinus), which in spring ascends rivers to spawn, is
considered excellent food by many, and is sold as a market fish in
some localities. The smaller river lampreys mostly belong to the
genus Ammoc\'d2les, or Lampetra, as A. fluviatilis, of Europe, and
A. \'91pypterus of America. All lampreys attach themselves to other
fishes, as parasites, by means of the suckerlike mouth.
Lampron
Lam"pron (?), n. [Cf. OE. lampreon. See Lamprey.] (Zo\'94l.) See
Lamprey.
Lampyrine
Lam*py"rine (?), n. [See Lampyris.] (Zo\'94l.) An insect of the genus
Lampyris, or family Lampyrid\'91. See Lampyris.
Lampyris
Lam*py"ris (?), n. [L., glowworm, Gr. ( (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
coleopterous insects, including the glowworms.
Lanarkite
Lan"ark*ite (?), n. [From Lanarkshire, a county in Scotland.] (Min.) A
mineral consisting of sulphate of lead, occurring either massive or in
long slender prisms, of a greenish white or gray color.
Lanary
La"na*ry (?), n. [L. lanaria, fr. lanarius belonging to wool, lana
wool.] A place for storing wool.
Lanate, Lanated
La"nate (?), La"na*ted (?),[L. lanatus, fr. lana wool, down.] Wooly;
covered with fine long hair, or hairlike filaments.
Lacashire boiler
La"ca*shire boil"er (?). A steam boiler having two flues which contain
the furnaces and extend through the boiler from end to end.
Lacasterian
La`cas*te"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the monitorial system of
instruction followed by Joseph Lancaster, of England, in which
advanced pupils in a school teach pupils below them.
Lance
Lance (?), n. [OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea; cf. Gr. Launch.]
1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel
blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a
small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
A braver soldier never couched lance. Shak.
2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
3. (Founding) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in
casting a shell.
4. (Mil.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of
ordnance and forces it home.
5. (Pyrotech.) One of the small paper cases filled with combustible
composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.
Free lance, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight or roving
soldier, who was free to engage for any state or commander that
purchased his services; hence, a person who assails institutions or
opinions on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or
deference to authority. -- Lance bucket (Cavalry), a socket attached
to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. --
Lance corporal, same as Lancepesade. -- Lance knight, a lansquenet. B.
Jonson. -- Lance snake (Zo\'94l.), the fer-de-lance. -- Stink-fire
lance (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a composition which burns
with a suffocating odor; -- used in the counter operations of miners.
To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest.
Lance
Lance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanced (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lancing (?).]
1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced Her back. Dryden.
2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an
abscess.
3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch.
Lance fish
Lance" fish` (?). (Zo\'94l.) A slender marine fish of the genus
Ammodytes, especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; --
called also sand lance.
Lancegay, Lancegaye
Lance"gay`, Lance"gaye` (?), n. [OF. lancegaie, corrupted from the
same source as E. assagai, under the influence of F. lance lance. See
Assagai.] A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a
statute of Richard II. Nares.
In his hand a launcegay, A long sword by his side. Chaucer.
Lancelet
Lance"let (?), n. [Lance + -let.] (Zo\'94l.) A small fishlike animal
(Amphioxus lanceolatus), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of
its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus,
Leptocardia.
Lancely
Lance"ly, a. Like a lance. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.
Lanceolar
Lan"ce*o*lar (?), a. [L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea
lance: cf. F. lanc\'82olaire.] (Bot.) Lanceolate.
Lanceolate, Lanceolated
Lan"ce*o*late (?), Lan"ce*o*la`ted (?) a. [L. lanceolatus: cf. F.
lanc\'82ol. See Lanceolar.] (Bot. & Zo\'94l.) Rather narrow, tapering
to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a
lanceolate leaf.
Lancepesade
Lance`pe*sade" (?), n. [F. lancepessade, lanspessade, anspessade, It.
lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, a light
horseman, bodyguard.] An assistant to a corporal; a private performing
the duties of a corporal; -- called also lance corporal.
Lancer
Lan"cer (?), n. [Cf. F. lancier.]
1. One who lances; one who carries a lance; especially, a member of a
mounted body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service
of some nations. Wilhelm.
2. A lancet. [Obs.]
3. pl. (Dancing) A set of quadrilles of a certain arrangement.
[Written also lanciers.]
Lancet
Lan"cet (?), n. [F. lancette, dim. of lance lance. See Lance.]
1. A surgical instrument of various forms, commonly sharp-pointed and
two-edged, used in venesection, and in opening abscesses, etc.
2. (Metal.) An iron bar used for tapping a melting furnace. Knight.
Lancet arch (Arch.), a pointed arch, of which the width, or span, is
narrow compared with the height. -- Lancet architecture, a name given
to a style of architecture, in which lancet arches are common; --
peculiar to England and 13th century. -- Lancet fish. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A
large, voracious, deep-sea fish (Alepidosaurus ferox), having long,
sharp, lancetlike teeth. (b) The doctor, or surgeon fish.
Lancewood
Lance"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A tough, elastic wood, often used for the
shafts of gigs, archery bows, fishing rods, and the like. Also, the
tree which produces this wood, Duguetia Quitarensis (a native of
Guiana and Cuba), and several other trees of the same family
(Anonase\'91). Australian lancewood, a myrtaceous tree (Backhousia
Australis).
Lanch
Lanch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lanching.
See Lanching. See Launch, Lance.] To throw, as a lance; to let fly; to
launch.
See Whose arm can lanch the surer bolt. Dryden & Lee.
Lanciferous
Lan*cif"er*ous (?), a [Lance + -ferous.] Bearing a lance.
Lanciform
Lan"ci*form (?), a [Lance + -form: cf. F. lanciforme.] Having the form
of a lance.
Lanciname
Lan"ci*name (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lancinated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lancinating (?).] [L. lancinatus, p. p. of lancinare to fear.] To
tear; to lacerate; to pierce or stab. De Quincey.
Lancinating
Lan"ci*na`ting, a. Piercing; seeming to pierce or stab; as,
lancinating pains (i.e., severe, darting pains).
Lancination
Lan`ci*na"tion (?), n. A tearing; laceration. "Lancinations of the
spirit." Jer. Taylor.
Land
Land (?), n. Urine. See Lant. [Obs.]
Land
Land, n. [AS. land, lond; akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., Dan., and Goth.
land. ]
1. The solid part of the surface of the earth; -- opposed to water as
constituting a part of such surface, especially to oceans and seas;
as, to sight land after a long voyage.
They turn their heads to sea, their sterns to land. Dryden.
2. Any portion, large or small, of the surface of the earth,
considered by itself, or as belonging to an individual or a people, as
a country, estate, farm, or tract.
Go view the land, even Jericho. Josh. ii. 1.
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth
accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.
<-- See also, Goldsmith: Where wealth and freedom reign contentment
fails, And honor sinks where commerce long prevails. (THe captivity,
an Oratorio. Act II line 91) -->
NOTE: &hand; In th e expressions "to be, or dwell, upon land," "to
go, or fare, on land," as used by Chaucer, land denotes the country
as distinguished from the town.
A poor parson dwelling upon land [i.e., in the country]. Chaucer.
3. Ground, in respect to its nature or quality; soil; as, wet land;
good or bad land.
4. The inhabitants of a nation or people.
These answers, in the silent night received, The kind himself
divulged, the land believed. Dryden.
5. The mainland, in distinction from islands.
6. The ground or floor. [Obs.]
Herself upon the land she did prostrate. Spenser.
7. (Agric.) The ground left unplowed between furrows; any one of
several portions into which a field is divided for convenience in
plowing.
8. (Law) Any ground, soil, or earth whatsoever, as meadows, pastures,
woods, etc., and everything annexed to it, whether by nature, as
trees, water, etc., or by the hand of man, as buildings, fences, etc.;
real estate. Kent. Bouvier. Burrill.
9. (Naut.) The lap of the strakes in a clinker-built boat; the lap of
plates in an iron vessel; -- called also landing. Knight.
10. In any surface prepared with indentations, perforations, or
grooves, that part of the surface which is not so treated, as the
level part of a millstone between the furrows, or the surface of the
bore of a rifled gun between the grooves.
Land agent, a person employed to sell or let land, to collect rents,
and to attend to other money matters connected with land. -- Land
boat, a vehicle on wheels propelled by sails. -- Land blink, a
peculiar atmospheric brightness seen from sea over distant
snow-covered land in arctic regions. See Ice blink. -- Land breeze.
See under Breeze. -- Land chain. See Gunter's chain. -- Land crab
(Zo\'94l.), any one of various species of crabs which live much on the
land, and resort to the water chiefly for the purpose of breeding.
They are abundant in the West Indies and South America. Some of them
grow to a large size. -- Land fish a fish on land; a person quite out
of place.Shak. -- Land force, a military force serving on land, as
distinguished from a naval force. -- Land, ho! (Naut.), a sailor's cry
in announcing sight of land. -- Land ice, a field of ice adhering to
the coast, in distinction from a floe. -- Land leech (Zo\'94l.), any
one of several species of blood-sucking leeches, which, in moist,
tropical regions, live on land, and are often troublesome to man and
beast. -- Land measure, the system of measurement used in determining
the area of land; also, a table of areas used in such measurement. --
Land, OR House, of bondage, in Bible history, Egypt; by extension, a
place or condition of special oppression. -- Land o' cakes, Scotland.
-- Land of Nod, sleep. -- Land of promise, in Bible history, Canaan:
by extension, a better country or condition of which one has
expectation. -- Land of steady habits, a nickname sometimes given to
the State of Connecticut. -- Land office, a government office in which
the entries upon, and sales of, public land are registered, and other
business respecting the public lands is transacted. [U.S.] -- Land
pike. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The gray pike, or sauger. (b) The Menobranchus.
-- Land service, military service as distinguished from naval service.
-- Land rail. (Zo\'94l) (a) The crake or corncrake of Europe. See
Crake. (b) An Australian rail (Hypot\'91nidia Phillipensis); -- called
also pectoral rail. -- Land scrip, a certificate that the purchase
money for a certain portion of the public land has been paid to the
officer entitled to receive it. [U.S.] -- Land shark, a swindler of
sailors on shore. [Sailors' Cant] -- Land side (a) That side of
anything in or on the sea, as of an island or ship, which is turned
toward the land. (b) The side of a plow which is opposite to the
moldboard and which presses against the unplowed land. -- Land snail
(Zo\'94l.), any snail which lives on land, as distinguished from the
aquatic snails are Pulmonifera, and belong to the Geophila; but the
operculated land snails of warm countries are Di\'d2cia, and belong to
the T\'91nioglossa. See Geophila, and Helix. -- Land spout, a descent
of cloud and water in a conical form during the occurrence of a
tornado and heavy rainfall on land. -- Land steward, a person who acts
for another in the management of land, collection of rents, etc. --
Land tortoise, Land turtle (Zo\'94l.), any tortoise that habitually
lives on dry land, as the box tortoise. See Tortoise. -- Land warrant,
a certificate from the Land Office, authorizing a person to assume
ownership of a public land. [U.S.] -- Land wind. Same as Land breeze
(above). -- To make land (Naut.), to sight land. To set the land, to
see by the compass how the land bears from the ship. -- To shut in the
land, to hide the land, as when fog, or an intervening island,
obstructs the view.
Land
Land (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Landed; p. pr. & vb. n. Landing.]
1. To set or put on shore from a ship or other water craft; to
disembark; to debark.
I 'll undertake top land them on our coast. Shak.
2. To catch and bring to shore; to capture; as, to land a fish.
3. To set down after conveying; to cause to fall, alight, or reach; to
bring to the end of a course; as, he landed the quoit near the stake;
to be thrown from a horse and landed in the mud; to land one in
difficulties or mistakes.
Land
Land, v. i. To go on shore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to come
to the end of a course.
Landamman
Lan"dam*man (?), n. [G. Landamman; land land, country + amimann
bailiff. See Land, and Ambassador.]
1. A chief magistrate in some of the Swiss cantons.
2. The president of the diet of the Helvetic republic.
Landau
Lan"dau (?), n. [From the town Ladau in Germany; cf. F. landau. See
Land, Island.] A four-wheeled covered vehicle, the top of which is
divided into two sections which can be let down, or thrown back, in
such a manner as to make an open carriage. [Written also landaw.]
Landaulet
Lan`dau*let" (?), n. [Cf. F. landaulet, dim, of landau. See Landau.] A
small landau.
Landed
Land"ed (?), a.
1. Having an estate in land.
The House of Commons must consist, for the most part, of landed
men. Addison.
2. Consisting in real estate or land; as, landed property; landed
security.
Lander
Land"er (?), n.
1. One who lands, or makes a landing. "The lander in a lonely isle."
Tennyson.
2. (Mining) A person who waits at the mouth of the shaft to receive
the kibble of ore.
Landfall
Land"fall (?), n.
1. A sudden transference of property in land by the death of its
owner.
2. (Naut.) Sighting or making land when at sea.
A good landfall (Naut.), the sighting of land in conformity with the
navigator's reckoning and expectation.
Landflood
Land"flood` (?), n. An overflowing of land by river; an inundation; a
freshet. Clarendon.
Landgrave
Land"grave` (?), n. [G. landgraf; land land + graf earl, count; cf. D.
landgraaf, F. landgrave.] A German nobleman of a rank corresponding to
that of an earl in England and of a count in France.
NOTE: &hand; Th e ti tle was first adopted by some German counts in
the twelfth century, to distinguish themselves from the inferior
counts under their jurisdiction. Three of them were princes of the
empire.
Landgraviate
Land*gra"vi*ate (?), n. [Cf. F. landgraviat.]
1. The territory held by a landgrave.
2. The office, jurisdiction, or authority of a landgrave.
Landgravine
Land"gra*vine (?), n. [G. landgr\'84fin; cf. D. landgravin.] The wife
of a landgrave.
Landholder
Land"hold`er (?), n. A holder, owner, or proprietor of land. --
Land"hold`ing, n. & a.
Landing
Land"ing, a. Of, pertaining to or used for, setting, bringing, or
going, on shore. Landing charges, charges or fees paid on goods
unloaded from a vessel. -- Landing net, a small, bag-shaped net, used
in fishing to take the fish from the water after being hooked. --
Landing stage, a floating platform attached at one end to a wharf in
such a manner as to rise and fall with the tide, and thus facilitate
passage between the wharf and a vessel lying beside the stage. --
Landing waiter, a customhouse officer who oversees the landing of
goods, etc., from vessels; a landwaiter.
Landing
Land"ing, n.
1. A going or bringing on shore.
2. A place for landing, as from a ship, a carriage. etc.
3. (Arch.) The level part of a staircase, at the top of a flight of
stairs, or connecting one flight with another.
Landing place. me as Landing, n., 2 and 3.
Landlady
Land"la`dy (?), n.; pl. Landladies (#). [Cf. Landlord.]
1. A woman having real estate which she leases to a tenant or tenants.
2. The mistress of an inn or lodging house.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 828
Landleaper
Land"leap`er (?), n. See Landlouper.
Landless
Land"less (?), a. Having no property in land.
Landlock
Land"lock` (?), v. t. To inclose, or nearly inclose, as a harbor or a
vessel, with land.
Landlocked
Land"locked` (?), a.
1. Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, by land.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Confined to a fresh-water lake by reason of waterfalls
or dams; -- said of fishes that would naturally seek the sea, after
spawning; as, the landlocked salmon.
Landloper
Land"lo`per (?), n. Same as Landlouper.
Landlord
Land"lord` (?), n. [See Land, and Lord.]
1. The lord of a manor, or of land; the owner of land or houses which
he leases to a tenant or tenants.
2. The master of an inn or of a lodging house.
Upon our arrival at the inn, my companion fetched out the jolly
landlord. Addison.
Landlordism
Land"lord`ism (?), n. The state of being a landlord; the
characteristics of a landlord; specifically, in Great Britain, the
relation of landlords to tenants, especially as regards leased
agricultural lands. J. S. Mill.
Landlordry
Land"lord`ry (?), n. The state of a landlord. [Obs.]
Landlouper
Land"loup`er (?), n. [D. landlooper, lit., landrunner; land land +
loopen to run. See Land, and Leap.] A vagabond; a vagrant. [Written
also landleaper and landloper.] "Bands of landloupers." Moltey.
Landlouping
Land"loup`ing, a. Vagrant; wandering about.
Landlubber
Land"lub`ber (?), n. [Prop. fr. land + lubber, or possibly corrupted
fr. laudlouper.] (Naut.) One who passes his life on land; -- so called
among seamen in contempt or ridicule.
Landman
Land"man (?), n.; pl. Landmen (.
1. A man who lives or serves on land; -- opposed to seaman.
2. (Eng.) An occupier of land. Cowell.
Landmark
Land"mark` (?), n. [AS. landmearc. See Land, and Mark a sign.]
1. A mark to designate the boundary of land; any , mark or fixed
object (as a marked tree, a stone, a ditch, or a heap of stones) by
which the limits of a farm, a town, or other portion of territory may
be known and preserved.
2. Any conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide; some
prominent object, as a hill or steeple.
Landmarks of history, important events by which eras or conditions are
determined.
Landowner
Land"own`er (?), n. An owner of land.
Landowning
Land"own`ing, n. The owning of land. -- a. Having property in land; of
or pertaining to landowners.
Land-poor
Land"-poor` (?), a. Pecuniarily embarrassed through owning much
unprofitable land. [Colloq.]
Landreeve
Land"reeve` (?), n. [Land + reeve an officer.] A subordinate officer
on an extensive estate, who acts as an assistant to the steward.
Landscape
Land"scape (?), n. [Formerly written also landskip.] [D. landschap;
land land + -schap, equiv. to E. -schip; akin to G. landschaft, Sw.
landskap, Dan. landskab. See Land, and -schip.]
1. A portion of land or territory which the eye can comprehend in a
single view, including all the objects it contains.
2. A picture representing a scene by land or sea, actual or fancied,
the chief subject being the general aspect of nature, as fields,
hills, forests, water. etc.
3. The pictorial aspect of a country.
The landscape of his native country had taken hold on his heart.
Macaulay.
Landscape gardening, The art of laying out grounds and arranging
trees, shrubbery, etc., in such a manner as to produce a picturesque
effect.
Landscapist
Land"scap`ist (?), n. A painter of landscapes.
Landskip
Land"skip (?), n. [See Landscape.] A landscape. [Obs. except in
poetry.]
Straight my eye hath caught new pleasures, Whilst the landskip
round it measures. Milton.
Landslip, Landslide
Land"slip` (?), Land"slide` (?), n.
1. The slipping down of a mass of land from a mountain, hill, etc.
2. The land which slips down.
Landsman
Lands"man (?), n.; pl. Landsmen (#).
1. One who lives on the land; -- opposed to seaman.
2. (Naut.) A sailor on his first voyage.
Landstreight
Land"streight` (?), n. [See Strait.] A narrow strip of land. [Obs.]
Landsturm
Land"sturm` (?), n. [G. See Land, and Storm.] That part of the reserve
force in Germany which is called out last.
Landtag
Land"tag` (?), n. [G. See Land, and Day.] The diet or legislative
body; as, the Landtag of Prussia.
Landwaiter
Land"wait`er (?), n. See Landing waiter, under Landing, a.
Landward
Land"ward (?), adv. & a. Toward the land.
Landwehr
Land"wehr` (?), n. [G., fr. land land, country + wehr defense.] That
part of the army, in Germany and Austria, which has completed the
usual military service and is exempt from duty in time of peace,
except that it is called out occasionally for drill.
Lane
Lane (?), a. [See Lone.] Alone [Scot.] His lane, by himself; himself
alone.
Lane
Lane (?), n. [OE. lane, lone, AS. lone, lone; akin to D. laan, OFries.
lana, lona.] A passageway between fences or hedges which is not
traveled as a highroad; an alley between buildings; a narrow way among
trees, ras, a lane between lines of men, or through a field of ice.
It is become a turn-again lane unto them which they can not go
through. Tyndale.
Lang
Lang (?), a. & adv. Long. [Obs. or Scot.]
Langaha
Lan"ga*ha (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A curious colubriform snake of the genus
Xyphorhynchus, from Madagascar. It is brownish red, and its hose is
prolonged in the form of a sharp blade.
Langarey
Lan`ga*rey" (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of numerous species of long-winged,
shrikelike birds of Australia and the East Indies, of the genus
Artamus, and allied genera; called also wood swallow.
Langate
Lan"gate (?), n. (Surg.) A linen roller used in dressing wounds.
Langdak
Lang"dak` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A wolf (Canis pallipes), found in India,
allied to the jackal.
Langrage, Langrel
Lan"grage (?), Lan"grel (?), n. A kind of shot formerly used at sea
for tearing sails and rigging. It consisted of bolts, nails, and other
pieces of iron fastened together or inclosed in a canister.
Langret
Lan"gret (?), n. A kind of loaded die. [Obs.]
Langridge
Lan"gridge (?), n. See Langrage.
NOTE: [Sometimes compounded with shot.]
Langsyne
Lang`syne" (?), adv. & n. [Scot. lang long + syne since.] Long since;
long ago. [Scot.]
Langteraloo
Lang`ter*a*loo" (?), n. [See Loo.] An old game at cards. See Loo (a)
Tatler.
Language
Lan"guage (?), n. [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue,
hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]
1. Any means of conveying or communicating ideas; specifically, human
speech; the expression of ideas by the voice; sounds, expressive of
thought, articulated by the organs of the throat and mouth.
NOTE: &hand; La nguage co nsists in th e or al utterance of sounds
which usage has made the representatives of ideas. When two or more
persons customarily annex the same sounds to the same ideas, the
expression of these sounds by one person communicates his ideas to
another. This is the primary sense of language, the use of which is
to communicate the thoughts of one person to another through the
organs of hearing. Articulate sounds are represented to the eye by
letters, marks, or characters, which form words.
2. The expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality.
3. The forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar
to a particular nation.
4. The characteristic mode of arranging words, peculiar to an
individual speaker or writer; manner of expression; style.
Others for language all their care express. Pope.
5. The inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express
their feelings or their wants.
6. The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas
associated therewith; as, the language of flowers.
There was . . . language in their very gesture. Shak.
7. The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of
knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or
theology.
8. A race, as distinguished by its speech. [R.]
All the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshiped the golden image. Dan. iii. 7.
Language master, a teacher of languages.[Obs.] Syn. -- Speech; tongue;
idiom; dialect; phraseology; diction; discourse; conversation; talk.
-- Language, Speech, Tongue, Idiom, Dialect. Language is generic,
denoting, in its most extended use, any mode of conveying ideas;
speech is the language of articulate sounds; tongue is the Anglo-Saxon
tern for language, esp. for spoken language; as, the English tongue.
Idiom denotes the forms of construction peculiar to a particular
language; dialects are varieties if expression which spring up in
different parts of a country among people speaking substantially the
same language.
Language
Lan"guage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Languaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Languaging (?).] To communicate by language; to express in language.
Others were languaged in such doubtful expressions that they have a
double sense. Fuller.
Languaged
Lan"guaged (?), a. Having a language; skilled in language; -- chiefly
used in composition. " Manylanguaged nations." Pope.
Languageless
Lan"guage*less (?), a. Lacking or wanting language; speechless;
silent. Shak.
Langued
Langued (?), a. [F. langue tongue. See Language.] (Her.) Tongued;
having the tongue visible.
Lions . . . represented as armed and langued gules. Cussans.
Langue d'oc
Langue` d'oc" (?). [F., language of oc yes.] The dialect, closely akin
to French, formerly spoken south of the Loire (in which the word for
"yes" was oc); Provencal.
Langue d'o\'8bl
Langue` d'o\'8bl" (?). [F., language of o\'8bl yes.] The dialect
formerly spoken north of the Loire (in which the word for "yes" was
o\'8bl, F. oui).
Languente
Lan*guen"te (?), adv. [It., p. pr. of languire. See Languish.] (Mus.)
In a languishing manner; pathetically.
Languet
Lan"guet, n. [F. languette, dim. of langue tongue, L. lingua.]
1. Anything resembling the tongue in form or office; specif., the slip
of metal in an organ pipe which turns the current of air toward its
mouth.
2. That part of the hilt, in certain kinds of swords, which overlaps
the scabbard.
Languid
Lan"guid (?), a. [L. languidus, fr. languere to be faint or languid:
cf. F. languide. See Languish.]
1. Drooping or flagging from exhaustion; indisposed to exertion;
without animation; weak; weary; heavy; dull. " Languid, powerless
limbs. " Armstrong.
Fire their languid souls with Cato's virtue. Addison.
2. Slow in progress; tardy. " No motion so swift or languid." Bentley.
3. Promoting or indicating weakness or heaviness; as, a languid day.
Feebly she laugheth in the languid moon. Keats.
Their idleness, aimless and languid airs. W. Black.
Syn. -- Feeble; weak; faint; sickly; pining; exhausted; weary;
listless; heavy; dull; heartless. -- Lan"guid*ly, adv. --
Lan"guid*ness, n.
Languish
Lan"guish (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Languished (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Languishing.] [OE. languishen, languissen, F. languir, L. languere;
cf. Gr. lakra to lag behind; prob. akin to E. lag, lax, and perh. to
E. slack.See -ish.]
1. To become languid or weak; to lose strength or animation; to be or
become dull, feeble or spiritless; to pine away; to wither or fade.
We . . . do languish of such diseases. 2 Esdras viii. 31.
Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me landguish into
life. Pope.
For the fields of Heshbon languish. Is. xvi. 8.
2. To assume an expression of weariness or tender grief, appealing for
sympathy. Tennyson. Syn. -- To pine; wither; fade; droop; faint.
Languish
Lan"guish (?), v. i. To cause to dr [Obs.] Shak. Dryden.
Languish
Lan"guish, n. See Languishiment. [Obs. or Poetic]
What, of death, too, That rids our dogs of languish ? Shak.
And the blue languish of soft Allia's eye. Pope.
Languisher
Lan"guish*er (?), n. One who languishes.
Languishing
Lan"guish*ing, a.
1. Becoming languid and weak; pining; losing health and strength.
2. Amorously pensive; as, languishing eyes, or look.
Languishingly
Lan"guish*ing*ly, adv. In a languishing manner.
Languishment
Lan"guish*ment (?), n.
1. The state of languishing. " Lingering languishment." Shak.
2. Tenderness of look or mien; amorous pensiveness.
Languishness
Lan"guish*ness, n. Languishment. [Obs.]
Languor
Lan"guor (?), n. [OE. langour, OF. langour, F. langueur, L. languor.
See Languish.]
1. A state of the body or mind which is caused by exhaustion of
strength and characterized by a languid feeling; feebleness;
lassitude; laxity.
2. Any enfeebling disease. [Obs.]
Sick men with divers languors. Wyclif (Luke iv. 40).
3. Listless indolence; dreaminess. Pope. " German dreams, Italian
languors." The Century. Syn. -- Feebleness; weakness; faintness;
weariness; dullness; heaviness; lassitude; listlessness.
Languorous
Lan"guor*ous (?), a. [From Languor: cf. F. langoureux.] Producing, or
tending to produce, languor; characterized by languor. [Obs. or
Poetic]
Whom late I left in languorous constraint. Spenser.
To wile the length from languorous hours, and draw The sting from
pain. Tennyson.
Langure
Lan"gure (?), v. i. To languish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Langya
Lan"gya (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) [Native name Anglicized.] One of several
species of East Indian and Asiatic fresh-water fishes of the genus
Ophiocephalus, remarkable for their power of living out of water, and
for their tenacity of life; -- called also walking fishes.
Laniard
Lan"iard (?), n. See Lanyard.
Laniariform
La`ni*ar"i*form (?), a. [Laniary + -form.] (Anat.) Shaped like a
laniary, or canine, tooth. Owen.
Laniary
La"ni*a*ry (?), a. [L. laniarius, fr. lanius butcher, laniare to tear
in pieces: cf. F. laniaire.] (Anat.) Lacerating or tearing; as, the
laniary canine teeth.
Laniary
La"ni*a*ry, n. [L. Laniary, a.]
1. The shambles; a place of slaughter. [R.]
2. (Anat.) A laniary, or canine, tooth.
Laniate
La"ni*ate (?), v. t. [L. laniatus, p. p. of laniare.] To tear in
pieces. [R.]
Laniation
La`ni*a"tion (?), n. [L. laniatio.] A tearing in pieces. [R.]
Lanier
Lan"ier (?), n. [F. lani\'8are. See Lanyard.] [Written also lanner,
lanyer.]
1. A thong of leather; a whip lash. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. A strap used to fasten together parts of armor, to hold the shield
by, and the like. Fairholt.
Laniferous
La*nif"er*ous (?), n. [L. lanifer; lana wool + ferre to bear: cf. F.
lanif\'8are.] Bearing or producing wool.
Lanifical
La*nif"i*cal (?), a. [L. lanificus; lana wool + facere to make.]
Working in wool.
Lanifice
Lan"i*fice (?), n. [L. lanificium: cf. OF. lanifice.] Anything made of
wool. [Obs.] Bacon.
Lanigerous
La*nig"er*ous (?), a. [L. laniger; lano wool + gerere to hear.]
Bearing or producing wool.
Lanioid
La"ni*oid (?), a. [NL. Lanius (fr. L. lanius a butcher), the typical
genus + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the shrikes (family
Laniid\'91).
Lank
Lank (?), a. [Compar. Lanker (?); superl. Lankest.] [AS. hlanc; cf. G.
lenken to turn, gelenk joint, OHG. hlanca hip, side, flank, and E.
link of a chain.]
1. Slender and thin; not well filled out; not plump; shrunken; lean.
Meager and lank with fasting grown. Swift.
Who would not choose . . . to have rather a lank purse than an
empty brain? Barrow.
2. Languid; drooping.[Obs.]
Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head. Milton.
Lank hair, long, thin hair. Macaulay.
Lank
Lank, v. i. & t. To become lank; to make lank. [Obs.] Shak. G.
Fletcher.
Lankiness
Lank"i*ness (?), n. The condition or quality or being lanky.
Lankly
Lank"ly, adv. In a lank manner.
Lankness
Lank"ness, n. The state or quality of being lank.
Lanky
Lank"y, a. Somewhat lank. Thackeray.
The lanky Dinka, nearly seven feet in height. The Century.
Lanner, n. f. Lanneret
Lan"ner (?), n. f. Lan"ner*et (?), n. m. [F. lanier, OF. also,
lasnier. Cf. Lanyard.] (Zo\'94l.) A long-tailed falcon (Falco
lanarius), of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa, resembling
the American prairie falcon.
Lanolin
Lan"o*lin (?), n. [L. lana wool + oleum oil.] (Physiol. Chem.) A
peculiar fatlike body, made up of cholesterin and certain fatty acids,
found in feathers, hair, wool, and keratin tissues generally.
NOTE: &hand; Un der th e sa me na me, it is prepared from wool for
commercial purposes, and forms an admirable basis for ointments,
being readily absorbed by the skin.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 829
Lanseh
Lan"seh (?), n. The small, whitish brown fruit of an East Indian tree
(Lansium domesticum). It has a fleshy pulp, with an agreeable subacid
taste. Balfour.
Lansquenet
Lans"que*net (?), n. [F., fr. G. landsknecht a foot soldier, also a
game of cards introduced by these foot soldiers; land country + knecht
boy, servant. See Land, and Knight.]
1. A German foot soldier in foreign service in the 15th and 16th
centuries; a soldier of fortune; -- a term used in France and Western
Europe.
2. A game at cards, vulgarly called lambskinnet.
[They play] their little game of lansquenet. Longfellow.
Lant
Lant (?), n. Urine. [Prov. Eng.] Nares.
Lant
Lant, n. [Cf. Lance.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of small,
slender, marine fishes of the genus Ammedytes. The common European
species (A. tobianus) and the American species (A. Americanus) live on
sandy shores, buried in the sand, and are caught in large quantities
for bait. Called also launce, and sand eel.
Lant
Lant, n. See Lanterloo. [Obs.] Halliwell.
Lantanium, Lantanum
Lan*ta"ni*um (?), Lan"ta*num (?), n. (Chem.) See Lanthanum.
Lantanuric
Lan`ta*nu"ric (?), a. [Formed by transposition of the letters of
allantoin and -uric.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a
nitrogenous organic acid of the uric acid group, obtained by the
decomposition of allantoin, and usually called allanturic acid.
Lanterloo
Lan"ter*loo` (?), n. An old name of loo (a).
Lantern
Lan"tern (?), n. [F. lanterne, L. lanterna, laterna, from Gr. Lamp.]
1. Something inclosing a light, and protecting it from wind, rain,
etc. ; -- sometimes portable, as a closed vessel or case of horn,
perforated tin, glass, oiled paper, or other material, having a lamp
or candle within; sometimes fixed, as the glazed inclosure of a street
light, or of a lighthouse light.
2. (Arch.) (a) An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to
give light and air to the interior. (b) A cage or open chamber of rich
architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns.
(c) A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for
ornament, or to admit light; such as the lantern of the cupola of the
Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral.
3. (Mach.) A lantern pinion or trundle wheel. See Lantern pinion
(below).
4. (Steam Engine) A kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and
surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and
form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc. ; -- called
also lantern brass.
5. (Founding) A perforated barrel to form a core upon.
6. (Zo\'94l.) See Aristotle's lantern.
NOTE: &hand; Fi g. 1 re presents a ha nd la ntern; fig. 2, an arm
lantern; fig. 3, a breast lantern; -- so named from the positions
in which they are carried.
Dark lantern, a lantern with a single opening, which may be closed so
as to conceal the light; -- called also bull's-eye. -- Lantern fly,
Lantern carrier (Zo\'94l.), any one of several species of large,
handsome, hemipterous insects of the genera Laternaria, Fulgora, and
allies, of the family Fulgorid\'91. The largest species is Laternaria
phosphorea of Brazil. The head of some species has been supposed to be
phosphorescent. -- Lantern jaws, long, thin jaws; hence, a thin
visage. -- Lantern pinion, Lantern wheel (Mach.), a kind of pinion or
wheel having cylindrical bars or trundles, instead of teeth, inserted
at their ends in two parallel disks or plates; -- so called as
resembling a lantern in shape; -- called also wallower, or trundle. --
Lantern shell (Zo\'94l.), any translucent, marine, bivalve shell of
the genus Anatina, and allied genera. -- Magic lantern, an optical
instrument consisting of a case inclosing a light, and having suitable
lenses in a lateral tube, for throwing upon a screen, in a darkened
room or the like, greatly magnified pictures from slides placed in the
focus of the outer lens.
Lantern
Lan"tern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanterned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lanterning.] [Cf. F. lanterner to hang at the lamp post, fr. lanterne.
See Lantern.] To furnish with a lantern; as, to lantern a lighthouse.
Lantern-jawed
Lan"tern-jawed` (?), a. Having lantern jaws or long, thin jaws; as, a
lantern-jawed person.
Lanthanite
Lan"tha*nite (?), n. (Min.) Hydrous carbonate of lanthanum, found in
tabular while crystals.
Lanthanum
Lan"tha*num (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.) A rare element of the group
of the earth metals, allied to aluminium. It occurs in certain rare
minerals, as cerite, gadolinite, orthite, etc., and was so named from
the difficulty of separating it from cerium, didymium, and other rare
elements with which it is usually associated. Atomic weight 138.5.
Symbol La. [Formerly written also lanthanium.]
Lanthopine
Lan"tho*pine (?), n. [Gr. (Chem.) An alkaloid found in opium in small
quantities, and extracted as a white crystalline substance.
Lanthorn
Lan"thorn (?), n. See Lantern. [Obs.]
Lanuginose, Lanuginous
La*nu"gi*nose` (?), La*nu"gi*nous (?), a. [L. lanuginosus, fr. lanugo,
-ginis, woolly substance, down, fr. lana wool: cf. F. lanugineux.]
Covered with down, or fine soft hair; downy.
Lanugo
La*nu"go (?), n. [See Lanuginose.] (Anat.) The soft woolly hair which
covers most parts of the mammal fetus, and in man is shed before or
soon after birth.
Lanyard
Lan"yard (?), n. [F.lani\'8are thong, strap, OF. lasniere, fr. lasne
strap, thong, L. lacinia lappet. flap, edge of a garment. Cf. Lanier.]
[Written also laniard.]
1. (Naut.) A short piece of rope or line for fastening something in
ships; as, the lanyards of the gun ports, of the buoy, and the like;
esp., pieces passing through the dead-eyes, and used to extend
shrouds, stays, etc.
2. (Mil.) A strong cord, about twelve feet long, with an iron hook at
one end a handle at the other, used in firing cannon with a friction
tube.
Lanyer
Lan"yer (?), n. See Lanier.
Laoco\'94n
La*oc"o*\'94n (?), n. [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.) A priest of Apollo, during the Trojan war. (See 2.)
2. (Sculp.) A marble group in the Vatican at Rome, representing the
priest Laoco\'94n, with his sons, infolded in the coils of two
serpents, as described by Virgil.
Laodicean
La*od`i*ce"an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Laodicea, a city in Phrygia
Major; like the Christians of Laodicea; lukewarm in religion. Rev.
iii. 14-16.
Lap
Lap (?), n. [OE. lappe, AS. l\'91ppa; akin to D. lap patch, piece, G.
lappen, OHG. lappa, Dan. lap, Sw. lapp.]
1. The loose part of a coat; the lower part of a garment that plays
loosely; a skirt; an apron. Chaucer.
2. An edge; a border; a hem, as of cloth. Chaucer.
If he cuts off but a lap of truth's garment, his heart smites him.
Fuller.
3. The part of the clothing that lies on the knees or thighs when one
sits down; that part of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place
of rearing and fostering; as, to be reared in the lap of luxury.
Men expect that happiness should drop into their laps. Tillotson.
4. That part of any substance or fixture which extends over, or lies
upon, or by the side of, a part of another; as, the lap of a board;
also, the measure of such extension over or upon another thing.
NOTE: &hand; Th e la p of sh ingles or sl ates in roofing is the
distance one course extends over the second course below, the
distance over the course immediately below being called the cover.
5. (Steam Engine) The amount by which a slide valve at its half stroke
overlaps a port in the seat, being equal to the distance the valve
must move from its mid stroke position in order to begin to open the
port. Used alone, lap refers to outside lap. See Outside lap (below).
6. The state or condition of being in part extended over or by the
side of something else; or the extent of the overlapping; as, the
second boat got a lap of half its length on the leader.
7. One circuit around a race track, esp. when the distance is a small
fraction of a mile; as, to run twenty laps; to win by three laps. See
Lap, to fold, 2.
8. In card playing and other games, the points won in excess of the
number necessary to complete a game; -- so called when they are
counted in the score of the following game.
9. (Cotton Manuf.) A sheet, layer, or bat, of cotton fiber prepared
for the carding machine.
10. (Mach.) A piece of brass, lead, or other soft metal, used to hold
a cutting or polishing powder in cutting glass, gems, and the like, or
in polishing cutlery, etc. It is usually in the form of wheel or disk,
which revolves on a vertical axis.
Lap joint, a joint made by one layer, part, or piece, overlapping
another, as in the scarfing of timbers. -- Lap weld, a lap joint made
by welding together overlapping edges or ends. -- Inside lap (Steam
Engine), lap of the valve with respect to the exhaust port. -- Outside
lap, lap with respect to the admission, or steam, port.
Lap
Lap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lapped (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lapping.]
1. To rest or recline in a lap, or as in a lap.
To lap his head on lady's breast. Praed.
2. To cut or polish with a lap, as glass, gems, cutlery, etc. See 1st
Lap, 10.
Lap
Lap, v. t. [OE. lappen to fold (see Lap, n.); cf. also OE. wlappen,
perh. another form of wrappen, E, wrap.]
1. To fold; to bend and lay over or on something; as, to lap a piece
of cloth.
2. To wrap or wind around something.
About the paper . . . I lapped several times a slender thread of
very black silk. Sir I. Newton.
3. To infold; to hold as in one's lap; to cherish.
Her garment spreads, and laps him in the folds. Dryden.
4. To lay or place over anything so as to partly or wholly cover it;
as, to lap one shingle over another; to lay together one partly over
another; as, to lap weather-boards; also, to be partly over, or by the
side of (something); as, the hinder boat lapped the foremost one.
5. (Carding & Spinning) To lay together one over another, as fleeces
or slivers for further working.
To lap boards, shingles, etc., to lay one partly over another. -- To
lap timbers, to unite them in such a way as to preserve the same
breadth and depth throughout, as by scarfing. Weale.
Lap
Lap, v. i. To be turned or folded; to lie partly upon or by the side
of something, or of one another; as, the cloth laps back; the boats
lap; the edges lap.
The upper wings are opacous; at their hinder ends, where they lap
over, transparent, like the wing of a flay. Grew.
Lap
Lap (?), v. i. [OE. lappen, lapen, AS. lapian; akin to LG. lappen,
OHG. laffan, Icel. lepja, Dan. lade, Sw. l\'84ppja, L. lambere; cf.
Gr. llepio. Cf. Lambent.]
1. To take up drink or food with the tongue; to drink or feed by
licking up something.
The dogs by the River Nilus's side, being thirsty, lap hastily as
they run along the shore. Sir K. Digby.
2. To make a sound like that produced by taking up drink with the
tongue.
I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping
on the crag. Tennyson.
Lap
Lap, v. t. To take into the mouth with the tongue; to lick up with a
quick motion of the tongue.
They 'II take suggestion as a cat laps milk. Shak.
Lap
Lap, n.
1. The act of lapping with, or as with, the tongue; as, to take
anything into the mouth with a lap.
2. The sound of lapping.
Laparocele
Lap"a*ro*cele` (?), n. [Gr. (Med.) A rupture or hernia in the lumbar
regions.
Laparotomy
Lap`a*rot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. (Surg.) A cutting through the walls of the
abdomen, as in the C\'91sarean section.
Lapboard
Lap"board` (?), n. A board used on the lap as a substitute for a
table, as by tailors.
Lapdog
Lap"dog` (?), n. A small dog fondled in the lap.
Lapel
La*pel" (?), n. [Dim. of lap a fold.] That part of a garment which is
turned back; specifically, the lap, or fold, of the front of a coat in
continuation of collar. [Written also lappel and lapelle.]
Lapelled
La*pelled" (?), a. Furnished with lapels.
Lapful
Lap"ful (?), n.; pl. Lapfuls (. As much as the lap can contain.
Lapicide
Lap"i*cide (?), n. [L. lapicida, fr. lapis stone + caedere to cut.] A
stonecutter. [Obs.]
Lapidarian
Lap`i*da"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to stone; inscribed on stone;
as, a lapidarian record.
Lapidarious
Lap`i*da"ri*ous (?), a. [L. lapidarius, fr. lapis, -idis, stone.]
Consisting of stones.
Lapidary
Lap"i*da*ry (?), n. ; pl. Lapidaries (#). [L. lapidarius, fr.
lapidarius pertaining to stone: cf. F. lapidaire.]
1. An artificer who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones;
hence, a dealer in precious stones.
2. A virtuoso skilled in gems or precious stones; a connoisseur of
lapidary work.
Lapidary's lathe, mill, or wheel, a machine consisting essentially of
a revolving lap on a vertical spindle, used by a lapidary for grinding
and polishing.
Lapidary
Lap"i*da*ry, a. [L. lapidarius pertaining to stone: cf. F. lapidaire.]
1. Of or pertaining to the art of cutting stones, or engraving on
stones, either gems or monuments; as, lapidary ornamentation.
2. Of or pertaining to monumental inscriptions; as, lapidary
adulation.
Lapidary style, that style which is proper for monumental and other
inscriptions; terse; sententious.
Lapidate
Lap"i*date (?), v. t. [L.lapidatus, p. p. of lapidare, fr. lapis
stone.] To stone. [Obs.]
Lapidation
Lap`i*da"tion (?), n. [L. lapidatio: cf. F. lapidation.] The act of
stoning. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Lapideous
La*pid"e*ous (?), a. [L. lapideus, fr. lapis stone.] Of the nature of
stone; [Obs.] Ray.
Lapidescence
Lap`i*des"cence (?), n.
1. The state or quality of being lapidescent.
2. A hardening into a stone substance.
3. A stony concretion. Sir T. Browne.
Lapidescent
Lap`i*des"cent (?), a. [L. lapidescens, p. pr. of lapidescere to
become stone, fr. lapis, -idis, stone: cf. F. lapidescent.] Undergoing
the process of becoming stone; having the capacity of being converted
into stone; having the quality of petrifying bodies.
Lapidescent
Lap"i*des"cent, n. Any substance which has the quality of petrifying
other bodies, or of converting or being converted into stone.
Lapidific, Lapidifical
Lap`i*dif"ic (?), Lap`i*dif"ic*al (?), a. [L. lapis, -idis, stone +
facere to make: cf. F. lapidifique.] Forming or converting into stone.
Lapidification
La*pid`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. lapidification.] The act or
process of lapidifying; fossilization; petrifaction.
Lapidify
La*pid"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lapidified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lapidifying (?).] [Cf. f. lapidifier. See Lapidific, and -fy.] To
convert into stone or stony material; to petrify.
Lapidify
La*pid"i*fy, v. i. To become stone or stony
Lapidist
Lap"i*dist (?), n. [L. lapis, -idis, a stone.] A lapidary. Ray.
Lapillation
Lap"il*la"tion (?), n.[See Lapilli.] The state of being, or the act of
making, stony.
Lapilli
La*pil"li (?), n. pl. [L. lapillus a little stone, dim. of lapis
stone.] (Min.) Volcanic ashes, consisting of small, angular, stony
fragments or particles.
Lapis
La"pis (?), n.; pl. Lapides (#). [L.] A stone. Lapis calaminaris (.
[NL.] (Min.) Calamine. -- Lapis infernalis (. [L.] Fused nitrate of
silver; lunar caustic.
Lapis lazuli
La"pis laz"u*li (?). (Min.) An albuminous mineral of a rich blue
color. Same as Lazuli, which see.<-- lapis, for short -->
Lap-jointed
Lap"-joint`ed (?), a.Having a lap joint, or lap joints, as many kinds
of woodwork and metal work.
Laplander
Lap"land*er (?), n. A native or inhabitant of Lapland; -- called also
Lapp.
Laplandish
Lap"land*ish, a. Of or pertaining to Lapland.
Lapling
Lap"ling (?), n. [Lap of a garment + ling.] One who has been fondled
to excess; one fond of ease and sensual delights; -- a term of
contempt.
Lapp
Lapp (?), n. Same as Laplander. Cf. Lapps.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 830
Lappaceous
Lap*pa"ceous (?), a. [L. lappaceus burlike, fr. lappa a bur.] (Bot.)
Resembling the capitulum of burdock; covered with forked points.
Lapper
Lap"per (?), n. [From Lap to drink.] One who takes up food or liquid
with his tongue.
Lappet
Lap"pet (?), n. [Dim. of lap a fold.] A small decorative fold or flap,
esp, of lace or muslin, in a garment or headdress. Swift. Lappet moth
(Zo\'94l.), one of several species of bombycid moths, which have
stout, hairy caterpillars, flat beneath. Two common American species
(Gastropacha Americana, and Tolype velleda) feed upon the apple tree.
Lappet
Lap"pet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lappeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lappeting.] To
decorate with, or as with, a lappet. [R.] Landor.
Lappic
Lap"pic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Lapland, or the Lapps. -- n. The
language of the Lapps. See Lappish.
Lapping
Lap"ping (?), n. A kind of machine blanket or wrapping material used
by calico printers. Ure. Lapping engine, Lapping machine (Textile
Manuf.), A machine for forming fiber info a lap. See its Lap, 9.
Lappish
Lap"pish (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Lapps; Laplandish. -- n. The
language spoken by the Lapps in Lapland. It is related to the Finnish
and Hungarian, and is not an Aryan language.
Lapponian, Lapponic
Lap*po"ni*an (?), Lap*pon"ic (?), a. Laplandish; Lappish.
Lapps
Lapps (?), n. pl.; sing. Lapp (. (Ethnol.) A branch of the Mongolian
race, now living in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and the
adjacent parts of Russia.
Lapsable
Laps"a*ble (?), a. Lapsible. Cudworth.
Lapse
Lapse (?), n. [L. lapsus, fr. labi, p. p. lapsus, to slide, to fall:
cf. F. laps. See Sleep.]
1. A gliding, slipping, or gradual falling; an unobserved or
imperceptible progress or passing away,; -- restricted usually to
immaterial things, or to figurative uses.
The lapse to indolence is soft and imperceptible. Rambler.
Bacon was content to wait the lapse of long centuries for his
expected revenue of fame. I. Taylor.
2. A slip; an error; a fault; a failing in duty; a slight deviation
from truth or rectitude.
To guard against those lapses and failings to which our infirmities
daily expose us. Rogers.
3. (Law) The termination of a right or privilege through neglect to
exercise it within the limited time, or through failure of some
contingency; hence, the devolution of a right or privilege.
4. (Theol.) A fall or apostasy.
Lapse
Lapse, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lapsed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Lapsing.]
1. To pass slowly and smoothly downward, backward, or away; to slip
downward, backward, or away; to glide; -- mostly restricted to
figurative uses.
A tendency to lapse into the barbarity of those northern nations
from whom we are descended. Swift.
Homer, in his characters of Vulcan and Thersites, has lapsed into
the burlesque character. Addison.
2. To slide or slip in moral conduct; to fail in duty; to fall from
virtue; to deviate from rectitude; to commit a fault by inadvertence
or mistake.
To lapse in fullness Is sorer than to lie for need. Shak.
3. (Law) (a) To fall or pass from one proprietor to another, or from
the original destination, by the omission, negligence, or failure of
some one, as a patron, a legatee, etc. (b) To become ineffectual or
void; to fall.
If the archbishop shall not fill it up within six months ensuing,
it lapses to the king. Ayliffe.
Lapse
Lapse, v. t.
1. To let slip; to permit to devolve on another; to allow to pass.
An appeal may be deserted by the appellant's lapsing the term of
law. Ayliffe.
2. To surprise in a fault or error; hence, to surprise or catch, as an
offender. [Obs.]
For which, if be lapsed in this place, I shall pay dear. Shak.
Lapsed
Lapsed (?), a.
1. Having slipped downward, backward, or away; having lost position,
privilege, etc., by neglect; -- restricted to figurative uses.
Once more I will renew His lapsed powers, though forfeit. Milton.
2. Ineffectual, void, or forfeited; as, a lapsed policy of insurance;
a lapsed legacy.
Lapsed devise, Lapsed legacy (Law), a devise, or legacy, which fails
to take effect in consequence of the death of the devisee, or legatee,
before that of the testator, or for ether cause. Wharton (Law Dict.).
Lapsible
Laps"i*ble (?), a. Liable to lapse.
Lapsided
Lap"sid`ed (?), a. See Lopsided.
Lapstone
Lap"stone` (?), n. A stone for the lap, on which shoemakers beat
leather.
Lapstreak, Lapstrake
Lap"streak` (?), Lap"strake` (?), a. Made with boards whose edges lap
one over another; clinker-built; -- said of boats.
Laputan
La*pu"tan (?), a. Of or pertaining to Laputa, an imaginary flying
island described in Gulliver's Travels as the home of chimerical
philosophers. Hence, fanciful; preposterous; absurd in science or
philosophy. "Laputan ideas." G. Eliot.
Lap-welded
Lap"-weld`ed (?), a Having edges or ends united by a lap weld; as, a
lap-welded pipe.
Lapwing
Lap"wing` (?), n. [OE.lapwynke, leepwynke, AS. hle\'a0pewince;
hle\'a0pan to leap, jump + (prob.) a word akin to AS. wincian to wink,
E. wink, AS. wancol wavering; cf. G. wanken to stagger, waver. See
Leap, and Wink.] (Zo\'94l.) A small European bird of the Plover family
(Vanellus cristatus, or V. vanellus). It has long and broad wings, and
is noted for its rapid, irregular fight, upwards, downwards, and in
circles. Its back is coppery or greenish bronze. Its eggs are the
"plover's eggs" of the London market, esteemed a delicacy. It is
called also peewit, dastard plover, and wype. The gray lapwing is the
Squatarola cinerea.
Lapwork
Lap"work` (?), n. Work in which one part laps over another. Grew.
Laguay
Lag"uay (?), n. A lackey. [Obs.] Evelyn.
Laquear
La"que*ar (?), n.; pl. Laquearia (#). [L.] (Arch.) A lacunar.
Laqueary
Laq"ue*a*ry (?), a. [L. laqueus a noose.] Using a noose, as a
gladiator. [Obs. or R.]
Retiary and laqueary combatants. Sir T. Browne.
Lar
Lar (?), n.; pl. Lares (#), sometimes Lars (#). [L.] (Rom. Myth.) A
tutelary deity; a deceased ancestor regarded as a protector of the
family. The domestic Lares were the tutelar deities of a house;
household gods. Hence, Eng.: Hearth or dwelling house.
Nor will she her dear Lar forget, Victorious by his benefit.
Lovelace.
The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint. Milton.
Looking backward in vain toward their Lares and lands. Longfellow.
Lar
Lar (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A species of gibbon (Hylobates lar), found in
Burmah. Called also white-handed gibbon.
Laramie group
Lar"a*mie group` (?). (Geol.) An extensive series of strata,
principally developed in the Rocky Mountain region, as in the Laramie
Mountains, and formerly supposed to be of the Tertiary age, but now
generally regarded as Cretaceous, or of intermediate and transitional
character. It contains beds of lignite, often valuable for coal, and
is hence also called the lignitic group. See Chart of Geology.
Larboard
Lar"board` (?), n. [Lar- is of uncertain origin, possibly the same as
lower, i. e., humbler in rank, because the starboard side is
considered by mariners as higher in rank; cf. D. laag low, akin to E.
low. See Board, n., 8.] (Naut.) The left-hand side of a ship to one on
board facing toward the bow; port; -- opposed to starboard.
NOTE: &hand; La rboard is a ne arly ob solete te rm, ha ving been
superseded by port to avoid liability of confusion with starboard,
owing to similarity of sound.
Larboard
Lar"board`, a. On or pertaining to the left-hand side of a vessel;
port; as, the larboard quarter.
Larcener, Larcenist
Lar"ce*ner (?), Lar"ce*nist (?), n. One who commits larceny.
Larcenous
Lar"ce*nous (?), a. [Cf. OE. larrecinos. See Larceny.] Having the
character of larceny; as, a larcenous act; committing larceny. "The
larcenous and burglarious world." Sydney Smith. -- Lar"ce*nous*ly,
adv.
Larceny
Lar"ce*ny (?), n.; pl. Larcenies (#). [F. larcin, OE. larrecin, L.
latrocinium, fr. latro robber, mercenary, hired servant; cf. Gr.
(Latrociny.] (Law) The unlawful taking and carrying away of things
personal with intent to deprive the right owner of the same; theft.
Cf. Embezzlement. Grand larceny AND Petit larceny are distinctions
having reference to the nature or value of the property stolen. They
are abolished in England. -- Mixed, OR Compound, larceny, that which,
under statute, includes in it the aggravation of a taking from a
building or the person. -- Simple larceny, that which is not
accompanied with any aggravating circumstances.
Larch
Larch (?), n. [Cf. OE. larege (Cotgrave), It.larice, Sp. larice,
alerce, G. l\'84rche; all fr. L. larix, -icis, Gr. ( (Bot.) A genus of
coniferous trees, having deciduous leaves, in fascicles (see Illust.
of Fascicle).
NOTE: The European larch is Larix Europ\'91a. The American or black
larch is L. Americana, the hackmatack or tamarack. The trees are
generally of a drooping, graceful appearance.
Larchen
Larch"en (?), a. Of or pertaining to the larch. Keats.
Lard
Lard (?), n. [F., bacon, pig's fat, L. lardum, laridum; cf. Gr. (
1. Bacon; the flesh of swine. [Obs.] Dryden.
2. The fat of swine, esp. the internal fat of the abdomen; also, this
fat melted and strained.
Lard oil, an illuminating and lubricating oil expressed from lard. --
Leaf lard, the internal fat of the hog, separated in leaves or masses
from the kidneys, etc.; also, the same melted.
Lard
Lard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Larded; p. pr. & vb. n. Larding.] [F.
larder. See Lard, n.]
1. To stuff with bacon; to dress or enrich with lard; esp., to insert
lardons of bacon or pork in the surface of, before roasting; as, to
lard poultry.
And larded thighs on loaded altars laid. Dryden.
2. To fatten; to enrich.
[The oak] with his nuts larded many a swine. Spenser.
Falstaff sweats to death. And lards the lean earth as he walks
along. Shak.
3. To smear with lard or fat.
In his buff doublet larded o'er with fat Of slaughtered brutes.
Somerville.
4. To mix or garnish with something, as by way of improvement; to
interlard. Shak.
Let no alien Sedley interpose To lard with wit thy hungry Epsom
prose. Dryden.
Lard
Lard (?), v. i. To grow fat. [Obs.]
Lardacein
Lar`da*ce"in (?), n. [See Lardaceous.] (Physiol. Chem.) A peculiar
amyloid substance, colored blue by iodine and sulphuric acid,
occurring mainly as an abnormal infiltration into the spleen, liver,
etc.
Lardaceous
Lar*da"ceous (?), a. [Cf. F. lardac\'82.] Consisting of, or
resembling, lard. Lardaceous degeneration (Med.), amyloid
degeneration.
Larder
Lard"er (?), n. [OF. lardier. See Lard, n.] A room or place where meat
and other articles of food are kept before they are cooked. Shak.
Larderer
Lard"er*er (?), n. One in charge of the larder.
Lardery
Lard"er*y, n. [Cf. OE. larderie.] A larder. [Obs.]
Lardon, Lardoon
Lar"don (?), Lar*doon" (?), n. [F. lardon, fr. lard lard.] A bit of
fat pork or bacon used in larding.
Lardry
Lard"ry (?), n. [See Lardery.] A larder. [Obs.]
Lardy
Lard"y (?), a. Containing, or resembling, lard; of the character or
consistency of lard.
Lare
Lare (?), n. [See Lore.] Lore; learning. [Obs.]
Lare
Lare, n. Pasture; feed. See Lair. [Obs.] Spenser.
Lare
Lare, v. t. To feed; to fatten. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Lares
La"res (?), n. pl. See 1st Lar.
Large
Large (?), a. [Compar. Larger (?); superl. Largest.] [F., fr. L.
largus. Cf. Largo.]
1. Exceeding most other things of like in bulk, capacity, quantity,
superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great;
capacious; extensive; -- opposed to small; as, a nlarge horse; a large
house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large
vineyard; a large army; a large city.
NOTE: &hand; For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great, and not
large, is used as a qualifying word; as, great length, breadth,
depth; a great distance; a great height.
2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.
We hare yet large day. Milton.
3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.
I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of
education. Felton.
4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies
and generous impulses; comprehensive; -- said of the mind and heart.
5. Free; unembarrassed. [Obs.]
Of burdens all he set the Paynims large. Fairfax.
6. Unrestrained by decorum; -- said of language. [Obs.] "Some large
jests he will make." Shak.
7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
8. (Naut.) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable
direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam
and the quarter.
At large. (a) Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large; to
be left at large. (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to
discourse on a subject at large. -- Common at large. See under Common,
n. -- Electors at large, Representative at large, electors, or a
representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the whole of a
State, in distinction from those chosen to represent particular
districts in a State. [U. S.] -- To give, go, run, OR sail large
(Naut.), to have the wind crossing the direction of a vessel's course
in such a way that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains
its highest speed. See Large, a., 8. Syn. -- Big; bulky; huge;
capacious; comprehensive; ample; abundant; plentiful; populous;
copious; diffusive; liberal.
Large
Large, adv. Freely; licentiously. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Large
Large, n. (Mus.) A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs,
four breves, or eight semibreves.
Large-acred
Large"-a`cred (?), a. Possessing much land.
Large-handed
Large"-hand`ed (?), a. Having large hands, Fig.: Taking, or giving, in
large quantities; rapacious or bountiful.
Large-hearted
Large"-heart`ed (?), a. Having a large or generous heart or
disposition; noble; liberal. -- Large"-heart`ed*ness, n.
Largely
Large"ly, adv. In a large manner. Dryden. Milton.
Largeness
Large"ness, n. The quality or state of being large.
Largess, Largesse
Lar"gess, Lar"gesse (?), n. [F. largesse, fr. large. See Large, a.]
1. Liberality; generosity; bounty. [Obs.]
Fulfilled of largesse and of all grace. Chaucer.
2. A present; a gift; a bounty bestowed.
The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of
"Largesse, largesse, gallant knights!" and gold and silver pieces
were showered on them from the galleries. Sir W. Scott.
Larget
Lar"get (?), n. [Cf. F. larget.] A sport piece of bar iron for rolling
into a sheet; a small billet.
Larghetto
Lar*ghet"to (?), a. & adv. [It., dim. of largo largo.] (Mus.) Somewhat
slow or slowly, but not so slowly as largo, and rather more so than
andante.
Largifical
Lar*gif"i*cal (?), a. [L. largificus; largus large + facere.]
Generous; ample; liberal. [Obs.]
Largifluous
Lar*gif"lu*ous (?), a. [L. largifiuus; large abundantly + fluere to
flow.] Flowing copiously. [Obs.]
Largiloquent
Lar*gil"o*quent (?), a. [Cf. L. largiloquus.] Grandiloquent. [Obs.]
Largish
Lar"gish (?), a. Somewhat large. [Colloq.]
Largition
Lar*gi"tion (?), [L. largitio, fr. largiri, p. p. largitus, to give
bountifully.] The bestowment of a largess or gift. [Obs.]
Largo
Lar"go (?), a. & adv. [It., large, L. largus, See Large.] (Mus.) Slow
or slowly; -- more so than adagio; next in slowness to grave, which is
also weighty and solemn. -- n. A movement or piece in largo time.
Lariat
Lar"i*at (?), n. [Sp. la reata the rope; la the + reata rope. Cf.
Reata.] A long, slender rope made of hemp or strips of hide, esp. one
with a noose; -- used as a lasso for catching cattle, horses, etc.,
and for picketing a horse so that he can graze without wandering.
[Mexico & Western U.S.]
_________________________________________________________________
Page 831
Lariat
Lar"i*at (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lariated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Lariating.] To secure with a lariat fastened to a stake, as a horse or
mule for grazing; also, to lasso or catch with a lariat. [Western
U.S.]
Larine
La"rine (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Gull family
(Larid\'91).
Larixinic
Lar`ix*in"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, or derived from, the larch (Larix);
as, larixinic acid.
Lark
Lark (?), n. [Perh fr. AS. l\'bec play, sport. Cf. Lake, v. i.] A
frolic; a jolly time. [Colloq.] Dickens.
Lark
Lark, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Larked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Larking.] To
sport; to frolic. [Colloq.]
Lark
Lark, n. [OE. larke, laverock, AS. l\'bewerce; akin to D. leeuwerik,
LG. lewerke, OHG. l, G. lerche, Sw. l\'84rka, Dan. lerke, Icel.
l\'91virki.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one numerous species of singing birds of
the genus Alauda and allied genera (family Alaudid\'91). They mostly
belong to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. In America they are
represented by the shore larks, or horned by the shore larks, or
horned larks, of the genus Otocoris. The true larks have holaspidean
tarsi, very long hind claws, and usually, dull, sandy brown colors.
NOTE: &hand; Th e Eu ropean sk ylark, or lark of the poets (Alauda
arvensis), is of a brown mottled color, and is noted for its clear
and sweet song, uttered as it rises and descends almost
perpendicularly in the air. It is considered a table delicacy, and
immense numbers are killed for the markets. Other well-known
European species are the crested, or tufted, lark (Alauda
cristata), and the wood lark (A. arborea). The pipits, or titlarks,
of the genus Anthus (family Motacillid\'91) are often called larks.
See Pipit. The American meadow larks, of the genus Sturnella, are
allied to the starlings. See Meadow Lark. The Australian bush lark
is Mirafra Horsfieldii. See Shore lark.
Lark bunting (Zo\'94l.), a fringilline bird (Calamospiza melanocorys)
found on the plains of the Western United States. -- Lark sparrow
(Zo\'94l.), a sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), found in the Mississippi
Valley and the Western United States.
Lark
Lark, v. i. To catch larks; as, to go larking.
Lark-colored
Lark"-col`ored (?), a. Having the sandy brown color of the European
larks.
Larker
Lark"er (?), n. [See 3d Lark, for sense 1, and 1st Lark, for sense 2.]
1. A catcher of larks.
2. One who indulges in a lark or frolic. [Colloq.]
Lark's-heel
Lark's"-heel` (?), n. (Bot.) Indian cress.
Larkspur
Lark"spur (?), n. (Bot.) A genus of ranunculaceous plants
(Delphinium), having showy flowers, and a spurred calyx. They are
natives of the North Temperate zone. The commonest larkspur of the
gardens is D. Consolida. The flower of the bee larkspur (D. elatum)
has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee.
Larmier
Lar"mi*er (?), n. [F., fr. larme tear, drop, L. lacrima. See
Lachrymose.] (Anat.) See Tearpit.
Laroid
La"roid (?), a. [Larus + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Like or belonging to the
Gull family (Larid\'91).
Larrup
Lar"rup (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Larruped (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Larruping.] [Perh, a corrupt. of lee rope, used by sailors in beating
the boys; but cf. D. larpen to thresh, larp a whip, blow.] To beat or
flog soundly. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] Forby.
Larry
Lar"ry (?), n. Same as Lorry, or Lorrie.
Larum
Lar"um (?), See Alarum, and Alarm.
Larva
Lar"va (?), n.; pl. L. Larv\'91 (#), E. Larvas (#). [L. larva ghost,
specter, mask.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) Any young insect from the time that it hatches from the
egg until it becomes a pupa, or chrysalis. During this time it usually
molts several times, and may change its form or color each time. The
larv\'91 of many insects are much like the adults in form and habits,
but have no trace of wings, the rudimentary wings appearing only in
the pupa stage. In other groups of insects the larv\'91 are totally
unlike the parents in structure and habits, and are called
caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The early, immature form of any animal when more or less
of a metamorphosis takes place, before the assumption of the mature
shape.
Larval
Lar"val (?), a. [L. larvalis ghostly. See Larva.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or
pertaining to a larva.
Larvalia
Lar*va"li*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Larval.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of
Tunicata, including Appendicularia, and allied genera; -- so called
because certain larval features are retained by them through life.
Called also Copelata. See Appendicularia.
Larvated
Lar"va*ted (?), a. [L.larvatus bewitched. See Larva.] Masked; clothed
as with a mask.
Larve
Larve (?), n.; pl.Larves (#). [F.] A larva.
Larviform
Lar"vi*form (?), a. [Larva + -form.] (Zo\'94l.) Having the form or
structure of a larva.
Larviparous
Lar*vip"a*rous (?), a. [Larva + L. parete to bring forth.] (Zo\'94l.)
Depositing living larv\'91, instead of eggs; -- said of certain
insects.
Lary
La"ry (?), n. [Cf. F. lare sea gull, L. larus a sort of sea bird, Gr.
( A guillemot; -- called also lavy. [Prov. Eng.]
Laryngeal
Lar`yn*ge"al (?), a. [From Larynx.] Of or pertaining to the larynx;
adapted to operations on the larynx; as, laryngeal forceps.
Laryngean
Lar`yn*ge"an (?), a. See Laryngeal.
Larypgismus
Lar`yp*gis"mus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Larynx.] (Med.) A spasmodic
state of the glottis, giving rise to contraction or closure of the
opening.
Laryngitis
Lar`yn*gi"tis (?), n. [NL. See Larynx, and -tis.] (Med.) Inflammation
of the larynx.
Laryngological
La*ryn`go*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to laryngology.
Laryngologist
Lar`yn*gol"o*gist (?), n. One who applies himself to laryngology.
Laryngology
Lar`yn*gol"o*gy (?), n. [Larynx + -logy.] Systematized knowledge of
the action and functions of the larynx; in pathology, the department
which treats of the diseases of the larynx.
Laryngophony
Lar`yn*goph"o*ny (?), n. [Larynx + Gr. ( The sound of the voice as
heard through a stethoscope when the latter is placed upon the larynx.
Larungoscope
La*run"go*scope (?), n. [Larynx + -scope.] (Surg.) An instrument,
consisting of an arrangement of two mirrors, for reflecting light upon
the larynx, and for examining its image.
Laryngoscopic
La*ryn`go*scop"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to the inspection of the
larynx.
Laryngoscopist
Lar`yn*gos"co*pist (?), n. One skilled in laryngoscopy.
Laryngoscopy
Lar`yn*gos"co*py (?), n. The art of using the laryngoscope;
investigations made with the laryngoscope.
Laryngotome
La*ryn"go*tome (?), n. (Surg.) An instrument for performing
laryngotomy.
Laryngotomy
Lar`yn*got"o*my (?), n. [Gr. (laryngotomie.] (Surg.) The operation of
cutting into the larynx, from the outside of the neck, for assisting
respiration when obstructed, or for removing foreign bodies.
Laryngotracheal
La*ryn`go*tra"che*al (?), a. [Larynx + tracheal.] (Anat.) Pertaining
to both larynx and trachea; as, the laryngotracheal cartilage in the
frog.
Laryngotracheotomy
La*ryn`go*tra`che*ot"o*my (?), n. [Larynx + tracheotomy.] (Surg.) The
operation of cutting into the larynx and the upper part of the
trachea, -- a frequent operation for obstruction to breathing.
Larynx
Lar"ynx (?), n. [ (Anat.) The expanded upper end of the windpipe or
trachea, connected with the hyoid bone or cartilage. It contains the
vocal cords, which produce the voice by their vibrations, when they
are stretched and a current of air passes between them. The larynx is
connected with the pharynx by an opening, the glottis, which, in
mammals, is protected by a lidlike epiglottis.
NOTE: &hand; In th e fr amework of th e human larynx, the thyroid
cartilage, attached to the hyoid bone, makes the protuberance on
the front of the neck known as Adam's apple, and is articulated
below to the ringlike cricoid cartilage. This is narrow in front
and high behind, where, within the thyroid, it is surmounted by the
two arytenoid cartilages, from which the vocal cords pass forward
to be attached together to the front of the thyroid. See Syrinx.
Las
Las (?), n. A lace. See Lace. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Las
Las, a. & adv. Less. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lascar
Las"car (?), n. [Per. & Hind. lashkar an army, an inferior artillery
man, a cooly, a native sailor.] A native sailor, employed in European
vessels; also, a menial employed about arsenals, camps, camps, etc.; a
camp follower. [East Indies]
Lascious
Las"ci*ous (?), a. Loose; lascivious. [Obs.] "To depaint lascious
wantonness." Holland.
Lasciviency
Las*civ"i*en*cy (?), n. [See Lascivient.] Lasciviousness; wantonness.
[Obs.]
Lascivient
Las*civ"i*ent (?), a. [L. lasciviens, pr. of lascivire to be wanton,
fr. lascivus. See Lascivious.] Lascivious. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Lascivious
Las*civ"i*ous (?), a. [L. lascivia wantonness, fr. lascivus wanton;
cf. Gr. (lash to desire.]
1. Wanton; lewd; lustful; as, lascivious men; lascivious desires.
Milton.
2. Tending to produce voluptuous or lewd emotions.
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of
a lute. Shak.
-- Las*civ"i*ous*ly, adv. -- Las*civ"i*ous*ness, n.
Laserwort
La"ser*wort` (?), n. [L.laser the juice of the laserwort.] (Bot.) Any
plant of the umbelliferous genus Laserpitium, of several species (as
L. glabrum, and L. siler), the root of which yields a resinous
substance of a bitter taste. The genus is mostly European.
Lash
Lash (?), n. [OE. lasche; cf. D. lasch piece set in, joint, seam, G.
lashe latchet, a bit of leather, gusset, stripe, laschen to furnish
with flaps, to lash or slap, Icel. laski gusset, flap, laska to
break.]
1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.
I observed that your whip wanted a lash to it. Addison.
2. A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare.
[Obs.]
3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough; as, the culprit
received thirty-nine lashes.
4. A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or
gives pain; a cut.
The moral is a lash at the vanity of arrogating that to ourselves
which succeeds well. L'Estrange.
5. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.
6. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously
certain yarns, to form the figure.
Lash
Lash (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lashng.]
1. To strike with a lash ; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with
something like one.
We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward. Dryden.
2. To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat
upon, with a motion like that of a lash; as, a whale lashes the sea
with his tail.
And big waves lash the frighted shores. Dryden.
3. To throw out with a jerk or quickly.
He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws. Dryden.
4. To scold; to berate; to satirize; to censure with severity; as, to
lash vice.
Lash
Lash,. v. i. To ply the whip; to strike; to uttercensure or sarcastic
language.
To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice. Dryden.
To lash out, to strike out wildly or furiously.
Lash
Lash, v. t. [Cf. D. lasschen to fasten together, lasch piece, joint,
Sw. laska to stitch, Dan. laske stitch. See Lash, n. ] To bind with a
rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten; as, to lash something to
a spar; to lash a pack on a horse's back.
Lasher
Lash"er (?), n. One who whips or lashes.
Lasher
Lash"er, n.
1. A piece of rope for binding or making fast one thing to another; --
called also lashing.
2. A weir in a river. [Eng.] Halliwell.
Lashing
Lash"ing, n. The act of one who, or that which, lashes; castigation;
chastisement. South. Lashing out, a striking out; also, extravagance.
Lashing
Lash"ing, n. See 2d Lasher.
Lask
Lask (?), n. A diarrhea or flux. [Obs.] Holland.
Lasket
Las"ket (?), n. [Cf. Lash, Latching.] (Naut.) latching.
Lass
Lass (?), n. [OE. lasse; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. llodes girl,
fem. of llawd lad. (Lad a youth.] A youth woman; a girl; a sweetheart.
Lasse
Lasse (?), a. & adv. Less. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lassie
Las"sie (?), n. A young girl; a lass. [Scot.]
Lassitude
Las"si*tude (?), n. [L. lassitudo, fr. lassus faint, weary; akin to E.
late: cf. F. lassitude. See Late.] A condition of the body, or mind,
when its voluntary functions are performed with difficulty, and only
by a strong exertion of the will; languor; debility; weariness.
The corporeal instruments of action being strained to a high pitch
. . . will soon feel a lassitude. Barrow.
Lasslorn
Lass"lorn` (?), a. Forsaken by a lass. Shak.
Lasso
Lass"o (l&acr;s"s&osl;) n.; pl. Lassos (-s&omac;z). [Sp. lazo, L.
laqueus. See Lace.] A rope or long thong of leather with, a running
noose, used for catching horses, cattle, etc. Lasso cell (Zo\'94l.),
one of a peculiar kind of defensive and offensive stinging cells,
found in great numbers in all c\'d2lenterates, and in a few animals of
other groups. They are most highly developed in the tentacles of
jellyfishes, hydroids, and Actini\'91. Each of these cells is filled
with, fluid, and contains a long, slender, often barbed, hollow thread
coiled up within it. When the cell contracts the thread is quickly
ejected, being at the same time turned inside out. The thread is able
to penetrate the flesh of various small, soft-bodied animals, and
carries a subtle poison by which they are speedily paralyzed and
killed. The threads, at the same time, hold the prey in position,
attached to the tentacles. Some of the jellyfishes, as the Portuguese
man-of-war, and Cyanea, are able to penetrate the human skin, and
inflict painful stings in the same way. Called also nettling cell,
cnida, cnidocell.
Lasso
Las"so, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lassoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lassoing.] To
catch with a lasso.
Last
Last (?), 3d pers. sing. pres. of Last, to endure, contracted from
lasteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Last
Last (, a. [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin
to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See Late, and cf.
Latest.]
1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in
time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final;
hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a
line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in
the book of the law of God. Neh. viii. 18.
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night. Milton.
2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.
3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.
Contending for principles of the last importance. R. Hall
.
4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. Pope.
5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most
unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be
accused of theft.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 832
At last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of
Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." Motley. -- At the last.
[Prob. fr. AS. on l\'beste behind, following behind, fr. l\'best race,
track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot.] At the end; in the
conclusion. [Obs.] "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall
overcome at the last." Gen. xlix. 19. -- Last heir, the person to whom
lands escheat for want of an heir. [Eng.] Abbott. -- On one's last
legs, at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of
failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. [Colloq.] -- To
breathe one's last, to die. -- To the last, to the end; till the
conclusion.
And blunder on in business to the last. Pope.
Syn. -- At Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some
delayed end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long
period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three
months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that
something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which
leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite
of every obstacle, we have at last arrived.<-- "eventually" also
suggests a (relatively) long interval, but does not specifically imply
any interruptions -->
Last
Last (?), adv. [See Last, a.]
1. At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken
of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New
York.
2. In conclusion; finally.<-- = lastly -->
Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, last, the
thing adored desires. Dryden.
3. At a time next preceding the present time.
How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask ? Shak.
Last
Last, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lasting.] [OE.
lasten, As. l\'91stan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr.
l\'best, l, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform,
Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.]
1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.
[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while
my life lasted. Testament of Love.
2. To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or
exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last
through the winter.
Last
Last, n. [AS. l\'besttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last,
G. leisten, Sw. l\'84st, Dan. l\'91st, Icel. leistr the foot below the
ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf.
Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.] A wooden block shaped like the human
foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.
The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. L'Estrange.
Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a
stocking to preserve its shape in darning.
Last
Last, v. t. To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place
smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.
Last
Last, n. [As. hl\'91st, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G.,
D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch
origin. See Lade.]
1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure,
generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles
and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white
herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten
quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one
quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs;
of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of
leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool,
twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.
2. The burden of a ship; a cargo.
Lastage
Last"age (?) n. [E. lestage ballasting, fr. lest ballast, or LL.
lastagium, lestagium. See Last a load.]
1. A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry
things where one will. [Obs.]
2. A tax on wares sold by the last. [Obs.] Cowell.
3. The lading of a ship; also, ballast. Spelman.
4. Room for stowing goods, as in a ship.
Laste
Last"e (?), obs. imp. of Last, to endure. Chaucer.
Laster
Last"er, n. A workman whose business it is to shape boots or shoes, or
place leather smoothly, on lasts; a tool for stretching leather on a
last.
Laster-y
Last"er-y (?), n. A red color.[Obs.] Spenser.
Lasting
Last"ing, a. Existing or continuing a long while; enduring; as, a
lasting good or evil; a lasting color. Syn. -- Durable; permanent;
undecaying; perpetual; unending. -- Lasting, Permanent, Durable.
Lasting commonly means merely continuing in existence; permanent
carries the idea of continuing in the same state, position, or course;
durable means lasting in spite of agencies which tend to destroy.
Lasting
Last"ing, n.
1. Continuance; endurance. Locke.
2. A species of very durable woolen stuff, used for women's shoes;
everlasting.
3. The act or process of shaping on a last.
Lasting
Last"ing, adv. In a lasting manner.
Lastly
Last"ly, adv.
1. In the last place; in conclusion.
2. at last; finally.
Lat
Lat (?), v. t. To let; to allow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Latakia
Lat`a*ki"a (?), n. [Turk.] A superior quality of Turkish smoking
tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient
Laodicea.
Latch
Latch (?), v. t. [Cf. F. l\'82cher to lick (of German origin). Cf.
Lick.] To smear; to anoint. [Obs.] Shak.
Latch
Latch, n. [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. l\'91ccan.]
1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch
or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when
closed, though it be not bolted.
3. (Naut.) A latching.
4. A crossbow. [Obs.] Wright.
Latch
Latch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Latched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Latching.]
[OE.lacchen. See Latch. n.]
1. To catch so as to hold. [Obs.]
Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts,
sent them again at us. Golding.
2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch.
The door was only latched. Locke.
Latchet
Latch"et (?), n. [OE. lachet, from an OF. dialect form of F. lacet
plaited string, lace dim. of lacs. See Lace.] The string that fastens
a shoe; a shoestring.
Latching
Latch"ing, n. (Naut.) A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a
bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also
latch and lasket. [Usually in pl.]
Latchkey
Latch"key` (?), n. A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a
door, esp. a night latch.
Latchstring
Latch"string` (?), n. A string for raising the latch of a door by a
person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole
above it in the door. To find the latchstring out, to meet with
hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the
latchstring.) [Colloq. U.S.]
Late
Late (?), a. [Compar. Later (?), or latter (; superl. Latest (?).]
[OE. lat slow, slack, As.l\'91t; akin to Os. lat, D. laat late, G.
lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel. latr, Sw. lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats,
and to E. let, v. See Let to permit, and cf. Alas, Lassitude.]
1. Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time;
not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring.
2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a
late period of life.
3. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; lately
deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of
London; the late administration.
4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains;
we have received late intelligence.
5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; as, late
revels; a late watcher.
Late
Late, adv. [AS. late. See Late, a.]
1. After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay;
as, he arrived late; -- opposed to early.
2. Not long ago; lately.
3. Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; as, to lie
abed late; to sit up late at night.
Of late, in time not long past, or near the present; lately; as, the
practice is of late uncommon. -- Too late, after the proper or
available time; when the time or opportunity is past.
Lated
Lat"ed (?), a. Belated; too late. [Obs.] Shak.
La-teen
La-teen" (?), a. (Naut.) Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in
the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of
Africa. See below. Lateen sail. [F. voile latine a sail in the shape
of a right-angled triangle; cf. It. & Sp. vela latina; properly Latin
sail. See Latin.] (Naut.) A triangular sail, extended by a long yard,
which is slung at about one fourth of its length from the lower end,
to a low mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the
other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five degrees; -- used
in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc., especially in the
Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some lateen sails have also a boom
on the lower side.
Lately
Late"ly (?), adv. Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived
from Italy.
Latence
La"tence (?), n. Latency. Coleridge.
Latency
La"ten*cy (?), n. [See Latent.] The state or quality of being latent.
To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of
this latency. Sir W. Hamilton.
Lateness
Late"ness (?), n. The state, condition, or quality, of being late; as,
the lateness of his arrival; the lateness of the hour; the lateness of
the season.
Latent
La"tent (?), a. [L. latens, -entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or
concealed; cf. Gr. lethargy: cf. F.latent.] Not visible or apparent;
hidden; springs of action.
The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided
for as they arise. Burke.
Latent buds (bot.), buds which remain undeveloped or dormant for a
long time, but may at length grow. Latent heat (Physics), that
quantity of heat which disappears or becomes concealed in a body while
producing some change in it other than rise of temperature, as fusion,
evaporation, or expansion, the quantity being constant for each
particular body and for each species of change. -- Latent period. (a)
(Med.) The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing
without manifesting itself. (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a
simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes
are taking place in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.) One of those
periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which
development is arrested prior to renewed activity.
Latently
La"tent*ly, adv. In a secret or concealed manner; invisibly.
Later
La"ter (?), n.; pl. Lateres (#). [L.] A brick or tile. Knight.
Later
Lat"er (?), a. Compar. of Late, a. & adv.
Laterad
Lat"er*ad (?), adv. [L. latus, lateris, side + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward
the side; away from the mesial plane; -- opposed to mesiad.
Lateral
Lat"er*al (?), a. [L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side: cf.
F.lat\'82ral.]
1. Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house;
the lateral branches of a tree.
2. (Anat.) Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the
mesial plane; external; -- opposed to mesial.
3. Directed to the side; as, a lateral view of a thing.
Lateral cleavage (Crystallog.), cleavage parallel to the lateral
planes. -- Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree.
[Obs.] -- Lateral line (Anat.), in fishes, a line of sensory organs
along either side of the body, often marked by a distinct line of
color. -- Lateral pressure or stress (Mech.), a pressure or stress at
right angles to the length, as of a beam or bridge; -- distinguished
from longitudinal pressure or stress. -- Lateral strength (Mech.),
strength which resists a tendency to fracture arising from lateral
pressure. -- Lateral system (Bridge Building), the system of
horizontal braces (as between two vertical trusses) by which lateral
stiffness is secured.
Laterality
Lat`er*al"i*ty (?), n. The state or condition of being lateral.
Laterally
Lat"er*al*ly (?), adv. By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the
side.
Lateran
Lat"er*an (?), n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the
church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of
all churches in the Catholic world.
NOTE: &hand; The name is said to have been derived from that of the
Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where
the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical
councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.
Latered
Lat"ered (?), a. Inclined to delay; dilatory. [Obs.] "When a man is
too latered." Chaucer.
Laterifolious
Lat`er*i*fo"li*ous (?), a. [L. latus, lateris, side + folium leaf: cf.
F. lat\'82rifoli\'82.] (Bot.) Growing from the stem by the side of a
leaf; as, a laterifolious flower.
Laterite
Lat"er*ite (?), n. [L. later brick, tile: cf. F. lat\'82rite.]
(Geol.)An argillaceous sandstone, of a red color, and much seamed; --
found in India.
Later-itic
Lat`er-it"ic (?), a. consisting of, containing, or characterized by,
laterite; as, lateritic formations.
Lateritic
Lat`er*it"ic (?), a. Consisting of, containing, or characterized by,
laterite; as, lateritic formations.
Lateritious
Lat"er*i"tious (?), a. [L.lateritius, fr. later a brick.] Like bricks;
of the color of red bricks. Lateritious sediment (Med.), a sediment in
urine resembling brick dust, observed after the crises of fevers, and
at the termination of gouty paroxysms. It usually consists of uric
acid or urates with some coloring matter.
Lates
La"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of large percoid
fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus) inhabits the Nile, and
another (L. calcariferLatescence La*tes"cence (?), n. A slight
withdrawal from view or knowledge. Sir W. Hamilton.
Latescent
La*tes"cent (?), a. [L. latescens, -entis, p. pr. of latescere to be
concealed, fr. latere to be hid.] Slightly withdrawn from view or
knowledge; as, a latescent meaning. Sir W. Hamilton.
Latewake
Late"wake` (?), n. See Lich wake, under Lich.
Lateward
Late"ward (?), a. & adv. Somewhat late; backward. [Obs.] "Lateward
lands." Holland.
Latex
La"tex (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A milky or colored juice in certain plants
in cavities (called latex cells or latex tubes). It contains the
peculiar principles of the plants, whether aromatic, bitter, or acid,
and in many instances yields caoutchouc upon coagulation. <--
produced_by AND contained_in latex cells, -->
Lath
Lath (?), n.; pl. Laths (#). [OE. laththe, latthe, latte, AS.
l\'91tta; akin to D. lat, G. latte, OHG. latta; cf. W. llath a rod,
staff, yard. Cf. Lattice, Latten.] A thin, narrow strip of wood,
nailed to the rafters, studs, or floor beams of a building, for the
purpose of supporting the tiles, plastering, etc. A corrugated
metallic strip or plate is sometimes used. Lath brick, a long, slender
brick, used in making the floor on which malt is placed in the drying
kiln. Lath nail a slender nail for fastening laths.
Lath
Lath (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lathed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lathing.] To
cover or line with laths.
Lathe
Lathe (?), n. [AS.l&aemac;&edh;. Of. uncertain origin.] Formerly, a
part or division of a county among the Anglo-Saxons. At present it
consists of four or five hundreds, and is confined to the county of
Kent. [Written also lath.] Brande & C.
Lathe
Lathe (?), n. [OE. lathe a granary; akin to G. lade a chest, Icel.
hla&edh;a a storehouse, barn; but cf. also Icel. l\'94&edh; a smith's
lathe. Senses 2 and 3 are perh. of the same origin as lathe a granary,
the original meaning being, a frame to hold something. If so, the word
is from an older form of E. lade to load. See Lade to load.]
1. A granary; a barn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Mach.) A machine for turning, that is, for shaping articles of
wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted
upon by a cutting tool. <-- "turning" here is in the sense of cutting
while turning. turn 6 and turning 4, in this dict. -->
3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for separating
the warp threads and beating up the weft; -- called also lay and
batten.
Blanchard lathe, a lathe for turning irregular forms after a given
pattern, as lasts, gunstocks, and the like. -- Drill lathe, OR Speed
lathe, a small lathe which, from its high speed, is adapted for
drilling; a hand lathe. -- Engine lathe, a turning lathe in which the
cutting tool has an automatic feed; -- used chiefly for turning and
boring metals, cutting screws, etc. -- Foot lathe, a lathe which is
driven by a treadle worked by the foot. -- Geometric lathe. See under
Geometric -- Hand lathe, a lathe operated by hand; a power turning
lathe without an automatic feed for the tool. -- Slide lathe, an
engine lathe. -- Throw lathe, a small lathe worked by one hand, while
the cutting tool is held in the other.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 833
Lather
Lath"er (?), n. [AS. le\'a0&edh;or niter, in le\'a0&edh;orwyrt
soapwort; cf. Icel. lau; perh. akin to E. lye.]
1. Foam or froth made by soap moistened with water.
2. Foam from profuse sweating, as of a horse.
Lather
Lath"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lathered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lathering.]
[AS. l&emac;&edh;rian to lather, anoint. See Lather, n. ] To spread
over with lather; as, to lather the face.
Lather
Lath"er, v. i. To form lather, or a froth like lather; to accumulate
foam from profuse sweating, as a horse.
Lather
Lath"er, v. t. [Cf. Leather.] To beat severely with a thong, strap, or
the like; to flog. [Low]
Lathereeve, Lathreeve
Lathe"reeve` (?), Lath"reeve` (?), n. Formerly, the head officer of a
lathe. See 1st Lathe.
Lathing
Lath"ing (?), n. The act or process of covering with laths; laths,
collectively; a covering of laths.
Lath-shaped
Lath"-shaped` (?), a. Having a slender elongated form, like a lath; --
said of the feldspar of certain igneous rocks, as diabase, as seen in
microscopic sections.
Lathwork
Lath"work` (?), n. Same as Lathing.
Lathy
Lath"y (?), a. Like a lath; long and slender.
A lathy horse, all legs and length. R. Browning.
Latian
La"tian (?), a. Belonging, or relating, to Latium, a country of
ancient Italy. See Latin.
Latibulize
La*tib"u*lize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Latibulized (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Latibulizing (?).] [L. latibulum hiding place, fr. latere to lie hid.]
To retire into a den, or hole, and lie dormant in winter; to retreat
and lie hid. [R.] G. Shaw.
Latibulum
La*tib"u*lum (?), n; pl. Latibula (#). [L.] A concealed hiding place;
a burrow; a lair; a hole.
Laticiferous
Lat`i*cif"er*ous (?), a. [L. latex, laticis, a liquid + -ferous.]
(Bot.) Containing the latex; -- applied to the tissue or tubular
vessels in which the latex of the plant is found.
Laticlave
Lat"i*clave (?), n. [L. laticlavus, laticlavium; latus broad + clavus
nail, a purple stripe on the tunica: cf. F. laticlave.] (Rom. Antiq.)
A broad stripe of purple on the fore part of the tunic, worn by
senators in ancient Rome as an emblem of office.
Laticostate
Lat`i*cos"tate (?), a. [L. latus broad + E. costate.] Broad-ribbed.
Latidentate
Lat`i*den"tate (?), a. [L. latus broad + E. dentate.] Broad-toothed.
Latifoliate, Latifolious
Lat`i*fo"li*ate (?), Lat`i*fo"li*ous (?), a. [L. latifolius; latus
broad + folium leaf: cf. F. latifoli\'82.] (Bot.) Having broad leaves.
Latimer
Lat"i*mer (?), n. [OF. latinier, latimier, prop., one knowing Latin.]
An interpreter. [Obs.] Coke.
Latin
Lat"in (?), a. [F., fr. L. Latinus belonging to Latium, Latin, fr.
Latium a country of Italy, in which Rome was situated. Cf. Ladin,
Lateen sail, under Lateen.]
1. Of or pertaining to Latium, or to the Latins, a people of Latium;
Roman; as, the Latin language.
2. Of, pertaining to, or composed in, the language used by the Romans
or Latins; as, a Latin grammar; a Latin composition or idiom.
Latin Church (Eccl. Hist.), the Western or Roman Catholic Church, as
distinct from the Greek or Eastern Church. -- Latin cross. See Illust.
1 of Cross. -- Latin races, a designation sometimes loosely given to
certain nations, esp. the French, Spanish, and Italians, who speak
languages principally derived from Latin. Latin Union, an association
of states, originally comprising France, Belgium, Switzerland, and
Italy, which, in 1865, entered into a monetary agreement, providing
for an identity in the weight and fineness of the gold and silver
coins of those countries, and for the amounts of each kind of coinage
by each. Greece, Servia, Roumania, and Spain subsequently joined the
Union.
Latin
Lat"in, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Latium; a Roman.
2. The language of the ancient Romans.
3. An exercise in schools, consisting in turning English into Latin.
[Obs.] Ascham.
4. (Eccl.) A member of the Roman Catholic Church. (
Dog Latin, barbarous Latin; a jargon in imitation of Latin; as, the
log Latin of schoolboys. -- Late Latin, Low Latin, terms used
indifferently to designate the latest stages of the Latin language;
low Latin (and, perhaps, late Latin also), including the barbarous
coinages from the French, German, and other languages into a Latin
form made after the Latin had become a dead language for the people.
-- Law Latin, that kind of late, or low, Latin, used in statutes and
legal instruments; -- often barbarous.
Latin
Lat"in, v. t. To write or speak in Latin; to turn or render into
Latin. [Obs.] Fuller.
Latinism
Lat"in*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. latinisme.] A Latin idiom; a mode of speech
peculiar to Latin; also, a mode of speech in another language, as
English, formed on a Latin model.
NOTE: &hand; Th e te rm is also sometimes used by Biblical scholars
to designate a Latin word in Greek letters, or the Latin sense of a
Greek word in the Greek Testament.
Latinist
Lat"in*ist, n. [Cf. F. latiniste.] One skilled in Latin; a Latin
scholar. Cowper.
He left school a good Latinist. Macaulay.
Latinistic
Lat`in*is"tic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or derived from, Latin; in
the Latin style or idiom. "Latinistic words." Fitzed. Hall.
Latinitaster
La*tin"i*tas`ter (?), n. [Cf. Poetaster.] One who has but a smattering
of Latin. Walker.
Latinity
La*tin"i*ty (?), n. [L. latinitas: cf. F. latinit\'82.] The Latin
tongue, style, or idiom, or the use thereof; specifically, purity of
Latin style or idiom. "His eleLatinity." Motley.
Latinization
Lat`in*i*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of Latinizing, as a word,
language, or country.
The Germanization of Britain went far deeper than the Latinization
of France. M. Arnold.
Latinize
Lat"in*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Latinized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Latinizing (?).] [L. latinizare: cf. F.latiniser.]
1. To give Latin terminations or forms to, as to foreign words, in
writing Latin.
2. To bring under the power or influence of the Romans or Latins; to
affect with the usages of the Latins, especially in speech. "Latinized
races." Lowell.
3. To make like the Roman Catholic Church or diffuse its ideas in; as,
to Latinize the Church of England.
Latinize
Lat"in*ize, v. i. To use words or phrases borrowed from the Latin.
Dryden.
2. To come under the influence of the Romans, or of the Roman Catholic
Church.
Latinly
Lat"in*ly, adv. In the manner of the Latin language; in correct Latin.
[Obs.] Heylin.
Lation
La"tion (?), n. [L. latio, fr. latus borne. See Tolerate.]
Transportation; conveyance. [Obs.]
Latirostral, Latirostrous
Lat`i*ros"tral (?), Lat`i*ros"trous (?), a. [Cf. F. latirostre. See
Latirostres.] (Zo\'94l.) Having a broad beak. Sir T. Browne.
Latirostres
Lat`i*ros"tres (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. latus broad + rostrum beak.]
(Zo\'94l.) The broad-billed singing birds, such as the swallows, and
their allies.
Latish
Lat"ish (?), a. Somewhat late. [Colloq.]
Latisternal
Lat`i*ster"nal (?), a. [L. latus broad + E. sternal.] (Zo\'94l.)
Having a broad breastbone, or sternum; -- said of anthropoid apes.
Latitancy
Lat"i*tan*cy (?), n. [See Latitant.] Act or state of lying hid, or
lurking. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Latitant
Lat"i*tant (?), a. [L. latitans, pr. of latitare to lie hid, to lurk,
v. intens. fr. latere to be hid: cf. F. latitant.] Lying hid;
concealed; latent. [R.]
Latitat
Lat"i*tat (?), n. [L., he lies hid.] (O. Eng. Law) A writ based upon
the presumption that the person summoned was hiding. Blackstone.
Latitation
Lat`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. latitatio.] A lying in concealment; hiding.
[Obs.]
Latitude
Lat"i*tude (?), n. [F. latitude, L. latitudo, fr. latus broad, wide,
for older stlatus; perh. akin to E. strew.]
1. Extent from side to side, or distance sidewise from a given point
or line; breadth; width.
Provided the length do not exceed the latitude above one third
part. Sir H. Wotton.
2. Room; space; freedom from confinement or restraint; hence,
looseness; laxity; independence.
In human actions there are no degrees and precise natural limits
described, but a latitude is indulged. Jer. Taylor.
3. Extent or breadth of signification, application, etc.; extent of
deviation from a standard, as truth, style, etc.
No discreet man will believe Augustine's miracles, in the latitude
of monkish relations. Fuller.
4. Extent; size; amplitude; scope.
I pretend not to treat of them in their full latitude. Locke.
5. (Geog.) Distance north or south of the equator, measured on a
meridian.
6. (Astron.) The angular distance of a heavenly body from the
ecliptic.
Ascending latitude, Circle of latitude, Geographical latitude, etc.
See under Ascending. Circle, etc. -- High latitude, that part of the
earth's surface near either pole, esp. that part within either the
arctic or the antarctic circle. -- Low latitude, that part of the
earth's surface which is near the equator.
Latitudinal
Lat`i*tu"di*nal (?), a. Of or pertaining to latitude; in the direction
of latitude.
Latitudinarian
Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an (?), a. [Cf. F. latitudinaire.]
1. Not restrained; not confined by precise limits.
2. Indifferent to a strict application of any standard of belief or
opinion; hence, deviating more or less widely from such standard; lax
in doctrine; as, latitudinarian divines; latitudinarian theology.
Latitudinarian sentiments upon religious subjects. Allibone.
3. Lax in moral or religious principles.
Latitudinarian
Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an, n.
1. One who is moderate in his notions, or not restrained by precise
settled limits in opinion; one who indulges freedom in thinking.
2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) A member of the Church of England, in the time
of Charles II., who adopted more liberal notions in respect to the
authority, government, and doctrines of the church than generally
prevailed.
They were called "men of latitude;" and upon this, men of narrow
thoughts fastened upon them the name of latitudinarians. Bp.
Burnet.
3. (Theol.) One who departs in opinion from the strict principles of
orthodoxy.
Latitudinarianism
Lat`i*tu`di*na"ri*an*ism (?), n. A latitudinarian system or condition;
freedom of opinion in matters pertaining to religious belief.
Fierce sectarianism bred fierce latitudinarianism. De Quincey.
He [Ammonius Saccas] plunged into the wildest latitudinarianism of
opinion. J. S. Harford.
Latitudinous
Lat`i*tu"di*nous (?), a. Having latitude, or wide extent.
Laton, Latoun
Lat"on (?), Lat"oun (?), n. Latten, 1. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Latrant
La"trant (?), a. [L. latrans, p. pr. of latrare. See Latrate.]
Barking. [Obs.] Tickell.
Latrate
La"trate (?), v. i. [L. latratus, p. p. of latrare to bark.] To bark
as a dog. [Obs.]
Latration
La*tra"tion (?), n. A barking. [Obs.]
Latreutical
La*treu"tic*al (?), a. [Gr.
1. Acting as a hired servant; serving; ministering; assisting. [Obs.]
2. Of or pertaining to latria. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Latria
La*tri"a (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. The highest kind of worship, or that
paid to God; -- distinguished by the Roman Catholics from dulia, or
the inferior worship paid to saints.
Latrine
La*trine" (?), n. [L. latrina: cf. F. latrines.] A privy, or
water-closet, esp. in a camp, hospital, etc.
Latrociny
Lat"ro*cin`y (?), n. [L. latrocinium. Cf. Larceny.] Theft; larceny.
[Obs.]
Latten
Lat"ten (?), n. [OE. latoun, laton, OF. laton, F. laiton, prob. fr.
OF. late lath, F. latte; -- because made in thin plates; cf. It. latta
a sheet of tinned iron, tin plate. F. latte is of German origin. See
Lath a thin board.]
1. A kind of brass hammered into thin sheets, formerly much used for
making church utensils, as candlesticks, crosses, etc.; -- called also
latten brass.
He had a cross of latoun full of stones. Chaucer.
2. Sheet tin; iron plate, covered with tin; also, any metal in thin
sheets; as, gold latten.
Black latten, brass in milled sheets, composed of copper and zinc,
used by braziers, and for drawing into wire. -- Roll latten, latten
polished on both sides ready for use. -- Shaven latten, a thinner kind
than black latten. -- White latten, a mixture of brass and tin.
Latter
Lat"ter (?), a. [OE. later, l\'91tter, compar. of lat late. See Late,
and cf. Later.]
1. Later; more recent; coming or happening after something else; --
opposed to former; as, the former and latter rain.
2. Of two things, the one mentioned second.
The difference between reason and revelation, and in what sense the
latter is superior. I. Watts.
3. Recent; modern.
Hath not navigation discovered in these latter ages, whole nations
at the bay of Soldania? Locke.
4. Last; latest; final. [R.] "My latter gasp." Shak.
Latter harvest, the last part of the harvest. -- Latter spring, the
last part of the spring of the year. Shak.
Latter-day saint
Lat"ter-day` saint" (?). A Mormon; -- the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints being the name assumed by the whole body of Mormons.
Latterkin
Lat"ter*kin (?), n. A pointed wooden tool used in glazing leaden
lattice.
Latterly
Lat"ter*ly, adv. Lately; of late; recently; at a later, as
distinguished from a former, period.
Latterly Milton was short and thick. Richardson.
Lattermath
Lat"ter*math (?), n. [Cf. Aftermath.] The latter, or second, mowing;
the aftermath.
Lattice
Lat"tice (?), n. [OE. latis, F. lattis lathwork, fr. latte lath. See
Latten, 1st Lath.]
1. Any work of wood or metal, made by crossing laths, or thin strips,
and forming a network; as, the lattice of a window; -- called also
latticework.
The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the
lattice. Judg. v. 28.
2. (Her.) The representation of a piece of latticework used as a
bearing, the bands being vertical and horizontal.
Lattice bridge, a bridge supported by lattice girders, or latticework
trusses. -- Lattice girder (Arch.), a girder of which the wed consists
of diagonal pieces crossing each other in the manner of latticework.
-- Lattice plant (Bot.), an aquatic plant of Madagascar (Ouvirandra
fenestralis), whose leaves have interstices between their ribs and
cross veins, so as to resemble latticework. A second species is O.
Berneriana. The genus is merged in Aponogeton by recent authors.
Lattice
Lat"tice, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Latticed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Latticing
(?).]
1. To make a lattice of; as, to lattice timbers.
2. To close, as an opening, with latticework; to furnish with a
lattice; as, to lattice a window.
To lattice up, to cover or inclose with a lattice.
Therein it seemeth he [Alexander] hath latticed up C\'91sar. Sir T.
North.
Latticework
Lat"tice*work` (?), n. Same as Lattice, n., 1.
Latticing
Lat"ti*cing (?), n.
1. The act or process of making a lattice of, or of fitting a lattice
to.
2. (Bridge Building) A system of bars crossing in the middle to form
braces between principal longitudinal members, as of a strut.
Latus rectum
La"tus rec"tum (?). [L., the right side.] (Conic Sections) The line
drawn through a focus of a conic section parallel to the directrix and
terminated both ways by the curve. It is the parameter of the
principal axis. See Focus, and Parameter.
Laud
Laud (?), n. [L. laus, laudis. See Laud, v. i.]
1. High commendation; praise; honor; exaltation; glory. "Laud be to
God." Shak.
So do well and thou shalt have laud of the same. Tyndals.
2. A part of divine worship, consisting chiefly of praise; -- usually
in the pl.
NOTE: &hand; In th e Ro man Ca tholic Ch urch, the prayers used at
daybreak, between those of matins and prime, are called lauds.
3. Music or singing in honor of any one.
Laud
Laud, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lauded; p. pr. & vb. n. Lauding.]
[L.laudare, fr. laus, laudis, praise. Cf. Allow.] To praise in words
alone, or with words and singing; to celebrate; to extol.
With all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious
name. Book of Common Prayer.
Laudability
Laud`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. laudabilitas.] Laudableness;
praiseworthiness.
Laudable
Laud"a*ble (?), a. [L. laudabilis: cf. OE. laudable. See Laud, v. i.]
1. Worthy of being lauded; praiseworthy; commendable; as, laudable
motives; laudable actions; laudable ambition.
2. (Med.) Healthy; salubrious; normal; having a disposition to promote
healing; not noxious; as, laudable juices of the body; laudable pus.
Arbuthnot.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 834
Laudableness
Laud"a*ble*ness (?), n. The quality of being laudable;
praiseworthiness; commendableness.
Laudably
Laud"a*bly (?), adv. In a laudable manner.
Laudanine
Lau"da*nine (?), n. [From Laudanum.] (Chem.) A white organic base,
resembling morphine, and obtained from certain varieties of opium.
Laudanum
Lau"da*num (?), n. [Orig. the same wort as ladanum, ladbdanum: cf. F.
laudanum, It. laudano, ladano. See Ladanum.] Tincture of opium, used
for various medical purposes.
NOTE: &hand; A fluid ounce of American laudanum should contain the
soluble matter of one tenth of an ounce avoirdupois of powdered
opium with equal parts of alcohol and water. English laudanum
should have ten grains less of opium in the fluid ounce. U. S.
Disp.
Dutchman's laudanum (Bot.) See under Dutchman.
Laudation
Lau*da"tion (?), n. [L. laudatio: cf. OE. taudation. See Land, v. t.]
The act of lauding; praise; high commendation.
Laudative
Laud"a*tive (?), a. [L. laudativus laudatory: cf. F. laudatif.]
Laudatory.
Laudative
Laud"a*tive, n. A panegyric; a eulogy. [Obs.] Bacon.
Laudator
Lau*da"tor (?), n. [L.]
1. One who lauds.
2. (Law) An arbitrator. [Obs.] Cowell.
Laudatory
Laud"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. laudatorius: cf. OF. laudatoire.] Of or
pertaining praise, or to the expression of praise; as, laudatory
verses; the laudatory powers of Dryden. Sir J. Stephen.
Lauder
Laud"er (?), n. One who lauds.
Laugh
Laugh (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laughed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laughing.]
[OE. laughen, laghen, lauhen, AS. hlehhan, hlihhan, hlyhhan, hliehhan;
akin to OS. hlahan, D. & G.lachen, OHG. hlahhan, lahhan, lahh, Icel.
hl\'91ja. Dan. lee, Sw. le, Goth. hlahjan; perh. of imitative origin.]
1. To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of
the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting
up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of
explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in
laughter.
Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er. Shak.
He laugheth that winneth. Heywood's Prov.
2. Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or
brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned. Dryden.
In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy. Pope.
To laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun
of; to deride.
No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which
he valued more. Pope.
-- To laugh in the sleeve<-- or to laugh up one's sleeve -->, to laugh
secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently
preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons
laughed at. -- To laugh out, to laugh in spite of some restraining
influence; to laugh aloud. -- To laugh out of the other corner (OR
side) of the mouth, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or
disappointment after hilarity or exaltation. [Slang]
Laugh
Laugh, v. t.
1. To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? Shak.
I shall laugh myself to death. Shak.
2. To express by, or utter with, laughter; -- with out.
From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause. Shak.
To laugh away. (a) To drive away by laughter; as, to laugh away
regret. (b) To waste in hilarity. "Pompey doth this day laugh away his
fortune." Shak. -- To laugh down. (a) To cause to cease or desist by
laughter; as, to laugh down a speaker. (b) To cause to be given up on
account of ridicule; as, to laugh down a reform. -- To laugh one out
of, to cause one by laughter or ridicule to abandon or give up; as, to
laugh one out of a plan or purpose. -- To laugh to scorn, to deride;
to treat with mockery, contempt, and scorn; to despise.
Laugh
Laugh (?), n. An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species;
the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See Laugh, v. i.
And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. Goldsmith.
That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty
laugh. F. W. Robertson.
Laughable
Laugh"a*ble (?), a. Fitted to excite laughter; as, a laughable story;
a laughable scene. Syn. -- Droll; ludicrous; mirthful; comical. See
Droll, and Ludicrous. -- Laugh"a*ble*ness, n. -- Laugh"a*bly, adv.
Laugher
Laugh"er (?), n.
1. One who laughs.
2. A variety of the domestic pigeon.
Laughing
Laugh"ing (?), a. & n. from Laugh, v. i. Laughing falcon (Zo\'94l.), a
South American hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its
notes, which resemble a shrill laughing. -- Laughing gas (Chem.),
hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen<-- = nitrous oxide -->; --
so called from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes
produces when inhaled. It is much used as an an\'91sthetic agent.<--
now primarily in dentistry --> -- Laughing goose (Zo\'94l.), the
European white-fronted goose. -- Laughing gull. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A
common European gull (Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black
cap, red-legged gull, and sea crow. (b) An American gull (Larus
atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color,
and the five outer primaries black. -- Laughing hyena (Zo\'94l.), the
spotted hyena. See Hyena. -- Laughing jackass (Zo\'94l.), the great
brown kingfisher (Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant
kingfisher, and gogobera. -- Laughing owl (Zo\'94l.), a peculiar owl
(Sceloglaux albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of
extinction. The name alludes to its notes.
Laughingly
Laugh"ing*ly (?), adv. With laughter or merriment.
Laughingstock
Laugh"ing*stock` (?), n. An object of ridicule; a butt of sport. Shak.
When he talked, he talked nonsense, and made himself the
laughingstock of his hearers. Macaulay.
Laughsome
Laugh"some (?), a. Exciting laughter; also, addicted to laughter;
merry. [R.]
Laughter
Laugh"ter (?), n. [AS. hleahtor; akin to OHG. hlahtar, G.
gel\'84chter, Icel. hl\'betr, Dan. latter. See Laugh, v. i. ] A
movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the face,
particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression of the eyes,
indicating merriment, satisfaction, or derision, and usually attended
by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs. See
Laugh, v. i.
The act of laughter, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of
the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not
merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves. Sir T.
Browne.
Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter.
Longfellow.
Laughterless
Laugh"ter*less, a. Not laughing; without laughter.
Laughworthy
Laugh"wor`thy (?), a. Deserving to be laughed at. [R.] B. Jonson.
Laumontite
Lau"mont*ite (?), n. [From Dr. Laumont, the discoverer.] (Min.) A
mineral, of a white color and vitreous luster. It is a hydrous
silicate of alumina and lime. Exposed to the air, it loses water,
becomes opaque, and crumbles. [Written also laumonite.]
Launce
Launce (?), n. A lance. [Obs.]
Launce
Launce, n. [It. lance, L. lanx, lancis, plate, scale of a balance. Cf.
Balance.] A balance. [Obs.]
Fortune all in equal launce doth sway. Spenser.
Launce
Launce, n. (Zo\'94l.) See Lant, the fish.
Launcegaye
Launce"gaye` (?), n. See Langegaye. [Obs.]
Launch
Launch (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Launched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Launching.] [OE. launchen to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier, another
form of lancier, F. lancer, fr. lance lance. See Lance.] [Written also
lanch.]
1. To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.
2. To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce. [Obs.]
Launch your hearts with lamentable wounds. Spenser.
3. To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set
afloat; as, to launch a ship.
With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, And rolled on
levers, launched her in the deep. Pope.
4. To send out; to start (one) on a career; to set going; to give a
start to (something); to put in operation; as, to launch a son in the
world; to launch a business project or enterprise.
All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in
England. Eikon Basilike.
Launch
Launch, v. i. To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the
stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch
into the current of a stream; to launch into an argument or
discussion; to launch into lavish expenditures; -- often with out.
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
Luke v. 4.
He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths. Prior.
Launch
Launch, n.
1. The act of launching.
2. The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the
sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.
3. [Cf. Sp. lancha.] (Naut.) The boat of the largest size belonging to
a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam,
naphtha, electricity, or the like.
Launching ways. (Naut.) See Way, n. (Naut.).
Laund
Laund (l&add;nd), n. [See Lawn of grass.] A plain sprinkled with trees
or underbrush; a glade. [Obs.]
In a laund upon an hill of flowers. Chaucer.
Through this laund anon the deer will come. Shak.
Launder
Laun"der (?), n. [Contracted fr. OE. lavender, F. lavandi\'8are, LL.
lavandena, from L. lavare to wash. See Lave.]
1. A washerwoman. [Obs.]
2. (Mining) A trough used by miners to receive the powdered ore from
the box where it is beaten, or for carrying water to the stamps, or
other apparatus, for comminuting, or sorting, the ore.
Launder
Laun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Laundering.]
1. To wash, as clothes; to wash, and to smooth with a flatiron or
mangle; to wash and iron; as, to launder shirts.
2. To lave; to wet. [Obs.] Shak.
Launderer
Laun"der*er (?), n. One who follows the business of laundering.
Laundering
Laun"der*ing, n. The act, or occupation, of one who launders; washing
and ironing.
Laundress
Laun"dress (?), n. A woman whose employment is laundering.
Laundress
Laun"dress, v. i. To act as a laundress.[Obs.]
Laundry
Laun"dry (?), n.; pl. Laundries (#). [OE. lavendrie, OF. lavanderie.
See Launder.]
1. A laundering; a washing.
2. A place or room where laundering is done.
Laundryman
Laun"dry*man (?), n.; pl. Laundrymen (. A man who follows the business
of laundering.
Laura
Lau"ra (?), n. [LL., fr. Gr. ( (R. C. Ch.) A number of hermitages or
cells in the same neighborhood occupied by anchorites who were under
the same superior. C. Kingsley.
Lauraceous
Lau*ra"ceous (?), a. [From Laurus.] (Bot.) Belonging to, or
resembling, a natural order (Laurace\'91) of trees and shrubs having
aromatic bark and foliage, and including the laurel, sassafras,
cinnamon tree, true camphor tree, etc.
Laurate
Lau"rate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of lauric acid.
Laureate
Lau"re*ate (?), a. [L. laureatus, fr. laurea laurel tree, fr. laureus
of laurel, fr. laurus laurel: cf. F. laur\'82at. Cf. Laurel.] Crowned,
or decked, with laurel. Chaucer.
To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies. Milton.
Soft on her lap her laureate son reclines. Pope.
Poet laureate. (b) One who received an honorable degree in grammar,
including poetry and rhetoric, at the English universities; -- so
called as being presented with a wreath of laurel. [Obs.] (b)
Formerly, an officer of the king's household, whose business was to
compose an ode annually for the king's birthday, and other suitable
occasions; now, a poet officially distinguished by such honorary
title, the office being a sinecure. It is said this title was first
given in the time of Edward IV. [Eng.]
Laureate
Lau"re*ate, n. One crowned with laurel; a poet laureate. "A learned
laureate." Cleveland.
Laureate
Lau"re*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laureated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Laureating (?).] To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was
done in bestowing a degree at the English universities.
Laureateship
Lau"re*ate*ship, n. State, or office, of a laureate.
Laureation
Lau`re*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. laur\'82ation.] The act of crowning with
laurel; the act of conferring an academic degree, or honorary title.
Laurel
Lau"rel (?), n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F.
laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.]
1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (L. nobilis), having
aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small,
yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay.
NOTE: The fr uit is a pu rple be rry. It is fo und ab out th e
Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown
the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic
honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The
leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water
of commerce.
NOTE: &hand; Th e na me is ex tended to other plants which in some
respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially
in the plural; as, to win laurels.
3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's
head on it was crowned with laurel.
Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry
laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in
the process. American laurel, OR Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia.
See under Mountain. -- California laurel, Umbellularia Californica. --
Cherry laurel (in England called laurel). See under Cherry. -- Great
laurel, the rosebay (Rhododendron maximum). -- Ground laurel, trailing
arbutus. -- New Zealand laurel, Laurelia Nov\'91 Zelandi\'91. --
Portugal laurel, the Prunus Lusitanica. -- Rose laurel, the oleander.
See Oleander. -- Sheep laurel, a poisonous shrub, Kalmia angustifolia,
smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and redder flowers.
-- Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola. -- West Indian laurel, Prunus
occidentalis.
Laureled
Lau"reled (?), a. Crowned with laurel, or with a laurel wreath;
laureate. [Written also laurelled.]
Laurentian
Lau*ren"tian (?), a. Pertaining to, or near, the St. Lawrence River;
as, the Laurentian hills. Laurentian period (Geol.), the lower of the
two divisions of the Arch\'91an age; -- called also the Laurentian.
Laurer
Lau"rer (?), n. Laurel. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Laurestine
Lau"res*tine (?), n. [NL. lautus tinus, fr. L. laurus the laurel +
tinus laurestine. See Laurel.] (Bot.) The Viburnum Tinus, an evergreen
shrub or tree of the south of Europe, which flowers during the winter
mouths. [Written also laurustine and laurestina.]
Lauric
Lau"ric (?), a. Pertaining to, or derived from, the European bay or
laurel (Laurus nobilis). Lauric acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline
substance, C12H24O2, resembling palmitic acid, and obtained from the
fruit of the bay tree, and other sources. <-- CH3(CH2)10COOH =
dodecanoic acid, laurostearic acid, dodecoic acid. Obtained from
various vegetable sources. Sodium salt used as a detergent. -->
Lauriferous
Lau*rif"er*ous (?), a. [L. laurifer; laurus + ferre to bear.]
Producing, or bringing, laurel.
Laurin
Lau"rin (?), n. [Cf. F. laurine.] (Chem.) A white crystalline
substance extracted from the fruit of the bay (Laurus nobilis), and
consisting of a complex mixture of glycerin ethers of several organic
acids.
Laurinol
Lau"ri*nol (?), n. [Laurin + -ol.] (Chem.) Ordinary camphor; -- so
called in allusion to the family name (Laurace\'91) of the camphor
trees. See Camphor.
Lauriol
Lau"ri*ol (?), n. Spurge laurel. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Laurite
Lau"rite (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Min.) A rare sulphide of osmium
and ruthenium found with platinum in Borneo and Oregon.
Laurone
Lau"rone (?), n. [Lauric + -one.] (Chem.) The ketone of lauric acid.
Laurus
Lau"rus (?), n. [L., laurel.] (Bot.) A genus of trees including,
according to modern authors, only the true laurel (Laurus nobilis),
and the larger L. Canariensis of Madeira and the Canary Islands.
Formerly the sassafras, the camphor tree, the cinnamon tree, and
several other aromatic trees and shrubs, were also referred to the
genus Laurus.
Laus
Laus (?), a. Loose. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lava
La"va (?), n. [It. lava lava, orig. in Naples, a torrent of rain
overflowing the streets, fr. It. & L. lavare to wash. See Lave.] The
melted rock ejected by a volcano from its top or fissured sides. It
flows out in streams sometimes miles in length. It also issues from
fissures in the earth's surface, and forms beds covering many square
miles, as in the Northwestern United States.
NOTE: &hand; La vas ar e cl assed, according to their structure, as
scoriaceous or cellular, glassy, stony, etc., and according to the
material of which they consist, as doleritic, trachytic, etc.
Lava millstone, a hard and coarse basaltic millstone from the
neighborhood of the Rhine. -- Lava ware, a kind of cheap pottery made
of iron slag cast into tiles, urns, table tops, etc., resembling lava
in appearance.
Lavaret
Lav"a*ret (?), n. [F.] (Zo\'94l.) A European whitefish (Coregonus
laveretus), found in the mountain lakes of Sweden, Germany, and
Switzerland.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 835
Lavatic
La*vat"ic (?), a. Like lava, or composed of lava; lavic.
Lavation
La*va"tion (?), n. [L. lavatio: cf. OF. lavation.] A washing or
cleansing. [Obs. or R.]
Lavatory
Lav"a*to*ry (?), a. Washing, or cleansing by washing.
Lavatory
Lav"a*to*ry, n.; pl. Lavatories (#). [L. lavatorium: cf. lavatoire.
See Lave to wash, and cf. Laver.]
1. A place for washing.
2. A basin or other vessel for washing in.
3. A wash or lotion for a diseased part.
4. A place where gold is obtained by washing. <-- 5. a room containing
one or more sinks for washing, as well as one or more toilets
(fixtures). also bathroom, toilet, and sometimes commode. Commode may
refer to a room with a toilet (fixture) but without a sink. Toilet may
refer to a small room with only a toilet fixture. -->
Lavature
Lav"a*ture (?; 135), n. A wash or lotion. [Obs.]
Lave
Lave (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laving.] [F.
laver, L. lavare, akin to luere to wash, Gr. Ablution, Deluge,
Lavender, Lava, Lotion.] To wash; to bathe; as, to lave a bruise.
His feet the foremost breakers lave. Byron.
Lave
Lave, v. i. To bathe; to wash one's self.
In her chaste current oft the goddess laves. Pope.
Lave
Lave, v. t. [OE. laven. See Lavish.] To lade, dip, or pour out. [Obs.]
Dryden.
Lave
Lave, n. [AS. l\'bef the remainder, what is left. Leave.] The
remainder; others. [Scot.] Bp. Hall.
Lave-eared
Lave"-eared` (?), a. [Cf. W. llaf that extends round, llipa flaccid,
flapping, G. lapp flabby, lappohr flap ear.] Having large, pendent
ears. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Laveer
La*veer" (?), v. i. [D. laveren.] (Naut.) To beat against the wind; to
tack. [Obs.] Dryden.
Lavement
Lave"ment (?), n. [F. lavement, fr. laver to wash.] A washing or
bathing; also, a clyster.
Lavender
Lav"en*der (?), n. [OE. lavendre, F. lavande, It. lavanda lavender, a
washing, fr. L. lavare to wash; cf. It. lsavendola, LL. lavendula. So
called because it was used in bathing and washing. See Lave. to wash,
and cf. Lavender.]
1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Lavandula (L. vera), common
in the south of Europe. It yields and oil used in medicine and
perfumery. The Spike lavender (L. Spica) yields a coarser oil (oil of
spike), used in the arts.
2. The pale, purplish color of lavender flowers, paler and more
delicate than lilac.
Lavender cotton (Bot.), a low, twiggy, aromatic shrub (Santolina
Cham\'91cyparissus) of the Mediterranean region, formerly used as a
vermifuge, etc., and still used to keep moths from wardrobes. Also
called ground cypress. -- Lavender water, a perfume composed of
alcohol, essential oil of lavender, essential oil of bergamot, and
essence of ambergris. -- Sea lavender. (Bot.) See Marsh rosemary. --
To lay in lavender. (a) To lay away, as clothing, with sprigs of
lavender. (b) To pawn. [Obs.]
Laver
Lav"er (?), n. [OE. lavour, F. lavoir, L. lavatorium a washing place.
See Lavatory.]
1. A vessel for washing; a large basin.
2. (Script. Hist.) (a) A large brazen vessel placed in the court of
the Jewish tabernacle where the officiating priests washed their hands
and feet. (b) One of several vessels in Solomon's Temple in which the
offerings for burnt sacrifices were washed.
3. That which washes or cleanses. J. H. Newman.
Laver
Lav"er, n. [From Lave to wash.] One who laves; a washer. [Obs.]
Laver
La"ver (?), n. The fronds of certain marine alg\'91 used as food, and
for making a sauce called laver sauce. Green laver is the Ulva
latissima; purlpe laver, Porphyra laciniata and P. vulgaris. It is
prepared by stewing, either alone or with other vegetables, and with
various condiments; -- called also sloke, or sloakan. Mountain laver
(Bot.), a reddish gelatinous alga of the genus Palmella, found on the
sides of mountains
Laverock
La"ver*ock (?), n. [See Lark the bird.] The lark. [Old Eng. & Scot.]
[Written also lavrock.] Gower.
Lavic
La"vic (?), a. See Lavatic.
Lavish
Lav"ish (?), a. [Akin to E. lave to lade out; cf. AS. gelafian to
refresh, G. laben.]
1. Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal; as, lavish of
money; lavish of praise.
2. Superabundant; excessive; as, lavish spirits.
Let her have needful, but not lavish, means. Shak.
Syn. -- Profuse; prodigal; wasteful; extravagant; exuberant;
immoderate. See Profuse.
Lavish
Lav"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lavished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lavishing.]
To expend or bestow with profusion; to use with prodigality; to
squander; as, to lavish money or praise.
Lavisher
Lav"ish*er (?), n. One who lavishes.
Lavishly
Lav"ish*ly, adv. In a lavish manner.
Lavishment
Lav"ish*ment (?), n. The act of lavishing.
Lavishness
Lav"ish*ness, n. The quality or state of being lavish.
Lav La*v (?), n. [NL., fr. Lavoisier, the celebrated French chemist.] (Chem.) A
supposed new metallic element. It is said to have been discovered in pyrites,
and some other minerals, and to be of a silver-white color, and malleable.
Lavolt, Lavolta
La*volt" (?), La*vol"ta (?), n. [It.la volta the turn, turning, whirl.
Cf. Volt of a horse, Volta.] An old dance, for two persons, being a
kind of waltz, in which the woman made a high spring or bound. Shak.
Lavoltateer
La*vol`ta*teer" (?), n. A dancer of the lavolta.
Lavour
Lav"our (?), n. A laver. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lavrock
La"vrock (?), n. Same as Laverock.
Law
Law (?), n. [OE. lawe, laghe, AS. lagu, from the root of E. lie: akin
to OS. lag, Icel. l\'94g, Sw. lag, Dan. lov; cf. L. lex, E. legal. A
law is that which is laid, set, or fixed; like statute, fr. L.
statuere to make to stand. See Lie to be prostrate.]
1. In general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an
authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode
or order according to which an agent or a power acts.
NOTE: &hand; A la w ma y be un iversal or particular, written or
unwritten, published or secret. From the nature of the highest laws
a degree of permanency or stability is always implied; but the
power which makes a law, or a superior power, may annul or change
it.
These are the statutes and judgments and law, which the Lord made.
Lev. xxvi. 46.
The law of thy God, and the law of the King. Ezra vii. 26.
As if they would confine the Interminable . . . Who made our laws
to bind us, not himself. Milton.
His mind his kingdom, and his will his law. Cowper.
2. In morals: The will of God as the rule for the disposition and
conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a
rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as
obligatory on the conscience or moral nature.
3. The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is
written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old
Testament.
What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under
the law . . . But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Rom. iii.
19, 21.
4. In human government: (a) An organic rule, as a constitution or
charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of
a state or other organized community. (b) Any edict, decree, order,
ordinance, statute, resolution, judicial, decision, usage, etc., or
recognized, and enforced, by the controlling authority.
5. In philosophy and physics: A rule of being, operation, or change,
so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by the will
of God or by some controlling authority; as, the law of gravitation;
the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought; the laws of
cause and effect; law of self-preservation.
6. In matematics: The rule according to which anything, as the change
of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series,
proceeds; mode or order of sequence.
7. In arts, works, games, etc.: The rules of construction, or of
procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle,
maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy,
or of whist.
8. Collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject, or
emanating from one source; -- including usually the writings
pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine
law; English law; Roman law; the law of real property; insurance law.
9. Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied
justice.
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is
nothing else but reason. Coke.
Law is beneficence acting by rule. Burke.
And sovereign Law, that state's collected will O'er thrones and
globes elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill. Sir W.
Jones.
10. Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to
go law.
When every case in law is right. Shak.
He found law dear and left it cheap. Brougham.
11. An oath, as in the presence of a court. [Obs.] See Wager of law,
under Wager.
Avogadro's law (Chem.), a fundamental conception, according to which,
under similar conditions of temperature and pressure, all gases and
vapors contain in the same volume the same number of ultimate
molecules; -- so named after Avogadro, an Italian scientist. Sometimes
called Amp\'8are's law. -- Bode's law (Astron.), an approximative
empirical expression of the distances of the planets from the sun, as
follows: --
Mer. Ven. Earth. Mars. Aste. Jup. Sat. Uran. Nep. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0
3 6 12 24 48 96 192 384 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --- --- 4 7 10 16 28 52
100 196 388 5.9 7.3 10 15.2 27.4 52 95.4 192 300
where each distance (line third) is the sum of 4 and a multiple of 3
by the series 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, etc., the true distances being given in
the lower line. -- Boyle's law (Physics), an expression of the fact,
that when an elastic fluid is subjected to compression, and kept at a
constant temperature, the product of the pressure and volume is a
constant quantity, i. e., the volume is inversely proportioned to the
pressure; -- known also as Mariotte's law, and the law of Boyle and
Mariotte. -- Brehon laws. See under Brehon. -- Canon law, the body of
ecclesiastical law adopted in the Christian Church, certain portions
of which (for example, the law of marriage as existing before the
Council of Tent) were brought to America by the English colonists as
part of the common law of the land. Wharton. -- Civil law, a term used
by writers to designate Roman law, with modifications thereof which
have been made in the different countries into which that law has been
introduced. The civil law, instead of the common law, prevails in the
State of Louisiana. Wharton. -- Commercial law. See Law merchant
(below). -- Common law. See under Common. -- Criminal law, that branch
of jurisprudence which relates to crimes. -- Ecclesiastical law. See
under Ecclesiastical. -- Grimm's law (Philol.), a statement
(propounded by the German philologist Jacob Grimm) of certain regular
changes which the primitive Indo-European mute consonants, so-called
(most plainly seen in Sanskrit and, with some changes, in Greek and
Latin), have undergone in the Teutonic languages. Examples: Skr.
bh\'betr, L. frater, E. brother, G. bruder; L. tres, E. three, G.
drei, Skr. go, E. cow, G. kuh; Skr. dh\'be to put, Gr. ti-qe`-nai, E.
do, OHG, tuon, G. thun. -- Kepler's laws (Astron.), three important
laws or expressions of the order of the planetary motions, discovered
by John Kepler. They are these: (1) The orbit of a planet with respect
to the sun is an ellipse, the sun being in one of the foci. (2) The
areas swept over by a vector drawn from the sun to a planet are
proportioned to the times of describing them. (3) The squares of the
times of revolution of two planets are in the ratio of the cubes of
their mean distances. -- Law binding, a plain style of leather
binding, used for law books; -- called also law calf. -- Law book, a
book containing, or treating of, laws. -- Law calf. See Law binding
(above). -- Law day. (a) Formerly, a day of holding court, esp. a
court-leet. (b) The day named in a mortgage for the payment of the
money to secure which it was given. [U. S.] -- Law French, the dialect
of Norman, which was used in judicial proceedings and law books in
England from the days of William the Conqueror to the thirty-sixth
year of Edward III. -- Law language, the language used in legal
writings and forms. -- Law Latin. See under Latin. -- Law lords, peers
in the British Parliament who have held high judicial office, or have
been noted in the legal profession. -- Law merchant, OR Commercial
law, a system of rules by which trade and commerce are regulated; --
deduced from the custom of merchants, and regulated by judicial
decisions, as also by enactments of legislatures.<-- now in most state
superseded by the Uniform Commercial Code --> -- Law of Charles
(Physics), the law that the volume of a given mass of gas increases or
decreases, by a definite fraction of its value for a given rise or
fall of temperature; -- sometimes less correctly styled Gay Lussac's
law, or Dalton's law. -- Law of nations. See International law, under
International. -- Law of nature. (a) A broad generalization expressive
of the constant action, or effect, of natural conditions; as, death is
a law of nature; self-defense is a law of nature. See Law, 4. (b) A
term denoting the standard, or system, of morality deducible from a
study of the nature and natural relations of human beings independent
of supernatural revelation or of municipal and social usages. -- Law
of the land, due process of law; the general law of the land. -- Laws
of honor. See under Honor. -- Laws of motion (Physics), three laws
defined by Sir Isaac Newton: (1) Every body perseveres in its state of
rest or of moving uniformly in a straight line, except so far as it is
made to change that state by external force. (2) Change of motion is
proportional to the impressed force, and takes place in the direction
in which the force is impressed. (3) Reaction is always equal and
opposite to action, that is to say, the actions of two bodies upon
each other are always equal and in opposite directions. -- Marine law,
OR Maritime law, the law of the sea; a branch of the law merchant
relating to the affairs of the sea, such as seamen, ships, shipping,
navigation, and the like. Bouvier. -- Mariotte's law. See Boyle's law
(above). -- Martial law.See under Martial. -- Military law, a branch
of the general municipal law, consisting of rules ordained for the
government of the military force of a state in peace and war, and
administered in courts martial. Kent. Warren's Blackstone. -- Moral
law,the law of duty as regards what is right and wrong in the sight of
God; specifically, the ten commandments given by Moses. See Law, 2. --
Mosaic, OR Ceremonial, law. (Script.) See Law, 3. -- Municipal, OR
Positive, law, a rule prescribed by the supreme power of a state,
declaring some right, enforcing some duty, or prohibiting some act; --
distinguished from international and constitutional law. See Law, 1.
-- Periodic law. (Chem.) See under Periodic. -- Roman law, the system
of principles and laws found in the codes and treatises of the
lawmakers and jurists of ancient Rome, and incorporated more or less
into the laws of the several European countries and colonies founded
by them. See Civil law (above). -- Statute law, the law as stated in
statutes or positive enactments of the legislative body. -- Sumptuary
law. See under Sumptuary. -- To go to law, to seek a settlement of any
matter by bringing it before the courts of law; to sue or prosecute
some one. -- To take, OR have, the law of, to bring the law to bear
upon; as, to take the law of one's neighbor. Addison. -- Wager of law.
See under Wager. Syn. -- Justice; equity. -- Law, Statute, Common law,
Regulation, Edict, Decree. Law is generic, and, when used with
reference to, or in connection with, the other words here considered,
denotes whatever is commanded by one who has a right to require
obedience. A statute is a particular law drawn out in form, and
distinctly enacted and proclaimed. Common law is a rule of action
founded on long usage and the decisions of courts of justice. A
regulation is a limited and often, temporary law, intended to secure
some particular end or object. An edict is a command or law issued by
a sovereign, and is peculiar to a despotic government. A decree is a
permanent order either of a court or of the executive government. See
Justice.
Law
Law (?), v. t. Same as Lawe, v. t. [Obs.]
Law
Law, interj. [Cf. La.] An exclamation of mild surprise. [Archaic or
Low]
Law-abiding
Law"-a*bid`ing (?), a. Abiding the law; waiting for the operation of
law for the enforcement of rights; also, abiding by the law; obedient
to the law; as, law-abiding people.
Lawbreaker
Law"break`er (?), n. One who disobeys the law; a criminal. --
Law"break`ing, n. & a.
Lawe
Lawe (?), v. t. [See 2d Lawing.] To cut off the claws and balls of, as
of a dog's fore feet. Wright.
Lawer
Law"er (?), n. A lawyer. [Obs.] Bale.
Lawful
Law"ful (?), a.
1. Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent.
2. Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of
lands.
Lawful age, the age when the law recognizes one's right of independent
action; majority; -- generally the age of twenty-one years.<-- = legal
age -->
NOTE: &hand; In some of the States, and for some purposes, a woman
attains lawful age at eighteen. Abbott.
Syn. -- Legal; constitutional; allowable; regular; rightful. --
Lawful, Legal. Lawful means conformable to the principle, spirit, or
essence of the law, and is applicable to moral as well as juridical
law. Legal means conformable to the letter or rules of the law as it
is administered in the courts; conformable to juridical law. Legal is
often used as antithetical to equitable, but lawful is seldom used in
that sense. -- Law"ful*ly, adv. -- Law"ful*ness, n.
Lawgiver
Law"giv`er (?), n. One who makes or enacts a law or system of laws; a
legislator.
Lawgiving
Law"giv`ing, a. Enacting laws; legislative.
Lawing
Law"ing, n. Going to law; litigation. Holinshed.
Lawing
Law"ing, n. [So called because done in compliance with an English
forest law.] Expeditation. Blackstone.
Lawless
Law"less, a.
1. Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law; illegal; as, a lawless claim.
He needs no indirect nor lawless course. Shak.
2. Not subject to, or restrained by, the law of morality or of
society; as, lawless men or behavior.
3. Not subject to the laws of nature; uncontrolled.
Or, meteorlike, flame lawless through the void. Pope.
-- Law"less*ly, adv. -- Law"less*ness, n.
Lawmaker
Law"mak`er (?), n. A legislator; a lawgiver.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 836
Lammaking
Lam"mak`ing (?), a. Enacting laws; legislative. -- n. The enacting of
laws; legislation.
Lawmonger
Law"mon`ger (?), n. A trader in law; one who practices law as if it
were a trade. Milton.
Lawn
Lawn (?), n. [OE. laund, launde, F. lande heath, moor; of Celtic
origin; cf. W. llan an open, clear place, llawnt a smooth rising hill,
lawn, Armor. lann or lan territory, country, lann a prickly plant, pl.
lannou heath, moor.]
1. An open space between woods. Milton.
"Orchard lawns and bowery hollows." Tennyson.
2. Ground (generally in front of or around a house) covered with grass
kept closely mown.
Lawn mower, a machine for clipping the short grass of lawns. -- Lawn
tennis, a variety of the game of tennis, played in the open air,
sometimes upon a lawn, instead of in a tennis court. See Tennis.
Lawm
Lawm, n. [Earlier laune lynen, i. e., lawn linen; prob. from the town
Laon in France.] A very fine linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric with a
rather open texture. Lawn is used for the sleeves of a bishop's
official dress in the English Church, and, figuratively, stands for
the office itself.
A saint in crape is twice in lawn. Pope.
Lawnd
Lawnd (?), n. [Obs.] See Laund.
Lawny
Lawn"y (?), a. Having a lawn; characterized by a lawn or by lawns;
like a lawn.
Musing through the lawny park. T. Warton.
Lawny
Lawn"y, a. Made of lawn or fine linen. Bp. Hall.
Lawsonia
Law*so"ni*a (?), n. (Bot.) An Asiatic and North African shrub
(Lawsonia inermis), with smooth oval leaves, and fragrant white
flowers. Henna is prepared from the leaves and twigs. In England the
shrub is called Egyptian privet, and in the West Indies, Jamaica
mignonette.
Lawsuit
Law"suit` (?), n. An action at law; a suit in equity or admiralty; any
legal proceeding before a court for the enforcement of a claim.
Lawyer
Law"yer (?), n. [From Law, like bowyer, fr.bow.]
1. One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose
profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients, or to advise as to
prosecution or defence of lawsuits, or as to legal rights and
obligations in other matters. It is a general term, comprehending
attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and
advocates.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The black-necked stilt. See Stilt. (b) The bowfin
(Amia calva). (c) The burbot (Lota maculosa).
Lawyerlike, Lawyerly
Law"yer*like` (?), Law"yer*ly (?), a. Like, or becoming, a lawyer; as,
lawyerlike sagacity. "Lawyerly mooting of this point." Milton.
Lax
Lax (?), a. [Compar. Laxer (?); superl. Laxest.] [L. laxus Cf. Laches,
Languish, Lease, v. t., Leash.]
1. Not tense, firm, or rigid; loose; slack; as, a lax bandage; lax
fiber.
The flesh of that sort of fish being lax and spongy. Ray.
2. Not strict or stringent; not exact; loose; weak; vague; equivocal.
The discipline was lax. Macaulay.
Society at that epoch was lenient, if not lax, in matters of the
passions. J. A. Symonds.
The word "\'91ternus" itself is sometimes of a lax signification.
Jortin.
3. Having a looseness of the bowels; diarrheal. Syn. -- Loose; slack;
vague; unconfined; unrestrained; dissolute; licentious.
Lax
Lax, n. A looseness; diarrhea.
Laxation
Lax*a"tion (?), n. [L. laxatio, fr. laxare to loosen, fr. laxus loose,
slack.] The act of loosening or slackening, or the state of being
loosened or slackened.
Laxative
Lax"a*tive (?), a. [L. laxativus mitigating, assuaging: cf. F.
laxatif. See Lax, a.]
1. Having a tendency to loosen or relax. Milton.
2. (Med.) Having the effect of loosening or opening the intestines,
and relieving from constipation; -- opposed to astringent. -- n.
(Med.) A laxative medicine. See the Note under Cathartic.
Laxativeness
Lax"a*tive*ness, n. The quality of being laxative.
Laxator
Lax*a"tor (?), n. [NL., fr. L. laxare, laxatum, to loosen.] (Anat.)
That which loosens; -- esp., a muscle which by its contraction loosens
some part.
Laxi-ty
Lax"i-ty (?), n. [L. laxitas, fr. laxus loose, slack: cf. F.
laxit\'82, See Lax, a.] The state or quality of being lax; want of
tenseness, strictness, or exactness.
Laxly
Lax"ly, adv. In a lax manner.
Laxness
Lax"ness, n. The state of being lax; laxity.
Lay
Lay (?), imp. of Lie, to recline.
Lay
Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. Laic.]
1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a
lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
2. Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.[Obs.]
3. Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession;
unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding the nature of a disease.
Lay baptism (Eccl.), baptism administered by a lay person. F. G. Lee.
-- Lay brother (R. C. Ch.), one received into a convent of monks under
the three vows, but not in holy orders. -- Lay clerk (Eccl.), a layman
who leads the responses of the congregation, etc., in the church
service. Hook. -- Lay days (Com.), time allowed in a charter party for
taking in and discharging cargo. McElrath. -- Lay elder. See 2d Elder,
3, note.
Lay
Lay (?), n. The laity; the common people. [Obs.]
The learned have no more privilege than the lay. B. Jonson.
Lay
Lay, n. A meadow. See Lea. [Obs.] Dryden.
Lay
Lay, n. [OF.lei faith, law, F. loi law. See Legal.]
1. Faith; creed; religious profession. [Obs.]
Of the sect to which that he was born He kept his lay, to which
that he was sworn. Chaucer.
2. A law. [Obs.] "Many goodly lays." Spenser.
3. An obligation; a vow. [Obs.]
They bound themselves by a sacred lay and oath. Holland.
Lay
Lay (?), a. [OF. lai, lais, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. laoi,
laoidh, song, poem, OIr.laoidh poem, verse; but cf. also AS. l\'bec
play, sport, G. leich a sort of poem (cf. Lake to sport).
1. A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad. Spenser. Sir W. Scott.
2. A melody; any musical utterance.
The throstle cock made eke his lay. Chaucer.
Lay
Lay (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laid (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laying.] [OE.
leggen, AS. lecgan, causative, fr. licgan to lie; akin to D.leggen, G.
legen, Icel. leggja, Goth. lagjan. See Lie to be prostrate.]
1. To cause to lie down, to be prostrate, or to lie against something;
to put or set down; to deposit; as, to lay a book on the table; to lay
a body in the grave; a shower lays the dust.
A stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den. Dan. vi.
17.
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid. Milton.
2. To place in position; to establish firmly; to arrange with
regularity; to dispose in ranks or tiers; as, to lay a corner stone;
to lay bricks in a wall; to lay the covers on a table.
3. To prepare; to make ready; to contrive; to provide; as, to lay a
snare, an ambush, or a plan.
4. To spread on a surface; as, to lay plaster or paint.
5. To cause to be still; to calm; to allay; to suppress; to exorcise,
as an evil spirit.
After a tempest when the winds are laid. Waller.
6. To cause to lie dead or dying.
Brave C\'91neus laid Ortygius on the plain, The victor C\'91neus
was by Turnus slain. Dryden.
7. To deposit, as a wager; to stake; to risk.
I dare lay mine honor He will remain so. Shak.
8. To bring forth and deposit; as, to lay eggs.
9. To apply; to put.
She layeth her hands to the spindle. Prov. xxxi. 19.
10. To impose, as a burden, suffering, or punishment; to assess, as a
tax; as, to lay a tax on land.
The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Is. Iiii. 6.
11. To impute; to charge; to allege.
God layeth not folly to them. Job xxiv. 12.
Lay the fault on us. Shak.
12. To impose, as a command or a duty; as, to lay commands on one.
13. To present or offer; as, to lay an indictment in a particular
county; to lay a scheme before one.
14. (Law) To state; to allege; as, to lay the venue. Bouvier.
15. (Mil.) To point; to aim; as, to lay a gun.
16. (Rope Making) To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in
their proper places and twist or unite them; as, to lay a cable or
rope.
17. (Print.) (a) To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the
imposing stone. (b) To place (new type) properly in the cases.
To lay asleep, to put sleep; to make unobservant or careless. Bacon.
-- To lay bare, to make bare; to strip.
And laid those proud roofs bare to summer's rain. Byron.
-- To lay before, to present to; to submit for consideration; as, the
papers are laid before Congress. -- To lay by. (a) To save. (b) To
discard.
Let brave spirits . . . not be laid by. Bacon.
-- To lay by the heels, to put in the stocks. Shak. -- To lay down.
(a) To stake as a wager. (b) To yield; to relinquish; to surrender;
as, to lay down one's life; to lay down one's arms. (c) To assert or
advance, as a proposition or principle. -- To lay forth. (a) To extend
at length; (reflexively) to exert one's self; to expatiate. [Obs.] (b)
To lay out (as a corpse). [Obs.] Shak. -- To lay hands on, to seize.
-- To lay hands on one's self, or To lay violent hands on one's self,
to injure one's self; specif., to commit suicide. -- To lay heads
together, to consult. -- To lay hold of, OR To lay hold on, to seize;
to catch. -- To lay in, to store; to provide. -- To lay it on, to
apply without stint. Shak. -- To lay on, to apply with force; to
inflict; as, to lay on blows. -- To lay on load, to lay on blows; to
strike violently. [Obs. OR Archaic] -- To lay one's self out, to
strive earnestly.
No selfish man will be concerned to lay out himself for the good of
his country. Smalridge.
-- To lay one's self open to, to expose one's self to, as to an
accusation. -- To lay open, to open; to uncover; to expose; to reveal.
-- To lay over, to spread over; to cover. -- To lay out. (a) To
expend. Macaulay. (b) To display; to discover. (c) To plan in detail;
to arrange; as, to lay out a garden. (d) To prepare for burial; as, to
lay out a corpse. (e) To exert; as, to lay out all one's strength. --
To lay siege to. (a) To besiege; to encompass with an army. (b) To
beset pertinaciously. -- To lay the course (Naut.), to sail toward the
port intended without jibing. -- To lay the land (Naut.), to cause it
to disappear below the horizon, by sailing away from it. -- To lay to
(a) To charge upon; to impute. (b) To apply with vigor. (c) To attack
or harass. [Obs.] Knolles. (d) (Naut.) To check the motion of (a
vessel) and cause it to be stationary. -- To lay to heart, to feel
deeply; to consider earnestly. -- To lay under, to subject to; as, to
lay under obligation or restraint. -- To lay unto. (a) Same as To lay
to (above). (b) To put before. Hos. xi. 4. -- To lay up. (a) To store;
to reposit for future use. (b) To confine; to disable. (c) To
dismantle, and retire from active service, as a ship. -- To lay wait
for, to lie in ambush for. -- To lay waste, to destroy; to make
desolate; as, to lay waste the land. Syn. -- See Put, v. t., and the
Note under 4th Lie.
Lay
Lay, v. i.
1. To produce and deposit eggs.
2. (Naut.) To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to
lay aloft.
3. To lay a wager; to bet.
To lay about, OR To lay about one, to strike vigorously in all
directions. J. H. Newman. -- To lay at, to strike or strike at.
Spenser. -- To lay for, to prepare to capture or assault; to lay wait
for. [Colloq.] Bp Hall. -- To lay in for, to make overtures for; to
engage or secure the possession of. [Obs.] "I have laid in for these."
Dryden. -- To lay on, to strike; to beat; to attack. Shak. -- To lay
out, to purpose; to plan; as, he lays out to make a journey.
Lay
Lay (?), n.
1. That which lies or is laid or is conceived of as having been laid
or placed in its position; a row; a stratum; a layer; as, a lay of
stone or wood. Addison.
A viol should have a lay of wire strings below. Bacon.
NOTE: &hand; Th e la y of a ro pe is right-handed or left-handed
according to the hemp or strands are laid up. See Lay, v. t., 16.
The lay of land is its topographical situation, esp. its slope and
its surface features.
2. A wager. "My fortunes against any lay worth naming."
3. (a) A job, price, or profit. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. (b) A share of
the proceeds or profits of an enterprise; as, when a man ships for a
whaling voyage, he agrees for a certain lay. [U. S.]
4. (Textile Manuf.) (a) A measure of yarn; a les. See 1st Lea (a). (b)
The lathe of a loom. See Lathe, 8.
5. A plan; a scheme. [Slang] Dickens.
Lay figure. (a) A jointed model of the human body that may be put in
any attitude; -- used for showing the disposition of drapery, etc. (b)
A mere puppet; one who serves the will of others without independent
volition. -- Lay race, that part of a lay on which the shuttle travels
in weaving; -- called also shuttle race.
Layer
Lay"er (?), n. [See Lay to cause to lie flat.]
1. One who, or that which, lays.
2. [Prob. a corruption of lair.] That which is laid; a stratum; a bed;
one thickness, course, or fold laid over another; as, a layer of clay
or of sand in the earth; a layer of bricks, or of plaster; the layers
of an onion.
3. A shoot or twig of a plant, not detached from the stock, laid under
ground for growth or propagation.
4. An artificial oyster bed.
Layering
Lay"er*ing, n. A propagating by layers. Gardner.
Laying
Lay"ing (?), n.
1. The act of one who, or that which, lays.
2. The act or period of laying eggs; the eggs laid for one incubation;
a clutch.
3. The first coat on laths of plasterer's two-coat work.
Layland
Lay"land` (?), n. [Lay a meadow + land.] Land lying untilled; fallow
ground. [Obs.] Blount.
Layman
Lay"man (?) n.; pl. Laymen (. [Lay, adj. + man.]
1. One of the people, in distinction from the clergy; one of the
laity; sometimes, a man not belonging to some particular profession,
in distinction from those who do.<-- used esp. by physicians of those
w/o medical training -->
Being a layman, I ought not to have concerned myself with
speculations which belong to the profession. Dryden.
2. A lay figure. See under Lay, n. (above). Dryden
Layner
Lay"ner (?), n.[See Lanier.] A whiplash. [Obs.]
Layship
Lay"ship (?), n. The condition of being a layman. [Obs.] Milton.
Laystall
Lay"stall` (?), n.
1. A place where rubbish, dung, etc., are laid or deposited.[Obs.] B.
Jonson.
Smithfield was a laystall of all ordure and filth. Bacon.
2. A place where milch cows are kept, or cattle on the way to market
are lodged. [Obs.]
Lazar
La"zar (?), n. [OF. lazare, fr. Lazarus the beggar. Luke xvi. 20.] A
person infected with a filthy or pestilential disease; a leper.
Chaucer.
Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay. Spenser.
Lazar house a lazaretto; also, a hospital for quarantine.
Lazaret, Lazaretto
Laz`a*ret" (?), Laz`a*ret"to (?), n. [F. lazaret, or It. lazzeretto,
fr. Lazarus. See Lazar.] A public building, hospital, or pesthouse for
the reception of diseased persons, particularly those affected with
contagious diseases.
Lazarist, Lazarite
Laz"a*rist (?), Laz"a*rite (?), n. (R. C. Ch.) One of the Congregation
of the Priests of the Mission, a religious institute founded by
Vincent de Paul in 1624, and popularly called Lazarists or Lazarites
from the College of St. Lazare in Paris, which was occupied by them
until 1792.
Lazarlike, Lazarly
La"zar*like` (?), La"zar*ly (?), a. Full of sores; leprous. Shak. Bp.
Hall.
Lazaroni
Laz`a*ro"ni (?), n. pl. See Lazzaroni.
Lazarwort
La"zar*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) Laserwort.
Laze
Laze (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lazed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lazing.] [See
Lazy.] To be lazy or idle. [Colloq.] Middleton.
Laze
Laze, v. t. To waste in sloth; to spend, as time, in idleness; as, to
laze away whole days. [Colloq.]
Lazily
La"zi*ly (?), adv. In a lazy manner. Locke.
Laziness
La"zi*ness, n. The state or quality of being lazy.
Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him.
Franklin.
Lazuli
Laz"u*li (?), n.[F. & NL. lapis lazuli, LL. lazulus, lazurius, lazur
from the same Oriental source as E. azure. See Azure.] (Min.) A
mineral of a fine azure-blue color, usually in small rounded masses.
It is essentially a silicate of alumina, lime, and soda, with some
sodium sulphide, is often marked by yellow spots or veins of sulphide
of iron, and is much valued for ornamental work. Called also lapis
lazuli, and Armenian stone. <-- and lapis. -->
Lazulite
Laz"u*lite (?), n. [From lazuli : cf. F. lazulite, G. lazulith.]
(Min.) A mineral of a light indigo-blue color, occurring in small
masses, or in monoclinic crystals; blue spar. It is a hydrous
phosphate of alumina and magnesia.
Lazy
La"zy (?), a. [Compar. Lazier (?); superl. Laziest.] [OE. lasie,
laesic, of uncertain origin; cf. F. las tired, L. lassus, akin to E.
late; or cf. LG. losig, lesig.]
1. Disinclined to action or exertion; averse to labor; idle; shirking
work. Bacon.
2. Inactive; slothful; slow; sluggish; as, a lazy stream. "The night
owl's lazy flight." Shak.
3. Wicked; vicious. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] B. Jonson.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 837
Lazy tongs, a system of jointed bars capable of great extension,
originally made for picking up something at a distance, now variously
applied in machinery. Syn. -- Idle; indolent; sluggish; slothful. See
Idle.
Lazyback
La"zy*back` (?), n. A support for the back, attached to the seat of a
carriage. [Colloq.]
Lazybones
La"zy*bones` (?), n. A lazy person. [Colloq.]
Lazzaroni
Laz`za*ro"ni (?; It. , n. pl. [It. lazzarone, pl. lazzaroni.] The
homeless idlers of Naples who live by chance work or begging; -- so
called from the Hospital of St. Lazarus, which serves as their refuge.
[Written also, but improperly, lazaroni.]
Lea
Lea, n. [Cf. Lay, n. (that which is laid), 4.] (Textile Manuf.) (a) A
measure of yarn; for linen, 300 yards; for cotton, 120 yards; a lay.
(b) A set of warp threads carried by a loop of the heddle.
Lea
Lea, n. [OE. ley, lay, As. le\'a0h, le\'a0; akin to Prov. G. lon bog,
morass, grove, and perh. to L. lucus grove, E. light, n.] A meadow or
sward land; a grassy field. "Plow-torn leas." Shak.
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. Gray.
Leach
Leach (?), n. (Naut.) See 3d Leech.
Leach
Leach, n. [Written also letch.] [Cf. As. le\'a0h lye, G. lauge. See
Lye.]
1. A quantity of wood ashes, through which water passes, and thus
imbibes the alkali.
2. A tub or vat for leaching ashes, bark, etc.
Leach tub, a wooden tub in which ashes are leached.
Leach
Leach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaching.]
[Written also leech and letch.]
1. To remove the soluble constituents from by subjecting to the action
of percolating water or other liquid; as, to leach ashes or coffee.
2. To dissolve out; -- often used with out; as, to leach out alkali
from ashes.
Leach
Leach, v. i. To part with soluble constituents by percolation.
Leach
Leach, n. See Leech, a physician. [Obs.]
Leachy
Leach"y (?), a. Permitting liquids to pass by percolation; not capable
of retaining water; porous; pervious; -- said of gravelly or sandy
soils, and the like.
Lead
Lead (l&ecr;d), n. [OE. led, leed, lead, AS. le\'a0d; akin to D. lood,
MHG. l&omac;t, G. loth plummet, sounding lead, small weight, Sw. &
Dan. lod. &root;123]
1. (Chem.) One of the elements, a heavy, pliable, inelastic metal,
having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished. It is both
malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity, and is used for
tubes, sheets, bullets, etc. Its specific gravity is 11.37. It is
easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient
of solder and type metal. Atomic weight, 206.4. Symbol Pb (L.
Plumbum). It is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena, lead
sulphide.
2. An article made of lead or an alloy of lead; as: (a) A plummet or
mass of lead, used in sounding at sea. (b) (Print.) A thin strip of
type metal, used to separate lines of type in printing. (c) Sheets or
plates of lead used as a covering for roofs; hence, pl., a roof
covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top.
Bacon
3. A small cylinder of black lead or plumbago, used in pencils.
Black lead, graphite or plumbago, ; -- so called from its leadlike
appearance and streak. [Colloq.] -- Coasting lead, a sounding lead
intermediate in weight between a hand lead and deep-sea lead. --
Deep-sea lead, the heaviest of sounding leads, used in water exceeding
a hundred fathoms in depth. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Hand lead, a small
lead use for sounding in shallow water. -- Krems lead, Kremnitz lead
[so called from Krems or Kremnitz, in Austria], a pure variety of
white lead, formed into tablets, and called also Krems, or Kremnitz,
white, and Vienna white. -- Lead arming, tallow put in the hollow of a
sounding lead. See To arm the lead (below). -- Lead colic. See under
Colic. -- Lead color, a deep bluish gray color, like tarnished lead.
-- Lead glance. (Min.) Same as Galena. -- Lead line (a) (Med.) A dark
line along the gums produced by a deposit of metallic lead, due to
lead poisoning. (b) (Naut.) A sounding line. -- Lead mill, a leaden
polishing wheel, used by lapidaries. -- Lead ocher (Min.), a massive
sulphur-yellow oxide of lead. Same as Massicot. -- Lead pencil, a
pencil of which the marking material is graphite (black lead). -- Lead
plant (Bot.), a low leguminous plant, genus Amorpha (A. canescens),
found in the Northwestern United States, where its presence is
supposed to indicate lead ore. Gray. -- Lead tree. (a) (Bot.) A West
Indian name for the tropical, leguminous tree, Leuc\'91na glauca; --
probably so called from the glaucous color of the foliage. (b) (Chem.)
Lead crystallized in arborescent forms from a solution of some lead
salt, as by suspending a strip of zinc in lead acetate. -- Mock lead,
a miner's term for blende. -- Red lead, a scarlet, crystalline,
granular powder, consisting of minium when pure, but commonly
containing several of the oxides of lead. It is used as a paint or
cement and also as an ingredient of flint glass. -- Red lead ore
(Min.), crocoite. -- Sugar of lead, acetate of lead. -- To arm the
lead, to fill the hollow in the bottom of a sounding lead with tallow
in order to discover the nature of the bottom by the substances
adhering. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- To cast, OR heave, the lead, to cast the
sounding lead for ascertaining the depth of water. -- White lead,
hydrated carbonate of lead, obtained as a white, amorphous powder, and
much used as an ingredient of white paint.
Lead
Lead, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Leading.]
1. To cover, fill, or affect with lead; as, continuous firing leads
the grooves of a rifle.
2. (Print.) To place leads between the lines of; as, to lead a page;
leaded matter.
Lead
Lead (l&emac;d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Led (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Leading.] [OE. leden, AS. l (akin to OS. l, D. leiden, G. leiten,Icel.
le, Sw. leda, Dan.lede), properly a causative fr. AS. li to go; akin
to OHG. l, Icel. l,Goth. leipan (in comp.). Cf. Lode, Loath.]
1. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical
contact connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse
with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.
If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch.
Wyclif (Matt. xv. 14.)
They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the
hill. Luke iv. 29.
In thy right hand lead with thee The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.
Milton.
2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or
end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or
going in advance of. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to
instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.
The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead
them the way. Ex. xiii. 21.
He leadeth me beside the still waters. Ps. xxiii. 2.
This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask. Content,
though blind, had I no better guide. Milton.
3. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge
of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a
political party.
Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and
rule nations, lead armies, or possess places. South.
4. To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or
chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led
the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.
As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. Fairfax.
And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. Leigh Hunt.
5. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on;
to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a
righteous cause.
He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his
own disposition, to any rigor of actions. Eikon Basilike.
Silly women, laden with sins,led away by divers lusts. 2 Tim. iii.
6 (Rev. Ver.).
6. To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain
course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course
of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a
certain course).
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. 1 Tim. ii. 2.
Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse A life that leads melodious
days. Tennyson.
You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter.
Dickens.
7. (Cards & Dominoes) To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to
lead trumps; the double five was led.
To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to seduce from
truth or rectitude. -- To lead captive, to carry or bring into
captivity. -- To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to
act as guide. Goldsmith.
Lead
Lead (?), v. i.
1. To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing,
influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or
pre\'89minence; to be first or chief; -- used in most of the senses of
lead, v. t.
2. To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as,
the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices.
The mountain foot that leads towards Mantua. Shak.
To lead off OR out, to go first; to begin.
Lead
Lead, n.
1. The act of leading or conducting; guidance; direction; as, to take
the lead; to be under the lead of another.
At the time I speak of, and having a momentary lead, . . . I am
sure I did my country important service. Burke.
2. precedence; advance position; also, the measure of precedence; as,
the white horse had the lead; a lead of a boat's length, or of half a
second.
3. (Cards & Dominoes) The act or right of playing first in a game or
round; the card suit, or piece, so played; as, your partner has the
lead.
4. An open way in an ice field. Kane.
5. (Mining) A lode.
6. (Naut.) The course of a rope from end to end.
7. (Steam Engine) The width of port opening which is uncovered by the
valve, for the admission or release of steam, at the instant when the
piston is at end of its stroke.
NOTE: &hand; When used alone it means outside lead, or lead for the
admission of steam. Inside lead refers to the release or exhaust.
8. (Civil Engineering) the distance of haul, as from a cutting to an
embankment.
9. (Horology) The action of a tooth, as a tooth of a wheel, in
impelling another tooth or a pallet. Saunier.
Lead angle (Steam Engine), the angle which the crank maker with the
line of centers, in approaching it, at the instant when the valve
opens to admit steam. -- Lead screw (Mach.), the main longitudinal
screw of a lathe, which gives the feed motion to the carriage.
Leaded
Lead"ed (?), a.
1. Fitted with lead; set in lead; as, leaded windows.
2. (Print.) Separated by leads, as the lines of a page.
Leaden
Lead"en (?), a.
1. Made of lead; of the nature of lead; as, a leaden ball.
2. Like lead in color, etc. ; as, a leaden sky.
3. Heavy; dull; sluggish. "Leaden slumber." Shak.
Leader
Lead"er (?), n.
1. One who, or that which, leads or conducts; a guide; a conductor.
Especially: (a) One who goes first. (b) One having authority to
direct; a chief; a commander. (c) (Mus.) A performer who leads a band
or choir in music; also, in an orchestra, the principal violinist; the
one who plays at the head of the first violins. (d) (Naut.) A block of
hard wood pierced with suitable holes for leading ropes in their
proper places. (e) (Mach.) The principal wheel in any kind of
machinery. [Obs. or R.] G. Francis. (f) A horse placed in advance of
others; one of the forward pair of horses.
He forgot to pull in his leaders, and they gallop away with him at
times. Hare.
(g) A pipe for conducting rain water from a roof to a cistern or to
the ground; a conductor. (h) (Fishing) A net for leading fish into a
pound, weir, etc. ; also, a line of gut, to which the snell of a fly
hook is attached. (i) (Mining) A branch or small vein, not important
in itself, but indicating the proximity of a better one.
2. The first, or the principal, editorial article in a newspaper; a
leading or main editorial article.
3. (Print.) (a) A type having a dot or short row of dots upon its
face. (b) pl. a row of dots, periods, or hyphens, used in tables of
contents, etc., to lead the eye across a space to the right word or
number. Syn. -- chief; chieftain; commander. See Chief.
Leadership
Lead"er*ship (?), n. The office of a leader.
Leadhillite
Lead"hill*ite (?), n. (Min.) A mineral of a yellowish or greenish
white color, consisting of the sulphate and carbonate of lead; -- so
called from having been first found at Leadhills, Scotland.
Leading
Lead"ing (?), a. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a
leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly, adv.
Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to be regarded
as settling the law of the question involved. Abbott. -- Leading
motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding theme; in the
modern music drama of Wagner, a marked melodic phrase or short passage
which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person,
situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a
sort of musical label. -- Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or
tone in the ascending major scale; the sensible note. -- Leading
question, a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in
making his reply. -- Leading strings, strings by which children are
supported when beginning to walk. -- To be in leading strings, to be
in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others.
-- Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels of a
locomotive engine.
Leading
Lead"ing, n.
1. The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance.
Shak.
2. Suggestion; hint; example. [Archaic] Bacon.
Leadman
Lead"man (?), n.; pl. Leadmen (. One who leads a dance.[Obs.] B.
Jonson.
Leadsman
Leads"man (?), n.; pl. Leadsmen (. (Naut.) The man who heaves the
lead. Totten.
Leadwort
Lead"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A genus of maritime herbs (Plumbago). P.
Europ\'91a has lead-colored spots on the leaves, and nearly
lead-colored flowers.
Leady
Lead"y (?), a. Resembling lead. Sir T. Elyot.
Leaf
Leaf (?), n.; pl. Leaves (#). [OE. leef, lef, leaf, AS. le\'a0f; akin
to S. l, OFries. laf, D. loof foliage, G. laub,OHG. loub leaf,
foliage, Icel. lauf, Sw. l\'94f, Dan. l\'94v, Goth. laufs; cf. Lith.
lapas. Cf. Lodge.]
1. (Bot.) A colored, usually green, expansion growing from the side of
a stem or rootstock, in which the sap for the use of the plant is
elaborated under the influence of light; one of the parts of a plant
which collectively constitute its foliage.
NOTE: &hand; Su ch le aves us ually consist of a blade, or lamina ,
supported upon a leafstalk or petiole, which, continued through the
blade as the midrib, gives off woody ribs and veins that support
the cellular texture. The petiole has usually some sort of an
appendage on each side of its base, which is called the stipule.
The green parenchyma of the leaf is covered with a thin epiderm
pierced with closable microscopic openings, known as stomata.
2. (Bot.) A special organ of vegetation in the form of a lateral
outgrowth from the stem, whether appearing as a part of the foliage,
or as a cotyledon, a scale, a bract, a spine, or a tendril.
NOTE: &hand; In th is vi ew every part of a plant, except the root
and the stem, is either a leaf, or is composed of leaves more or
less modified and transformed.
3. Something which is like a leaf in being wide and thin and having a
flat surface, or in being attached to a larger body by one edge or
end; as : (a) A part of a book or folded sheet containing two pages
upon its opposite sides. (b) A side, division, or part, that slides or
is hinged, as of window shutters, folding doors, etc. (c) The movable
side of a table. (d) A very thin plate; as, gold leaf. (e) A portion
of fat lying in a separate fold or layer. (f) One of the teeth of a
pinion, especially when small.
Leaf beetle (Zo\'94l.), any beetle which feeds upon leaves; esp., any
species of the family Chrysomelid\'91, as the potato beetle and helmet
beetle. -- Leaf bridge, a draw-bridge having a platform or leaf which
swings vertically on hinges. -- Leaf bud (Bot.), a bud which develops
into leaves or a leafy branch. -- Leaf butterfly (Zo\'94l.), any
butterfly which, in the form and colors of its wings, resembles the
leaves of plants upon which it rests; esp., butterflies of the genus
Kallima, found in Southern Asia and the East Indies. -- Leaf crumpler
(Zo\'94l.), a small moth (Phycis indigenella), the larva of which
feeds upon leaves of the apple tree, and forms its nest by crumpling
and fastening leaves together in clusters. -- Leaf cutter (Zo\'94l.) ,
any one of various species of wild bees of the genus Megachile, which
cut rounded pieces from the edges of leaves, or the petals of flowers,
to be used in the construction of their nests, which are made in holes
and crevices, or in a leaf rolled up for the purpose. Among the common
American species are M. brevis and M. centuncularis. Called also
rose-cutting bee. -- Leaf fat, the fat which lies in leaves or layers
within the body of an animal. -- Leaf flea (Zo\'94l.), a jumping plant
louse of the family Psyllid\'91. -- Leaf frog (Zo\'94l.), any tree
frog of the genus Phyllomedusa. -- Leaf green.(Bot.) See Chlorophyll.
-- Leaf hopper (Zo\'94l.), any small jumping hemipterous insect of the
genus Tettigonia, and allied genera. They live upon the leaves and
twigs of plants. See Live hopper. -- Leaf insect (Zo\'94l.), any one
of several genera and species of orthopterous insects, esp. of the
genus Phyllium, in which the wings, and sometimes the legs, resemble
leaves in color and form. They are common in Southern Asia and the
East Indies. -- Leaf lard, lard from leaf fat. See under Lard. -- Leaf
louse (Zo\'94l.), an aphid. -- Leaf metal, metal in thin leaves, as
gold, silver, or tin. -- Leaf miner (Zo\'94l.), any one of various
small lepidopterous and dipterous insects, which, in the larval
stages, burrow in and eat the parenchyma of leaves; as, the pear-tree
leaf miner (Lithocolletis geminatella). -- Leaf notcher (Zo\'94l.), a
pale bluish green beetle (Artipus Floridanus), which, in Florida, eats
the edges of the leaves of orange trees. -- Leaf roller (Zo\'94l.),
the larva of any tortricid moth which makes a nest by rolling up the
leaves of plants. See Tortrix. -- Leaf scar (Bot.), the cicatrix on a
stem whence a leaf has fallen. -- Leaf sewer (Zo\'94l.), a tortricid
moth, whose caterpillar makes a nest by rolling up a leaf and
fastening the edges together with silk, as if sewn; esp., Phoxopteris
nubeculana, which feeds upon the apple tree. -- Leaf sight, a hinges
sight on a firearm, which can be raised or folded down. -- Leaf trace
(Bot.), one or more fibrovascular bundles, which may be traced down an
endogenous stem from the base of a leaf. -- Leaf tier (Zo\'94l.), a
tortricid moth whose larva makes a nest by fastening the edges of a
leaf together with silk; esp., Teras cinderella, found on the apple
tree. -- Leaf valve, a valve which moves on a hinge. -- Leaf wasp
(Zo\'94l.), a sawfiy. -- To turn over a new leaf, to make a radical
change for the better in one's way of living or doing. [Colloq.]
They were both determined to turn over a new leaf. Richardson.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 838
Leaf
Leaf (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leafed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leafing.] To
shoot out leaves; to produce leaves; to leave; as, the trees leaf in
May.<-- = leaf out --> Sir T. Browne.
Leafage
Leaf"age (?), n. Leaves, collectively; foliage.
Leafcup
Leaf"cup` (?), n. (Bot.) A coarse American composite weed (Polymnia
Uvedalia).
Leafed
Leafed (?), a. Having (such) a leaf or (so many) leaves; -- used in
composition; as, broad-leafed; four-leafed.
Leafet
Leaf"et (?), n. (Bot.) A leaflet.
Leaf-footed
Leaf"-foot`ed (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Having leaflike expansions on the
legs; -- said of certain insects; as, the leaf-footed bug
(Leptoglossus phyllopus).
Leafiness
Leaf"i*ness (?), n. The state of being leafy.
Leafless
Leaf"less, a. Having no leaves or foliage; bearing no foliage.
"Leafless groves." Cowper. -- Leaf"less*ness, n. Leafless plants,
plants having no foliage, though leaves may be present in the form of
scales and bracts. See Leaf, n., 1 and 2.
Leaflet
Leaf"let (?), n.
1. A little leaf; also, a little printed leaf or a tract.
2. (Bot.) One of the divisions of a compound leaf; a foliole.
3. (Zo\'94l.) A leaflike organ or part; as, a leaflet of the gills of
fishes.
Leaf-nosed
Leaf"-nosed` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Having a leaflike membrane on the
nose; -- said of certain bats, esp. of the genera Phyllostoma and
Rhinonycteris. See Vampire.
Leafstalk
Leaf"stalk` (?), n. (Bot.) The stalk or petiole which supports a leaf.
Leafy
Leaf"y (?), a. [Compar. Leafier (?); superl. Leafiest.]
1. Full of leaves; abounding in leaves; as, the leafy forest. "The
leafy month of June." Coleridge.
2. Consisting of leaves. "A leafy bed." Byron.
League
League (?), n. [Cf. OE. legue, lieue, a measure of length, F. lieue,
Pr. lega, legua, It. & LL. lega, Sp. legua, Pg. legoa, legua; all fr.
LL. leuca, of Celtic origin: cf. Arm. leo, lev (perh. from French),
Ir.leige (perh. from English); also Ir. & Gael. leac a flag, a broad,
flat stone, W. llech, -- such stones having perh. served as a sort of
milestone (cf. Cromlech).]
1. A measure of length or distance, varying in different countries
from about 2.4 to 4.6 English statute miles of 5.280 feet each, and
used (as a land measure) chiefly on the continent of Europe, and in
the Spanish parts of America. The marine league of England and the
United States is equal to three marine, or geographical, miles of 6080
feet each.
NOTE: &hand; Th e En glish la nd le ague is equal to three English
statute miles. The Spanish and French leagues vary in each country
according to usage and the kind of measurement to which they are
applied. The Dutch and German leagues contain about four
geographical miles, or about 4.6 English statute miles.
2. A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a
league. [Obs.]
League
League (?), n. [F.ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare to bind; cf. Sp.
liga. Cf. Ally a confederate, Ligature.] An alliance or combination of
two or more nations, parties, or persons, for the accomplishment of a
purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual
defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political
interests, etc.
And let there be 'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. Denham.
NOTE: &hand; A le ague ma y be of fensive or defensive, or both;
offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking a common
enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual defense of each other
against an enemy.
The Holy League, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in 1576 by
influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion of Protestants from
the throne of France. -- Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant,2.
-- The land league, an association, organized in Dublin in 1879, to
promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its avowed objects being
to secure fixity of tenure fair rent, and free sale of the tenants'
interest. It was declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous
prosecutions have failed to suppress it. Syn. -- Alliance;
confederacy; confederation; coalition; combination; compact;
co\'94peration.
League
League (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leagued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaguing
(?).] [Cf. F. se liguer. See 2d League.] To unite in a league or
confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate South.
League
League, v. t. To join in a league; to cause to combine for a joint
purpose; to combine; to unite; as, common interests will league
heterogeneous elements.
Leaguer
Lea"guer, n. [D.leger camp, bed, couch, lair. See Lair, and
cf.Beleaguer.]
1. The camp of a besieging army; a camp in general. b. Jonson.
2. A siege or beleaguering. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
Leaguer
Lea"guer, v. t.To besiege; to beleaguer. [Obs.]
Leaguerer
Lea"guer*er (?), n. A besieger. [R.] J. Webster.
Leak
Leak (?), n. [Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G.leck, Icel. lekr leaky,
Dan. l\'91k leaky, a leak, Sw. l\'84ck; cf. AS. hlec full of cracks or
leaky. Cf. Leak, v.]
1. A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole which admits water or other
fluid, or lets it escape; as, a leak in a roof; a leak in a boat; a
leak in a gas pipe. "One leak will sink a ship." Bunyan.
2. The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or
other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps.
To spring a leak, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to
let in water; as, the ship sprung a leak.
Leak
Leak, a. Leaky. [Obs.] Spenser.
Leak
Leak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaking.] [Akin
to D. lekken, G. lecken, lechen, Icel. leka, Dan. l\'91kke, Sw.
l\'84cka, AS. leccan to wet, moisten. See Leak, n.]
1. To let water or other fluid in or out through a hole, crevice,
etc.; as, the cask leaks; the roof leaks; the boat leaks.
2. To enter or escape, as a fluid, through a hole, crevice, etc. ; to
pass gradually into, or out of, something; -- usually with in or out.
To leak out, to be divulged gradually or clandestinely; to become
public; as, the facts leaked out.
Leakage
Leak"age (, n. [Cf. D. lekkage, for sense 1.]
1. A leaking; also, the quantity that enters or issues by leaking.
2. (Com.) An allowance of a certain rate per cent for the leaking of
casks, or waste of liquors by leaking.
Leakiness
Leak"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being leaky.
Leaky
Leak"y (?), a. [Compar. Leakier (?); superl. Leakiest.]
1. Permitting water or other fluid to leak in or out; as, a leaky roof
or cask.
2. Apt to disclose secrets; tattling; not close. [Colloq.]
Leal
Leal (?), a. [OE. leial, another form of loial, F. loyal. See Loyal.]
Faithful; loyal; true.
All men true and leal, all women pure. Tennyson.
Land of the leal, the place of the faithful; heaven.
Leam
Leam (?), n. & v. i. See Leme. [Obs.] Holland.
Leam
Leam, n. [See Leamer, Lien.] A cord or strap for leading a dog. Sir W.
Scott.
Leamer
Leam"er (?), n. [F. limier, OF. liemier, fr. L. ligamen band, bandage.
See Lien.] A dog held by a leam.
Lean
Lean (?), v. t. [Icel. leyna; akin to G. l\'84ugnen to deny, AS. l,
also E. lie to speak falsely.] To conceal. [Obs.] Ray.
Lean
Lean (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaned (?), sometimes Leant (p. pr. &
vb. n. Leaning.] [OE. lenen, AS. hlinian, hleonian, v. i.; akin to OS.
hlin\'d3n, D. leunen, OHG. hlin\'c7n, lin\'c7n, G. lehnen, L.
inclinare, Gr. clivus hill, slope. &root;40. Cf. Declivity, Climax,
Incline, Ladder.]
1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a
position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the
window; a leaning column. "He leant forward." Dickens.
2. To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; -- with to,
toward, etc.
They delight rather to lean to their old customs. Spenser.
3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like; -- with on,
upon, or against.
He leaned not on his fathers but himself. Tennyson.
Lean
Lean, v. t. [From Lean, v. i. ; AS. hl, v. t., fr. hleonian, hlinian,
v. i.] To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. Mrs.
Browning.
His fainting limbs against an oak he leant. Dryden.
Lean
Lean (?), a. [Compar. Leaner (?); superl. Leanest.] [OE. lene, AS. hl;
prob. akin to E. lean to incline. See Lean, v. i. ]
1. Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; not plump; meager;
thin; lank; as, a lean body; a lean cattle.
2. Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness;
deficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean;
-- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean
purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. "No lean wardrobe." Shak.
Their lean and fiashy songs. Milton.
What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. Num. xiii. 20.
Out of my lean and low ability I'll lend you something. Shak.
3. (Typog.) Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning
the usual wages; -- opposed to fat; as lean copy, matter, or type.
Syn. -- slender; spare; thin; meager; lank; skinny; gaunt.
Lean
Lean (?), n.
1. That part of flesh which consist principally of muscle without the
fat.
The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy. Goldsmith.
2. (Typog.) Unremunerative copy or work.
Lean-faced
Lean"-faced` (?), a.
1. Having a thin face.
2. (Typog.) slender or narrow; -- said of type the letters of which
have thin lines, or are unusually narrow in proportion to their
height. W. Savage.
Leaning
Lean"ing, n. The act, or state, of inclining; inclination; tendency;
as, a leaning towards Calvinism.
Leanly
Lean"ly, adv. Meagerly; without fat or plumpness.
Leanness
Lean"ness, n. [AS. hl&aemac;nnes.] The condition or quality of being
lean.
Lean-to
Lean"-to` (?), a. (Arch.) Having only one slope or pitch; -- said of a
roof. -- n. A shed or slight building placed against the wall of a
larger structure and having a single-pitched roof; -- called also
penthouse, and to-fall.<-- a crude, usually temporary shelter
comprising a lean-to roof braced against any convenient support, as a
wall, a tree or a pole. The roof may extend all the way to the ground.
-->
The outer circuit was covered as a lean-to, all round this inner
apartment. De Foe.
Lean-witted
Lean"-wit`ted (?), a. Having but little sense or shrewdness.
Leany
Lean"y (?), a. Lean. [Obs.] Spenser.
Leap
Leap (?), n. [AS. le\'a0p.]
1. A basket. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. A weel or wicker trap for fish. [Prov. Eng.]
Leap
Leap (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaped (?), rarely Leapt; p. pr. & vb.
n. Leaping.] [OE. lepen, leapen, AS. hle\'a0pan to leap, jump, run;
akin to OS. \'behl, OFries. hlapa, D. loopen, G. laufen, OHG. louffan,
hlauffan, Icel. hlaupa, Sw. l\'94pa, Dan. l\'94be, Goth. ushlaupan.
Cf. Elope, Lope, Lapwing, Loaf to loiter.]
1. To spring clear of the ground, with the feet; to jump; to vault;
as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a horse. Bacon.
Leap in with me into this angry flood. Shak.
2. To spring or move suddenly, as by a jump or by jumps; to bound; to
move swiftly. Also Fig.
My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky. Wordsworth.
Leap
Leap, v. t.
1. To pass over by a leap or jump; as, to leap a wall, or a ditch.
2. To copulate with (a female beast); to cover.
3. To cause to leap; as, to leap a horse across a ditch.
Leap
Leap, n.
1. The act of leaping, or the space passed by leaping; a jump; a
spring; a bound.
Wickedness comes on by degrees, . . . and sudden leaps from one
extreme to another are unnatural. L'Estrange.
Changes of tone may proceed either by leaps or glides. H. Sweet.
2. Copulation with, or coverture of, a female beast.
3. (Mining) A fault.
4. (Mus.) A passing from one note to another by an interval,
especially by a long one, or by one including several other and
intermediate intervals.
Leaper
Leap"er (?), n. [AS. hle\'a0pere.] One who, or that which, leaps.
Leaper
Leap"er, n. [See 1st Leap.] A kind of hooked instrument for untwisting
old cordage.
Leapfrog
Leap"frog` (?), n. A play among boys, in which one stoops down and
another leaps over him by placing his hands on the shoulders of the
former.
Leapful
Leap"ful (?), n. [See 1st Leap.] A basketful. [Obs.]
Leaping
Leap"ing, a. & n. from Leap, to jump. Leaping house, a brothel. [Obs.]
Shak. -- Leaping pole, a pole used in some games of leaping. --
Leaping spider (Zo\'94l.), a jumping spider; one of the Saltigrad\'91.
Leapingly
Leap"ing*ly, adv. By leaps.
Leap year
Leap" year` (?). Bissextile; a year containing 366 days; every fourth
year which leaps over a day more than a common year, giving to
February twenty-nine days. See Bissextile.
NOTE: &hand; Every year whose number is divisible by four without a
remainder is a leap year, excepting the full centuries, which, to
be leap years, must be divisible by 400 without a remainder. If not
so divisible they are common years. 1900, therefore, is not a leap
year.
Lear
Lear (?), v. t. To learn. See Lere, to learn. [Obs.]
Lear
Lear, n. Lore; lesson. [Obs.] Spenser.
Lear
Lear, a. See Leer, a. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Lear
Lear, n. An annealing oven. See Leer, n.
Learn
Learn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Learned (?), or Learnt (p. pr. & vb. n.
Learning.] [OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS. lin\'d3n,
for lirn\'d3n, OHG. lirn\'c7n, lern\'c7n, G. lernen, fr. the root of
AS. l to teach, OS. l\'c7rian, OHG.l\'c7ran, G. lehren, Goth. laisjan,
also Goth lais I know, leis acquainted (in comp.); all prob. from a
root meaning, to go, go over, and hence, to learn; cf. AS. leoran to
go . Cf. Last a mold of the foot, lore.]
1. To gain knowledge or information of; to ascertain by inquiry,
study, or investigation; to receive instruction concerning; to fix in
the mind; to acquire understanding of, or skill; as, to learn the way;
to learn a lesson; to learn dancing; to learn to skate; to learn the
violin; to learn the truth about something. "Learn to do well." Is. i.
17.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree. Matt. xxiv. 32.
2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. [Obs.]
Hast thou not learned me how To make perfumes ? Shak.
NOTE: &hand; Le arn fo rmerly ha d al so th e se nse of te ach, in
accordance with the analogy of the French and other languages, and
hence we find it with this sense in Shakespeare, Spenser, and other
old writers. This usage has now passed away. To learn is to receive
instruction, and to teach is to give instruction. He who is taught
learns, not he who teaches.
Learn
Learn, v. i. To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in
acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction;
as, this child learns quickly.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29.
To learn by heart. See By heart, under Heart. -- To learn by rote, to
memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 839
Learnable
Learn"a*ble (?), a. Such as can be learned.
Learned
Learn"ed (?), a. Of or pertaining to learning; possessing, or
characterized by, learning, esp. scholastic learning; erudite;
well-informed; as, a learned scholar, writer, or lawyer; a learned
book; a learned theory.
The learnedlover lost no time. Spenser.
Men of much reading are greatly learned, but may be little knowing.
Locke.
Words of learned length and thundering sound. Goldsmith.
The learned, learned men; men of erudition; scholars. -- Learn"ed*ly,
adv. Learn"ed*ness, n.
Every coxcomb swears as learnedly as they. Swift.
Learner
Learn"er (?), n. One who learns; a scholar.
Learning
Learn"ing, n. [AS. leornung.]
1. The acquisition of knowledge or skill; as, the learning of
languages; the learning of telegraphy.
2. The knowledge or skill received by instruction or study; acquired
knowledge or ideas in any branch of science or literature; erudition;
literature; science; as, he is a man of great learning.
Book learning. See under Book. Syn. -- Literature; erudition; lore;
scholarship; science; letters. See Literature.
Leasable
Leas"a*ble (?), a. [From 2d Lease.] Such as can be leased.
Lease
Lease (?), v. i. [AS. lesan to gather; akin to D. lezen to gather,
read, G. lesen, Goth. lisan to gather; cf. Lith lesti to peck.] To
gather what harvesters have left behind; to glean. [Obs.] Dryden.
Lease
Lease (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leasing.]
[F.laisser, OF. laissier, lessier, to leave, transmit, L. laxare to
loose, slacken, from laxus loose, wide. See Lax, and cf. Lesser.]
1. To grant to another by lease the possession of, as of lands,
tenements, and hereditaments; to let; to demise; as, a landowner
leases a farm to a tenant; -- sometimes with out.
There were some [houses] that were leased out for three lives.
Addison.
2. To hold under a lease; to take lease of; as, a tenant leases his
land from the owner.
Lease
Lease (?), n. [Cf. OF. lais. See Lease, v. t.]
1. A demise or letting of lands, tenements, or hereditaments to
another for life, for a term of years, or at will, or for any less
interest than that which the lessor has in the property, usually for a
specified rent or compensation.
2. The contract for such letting.
3. Any tenure by grant or permission; the time for which such a tenure
holds good; allotted time.
Our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature. Shak.
Lease and release a mode of conveyance of freehold estates, formerly
common in England and in New York. its place is now supplied by a
simple deed of grant. Burrill. Warren's Blackstone.
Leasehold
Lease"hold` (?), a. Held by lease.
Leasehold
Lease"hold`, n. A tenure by lease; specifically, land held as
personalty under a lease for years.
Leaseholder
Lease"hold`er (?), n. A tenant under a lease. -- Lease"hold`ing, a. &
n.
Leaser
Leas"er (?), n. [From 1st Lease.] One who leases or gleans. [Obs.]
Swift.
Leaser
Leas"er, n. A liar. [Obs.] See Leasing.
Leash
Leash (?), n. [OE. lese, lees, leece, OF. lesse, F. laisse, LL.laxa,
fr. L. laxus loose. See Lax.]
1. A thong of leather, or a long cord, by which a falconer holds his
hawk, or a courser his dog.
Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash. Shak.
2. (Sporting) A brace and a half; a tierce; three; three creatures of
any kind, especially greyhounds, foxes, bucks, and hares; hence, the
number three in general.
[I] kept my chamber a leash of days. B. Jonson.
Then were I wealthier than a leash of kings. Tennyson.
3. (Weaving) A string with a loop at the end for lifting warp threads,
in a loom.
Leash
Leash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leashing.] To
tie together, or hold, with a leash.
Leasing
Leas"ing (?), n. [AS. le\'a0sung, fr. le\'a0s loose, false, deceitful.
See -less, Loose, a.] The act of lying; falsehood; a lie or lies.
[Archaic] Spenser.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. Ps. v. 6.
Blessed be the lips that such a leasing told. Fairfax.
Leasing making (Scots Law), the uttering of lies or libels upon the
personal character of the sovereign, his court, or his family. Bp.
Burnet.
Leasow
Lea"sow (?), n. [AS. lesu, l\'91su.] A pasture. [Obs.]
Least
Least (?), a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l, l, superl. of l less. See Less,
a.] [Used as the superlative of little.] Smallest, either in size or
degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the
least mercy; the least space.
NOTE: &hand; Least is often used with the, as if a noun.
I am the least of the apostles. 1 Cor. xv. 9.
At least, OR At the least, at the least estimate, consideration,
chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See However.
He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with
dishonor. Milton.
Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who
sat as on horseback. Sir P. Sidney.
-- In least, OR In the least, in the least degree, manner, etc. "He
that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke xvi. 10. --
Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number of carefully
made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most
probable values of the unknown quantities.
NOTE: It ta kes as its fundamental principle that the most probable
values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual
errors of the observation a minimum.
Least
Least, adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all
others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
Least
Least, conj. See Lest, conj. [Obs.] Spenser.
Leastways, Leastwise
Least"ways` (?), Least"wise` (?), adv. At least; at all events.
[Colloq.] At leastways, OR At leastwise, at least. [Obs.] Fuller.
Leasy
Lea"sy (?), a. [AS. le\'a0s void, loose, false. Cf. Leasing.] Flimsy;
vague; deceptive. [Obs.] Ascham.
Leat
Leat (?), n. [Cf. Lead to conduct.] An artificial water trench, esp.
one to or from a mill. C. Kingsley.
Leather
Leath"er (?), n. [OE. lether, AS. le; akin to D. leder, le\'88r, G.
leder, OHG. ledar, Icel. le, Sw. l\'84der, Dan. l\'91der.]
1. The skin of an animal, or some part of such skin, tanned, tawed, or
otherwise dressed for use; also, dressed hides, collectively.
2. The skin. [Ironical or Sportive]
NOTE: &hand; Le ather is much used adjectively in the sense of made
of, relating to, or like, leather.
Leather board, an imitation of sole leather, made of leather scraps,
rags, paper, etc. -- Leather carp (Zo\'94l.) , a variety of carp in
which the scales are all, or nearly all, absent. See Illust. under
Carp. -- Leather jacket. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A California carangoid fish
(Oligoplites saurus). (b) A trigger fish (Balistes Carolinensis). --
Leather flower (Bot.), a climbing plant (Clematis Viorna) of the
Middle and Southern States having thick, leathery sepals of a purplish
color. -- Leather leaf (Bot.), a low shrub (Cassandra calyculata),
growing in Northern swamps, and having evergreen, coriaceous, scurfy
leaves. -- Leather plant (Bot.), one or more New Zealand plants of the
composite genus Celmisia, which have white or buff tomentose leaves.
-- Leather turtle. (Zo\'94l.) See Leatherback. -- Vegetable leather.
(a) An imitation of leather made of cotton waste. (b) Linen cloth
coated with India rubber. Ure.
Leather
Leath"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leathered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Leathering.] To beat, as with a thong of leather. [Obs. or Colloq.] G.
Eliot.
Leatherback
Leath"er*back` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A large sea turtle (Sphargis
coriacea), having no bony shell on its back. It is common in the warm
and temperate parts of the Atlantic, and sometimes weighs over a
thousand pounds; -- called also leather turtle, leathery turtle,
leather-backed tortoise, etc.
Leatheret, Leatherette
Leath"er*et (?), Leath`er*ette" (?), n. [Leather + et, F. -ette.] An
imitation of leather, made of paper and cloth.
Leatherhead
Leath"er*head` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The friar bird.
Leathern
Leath"ern (?), a. Made of leather; consisting of. leather; as, a
leathern purse. "A leathern girdle about his loins." Matt. iii. 4.
Leatherneck
Leath"er*neck` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The sordid friar bird of Australia
(Tropidorhynchus sordidus).
Leatherwood
Leath"er*wood`, n. (Bot.) A small branching shrub (Dirca palustris),
with a white, soft wood, and a tough, leathery bark, common in damp
woods in the Northern United States; -- called also moosewood, and
wicopy. Gray.
Leathery
Leath"er*y (?), a. Resembling leather in appearance or consistence;
tough. "A leathery skin." Grew.
Leave
Leave (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaving] To
send out leaves; to leaf; -- often with out. G. Fletcher.
Leave
Leave, v. t. [See Levy.] To raise; to levy. [Obs.]
An army strong she leaved. Spenser.
Leave
Leave, n. [OE. leve, leave, AS. le\'a0f; akin to le\'a2f pleasing,
dear, E. lief, D. oorlof leave, G. arlaub, and erlauben to permit,
Icel. leyfi. Lief.]
1. Liberty granted by which restraint or illegality is removed;
permission; allowance; license.
David earnestly asked leave of me. 1 Sam. xx. 6.
No friend has leave to bear away the dead. Dryden.
2. The act of leaving or departing; a formal parting; a leaving;
farewell; adieu; -- used chiefly in the phrase, to take leave, i. e.,
literally, to take permission to go.
A double blessing is a'double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second
leave. Shak.
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took
his leave of the brethren. Acts xviii. 18.
French leave. See under French. Syn. -- See Liberty.
Leave
Leave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Left (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaving.] [OE.
leven, AS. l, fr. l\'bef remnant, heritage; akin to lifian, libban, to
live, orig., to remain; cf. bel\'c6fan to remain, G. bleiben, Goth.
bileiban. Live, v.]
1. To withdraw one's self from; to go away from; to depart from; as,
to leave the house.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall
cleave unto his wife. Gen. ii. 24.
2. To let remain unremoved or undone; to let stay or continue, in
distinction from what is removed or changed.
If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning
grapes ? Jer. xlix. 9.
These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matt. xxiii. 23.
Besides it leaveth a suspicion, as if more might be said than is
expressed. Bacon.
3. To cease from; to desist from; to abstain from.
Now leave complaining and begin your tea. Pope.
4. To desert; to abandon; to forsake; hence, to give up; to
relinquish.
Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Mark x. 28.
The heresies that men do leave. Shak.
5. To let be or do without interference; as, I left him to his
reflections; I leave my hearers to judge.
I will leave you now to your gossiplike humor. Shak.
6. To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver; to commit; to submit --
with a sense of withdrawing one's self from; as, leave your hat in the
hall; we left our cards; to leave the matter to arbitrators.
Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way. Matt. v. 24.
The foot That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks. Shak.
7. To have remaining at death; hence, to bequeath; as, he left a large
estate; he left a good name; he left a legacy to his niece.
To leave alone. (a) To leave in solitude. (b) To desist or refrain
from having to do with; as, to leave dangerous chemicals alone. -- To
leave off. (a) To desist from; to forbear; to stop; as, to leave off
work at six o'clock. (b) To cease wearing or using; to omit to put in
the usual position; as, to leave off a garment; to leave off the
tablecloth. (c) To forsake; as, to leave off a bad habit. -- To leave
out, to omit; as, to leave out a word or name in writing. -- To leave
to one's self, to let (one) be alone; to cease caring for (one). Syn>-
To quit; depart from; forsake; abandon; relinquish; deliver; bequeath;
give up; forego; resign; surrender; forbear. See Quit.
Leave
Leave (?), v. i.
1. To depart; to set out. [Colloq.]
By the time I left for Scotland. Carlyle.
2. To cease; to desist; to leave off. "He . . . began at the eldest,
and left at the youngest." Gen. xliv. 12.
To leave off, to cease; to desist; to stop.
Leave off, and for another summons wait. Roscommon.
Leaved
Leaved (?), a. [From Leaf.] Bearing, or having, a leaf or leaves;
having folds; -- used in combination; as, a four-leaved clover; a
two-leaved gate; long-leaved.
Leaveless
Leave"less (?), a. Leafless. [Obs.] Carew.
Leaven
Leav"en (?), n. [OE. levain, levein, F. levain, L. levamen
alleviation, mitigation; but taken in the sense of, a raising, that
which raises, fr. levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce,
fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of fermenting
dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough, produces a
general change in the mass, and renders it light; yeast; barm.
2. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a
corrupting) change in the mass.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke
xii. 1.
Leaven
Leav"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leavened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leavening
(?).]
1. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor. v. 6.
2. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.
With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he leavens also his
prayer. Milton.
Leavening
Leav"en*ing (?), n.
1. The act of making light, or causing to ferment, by means of leaven.
2. That which leavens or makes light. Bacon.
Leavenous
Leav"en*ous (?), a. Containing leaven. Milton.
Leaver
Leav"er (?), n. One who leaves, or withdraws.
Leaves
Leaves (?), n., pl. of Leaf.
Leave-taking
Leave"-tak`ing (?), n. Taking of leave; parting compliments. Shak.
Leaviness
Leav"i*ness (?), n. [Fr. Leaf.] Leafiness.[Obs.]
Leavings
Leav"ings, n. pl.
1. Things left; remnants; relics.
2. Refuse; offal.
Leavy
Leav"y (?), a. Leafy. [Obs.] Chapman.
Leban, Lebban
Leb"an, Leb"ban (?), n. Coagulated sour milk diluted with water; -- a
common beverage among the Arabs. Also, a fermented liquor made of the
same.
Lecama
Le*ca"ma (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The hartbeest.
Lecanomancy
Le*can"o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. -mancy.] divination practiced with water
in a basin, by throwing three stones into it, and invoking the demon
whose aid was sought.
Lecanoric
Lec`a*no"ric (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic
acid which is obtained from several varieties of lichen (Lecanora,
Roccella, etc.), as a white, crystalline substance, and is called also
orsellic, OR diorsellinic acid, lecanorin, etc.
Lecanorin
Lec`a*no"rin (?), n. (Chem.) See Lecanoric.
Lech
Lech (?), v. t. [F. l\'82cher. See Lick.] To lick. [Obs.]
Leche
Le*che" (?), n. See water buck, under 3d Buck.
Lecher
Lech"er (?), n. [OE.lechur, lechour, OF.lecheor, lecheur, gormand,
glutton, libertine, parasite, fr. lechier to lick, F. l\'82cher; of
Teutonic origin. See Lick.] A man given to lewdness; one addicted, in
an excessive degree, to the indulgence of sexual desire, or to illicit
commerce with women.
Lecher
Lech"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lechered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lechering.]
To practice lewdness.
Lecherer
Lech"er*er (?), n. See Lecher, n. Marston.
Lecherous
Lech"er*ous (?), a. Like a lecher; addicted to lewdness; lustful;
also, lust-provoking. "A lecherous thing is wine." Chaucer. --
Lech"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Lech"er*ous*ness, n.
Lechery
Lech"er*y (?), n. [OE. lecherie, OF. lecherie. See Lecher.]
1. Free indulgence of lust; lewdness.
2. Selfish pleasure; delight. [Obs.] Massinger.
Lecithin
Lec"i*thin (?), n. [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.) A complex, nitrogenous
phosphorized substance widely distributed through the animal body, and
especially conspicuous in the brain and nerve tissue, in yolk of eggs,
and in the white blood corpuscles.
lectern
lec"tern (?), n. See Lecturn.
Lectica
Lec*ti"ca (?), n.; pl. Lectic\'91 (#). [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) A kind of
litter or portable couch.
Lection
Lec"tion (?), n. [L. lectio, fr. legere, lectum, to read. See lesson,
Legend.]
1. (Eccl.) A lesson or selection, esp. of Scripture, read in divine
service.
2. A reading; a variation in the text.
We ourselves are offended by the obtrusion of the new lections into
the text. De Quincey.
Lectionary
Lec"tion*a*ry (?), n.; pl. -ries (#). [LL. lectionarium, lectionarius
: cf. F. lectionnaire.] (Eccl.) A book, or a list, of lections, for
reading in divine service.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 840
Lector
Lec"tor (?), n. [L. See Lection.] (Eccl.) A reader of lections;
formerly, a person designated to read lessons to the illiterate.
Lectual
Lec"tu*al (?), a. [LL. lectualis, fr. L. lectus bed.] (Med.) Confining
to the bed; as, a lectual disease.
Lecture
Lec"ture (?), n. [F. lecture, LL. lectura, fr. L. legere, lectum, to
read. See Legend.]
1. The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture. [Obs.]
2. A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical
discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse,
in contrast with a sermon.
3. A reprimand or formal reproof from one having authority.
4. (Eng. Universities) A rehearsal of a lesson.
Lecture
Lec"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lectured (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lecturing.]
1. To read or deliver a lecture to.
2. To reprove formally and with authority.
Lecture
Lec"ture, v. i. To deliver a lecture or lectures.
Lecturer
Lec"tur*er (?), n. One who lectures; an assistant preacher.
Lectureship
Lec"ture*ship, n. The office of a lecturer.
Lecturn
Lec"turn (?), n. [LL. lectrinum, fr. lectrum; cf. L. legere, lectum,
to read.] A choir desk, or reading desk, in some churches, from which
the lections, or Scripture lessons, are chanted or read; hence, a
reading desk. [Written also lectern and lettern]. Fairholt.
Lecythis
Lec"y*this (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 3 an oil flask.] (Bot.) A genus of
gigantic trees, chiefly Brazilian, of the order Myrtace\'91, having
woody capsules opening by an apical lid. Lecythis Zabucajo yields the
delicious sapucaia nuts. L. Ollaria produces the monkey-pots, its
capsules. Its bark separates into thin sheets, like paper, used by the
natives for cigarette wrappers.
Led
Led (?), imp. & p. p. of Lead. Led captain. An obsequious follower or
attendant. [Obs.] Swift. -- Led horse, a sumpter horse, or a spare
horse, that is led along.
Leden, Ledden
Led"en (?), Led"den (?) n. [AS. l, l, language, speech. Cf. Leod.]
Language; speech; voice; cry. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Ledge
Ledge (?), n. [Akin to AS. licgan to lie, Icel. liggja; cf. Icel.
l\'94gg the ledge or rim at the bottom of a cask. See Lie to be
prostrate.] [Formerly written lidge.]
1. A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles
such a shelf in form or use, as a projecting ridge or part, or a
molding or edge in joinery.
2. A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks.
3. A layer or stratum.
The lowest ledge or row should be of stone. Sir H. Wotton.
4. (Mining) A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral.
5. (Shipbuilding) A piece of timber to support the deck, placed
athwartship between beams.
Ledgement
Ledge"ment (?), n. See Ledgment.
Ledger
Ledg"er, n. [Akin to D. legger layer, daybook (fr. leggen to lay,
liggen to lie), E. ledge, lie. See Lie to be prostrate.]
1. A book in which a summary of accounts is laid up or preserved; the
final book of record in business transactions, in which all debits and
credits from the journal, etc., are placed under appropriate heads.
[Written also leger.]
2. (Arch.) (a) A large flat stone, esp. one laid over a tomb. Oxf.
Gloss. (b) A horizontal piece of timber secured to the uprights and
supporting floor timbers, a staircase, scaffolding, or the like. It
differs from an intertie in being intended to carry weight. [Written
also ligger.]
Ledger bait, fishing bait attached to a floating line fastened to the
bank of a stream, pond, etc. Walton. J. H. Walsh. -- Ledger line. See
Leger line, under 3d Leger, a. -- Ledger wall (Mining), the wall under
a vein; the foot wall. Raymond.
Ledgment
Ledg"ment (?), n. (Arch.) (a) A string-course or horizontal suit of
moldings, such as the base moldings of a building. Oxf. Gloss. (b) The
development of the surface of a body on a plane, so that the
dimensions of the different sides may be easily ascertained. Gwilt.
[Written also ledgement, legement, and ligement.]
Ledgy
Ledg"y (?), a. Abounding in ledges; consisting of a ledge or reef; as,
a ledgy island.
Lee
Lee (?), v, i, To lie; to speak falsely. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lee
Lee, n.; pl. Lees (#). [F. lie, perh. fr. L. levare to lift up, raise.
Cf. Lever.] That which settles at the bottom, as, of a cask of liquor
(esp. wine); sediment; dregs; -- used now only in the plural. [Lees
occurs also as a form of the singular.] "The lees of wine." Holland.
A thousand demons lurk within the lee. Young.
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to
brag of. Shak.
Lee
Lee, n. [OE. lee shelter, Icel. hl, akin to AS. hle\'a2, hle\'a2w,
shelter, protection, OS. hl\'8ao, D. lij lee, Sw. l\'84, Dan. l\'91.]
1. A sheltered place; esp., a place; protected from the wind by some
object; the side sheltered from the wind; shelter; protection; as, the
lee of a mountain, an island, or a ship.
We lurked under lee. Morte d'Arthure.
Desiring me to take shelter in his lee. Tyndall.
2. (Naut.) That part of the hemisphere, as one stands on shipboard,
toward which the wind blows. See Lee, a.
By the lee, To bring by the lee. See under By, and Bring. -- Under the
lee of, on that side which is sheltered from the wind; as, to be under
the lee of a ship.
Lee
Lee, a. (Naut.) Of or pertaining to the part or side opposite to that
against which the wind blows; -- opposed to weather; as, the lee side
or lee rail of a vessel. Lee gauge. See Gauge, n. (Naut.) -- Lee
shore, the shore on the lee side of a vessel. -- Lee tide, a tide
running in the same direction that the wind blows. -- On the lee beam,
directly to the leeward; in a line at right angles to the length of
the vessel and to the leeward.
Leeboard
Lee"board` (?), n. A board, or frame of planks, lowered over the side
of a vessel to lessen her leeway when closehauled, by giving her
greater draught.
Leech
Leech (?), n. See 2d Leach.
Leech
Leech, v. t. See Leach, v. t.
Leech
Leech, n. [Cf. LG. leik, Icel. l\'c6k, Sw. lik boltrope, stliken the
leeches.] (Naut.) The border or edge at the side of a sail. [Written
also leach.] Leech line, a line attached to the leech ropes of sails,
passing up through blocks on the yards, to haul the leeches by.
Totten. -- Leech rope, that part of the boltrope to which the side of
a sail is sewed.
Leech
Leech, n. [OE. leche, l\'91che, physician, AS. l; akin to Fries. l,
OHG. l\'behh\'c6, Icel. l\'91knari, Sw. l\'84kare, Dan. l\'91ge, Goth.
l, AS. l\'becnian to heal, Sw. l\'84ka, Dan.l\'91ge, Icel. l\'91kna,
Goth. l.]
1. physician or surgeon; a professor of the art of healing. [Written
also leach.] [Archaic] Spenser.
Leech, heal thyself. Wyclif (Luke iv. 23).
2. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose
worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those
species <-- formerly! -->used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of
Europe, and allied species.
NOTE: &hand; In th e mo uth of bl oodsucking le eches ar e th ree
convergent, serrated jaws, moved by strong muscles. By the motion
of these jaws a stellate incision is made in the skin, through
which the leech sucks blood till it is gorged, and then drops off.
The stomach has large pouches on each side to hold the blood. The
common large bloodsucking leech of America (Macrobdella decora) is
dark olive above, and red below, with black spots. Many kinds of
leeches are parasitic on fishes; others feed upon worms and
mollusks, and have no jaws for drawing blood. See Bdelloidea.
Hirudinea, and Clepsine.
3. (Surg.) A glass tube of peculiar construction, adapted for drawing
blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.
Horse leech, a less powerful European leech (H\'91mopis vorax),
commonly attacking the membrane that lines the inside of the mouth and
nostrils of animals that drink at pools where it lives.
Leech
Leech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leeched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leeching.]
1. To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds. [Archaic]
2. To bleed by the use of leeches.
Leechcraft
Leech"craft` (?), n. The art of healing; skill of a physician.
[Archaic] Chaucer.
Leed, Leede
Leed, Leede (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A caldron; a copper kettle.
[Obs.] "A furnace of a leed." Chaucer.
Leef
Leef (?), a. & adv. See Lief. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leek
Leek (?), n. [AS.le\'a0c; akin to D. look, G. lauch, OHG. louh, Icel.
laukr, Sw. l\'94k, Dan l\'94g. Cf. Garlic.] (Bot.) A plant of the
genus Allium (A. Porrum), having broadly linear succulent leaves
rising from a loose oblong cylindrical bulb. The flavor is stronger
than that of the common onion. Wild leek , in America, a plant (Allium
tricoccum) with a cluster of ovoid bulbs and large oblong elliptical
leaves.
Leeme
Leeme (?), v. & n. See Leme. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leep
Leep (?), obs. strong imp. of Leap. leaped.
Leer
Leer (?), v. t. To learn. [Obs.] See Lere, to learn.
Leer
Leer, a. [OE. lere; akin to G. leer, OHG. & OS. l\'beri.] [Obs. or
Prov. Eng.] Empty; destitute; wanting; as: (a) Empty of contents. "A
leer stomach." Gifford. (b) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not
ridden; as, a leer horse. B. Jonson. (c) Wanting sense or seriousness;
trifling; trivolous; as, leer words.
Leer
Leer, n. An oven in which glassware is annealed.
Leer
Leer, n. [OE.lere cheek, face, look, AS. hle\'a2r cheek, face; akin to
OS. hlear, hlior, OD. lier, Icel. hl.]
1. The cheek. [Obs.] Holinshed.
2. complexion; aspect; appearance. [Obs.]
A Rosalind of a better leer than you. Shak.
3. A distorted expression of the face, or an indirect glance of the
eye, conveying a sinister or immodest suggestion.
With jealous leer malign Eyed them askance. Milton.
She gives the leer of invitation. Shak.
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer. Pope.
Leer
Leer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leering.] To
look with a leer; to look askance with a suggestive expression, as of
hatred, contempt, lust, etc. ; to cast a sidelong lustful or malign
look.
I will leer him as a'comes by. Shak.
The priest, above his book, Leering at his neighbor's wife.
Tennyson.
Leer
Leer, v. t. To entice with a leer, or leers; as, to leer a man to
ruin. Dryden.
Leere
Leere (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] Tape or braid; an ornament.
Halliwell. Leere side, the left side, as that on which a leere or
ornament was worn. B. Jonson.
Leeringly
Leer"ing*ly, adv. In a leering manner.
Lees
Lees (?), n. pl. Dregs. See 2d Lee.
Lees
Lees (?), n. A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leese
Leese (?), v. t. [See Lose.] To lose. [Obs.]
They would rather leese their friend than their jest. Lord
Burleigh.
Leese
Leese, v. t. [Cf. f. l\'82ser, L.laesus, p. p. of laedere.] To hurt.
[Obs.] B. Jonson.
Leet
Leet (?), obs. imp. of Let, to allow. Chaucer.
Leet
Leet n. [Cf. AS. hl share, lot.] A portion; a list, esp. a list of
candidates for an office. [Scot.]
Leet
Leet, n. [LL.leta. Cf. F. lit de justice a solemn sitting of the king
in Parliament, L. lis, litis, a lawsuit, It., Sp., & Pg. lite.] (Eng.
Hist.) A court-leet; the district within the jurisdiction of a
court-leet; the day on which a court-leet is held. Shak.
NOTE: &hand; Th e original intent of the court-leet was to view the
frankpledges or freemen within the liberty; hence called the view
of frankpledge. Latterly it has fallen into almost entire disuse.
Burrill. Warren's Blackstone. Leet ale, a feast or merrymaking in time
of leet. [Obs.]
Leet
Leet, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zo\'94l.) The European pollock.
Leetman
Leet"man (?), n.; pl. Leetmen (. One subject to the jurisdiction of a
court-leet.
Leeward
Lee"ward (?), a. (Naut.) Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the
part or side toward which the wind blows; -- opposed to windward; as,
a leeward berth; a leeward ship. -- n. The lee side; the lee. -- adv.
Toward the lee.
Leeway
Lee"way` (?), n. (Naut.) The lateral movement of a ship to the leeward
of her course; drift.
Left
Left (?), imp. & p. p. of Leave.
Left
Left, a. [OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD.lucht, luft;
cf. AS.left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyft\'bedl palsy; or cf. AS.l
weak.] Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the
muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side;
-- opposed to right, when used in reference to a part of the body; as,
the left ear. Also said of the corresponding side of the lower
animals. Left bank of a river, that which is on the left hand of a
person whose face is turned downstream. -- Left bower. See under 2d
Bower. -- Left center, the members whose sympathies are, in the main,
with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme courses,
and on occasions vote with the government. They sit between the Center
and the extreme Left. -- Over the left shoulder, OR Over the left, an
old but still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as an
aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief; as, he said it,
and it is true, -- over the left.
Left
Left, n.
1. that part of surrounding space toward which the left side of one's
body is turned; as, the house is on the left when you face North.
Put that rose a little more to the left. Ld. Lytton.
2. those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who are in
the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They
have their seats at the left-hand side of the presiding officer. See
Center, and Right.<-- now used of any group advocating a leftist
policy -- which is variously interpeted, as meaning "radical",
"liberal", "reformist", "anti-establishment" "advocating change in the
name of greater freedom or well-being of the common man[MW10]" --
opposed to rightist, and in the "liberal" interpretation, opposed to
"conservative". -->
Left-hand
Left"-hand` (?), a. Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than
the right; as, the left-hand side; the left-hand road. Left-hand rope,
rope laid up and twisted over from right to left, or against the sun;
-- called also water-laid rope.
Left-handed
Left"-hand`ed, a.
1. Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the
right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.
2. Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a
left-handed compliment.
The commendations of this people are not always left-handed and
detractive. Landor.
3. Having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch when
seen in front; -- said of a twist, a rotary motion, etc., looked at
from a given direction.
Left-handed marriage, a morganatic marriage. See Morganatic. --
Left-handed screw, a screw constructed to advance away from the
observer, when turned, as in a nut, with a left-handed rotation. An
ordinary wood screw is right-handed.
Left-handedness, Left-handiness
Left"-hand`ed*ness, Left"-hand`i*ness (?), n. The state or quality of
being left-handed; awkwardness.
An awkward address, ungraceful attitudes and actions, and a certain
left-handiness (if I may use the expression) proclaim low
education. Chesterfield.
Left-off
Left"-off" (?), a. Laid a side; cast-off.
Leftward
Left"ward (?), adv. Toward or on the left side.
Rightward and leftward rise the rocks. Southey.
Leful
Le"ful (?), a. See Leveful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leg
Leg (?), n. [Icel. leggr; akin to Dan. l\'91g calf of the leg, Sw.
l\'84gg.]
1. A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in
running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between
the knee and foot.
2. That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any long and
slender support on which any object rests; as, the leg of a table; the
leg of pair of compasses or dividers.
3. The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg; as, the
leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.
4. A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the
leg backward in bowing. [Obs.]
He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for a favor he
never received. Fuller.
5. A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. [Slang, Eng.]
6. (Naut.) The course and distance made by a vessel on one tack or
between tacks.
7. (Steam Boiler) An extension of the boiler downward, in the form of
a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding
the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; -- called
also water leg.
8. (Grain Elevator) The case containing the lower part of the belt
which carries the buckets.
9. (Cricket) A fielder whose position is on the outside, a little in
rear of the batter.
A good leg (Naut.), a course sailed on a tack which is near the
desired course. -- Leg bail, escape from custody by flight. [Slang] --
Legs of an hyperbola (or other curve) (Geom.), the branches of the
curve which extend outward indefinitely. -- Legs of a triangle, the
sides of a triangle; -- a name seldom used unless one of the sides is
first distinguished by some appropriate term; as, the hypothenuse and
two legs of a right-angled triangle. On one's legs, standing to speak.
-- One's last legs. See under Last. -- To have legs (Naut.), to have
speed.<-- also, to have endurance, to continue longer than usual, -->
-- To stand on one's own legs, to support one's self; to be
independent.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 841
Leg
Leg (?), v. t. To use as a leg, with it as object: (a) To bow. [Obs.]
(b) To run [Low]
Legacy
Leg"a*cy (?), n.; pl.Legacies (#). [L. (assumed) legatia, for legatum,
from legare to appoint by last will, to bequeath as a legacy, to
depute: cf. OF. legat legacy. See Legate.]
1. A gift of property by will, esp. of money or personal property; a
bequest. Also Fig.; as, a legacy of dishonor or disease.
2. A business with which one is intrusted by another; a commission; --
obsolete, except in the phrases last legacy, dying legacy, and the
like.
My legacy and message wherefore I am sent into the world. Tyndale.
He came and told his legacy. Chapman.
Legacy duty, a tax paid to government on legacies. Wharton. -- Legacy
hunter, one who flatters and courts any one for the sake of a
legacy.<-- related to gold-digger (latter for any riches, not just a
legacy) -->
Legal
Le"gal (?), a. [L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law; prob. orig., that
which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie,
law: cf. F. l\'82gal. Cf. Lie to be prostrate, Loyal, Leal.]
1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law;
as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a
legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not
forbid.
2. (Theol.) (a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from
free grace; or resting on works for salvation. (b) According to the
old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses
3. (Law) Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules
of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. Bouvier. Burrill.
Legal cap. See under Cap. -- Legal tender. (a) The act of tendering in
the performance of a contract or satisfaction of a claim that which
the law prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as the law
prescribes or permits. (b) That currency, or money, which the law
authorizes a debtor to tender and requires a creditor to receive. It
differs in different countries. Syn. -- Lawful; constitutional;
legitimate; licit; authorized. See Lawful.
Legalism
Le"gal*ism (?), n. Strictness, or the doctrine of strictness, in
conforming to law.
Legalist
Le"gal*ist, n. One who practices or advocates strict conformity to
law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works. See Legal, 2 (a).
Legality
Le*gal"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. LL. legalitas, F. l\'82galit\'82. Cf.
Loyalty.]
1. The state or quality of being letter of the law.
Legalization
Le`gal*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of making legal.
Legalize
Le"gal*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Legalizing (?).] [Cf. F. l\'82galiser.]
1. To make legal.
2. (Theol.) To interpret or apply in a legal spirit.
Legally
Le"gal*ly, adv. In a legal manner.
Legantine
Le*gan"tine (?), a. [Obs.] See Legatine.
Legatary
Leg"a*ta*ry (?), n. [L. legatarius, fr. legaturius enjoined by a last
will: cf. F. l\'82gataire. See Legacy.] A legatee. [R.] Ayliffe.
Legate
Leg"ate (?), n. [OE. legal, L. legatus, fr. legare to sent with a
commission or charge, to depute, fr. lex, legis, law: cf. F. l\'82gat,
It. legato. See Legal.]
1. An ambassador or envoy.
2. An ecclesiastic representing the pope and invested with the
authority of the Holy See.
NOTE: &hand; Le gates are of three kinds: (a) Legates a latere, now
always cardinals. They are called ordinary or extraordinary
legates, the former governing provinces, and the latter class being
sent to foreign countries on extraordinary occasions. (b) Legati
missi, who correspond to the ambassadors of temporal governments.
(c) Legati nati, or legates by virtue of their office, as the
archbishops of Salzburg and Prague.
3. (Rom. Hist.) (a) An official assistant given to a general or to the
governor of a province. (b) Under the emperors, a governor sent to a
province.
Legatee
Leg`a*tee" (?), n. [See Legacy.] (Law) One to whom a legacy is
bequeathed.
Legateship
Leg"ate*ship (?), n. The office of a legate.
Legatine
Leg"a*tine (?), a. Of or pertaining to a legate; as, legatine power.
Holinshed.
2. Made by, proceeding from, or under the sanction of, a legate; as, a
legatine constitution. Ayliffe.
Legation
Le*ga"tion (?), n. [L. legatio: cf. F. l\'82gation, It. legazione. See
Legate.]
1. The sending forth or commissioning one person to act for another.
"The Divine legation of Moses." Bp. Warburton.
2. A legate, or envoy, and the persons associated with him in his
mission; an embassy; or, in stricter usage, a diplomatic minister and
his suite; a deputation.
3. The place of business or official residence of a diplomatic
minister at a foreign court or seat of government.
4. A district under the jurisdiction of a legate.
Legato
Le*ga"to (?), a. [It., tied, joined, fr. legare to tie, bind, L.
ligare.] (Mus.) Connected; tied; -- a term used when successive tones
are to be produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner. It
is often indicated by a tie, thus staccato.
Legator
Leg`a*tor" (?), n. [L., fr. legare: cf. OF. legateur. See Legacy.]
(Law) A testator; one who bequeaths a legacy. Dryden.
Legatura
Le`ga*tu"ra (?), n. [It. See Ligature.] (Mus.) A tie or brace; a
syncopation.
Legature
Leg"a*ture (?), n. Legateship. [Obs.]
Lege
Lege (?), v. t. [Abbrev. fr. allege to assert.] To allege; to assert.
[Obs.] Bp. Fisher.
Legement
Lege"ment (?), n. See Ledgment.
Legend
Leg"end (?), n. [OE. legende, OF. legende, F. l\'82gende, LL. legenda,
fr. L. legendus to be read, fr. legere to read, gather; akin to Gr.
Collect, Dialogue, Lesson, Logic.]
1. That which is appointed to be read; especially, a chronicle or
register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins, and in the
refectories of religious houses.
2. A story respecting saints; especially, one of a marvelous nature.
Addison.
3. Any wonderful story coming down from the past, but not verifiable
by historical record; a myth; a fable.
And in this legend all that glorious deed. Read, whilst you arm
you. Fairfax.
4. An inscription, motto, or title, esp. one surrounding the field in
a medal or coin, or placed upon an heraldic shield or beneath an
engraving or illustration.
Golden legend. See under Golden.
Legend
Leg"end, v. t. To tell or narrate, as a legend. Bp. Hall.
Legendary
Leg"end*a*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to a legend or to legends;
consisting of legends; like a legend; fabulous. "Legendary writers."
Bp. Lloyd.
Legendary stories of nurses and old women. Bourne.
Legendary
Leg"end*a*ry, n. [Cf. OF. legendaire, LL. legendarius.]
1. A book of legends; a tale or parrative.
Read the Countess of Pembroke's "Arcadia," a gallant legendary full
of pleasurable accidents. James I.
2. One who relates legends. Bp. Lavington.
Leger
Leg"er (?), n. [See Ledger.]
1. Anything that lies in a place; that which, or one who, remains in a
place. [Obs.]
2. A minister or ambassador resident at a court or seat of government.
[Written also lieger, leiger.] [Obs.]
Sir Edward Carne, the queen's leger at Rome. Fuller.
3. A ledger.
Leger
Leg"er, a. Lying or remaining in a place; hence, resident; as, leger
ambassador.
Leger
Leg"er, a. [F. l\'82ger, fr. LL. (assumed) leviarius, fr. L. levis
light in weight. See Levity.] Light; slender; slim; trivial. [Obs.
except in special phrases.] Bacon. Leger line (Mus.), a line added
above or below the staff to extend its compass; -- called also added
line.
Legerdemain
Leg`er*de*main" (?), n. [F. l\'82ger light, nimble + de of + main
hand, L. manus. See 3d Leger, and Manual.] Sleight of hand; a trick of
sleight of hand; hence, any artful deception or trick.
He of legierdemayne the mysteries did know. Spenser.
The tricks and legerdemain by which men impose upon their own
souls. South.
Legerdemainits
Leg`er*de*main"its, n. One who practices sleight of hand; a
prestidigitator.
Legerity
Le*ger"i*ty (?), n. [F. l\'82g\'8aret\'82. See 3d Leger.] Lightness;
nimbleness [Archaic] Shak.
Legge
Legge (?), v. t. [See Lay, v. t. ] To lay. [Obs.]
Legge
Legge, v. t. [Abbrev. fr. alegge.] To lighten; to allay. [Obs.] Rom.
of R.
Legged
Legged (?), a. [From Leg.] Having (such or so many) legs; -- used in
composition; as, a long-legged man; a two-legged animal.
Leggiadro, Leggiero
Leg`gi*a"dro (?), Leg`gi*e"ro (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Light or
graceful; in a light, delicate, and brick style.
Legging, Legging
Leg"ging (?), Leg"ging, n. [From Leg.] A cover for the leg, like a
long gaiter.
Legging
Leg"ging, a. & vb. n., from Leg, v. t.
Leghorn
Leg"horn (?), n. A straw plaiting used for bonnets and hats, made from
the straw of a particular kind of wheat, grown for the purpose in
Tuscany, Italy; -- so called from Leghorn, the place of exportation.
Legibility
Leg`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being legible; legibleness. Sir.
D. Brewster.
Legible
Leg"i*ble (?), a. [L. legibilis, fr. legere to read: cf. OF. legible.
See Legend.]
1. Capable of being read or deciphered; distinct to the eye; plain; --
used of writing or printing; as, a fair, legible manuscript.
The stone with moss and lichens so overspread, Nothing is legible
but the name alone. Longfellow.
2. Capable of being discovered or understood by apparent marks or
indications; as, the thoughts of men are often legible in their
countenances.
Legibleness
Leg"i*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being legible.
Legibly
Leg"i*bly, adv. In a legible manner.
Legific
Le*gif"ic (?), a. [L. lex, legis, law + -ficare (in comp.) to make.
See -fy.] Of or pertaining to making laws.
Practically, in many cases, authority or legific competence has
begun in bare power. J. Grote.
Legion
Le"gion (?), n. [OE. legioun, OF. legion, F. l\'82gion, fr. L. legio,
fr. legere to gather, collect. See Legend.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of
different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to
about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth.
2. A military force; an army; military bands.
3. A great number; a multitude.
Where one sin has entered,legions will force their way through the
same breach. Rogers.
4. (Taxonomy) A group of orders inferior to a class.
Legion of honor, an order instituted by the French government in 1802,
when Bonaparte was First Consul, as a reward for merit, both civil and
military.
Legionary
Le"gion*a*ry (?), a. [L.legionarius: cf. F. l\'82gionnaire.] Belonging
to a legion; consisting of a legion or legions, or of an indefinitely
great number; as, legionary soldiers; a legionary force. "The
legionary body of error." Sir T. Browne.
Legionary
Le"gion*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Legionaries (. A member of a legion. Milton.
Legioned
Le"gioned (?), a. Formed into a legion or legions; legionary. Shelley.
Legionry
Le"gion*ry (?), n. A body of legions; legions, collectively. [R.]
Pollok.
Legislate
Leg"is*late (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Legislated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Legislating (?).] [See Legislator.] To make or enact a law or laws.
Solon, in legislating for the Athenians, had an idea of a more
perfect constitution than he gave them. Bp. Watson (1805).
Legislation
Leg`is*la"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82gislation, L. legis latio. See
Legislator.] The act of legislating; preparation and enactment of
laws; the laws enacted.
Pythagoras joined legislation to his philosophy. Lyttelton.
Legislative
Leg"is*la*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. l\'82gislatij.]
1. Making, or having the power to make, a law or laws; lawmaking; --
distinguished from executive; as, a legislative act; a legislative
body.
The supreme legislative power of England was lodged in the king and
great council, or what was afterwards called the Parliament. Hume.
2. Of or pertaining to the making of laws; suitable to legislation;
as, the transaction of legislative business; the legislative style.
Legislatively
Leg"is*la*tive*ly, adv. In a legislative manner.
Legislator
Leg"is*la`tor (?), n. [L. legis lator, prop., a proposer of a law;
lex, legis, law + lator a proposer, bearer, fr. latus, used as p. p.
of ferre to bear: cf. F. l\'82gislateur. See Legal, and Tolerate.] A
lawgiver; one who makes laws for a state or community; a member of a
legislative body.
The legislators in ancient and heroical times. Bacon.
Many of the legislators themselves had taken an oath of abjuration
of his Majesty's person and family. E. Phillips.
Legislatorial
Leg`is*la*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a legislator or
legislature.
Legislatorship
Leg"is*la`tor*ship (?), n. The office of a legislator. Halifax.
Legislatress, Legislatrix
Leg"is*la`tress (?), Leg"is*la`trix (?), n. A woman who makes laws.
Shaftesbury.
Legislature
Leg"is*la`ture (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82gislature.] The body of persons in
a state or kingdom invested with power to make and repeal laws; a
legislative body.
Without the concurrent consent of all three parts of the
legislature, no law is, or can be, made. Sir M. Hale.
NOTE: &hand; The legislature of Great Britain consists of the Lords
and Commons, with the king or queen, whose sanction is necessary to
every bill before it becomes a law. The legislatures of most of the
United States consist of two houses or branches; but the sanction
or consent of the governor is required to give their acts the force
of law, or a concurrence of two thirds of the two houses after he
has refused his sanction and assigned his objections.
Legist
Le"gist (?), n. [F. l\'82giste, LL. legista, fr. L. lex, legis, law.
See Legal.] One skilled in the laws; a writer on law. Milman. J.
Morley.
Legitim
Le*git"im (?), n. [See Legitimate, a.] (Scots Law) The portion of
movable estate to which the children are entitled upon the death of
the father.
Legitimacy
Le*git"i*ma*cy (?), n. [See Legitimate, a.] The state, or quality, of
being legitimate, or in conformity with law; hence, the condition of
having been lawfully begotten, or born in wedlock.
The doctrine of Divine Right, which has now come back to us, like a
thief from transportation, under the alias of Legitimacy. Macaulay.
Legitimate
Le*git"i*mate (?), a. [LL. legitimatus, p. p. of legitimare to
legitimate, fr. L. legitimus legitimate. See Legal.]
1. Accordant with law or with established legal forms and
requirements; lawful; as, legitimate government; legitimate rights;
the legitimate succession to the throne; a legitimate proceeding of an
officer; a legitimate heir.
2. Lawfully begotten; born in wedlock.
3. Authorized; real; genuine; not false, counterfeit, or spurious; as,
legitimate poems of Chaucer; legitimate inscriptions.
4. Conforming to known principles, or accepted rules; as, legitimate
reasoning; a legitimate standard, or method; a legitimate combination
of colors.
Tillotson still keeps his place as a legitimate English classic.
Macaulay.
5. Following by logical sequence; reasonable; as, a legitimate result;
a legitimate inference.
Legitimate
Le*git"i*mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legitimated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Legitimating (?).] To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; esp., to
put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by
legal means; as, to legitimate a bastard child.
To enact a statute of that which he dares not seem to approve, even
to legitimate vice. Milton.
Legitimately
Le*git"i*mate*ly (?), adv. In a legitimate manner; lawfully;
genuinely.
Legitimateness
Le*git"i*mate*ness, n. The state or quality of being legitimate;
lawfulness; genuineness.
Legitimation
Le*git`i*ma"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82gitimation.]
1. The act of making legitimate.
The coining or legitimation of money. East.
2. Lawful birth. [R.] Shak.
Legitimatist
Le*git"i*ma*tist (?), n. See Legitimist.
Legitimatize
Le*git"i*ma*tize (?), v. t. To legitimate.
Legitimism
Le*git"i*mism (?), n. The principles or plans of legitimists.
Legitimist
Le*git"i*mist (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82gitimiste.]
1. One who supports legitimate authority; esp., one who believes in
hereditary monarchy, as a divine right.
2. Specifically, a supporter of the claims of the elder branch of the
Bourbon dynasty to the crown of France.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 842
Legitimize
Le*git"i*mize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Legitimized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Legitimizing.] To legitimate.
Legless
Leg"less (?), a. Not having a leg.
Lego-literary
Le"go-lit"er*a*ry (?), a. [See Legal, and Literary.] Pertaining to the
literature of law.
Leguleian
Le`gu*le"ian (?), a. [L. leguleius pettifogger, fr. lex, legis, law.]
Lawyerlike; legal. [R.] "Leguleian barbarism." De Quincey. -- n. A
lawyer.
Legume
Leg"ume (?), n. [F. l\'82gume, L. legumen, fr. legere to gather. So
called because they may be gathered without cutting. See Legend.]
1. (Bot.) A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the
seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.
NOTE: &hand; In the latter circumstance, it differs from a siliqua,
in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In popular use, a
legume is called a pod, or cod; as, pea pod, or peas cod.
2. pl. The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans, lupines; pulse.
Legumen
Le*gu"men (?), n.; pl> L. Legumina (#), E. Legumens (#). [L.] Same as
Legume.
Legumin
Le*gu"min (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82gumine.] (Physiol. Chem.) An albuminous
substance resembling casein, found as a characteristic ingredient of
the seeds of leguminous and grain-bearing plants.
Leguminous
Le*gu"mi*nous (?), a. [Cf. F. l\'82gumineux.]
1. Pertaining to pulse; consisting of pulse.
2. (Bot.) Belonging to, or resembling, a very large natural order of
plants (Leguminos\'91), which bear legumes, including peas, beans,
clover, locust trees, acacias, and mimosas.
Leiger
Lei"ger (?), n. [See Leger, and Ledger.] See Leger, n., 2. [Obs.]
Shak.
Leiotrichan
Lei*ot"ri*chan (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Leiotrichi. -- n. One
of the Leiotrichi.
Leiotrichi
Lei*ot"ri*chi (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Anthropol.) The division of
mankind which embraces the smooth-haired races.
Leiotrichous
Lei*ot"ri*chous (?), a. [See Leiotrichi.] (Anthropol.) Having smooth,
or nearly smooth, hair.
Leipoa
Lei*po"a (?), n. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of Australian gallinaceous
birds including but a single species (Leipoa ocellata), about the size
of a turkey. Its color is variegated, drown, black, white, and gray.
Called also native pheasant.
NOTE: &hand; It makes large mounds of sand and vegetable material,
in which its eggs are laid to be hatched by the heat of the
decomposing mass.
Leipothymic
Lei`po*thym"ic (?), a. See Lipothymic.
Leister, Lister
Leis"ter, Lis"ter (?), n. A spear armed with three or more prongs, for
striking fish. [Scotland]
Leisurable
Lei"sur*a*ble (?), a. [See Leisure.]
1. Leisurely. [Obs.] Hooker.
2. Vacant of employment; not occupied; idle; leisure; as leisurable
hours. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Leisurably
Lei"sur*a*bly, adv. At leisure. [Obs.]
Leisure
Lei"sure (?) n. [OE. leisere, leiser, OF.leisir, F. loisir, orig.,
permission, fr. L. licere to be permitted. See License.]
1. Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from
employment.
The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and
care. Sir W. Temple.
2. Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient
opportunity; hence, convenience; ease.
He sighed, and had no leisure more to say. Dryden.
At leisure. (a) Free from occupation; not busy. (b) In a leisurely
manner; at a convenient time.
Leisure
Lei"sure, a. Unemployed; as, leisure hours.
Leisured
Lei"sured (?), a.Having leisure. "The leisured classes." Gladstone.
Leisurely
Lei"sure*ly (?), a. Characterized by leisure; taking abundant tome;
not hurried; as, a leisurely manner; a leisurely walk.
Leisurely
Lei"sure*ly, adv. In a leisurely manner. Addison.
Leitmotif
Leit"mo*tif" (?), n. [G.] (Mus.) See Leading motive, under Leading, a.
Leman
Le"man (?), n. [OE. lemman, legman; AS.le\'a2f dear + mann man. See
Lief, and Man.] A sweetheart, of either sex; a gallant, or a mistress;
-- usually in a bad sense. [Archaic] Chaucer. Spenser. Shak.
Leme
Leme (?), n. [OE. leem, leme, leam, AS. le\'a2ma light, brightness;
akin to E. light, n. &root;122.] A ray or glimmer of light; a gleam.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Lame
Lame, v. i. To shine. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Lemma
Lem"ma (?), n.; pl. L. Lemmata (#), E. Lemmas (#). [L. lemma, Gr.
Syllable.] A preliminary or auxiliary proposition demonstrated or
accepted for immediate use in the demonstration of some other
proposition, as in mathematics or logic.
Lemman
Lem"man (?), n. A leman. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lemming
Lem"ming (?), n. [Nor. lemming, lemende; cf. Sw. lemel, Lapp. lummik.]
(Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the
genera Myodes and Cuniculus, resembling the meadow mice in form. They
are found in both hemispheres.
NOTE: &hand; Th e co mmon Northern European lemming (Myodes lemmus)
is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in
enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands.
Lemnian
Lem"ni*an (?), a. [L. Lemnius, fr. Lemnus, Gr. Of or pertaining to the
isle of Lemnos. Lemnian bole, Lemnian earth, an aluminous earth of a
grayish yellow color; sphragide; -- formerly sold as medicine, having
astringent properties. -- Lemnian reddle, a reddle of firm consistence
and deep red color; -- used by artificers in coloring.
Lemniscata, Lemniscate
Lem`nis*ca"ta (?), Lem*nis"cate (?), n. [L. lemniscatus adorned with
ribbons, fr. lemniscus a ribbon having down, Gr. (Geom.) A curve in
the form of the figure 8, with both parts symmetrical, generated by
the point in which a tangent to an equilateral hyperbola meets the
perpendicular on it drawn from the center.
Lemniscus
Lem*nis"cus (?), n.; pl. Lemnisci () [L. See Lemniscata.] (Zo\'94l.)
One of two oval bodies hanging from the interior walls of the body in
the Acanthocephala.
Lemon
Lem"on (?), n. [F. limon, Per. lim; cf. Ar.laim, Sp. limon, It.
limone. Cf. Lime a fruit.]
1. (Bot.) An oval or roundish fruit resembling the orange, and
containing a pulp usually intensely acid. It is produced by a tropical
tree of the genus Citrus,the common fruit known in commerce being that
of the species C. Limonum or C. Medica (var. Limonum). There are many
varieties of the fruit, some of which are sweet.
2. The tree which bears lemons; the lemon tree.
Lemon grass (Bot.), a fragrant East Indian grass (Andropogon
Sh\'d2nanthus, and perhaps other allied species), which yields the
grass oil used in perfumery. -- Lemon sole (Zo\'94l.), a yellow
European sole (Solea aurantiaca). -- Salts of lemon (Chem.), a white
crystalline substance, inappropriately named, as it consists of an
acid potassium oxalate and contains no citric acid, which is the
characteristic acid of lemon; -- called also salis of sorrel. It is
used in removing ink stains. See Oxalic acid, under Oxalic. [Colloq.]
<-- Lemon adj. 1. of the color lemon-yellow. 2. of or relating to
lemons, as lemon pie. -->
Lemonade
Lem`on*ade" (?), n. [F. limonade; cf. Sp. limonada, It. limonata. See
Lemon.] A beverage consisting of lemon juice mixed with water and
sweetened.
Lemur
Le"mur (?), n. [L., a ghost, specter. So called on account of its
habit of going abroad by night.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family
(Lemurid\'91) of nocturnal mammals allied to the monkeys, but of small
size, and having a sharp and foxlike muzzle, and large eyes. They feed
upon birds, insects, and fruit, and are mostly natives of Madagascar
and the neighboring islands, one genus (Galago) occurring in Africa.
The slow lemur or kukang of the East Indies is Nycticebus tardigradus.
See Galago, Indris, and Colugo.
Lemures
Lem"u*res (?), n. pl. [L. See Lemur.] Spirits or ghosts of the
departed; specters.
The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint. Milton.
Lemuria
Le*mu"ri*a (?), n. [So named from the supposition that it was the
original home of the lemurs.] A hypothetical land, or continent,
supposed by some to have existed formerly in the Indian Ocean, of
which Madagascar is a remnant. Herschel.
Lemurid
Lem"u*rid (?), a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Lemuroid.
Lemuridous, Lemurine
Le*mu"ri*dous (?), Lem"u*rine (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Lemuroid.
Lemuroid
Lem"u*roid (?), a. [Lemur + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to
the lemurs or the Lemuroidea. -- n. One of the Lemuroidea.
Lemuroidea
Lem`u*roi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Lemur, and -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) A
suborder of primates, including the lemurs, the aye-aye, and allied
species. [Written also Lemuroida.]
Lena
Le"na (?), n. [L.] A procuress. J. Webster.
Lend
Lend (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lent ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lending.]
[OE.lenen, AS. l, fr. l loan; akin to G. lehnen to lend. See Loan.]
1. To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the
same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to lend a book; -- opposed to
borrow.
Give me that ring. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power To
give it from me. Shak.
2. To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the return of
an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some article of food.
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy
victuals for increase. Levit. xxv. 37.
3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance;
to lend one's name or influence.
Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. Addison.
Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his
compositions. J. A. Symonds.
4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig.
NOTE: &hand; Th is us e of th e word is rare in the United States,
except with reference to money.
To lend a hand, to give assistance; to help. [Colloq.] -- To lend an
ear OR one's ears, to give attention.
Lendable
Lend"a*ble (?), a. Such as can be lent. Sherwood.
Lender
Lend"er (?), n. One who lends.
The borrower is servant to the lender. Prov. xxii. 7.
Lendes
Lend"es (?), n. pl. See Lends. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lending
Lend"ing, n.
1. The act of one who lends.
2. That which is lent or furnished.
Lends
Lends (?), n. pl. [AS. lend, lenden; akin to D. & G. lende, OHG.
lenti, Icel. lend, and perh to E. loin.] Loins. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Lene
Lene (?), v. i. [See Lend.] To lend; to grant; to permit. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Lene
Le"ne (?), a. [L. lenis smooth.] (Phonetics) (a) Smooth; as, the lene
breathing. (b) Applied to certain mute consonants, as p, k, and t. (or
Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.
Lene
Le"ne, n. (Phonetics) (a) The smooth breathing (spiritus lenis). (b)
Any one of the lene consonants, as p, k, or i (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E.
Jelf.
Lenger, Lengest
Leng"er (?), Leng"est, a. Longer; longest; -- obsolete compar. and
superl. of long. Chaucer.
Length
Length (?), n. [OE. lengthe, AS. leng, fr. land, long, long; akin to
D. lengte, Dan. l\'91ngde, Sw. l\'84ngd, Icel. lengd. See Long, a. ]
1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction
from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest
line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the
length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length;
-- often in the plural.
Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak.
The future but a length behind the past. Dryden.
3. The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent;
duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their
wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his
walk.
4. A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long
pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length
of fence.
5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a
subject to a great length.
May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss. With length of
days and every day like this. Dryden.
6. Distance.[Obs.]
He had marched to the length of Exeter. Clarendon.
At length. (a) At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let
the name be inserted at length. (b) At the end or conclusion; after a
long period. See Syn. of At last, under Last. -- At arm's length. See
under Arm.
Length
Length, v. i. To lengthen. [Obs.] Shak.
Lengthen
Length"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lengthenel (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lengthening (?).] To extent in length; to make longer in extent or
duration; as, to lengthen a line or a road; to lengthen life; --
sometimes followed by out.
What if I please to lengthen out his date. Dryden.
Lengthen
Length"en, v. i. To become longer. Locke.
Lengthful
Length"ful (?), a. Long. [Obs.] Pope.
Lengthily
Length"i*ly (?), adv. In a lengthy manner; at great length or extent.
Lengthiness
Length"i*ness, n. The state or quality of being lengthy; prolixity.
Lengthways, Lengthwise
Length"ways` (?), Length"wise` (?), adv. In the direction of the
length; in a longitudinal direction.
Lengthy
Length"y (?), a. [Compar. Lengthier (?); superl. Lengthiest.] Having
length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; -- said chiefly of
discourses, writings, and the like. "Lengthy periods." Washington.
"Some lengthy additions." Byron. "These would be details too lengthy."
Jefferson. "To cut short lengthy explanations." Trench.
Lenience, Leniency
Le"ni*ence (?), Le"ni*en*cy, n. The quality or state of being lenient;
lenity; clemency.
Leniont
Le"ni*ont (?), a. [L. leniens, -entis, p. pr. of lenire to soften, fr.
lenis soft, mild. Cf. Lithe.]
1. Relaxing; emollient; softening; assuasive; -- some "Lenient of
grief." Milton.
Of relax the fibers, are lenient, balsamic. Arbuthnot.
Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand. Pope.
2. Mild; clement; merciful; not rigorous or severe; as, a lenient
disposition; a lenient judge or sentence.
Lenient
Le"ni*ent, n. (Med.) A lenitive; an emollient.
Leniently
Le"ni*ent*ly, adv. In a lenient manner.
Lenify
Len"i*fy (?), v. t. [L. lenis soft, mild + -fy: cf. F.l\'82nifier.] To
assuage; to soften; to Bacon. Dryden.
Leniment
Len"i*ment (?), n. [L. lenimentum: cf. OF. leniment. See Lenient.] An
assuasive. [Obs.]
Lenitive
Len"i*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. l\'82nitif. See Lenient.] Having the
quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive;
emollient.
Lenitive
Len"i*tive, n. [Cf. F. l\'82nitif.]
1. (Med.) (a) A medicine or application that has the quality of easing
pain or protecting from the action of irritants. (b) A mild purgative;
a laxative.
2. That which softens or mitigates; that which tends to allay passion,
excitement, or pain; a palliative.
There is one sweet Lenitive at least for evils, which Nature holds
out; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep. Sterne.
Lenitiveness
Len"i*tive*ness, n. The quality of being lenitive.
Lenitude
Len"i*tude (?), n. [L. lenitudo.] The quality or habit of being
lenient; lenity. [Obs.] Blount.
Lenity
Len"i*ty (?), n. [L. lenitas, fr. lenis soft, mild: cf. OF. lenit\'82.
See Lenient.] The state or quality of being lenient; mildness of
temper or disposition; gentleness of treatment; softness; tenderness;
clemency; -- opposed to severity and rigor.
His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity;
clemency; mercy.
Lenni-Lenape
Len`ni-Len*a"pe (?), n. pl. (Ethnol.) A general name for a group of
Algonquin tribes which formerly occupied the coast region of North
America from Connecticut to Virginia. They included the Mohicans,
Delawares, Shawnees, and several other tribes.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 843
Leno
Le"no (?), n. [Cf. It. leno weak, flexible.] A light open cotton
fabric used for window curtains.
Lenocinant
Le*noc"i*nant (?), a. [L. lenocinans, p. pr. of lenocinari to pander,
cajole; akin to leno pimp.] Given to lewdness. [Obs.]
Lens
Lens (?), n.; pl. Lenses (-&ecr;z). [L. lens a lentil. So named from
the resemblance in shape of a double convex lens to the seed of a
lentil. Cf. Lentil.] (Opt.) A piece of glass, or other transparent
substance, ground with two opposite regular surfaces, either both
curved, or one curved and the other plane, and commonly used, either
singly or combined, in optical instruments, for changing the direction
of rays of light, and thus magnifying objects, or otherwise modifying
vision. In practice, the curved surfaces are usually spherical, though
rarely cylindrical, or of some other figure. Lenses
NOTE: &hand; Of spherical lenses, there are six varieties, as shown
in section in the figures herewith given: viz., a plano-concave; b
double-concave; c plano-convex; d double-convex; converging
concavo-convex, or converging meniscus; f diverging concavo-convex,
or diverging meniscus.
Crossed lens (Opt.), a double-convex lens with one radius equal to six
times the other. -- Crystalline lens. (Anat.) See Eye. -- Fresnel lens
(Opt.), a compound lens formed by placing around a central convex lens
rings of glass so curved as to have the same focus; used, especially
in lighthouses, for concentrating light in a particular direction; --
so called from the inventor. -- Multiplying lens OR glass (Opt.), a
lens one side of which is plane and the other convex, but made up of a
number of plane faces inclined to one another, each of which presents
a separate image of the object viewed through it, so that the object
is, as it were, multiplied. -- Polyzonal lens. See Polyzonal.
Lent
Lent (?), imp. & p. p. of Lend.
Lent
Lent, n. [OE. lente, lenten, leynte, AS. lengten, lencten, spring,
lent, akin to D. lente, OHG. lenzin, langiz, G. lenz, and perh. fr.
AS. lang long, E. long, because at this season of the year the days
lengthen.] (Eccl.) A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday
and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian churches as
commemorative of the fast of our Savior.
Lent lily
Lent lily (Bot.), the daffodil; -- so named from its blossoming in
spring.
Lent
Lent, a. [L. lentus; akin to lenis soft, mild: cf. F. lent. See
Lenient.]
1. Slow; mild; gentle; as, lenter heats. [Obs.] B.Jonson.
2. (Mus.) See Lento.
Lentamente
Len`ta*men"te (?); adv. [It.] (Mus.) Slowly; in slow time.
Lentando
Len*tan"do (?), a. [It., p. pr. of lentare to make slow. See Lent, a.]
(Mus.) Slackening; retarding. Same as Rallentando.
Lenten
Lent"en (?), n. Lent. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Lenten
Lent"en, a. [From OE. lenten lent. See Lent, n. ]
1. Of or pertaining to the fast called Lent; used in, or suitable to,
Lent; as, the Lenten season.
She quenched her fury at the flood. And with a Lenten salad cooled
her blood. Dryden.
2. Spare, meager; plain; somber; unostentatious; not abundant or
showy. "Lenten entertainment." " Lenten answer." Shak. " Lenten suit."
Beau. & Fl.
Lenten color, black or violet. F. G. Lee.
Lententide
Lent"en*tide` (?), n. The season of Lenten or Lent.
Lenticel
Len"ti*cel (?), n. [F. lenticelle, dim. fr. L. lens, lentis, a lentil.
Cf. Lentil.] (Bot.) (a) One of the small, oval, rounded spots upon the
stem or branch of a plant, from which the underlying tissues may
protrude or roots may issue, either in the air, or more commonly when
the stem or branch is covered with water or earth. (b) A small,
lens-shaped gland on the under side of some leaves.
Lenticellame
Len`ti*cel"lame (?), a. (Bot.) Producing lenticels; dotted with
lenticels.
Lenticelle
Len`ti*celle" (?), n. [F.] (Bot.) Lenticel.
Lenticula
Len*tic"u*la (?), n.; pl. E. Lenticulas (#), L. Lenticul\'91 (#). [L.
See Lenticel.]
1. (Med.) A kind of eruption upon the skin; lentigo; freckle.
2. (Opt.) A lens of small size.
3. (Bot.) A lenticel.
Lenticular
Len*tic"u*lar (?), a. [L. lenticularis: cf. F. lenticulaire. See
Lenticel.] Resembling a lentil in size or form; having the form of a
double-convex lens.
Lenticularly
Len*tic"u*lar*ly, adv. In the manner of a lens; with a curve.
Lentiform
Len"ti*form (?), a. [L. lens, lentis, lentil + -form: cf. F.
lentifarme,] Lenticular.
Lentiginose
Len*tig"i*nose` (?), a. [See Lentiginous.] (Bot.) Bearing numerous
dots resembling freckles.
Lentiginous
Len*tig"i*nous (?), a. [L. lentiginosus. See Lentigo.] Of or
pertaining to lentigo; freckly; scurfy; furfuraceous.
Lentigo
Len*ti"go (?), n. [L., fr. lens, lentis, lentil.] (Med.) A freckly
eruption on the skin; freckles.
Lentil
Len"til (?), n. [F. lentille, fr. L. lenticula, dim. of lens, lentis,
lentil. Cf. Lens.] (Bot.) A leguminous plant of the genus Ervum (Ervum
Lens), of small size, common in the fields in Europe. Also, its seed,
which is used for food on the continent.
NOTE: &hand; The lentil of the Scriptures probably included several
other vetchlike plants.
Lentil shell (Zo\'94l.), a small bivalve shell of the genus Ervillia,
family Tellinid\'91.
Lentiscus, Lentisk
Len*tis"cus (?), Len"tisk (?),, n. [L. lentiscus, lentiscum: cf. F.
lentisque.] (Bot.) A tree; the mastic. See Mastic.
Lentitude
Len"ti*tude (?), n. [L. lentitudo, fr. lentus slow: cf. OF. lentitude.
See Lent, a.] Slowness; sluggishness. [Obs.]
Lento
Len"to (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Slow; in slow time; slowly; --
rarely written lente.
Lentoid
Len"toid (?), a. [Lens + -oid.] Having the form of a lens;
lens-shaped.
Lentor
Len"tor (?), n. [L. fr. lentus pliant, tough, slow. See Lent, a.]
1. Tenacity; viscidity; viscidity, as of fluids.
2. Slowness; delay; sluggishness. Arbuthnot.
Lentous
Len"tous (?), a. [L. lentus. See Lentor.] Viscid; viscous; tenacious.
Spawn of a lentous and transparent body. Sir T. Browne.
L'envoi, OR L'envoy
L'en`voi", OR L'en`voy" (, n. [F. le the + envei a sending. See
Envoy.]
1. One or more detached verses at the end of a literary composition,
serving to convey the moral, or to address the poem to a particular
person; -- orig. employed in old French poetry. Shak.
2. A conclusion; a result. Massinger.
Leo
Le"o (?), n. [L. See Lion.] (Astron.)
1. The Lion, the fifth sign of the zodiac, marked thus
2. A northern constellation east of Cancer, containing the bright star
Regulus at the end of the handle of the Sickle.
Leo Minor, a small constellation between Leo and the Great Bear.
Leod
Le"od (?), n. [AS.le\'a2d people, nation, man, chief; akin to OS.
liud, OHG. liut, pl. liuti, G.leute, pl., fr. AS.le\'a2dan to grow,
akin to Goth. liudan, OS. liodan, OHG. liotan to grow; cf. Skr. ruh. ]
People; a nation; a man. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Bp. Gibson.
Leon
Le"on (?), n. A lion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leonced
Le"onced (?), a. (Her.) See Lionced.
Leonese
Le`o*nese" (?), a. Of or pertaining to Leon, in Spain. -- n. sing. &
pl. A native or natives of Leon.
Leonid
Le"o*nid, n. [From Leo: cf. F. l\'82onides, pl.] (Astron.) One of the
shooting stars which constitute the star shower that recurs near the
fourteenth of November at intervals of about thirty-three years; so
called because shooting stars appear on the heavens to move in lines
directed from the constellation Leo.
Leonine
Le"o*nine (?), a. [L. leoninus, fr. leo, leonis, lion: cf. F.
l\'82onin. See Lion.] Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the lion;
as, a leonine look; leonine repacity. -- Le"o*nine*ly, adv. Leonine
verse, a kind of verse, in which the end of the line rhymes with the
middle; -- so named from Leo, or Leoninus, a Benedictine and canon of
Paris in the twelfth century, who wrote largely in this measure,
though he was not the inventor. The following line is an example:
Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum.
Leontodon
Le*on"to*don (?), n. [Gr. Lion's-tooth, Dandelion.] (Bot.) A genus
of liguliflorous composite plants, including the fall dandelion (L.
autumnale), and formerly the true dandelion; -- called also lion's
tooth.
Leopard
Leop"ard (?), n. [OE. leopart, leparde, lebarde, libbard, OF.
leopard, liepart, F. l\'82opard, L. leopardus, fr. Gr. Lion, and
Pard.] (Zo\'94l.) A large, savage, carnivorous mammal (Felis
leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike
clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in
Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is
regarded as a variety of leopard.
Hunting leopard. See Cheetah. Leopard cat (Zo\'94l.) any one of
several species or varieties of small, spotted cats found in Africa,
Southern Asia, and the East Indies; esp., Felis Bengalensis. --
Leopard marmot. See Gopher, 2.
Leopard's bane
Leop"ard's bane` (?). (Bot.) A name of several harmless plants, as
Arnica montana, Senecio Doronicum, and Paris quadrifolia.
Leopardwood
Leop"ard*wood`, n. (Bot.) See Letterwood.
Lep
Lep (?), obs. strong imp. of Leap. Leaped. Chaucer.
Lepadite 2
Lep"a*dite 2, n. [L. lepas, lepadis, limpet, Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Same as
Lepadoid.
Lepadoid
Lep"a*doid (?), n. [Lepas + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) A stalked barnacle of
the genus Lepas, or family Lepadid\'91; a goose barnacle. Also used
adjectively.
Lepal
Lep"al (?), n. [Gr. l\'82pale.] (Bot.) A sterile transformed stamen.
Lepas
Le"pas (?), n. [L., a limpet, fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of various
species of Lepas, a genus of pedunculated barnacles found attached to
floating timber, bottoms of ships, Gulf weed, etc.; -- called also
goose barnacle. See Barnacle.
Leper
Lep"er (?), n. [OE. lepre leprosy, F. l\'8apre, L. leprae, lepra, fr.
Gr. A person affected with leprosy.
Lepered
Lep"ered (?), a. Affected or tainted with leprosy.
Leperize
Lep"er*ize (?), v. t. To affect with leprosy.
Leperous
Lep"er*ous (?), a. Leprous; infectious; corrupting; poisonous. "The
leperous distillment." Shak.
Lepid
Lep"id (?), a. [L. lepidus.] Pleasant; jocose. [R.]
The joyous and lepid consul. Sydney Smith.
Lepidine
Lep"i*dine (?), n. (Chem.) An organic base, C9H6.N.CH3, metameric with
quinaldine, and obtained by the distillation of cinchonine.
Lepidodendrid
Lep`i*do*den"drid (?), n. (Paleon.) One of an extinct family of trees
allied to the modern club mosses, and including Lepidodendron and its
allies.
Lepidodendroid
Lep`i*do*den"droid (?), a. (Paleon.) Allied to, or resembling,
Lepidodendron. -- n. A lepidodendrid.
Lepidodendron
Lep`i*do*den"dron (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.) A genus of fossil
trees of the Devonian and Carboniferous ages, having the exterior
marked with scars, mostly in quincunx order, produced by the
separation of the leafstalks.
Lepidoganoid
Lep`i*do*ga"noid (?), n. [Gr. ganoid.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of a
division (Lepidoganoidei) of ganoid fishes, including those that have
scales forming a coat of mail. Also used adjectively.
Lepidolite
Le*pid"o*lite (?), n. [Gr. -lite: cf. F. l\'82pidolithe.] (Min.) A
species of mica, of a lilac or rose-violet color, containing lithia.
It usually occurs in masses consisting of small scales. See Mica.
Lepidomelane
Lep`i*dom"e*lane (?), n. [Fr. (Min.) An iron-potash mica, of a
raven-black color, usually found in granitic rocks in small six-sided
tables, or as an aggregation of minute opaque scales. See Mica.
Lepidopter
Lep`i*dop"ter (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82pidopt\'8are.] (Zo\'94l.) One of
the Lepidoptera.
Lepidoptera
Lep`i*dop"te*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) An order of
insects, which includes the butterflies and moths. They have broad
wings, covered with minute overlapping scales, usually brightly
colored.
NOTE: &hand; Th ey ha ve a tubular proboscis, or haustellum, formed
by the two slender maxill\'91. The labial palpi are usually large,
and the proboscis, when not in use, can be coiled up spirally
between them. The mandibles are rudimentary. The larv\'91, called
caterpillars, are often brightly colored, and they commonly feed on
leaves. The adults feed chiefly on the honey of flowers.
Lepidopteral, Lepidopterous
Lep`i*dop"ter*al (?), Lep`i*dop"ter*ous (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or
pertaining to the Lepidoptera.
Lepidopterits
Lep`i*dop"ter*its, n. (Zo\'94l.) One who studies the Lepidoptera.
Lepidosauria
Lep`i*do*sau"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A division of
reptiles, including the serpents and lizards; the Plagiotremata.
Lepidosiren
Lep`i*do*si"ren (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) An eel-shaped ganoid fish of
the order Dipnoi, having both gills and lungs. It inhabits the rivers
of South America. The name is also applied to a related African
species (Protopterus annectens). The lepidosirens grow to a length of
from four to six feet. Called also doko.
Lepidote, Lepidoted
Lep"i*dote (?), Lep"i*do`ted (?), a. [Gr. (Bot.) Having a coat of
scurfy scales, as the leaves of the oleaster.
Lepisma
Le*pis"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of wingless
thysanurous insects having an elongated flattened body, covered with
shining scales and terminated by seven unequal bristles. A common
species (Lepisma saccharina) is found in houses, and often injures
books and furniture. Called also shiner, silver witch, silver moth,
and furniture bug.<-- also called silverfish. Eats sized paper and
starched clothes -->
Lepismoid
Le*pis"moid (?), a. [Lepisma + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to
the Lepisma.
Leporine
Lep"o*rine (?), a. [L. leporinus, fr. lepus, leporis, hare. See
Leveret.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to a hare; like or
characteristic of, a hare.
Lepra
Le"pra (?), n. [L. See Leper.] (Med.) Leprosy.
NOTE: &hand; Th e te rm le pra wa s fo rmerly given to various skin
diseases, the leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. See
Leprosy.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 844
Lepre
Lep"re (?), n. Leprosy.[Obs.] Wyclif.
Leprose
Lep"rose` (?), a. [See Leprous.] (Nat. Hist.) Covered with thin,
scurfy scales.
Leprosity
Le*pros"i*ty (?), n. The state or quality of being leprous or scaly;
also, a scale. Bacon.
Leprosy
Lep"ro*sy (?), n. [See Leprous.] (Med.) A cutaneous disease which
first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent
spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption
of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great
deformity. In one variety of the disease, an\'91sthesia of the skin is
a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles,
falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and
feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is
probably contagious.<-- caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae,
curable in most cases by therapy with a combination of antibiotics,
but cases resistant to therapy are increasing. -->
NOTE: &hand; Th e di sease no w ca lled leprosy, also designated as
Lepra or Lepra Arabum, and Elephantiasis Gr\'91corum, is not the
same as the leprosy of the ancients. The latter was, indeed, a
generic name for many varieties of skin disease (including our
modern leprosy, psoriasis, etc.), some of which, among the Hebrews,
rendered a person ceremonially unclean. A variety of leprosy of the
Hebrews (probably identical with modern leprosy) was characterized
by the presence of smooth, shining, depressed white patches or
scales, the hair on which participated in the whiteness while the
skin and adjacent flesh became insensible. It was incurable
disease.
Leprous
Lep"rous (?), a. [OF. leprous, lepros, F. l\'82preux, fr. L. leprosus,
fr. lepra, leprae, leprosy. See Leper.]
1. Infected with leprosy; pertaining to or resembling leprosy. "His
hand was leprous as snow." Ex. iv. 6.
2. (Nat. Hist.) Leprose. -- Lep"rous*ly, adv. -- Lep"rous*ness, n.
Lepry
Lep"ry (?), n. Leprosy. [Obs.] Holland.
Leptiform
Lep"ti*form (?), a. [Leptus + -form.] (Zo\'94l.) Having a form
somewhat like leptus; -- said of active insect larv\'91 having three
pairs of legs. See Larva.
Leptocardia
Lep`to*car"di*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The lowest class
of Vertebrata, including only the Amphioxus. The heart is represented
only by a simple pulsating vessel. The blood is colorless; the brain,
renal organs, and limbs are wanting, and the backbone is represented
only by a simple, unsegmented notochord. See Amphioxus. [Written also
Leptocardii.]
Leptocardian
Lep`to*car"di*an (?) a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the
Leptocardia. -- n. One of the Leptocardia.
Leptodactyl
Lep`to*dac"tyl (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A bird or other animal having
slender toes. [Written also lepodactyle.]
Leptodactylous
Lep`to*dac"tyl*ous (?), Having slender toes.
Leptology
Lep*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. A minute and tedious discourse on trifling
things.
Leptomeningitis
Lep`to*men`in*gi"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. meningitis.] (Med.)
Inflammation of the pia mater or of the arachnoid membrane.
Leptorhine
Lep"to*rhine (?), a. [Gr. , , the nose.] (Anat.) Having the nose
narrow; -- said esp. of the skull. Opposed to platyrhine.
Leptostraca
Lep*tos"tra*ca (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) An order of
Crustacea, including Nebalia and allied forms.
Leptothrix
Lep"to*thrix (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.) A genus of bacteria,
characterized by having their filaments very long, slender, and
indistinctly articulated.
Leptothrix
Lep"to*thrix, a. [See Leptothrix, n. ] (Biol.) Having the form of a
little chain; -- applied to bacteria when, as in multiplication by
fission, they form chain of filiform individuals.
Leptus
Lep"tus (?), n. [NL., from Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The six-legged young, or
larva, of certain mites; -- sometimes used as a generic name. See
Harvest mite, under Harvest.
Leptynite
Lep"ty*nite (?), n. (Min.) See Granulite.
Lere
Lere (?), n. [See Lore knowledge.] Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Lere
Lere, v. t. & i. [OE. leeren, leren, AS. l. See Lore, Learn.] To
learn; to teach. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lere
Lere, a. Empty. [Obs.] See Lere, a.
Lere
Lere, n. [AS. lira flesh; cf. Icel l\'91r thigh.] Flesh; skin. [Obs.]
"His white leer." Chaucer.
Lered
Ler"ed (?), a. [From lere, v. t.] Learned. [Obs.] " Lewed man or
lered." Chaucer.
Lern\'91a
Ler*n\'91"a (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Lernaeus Lern\'91an, fr. Lerna, Gr.
(Zo\'94l.) A Linn\'91an genus of parasitic Entomostraca, -- the same
as the family Lern\'91id\'91.
NOTE: &hand; Th e ge nus is restricted by modern zo\'94logists to a
limited number of species similar to Lern\'91a branchialis found on
the gills of the cod.
Lern\'91acea
Ler`n\'91*a"ce*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Lern\'91a.] (Zo\'94l.) A
suborder of copepod Crustacea, including a large number of remarkable
forms, mostly parasitic on fishes. The young, however, are active and
swim freely. See Illustration in Appendix.
Lernean
Ler*ne"an (?), n. [See Lern\'91a.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family
(Lern\'91id\'91) of parasitic Crustacea found attached to fishes and
other marine animals. Some species penetrate the skin and flesh with
the elongated head, and feed on the viscera. See Illust. in Appendix.
L\'82rot
L\'82`rot" (?), n. [F.] (Zo\'94l.) A small European rodent (Eliomys
nitela), allied to the dormouse.
Les
Les (?), n. A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lesbian
Les"bi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the island anciently called
Lesbos, now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.
Lese
Lese (?), v. t. To lose. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lese-majesty
Lese`-maj"es*ty (?), n. See Leze majesty.
Lesion
Le"sion (?), n. [F. lesion, L. laesio, fr. laedere, laesum, to hurt,
injure.] A hurt; an injury. Specifically: (a) (Civil Law) Loss
sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract. Burrill. (b)
(Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture
of organs. Dunglison.
-less
-less (?). [AS. le\'a0s loose, false; akin to OS. l loose, false, D.
los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant,
Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. &root;127. See
Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.] A privative adjective suffix, denoting
without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
Less
Less (l&ecr;s), conj. Unless. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Less
Less, a. [OE. lesse, AS. l&aemac;ssa; akin to OFries. l&emac;ssa; a
compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has
the sense of the comparative degree of little.] Smaller; not so large
or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or
number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
NOTE: &hand; The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted;
as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n.
Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of
Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.
Less
Less, adv. [AS. l. See Less, adj., and cf. Lest.] Not so much; in a
smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Less
Less, n.
1. A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Ex. xvi. 17.
2. The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.
Less
Less, v. t. To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] Gower.
Lessee
Les*see" (?), n. [F. laiss\'82, p. p. of laisser. See Lease, v. t.]
(Law) The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by
lease. Blackstone.
Lessen
Less"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lessening.] [From Less, a. ] To make less; to reduce; to make smaller,
or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom,
or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.
Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. Calamy.
St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to
lessen it. Atterbury.
Syn. -- To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken;
degrade.
Lessen
Less"en, v. i. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to
be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we
recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened.
The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there
was one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.
Lessener
Less"en*er (?), n. One who, or that which, lessens.
His wife . . . is the lessener of his pain, and the augmenter of
his pleasure. J. Rogers (1839).
Lesser
Less"er (?), a. [This word is formed by adding anew the compar. suffix
-er (in which r is from an original s) to less. See Less, a.] Less;
smaller; inferior.
God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 15.
NOTE: &hand; Lesser is used for less, now the compar. of little, in
certain special instances in which its employment has become
established by custom; as, Lesser Asia (i. e., Asia Minor), the
lesser light, and some others; also in poetry, for the sake of the
meter, and in prose where its use renders the passage more
euphonious.
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Shak.
The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. Pope.
By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the
lesser breaches of the law. Locke.
Lesser
Less"er, adv. Less. [Obs.] Shak.
Lesses
Les"ses (?), n. pl. [F. laiss\'82es, from laisser to leave. See Lease,
v. t.] The leavings or dung of beasts.
Lesson
Les"son (?), n. [OE. lessoun, F. le lesson, reading, fr. L. lectio a
reading, fr. legere to read, collect. See Legend, and cf. Lection.]
1. Anything read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner;
something, as a portion of a book, assigned to a pupil to be studied
or learned at one time.
2. That which is learned or taught by an express effort; instruction
derived from precept, experience, observation, or deduction; a
precept; a doctrine; as, to take or give a lesson in drawing." A
smooth and pleasing lesson." Milton.
Emprinteth well this lesson in your mind. Chaucer.
3. A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction; as,
here endeth the first lesson.
4. A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning.
She would give her a lesson for walking so late. Sir. P. Sidney.
5. (Mus.) An exercise; a composition serving an educational purpose; a
study.
Lesson
Les"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessoned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lessoning.]
To teach; to instruct. Shak.
To rest the weary, and to soothe the sad, Doth lesson happier men,
and shame at least the bad. Byron.
Lessor
Les"sor (?), n. [See Lessee, Lease, v. t. ] (Law) One who leases; the
person who lets to farm, or gives a lease. Blackstone.
Lest
Lest (?), v. i. To listen. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Lest
Lest, n. [See List to choose.] Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lest
Lest, a. Last; least. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lest
Lest, conj. [OE.leste, fr. AS. l the less that, where that, who,
which. See The, Less, a.]
1. For
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Prov. xx. 18.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth he standeth take heed
lest he fall. I Cor. x. 12.
2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions
denoting fear or apprehension.
I feared Lest I might anger thee. Shak.
-let
-let (?).[From two French dim. endings -el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in
bracelet.] A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in streamlet,
armlet.
Let
Let (?), v. t. [OE.letten, AS. lettan to delay, to hinder, fr. l\'91t
slow; akin to D. letten to hinder, G. verletzen to hurt, Icel. letja
to hold back, Goth. latjan. See Late.] To retard; to hinder; to
impede; to oppose. [Archaic]
He was so strong that no man might him let. Chaucer.
He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2.
Thess. ii. 7.
Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And lets me from the saddle.
Tennyson.
Let
Let, n.
1. A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; -- common in
the phrase without let or hindrance, but elsewhere archaic. Keats.
Consider whether your doings be to the let of your salvation or
not. Latimer.
2. (Lawn Tennis) A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net
in passing over.
Let
Let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Let (Letted (?), [Obs].); p. pr. & vb. n.
Letting.] [OE. leten, l\'91ten (past tense lat, let, p. p. laten,
leten, lete), AS. l&aemac;tan (past tense l&emac;t, p. p.
l&aemac;ten); akin to OFries. l&emac;ta, OS. l\'betan, D. laten, G.
lessen, OHG. l\'bezzan, Icel. l\'beta, Sw. l\'86ta, Dan. lade, Goth.
l&emac;tan, and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have
been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. Alas, Late, Lassitude, Let
to hinder.]
1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when
followed by alone or be.]
He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let Chaucer.
Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother
Nature all her care she lets. Spenser.
Let me alone in choosing of my wife. Chaucer.
2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form
but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e., cause to be made; let
bring, i. e., cause to be brought. [Obs.]
This irous, cursed wretch Let this knight's son anon before him
fetch. Chaucer.
He . . . thus let do slay hem all three. Chaucer.
Anon he let two coffers make. Gower.
4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; -- either affirmatively, by
positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent.
NOTE: &hand; In th is se nse, wh en followed by an infinitive, the
latter is commonly without the sign to; as to let us walk, i. e.,
to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission
of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose.
Pharaoh said, I will let you go Ex. viii. 28.
If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. Shak.
5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to
rent; to hire out; -- often with out; as, to let a farm; to let a
house; to let out horses.
6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; --
often with out; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the
lathing and the plastering.
NOTE: &hand; Th e ac tive form of the infinitive of let, as of many
other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house
to let (i. e., for letting, or to be let). This form of expression
conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative
infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See Gerund, 2. " Your
elegant house in Harley Street is to let." Thackeray. In the
imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a
hortative force. " Rise up, let us go." Mark xiv. 42. " Let us seek
out some desolate shade." Shak.
To let alone, to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering
with. -- To let blood, to cause blood to flow; to bleed. -- To let
down. (a) To lower. (b) To soften in tempering; as to let down tools,
cutlery, and the like.<-- to let (someone) down. to disappoint
(someone) by filing to perform as expected. --> -- To let drive OR
fly, to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See
under Drive, and Fly. -- To let in OR into. (a) To permit or suffer to
enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a
recess formed in a surface for the purpose. To let loose, to remove
restraint from; to permit to wander at large. -- To let off (a) To
discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun.
(b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation. [Colloq.] To let
out. (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To
extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to
run out, as a cord. (c) To lease; to give out for performance by
contract, as a job. (d) To divulge. -- To let slide, to let go; to
cease to care for. [Colloq.] " Let the world slide." Shak.
Let
Let, v. i.
1. To forbear. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. To be let or leased; as, the farm lets for $500 a year. See note
under Left, v. i.
To let on, to tell; to tattle; to divulge something. [Low] -- To let
up, to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm
lets up. [Colloq.]
Let-alone
Let"-a*lone" (?), a. Letting alone. The let-alone principle, doctrine,
OR policy. (Polit. Econ.) See Laissez faire.
Letch
Letch (?), v. & n. See Leach.
Letch
Letch, n. [See Lech, Lecher.] Strong desire; passion. (Archaic.)
Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging
the wrongs of others. De Quincey.
Letchy
Letch"y (?), a. See Leachy.
Lete
Lete (?), v. t. To let; to leave. [Obs.]
Leten
Let"en (?), obs. p. p. of Lete. Chaucer.
Lethal
Leth"al (?), n. [Lauric + ether + alcohol.] (Chem.) One of the higher
alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white
crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal
salt of lauric acid.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 845
Lethal
Le"thal (?), a. [L. lethalis, letalis, fr. lethum, letum, death: cf.
F. l\'82thal.] Deadly; mortal; fatal. "The lethal blow." W.
Richardson. -- Le"thal*ly, adv.
Lethality
Le*thal"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. l\'82thalit\'82.] The quality of being
lethal; mortality.
Lethargic, Lethargical
Le*thar"gic (?), Le*thar"gic*al (?), a. [L. lethargicus, Gr.
l\'82thargique. See Lethargy.] Pertaining to, affected with, or
resembling, lethargy; morbidly drowsy; dull; heavy. --
Le*thar"gic*al*ly, v. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ness, n. -- Le*thar"gic*ness,
n.
Lethargize
Leth"ar*gize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lethargized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lethargizing (?).] To make lethargic.
All bitters are poison, and act by stilling, and depressing, and
lethargizing the irritability. Coleridge.
Lethargy
Leth"ar*gy (?), n.; pl. -gies (#). [F. l\'82thargie, L. letgargia, Gr.
Lethe.]
1. Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person
can scarcely be awaked.
2. A state of inaction or indifference.
Europe lay then under a deep lethargy. Atterbury.
Lethargy
Leth"ar*gy, v. t. To lethargize. [Obs.] Shak.
Lethe
Le"the (?), n. [See Lethal.] Death.[Obs.] Shak.
Lethe
Le"the (l&emac;"th&esl;), n. [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.) A river of Hades whose waters when drunk caused
forgetfulness of the past.
2. Oblivion; a draught of oblivion; forgetfulness.
Lethean
Le*the"an (?), a. [L. Letha, Gr. Of or pertaining to Lethe; resembling
in effect the water of Lethe. Milton. Barrow.
Letheed
Le"theed (?), a. Caused by Lethe. " Letheed dullness." [Obs.] Shak.
Letheon
Le"the*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) Sulphuric ether used as an
an\'91sthetic agent. [R.]
Letheonize
Le"the*on*ize (?), v. t. To subject to the influence of letheon. [R.
or Obs.]
Lethiferous
Le*thif"er*ous (?), a. [L. lethifer, letifer, fr. lethum, letum, death
+ ferre to bear, to bring: cf. F. l\'82thif\'8are.] Deadly; bringing
death or destruction.
Lethy
Le"thy (?), a. Lethean. [Obs.] Marston.
Let-off
Let"-off` (?), n. (Mach.) A device for letting off, releasing, or
giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom.
Lette
Let"te (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Letted.] To let; to hinder. See Let,
to hinder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Letter
Let"ter (?), n. [From Let to permit.] One who lets or permits; one who
lets anything for hire.
Letter
Let"ter, n. [From Let to hinder.] One who retards or hinders.
[Archaic.]
Letter
Let"ter, n. [OE. lettre, F. lettre, OF. letre, fr. L.littera, litera,
a letter; pl., an epistle, a writing, literature, fr. linere, litum,
to besmear, to spread or rub over; because one of the earliest modes
of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or
covered with wax. Pliny, xiii. 11. See Leniment, and cf. Literal.]
1. A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an
articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written
language.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek,
and Latin, and Hebrew. Luke xxiii. 38.
2. A written or printed communication; a message expressed in
intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper,
parchment, etc.; an epistle.
The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural. Walsh.
3. A writing; an inscription. [Obs.]
None could expound what this letter meant. Chaucer.
4. Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact
signification or requirement.
We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to
the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver. Jer.
Taylor.
I broke the letter of it to keep the sense. Tennyson.
5. (Print.) A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that
famous letter so much esteemed. Evelyn.
6. pl. Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.
7. pl. A letter; an epistle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Dead letter, Drop letter, etc. See under Dead, Drop, etc. -- Letter
book, a book in which copies of letters are kept. -- Letter box, a box
for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered. -- Letter
carrier, a person who carries letters; a postman; specif., an officer
of the post office who carries letters to the persons to whom they are
addressed, and collects letters to be mailed. -- Letter cutter, one
who engraves letters or letter punches. -- Letter lock, a lock that
can not be opened when fastened, unless certain movable lettered rings
or disks forming a part of in are in such a position (indicated by a
particular combination of the letters) as to permit the bolt to be
withdrawn.
A strange lock that opens with AMEN. Beau. & Fl.
-- Letter paper, paper for writing letters on; especially, a size of
paper intermediate between note paper and foolscap. See Paper. --
Letter punch, a steel punch with a letter engraved on the end, used in
making the matrices for type. -- Letters of administration (Law), the
instrument by which an administrator or administratrix is authorized
to administer the goods and estate of a deceased person. -- Letter of
attorney, Letter of credit, etc. See under Attorney, Credit, etc. --
Letter of license, a paper by which creditors extend a debtor's time
for paying his debts. -- Letters close OR clause (Eng. Law.), letters
or writs directed to particular persons for particular purposes, and
hence closed or sealed on the outside; -- distinguished from letters
patent. Burrill. -- Letters of orders (Eccl.), a document duly signed
and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly
ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc. -- Letters patent,
overt, OR open (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which
power and authority are granted to a person to do some act, or enjoy
some right; as, letters patent under the seal of England. --
Letter-sheet envelope, a stamped sheet of letter paper issued by the
government, prepared to be folded and sealed for transmission by mail
without an envelope. -- Letters testamentary (Law), an instrument
granted by the proper officer to an executor after probate of a will,
authorizing him to act as executor. -- Letter writer. (a) One who
writes letters. (b) A machine for copying letters. (c) A book giving
directions and forms for the writing of letters.
Letter
Let"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lettered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Lettering.] To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words;
as, a book gilt and lettered.
Lettered
Let"tered (?), a.
1. Literate; educated; versed in literature. " Are you not lettered?"
Shak.
The unlettered barbarians willingly accepted the aid of the
lettered clergy, still chiefly of Roman birth, to reduce to writing
the institutes of their forefathers. Milman.
2. Of or pertaining to learning or literature; learned. " A lettered
education." Collier.
3. Inscribed or stamped with letters. Addison.
Letterer
Let"ter*er (?), n. One who makes, inscribes, or engraves, alphabetical
letters.
Lettering
Let"ter*ing, n.
1. The act or business of making, or marking with, letters, as by
cutting or painting.
2. The letters made; as, the lettering of a sign.
Letterless
Let"ter*less (?), a.
1. Not having a letter.
2. Illiterate. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
Lettern
Let"tern (?), n. See Lecturn.
Letterpress
Let"ter*press" (?), n. Print; letters and words impressed on paper or
other material by types; -- often used of the reading matter in
distinction from the illustrations.
Letterpress printing, printing directly from type, in distinction
from printing from plates.
Letterure
Let"ter*ure (?), n. Letters; literature. [Obs.] "To teach him
letterure and courtesy." Chaucer.
Letterwood
Let"ter*wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The beautiful and highly elastic wood
of a tree of the genus Brosimum (B. Aubletii), found in Guiana; --
so called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to
hieroglyphics; also called snakewood, and leopardwood. It is much
used for bows and for walking sticks.
Lettic
Let"tic (?), a. (a) Of or pertaining to the Letts; Lettish. (b) Of
or pertaining to a branch of the Slavic family, subdivided into
Lettish, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian. -- n. (a) The language of
the Letts; Lettish. (b) The language of the Lettic race, including
Lettish, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian.
Lettish
Let"tish (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Letts. -- n. The language
spoken by the Letts. See Lettic.
Lettrure
Let"trure (?), n. See Letterure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Letts
Letts (?), n. pl.; sing. Lett (. (Ethnol.) An Indo-European people,
allied to the Lithuanians and Old Prussians, and inhabiting a part
of the Baltic provinces of Russia.
Lettuce
Let"tuce (?), n. [OE. letuce, prob. through Old French from some
Late Latin derivative of L. lactuca lettuce, which, according to
Varro, is fr. lac, lactis, milk, on account of the milky white
juice which flows from it when it is cut: cf. F. laitue. Cf.
Lacteal, Lactucic.] (Bot.) A composite plant of the genus Lactuca
(L. sativa), the leaves of which are used as salad. Plants of this
genus yield a milky juice, from which lactucarium is obtained. The
commonest wild lettuce of the United States is L. Canadensis.
Hare's lettuce, Lamb's lettuce. See under Hare, and Lamb. -- Lettuce
opium. See Lactucarium. -- Sea lettuce, certain papery green seaweeds
of the genus Ulva.
Letuary
Let"u*a*ry (?), n. Electuary. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Letup
Let"*up` (?). n. [See Let to forbear.] Abatement; also, cessation; as,
it blew a gale for three days without any let-up. [Colloq.]
Leuc-
Leuc- (?). Same as Leuco-.
Leucadendron
Leu`ca*den"dron (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.) A genus of evergreen
shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope, having handsome foliage.
Leucadendron argenteum is the silverboom of the colonists.
Leucaniline
Leu*can"i*line (?), n. [Leuc- + aniline.] (Chem.) A colorless,
crystalline, organic base, obtained from rosaniline by reduction, and
also from other sources. It forms colorless salts.
Leuch\'91mia
Leu*ch\'91"mi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) See Leucocyth\'91mia. --
Leu*ch\'91m"ic (#), a. [Written also leuk\'91mia, leuk\'91mic.] <--
now (1990) mainly leukemia -->
Leucic, Leucinic
Leu"cic (?), Leu*cin"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating,
an acid obtained from leucin, and called also oxycaproic acid.
Leucin
Leu"cin (?), n. [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.) A white, crystalline,
nitrogenous substance formed in the decomposition of albuminous matter
by pancreatic digestion, by the action of boiling dilute sulphuric
acid, and by putrefaction. It is also found as a constituent of
various tissues and organs, as the spleen, pancreas, etc., and
likewise in the vegetable kingdom. Chemically it is to be considered
as amido-caproic acid. <-- now called "leucine", one of the essential
amino acids (not synthesized by the human body, required component for
proper nutrition). (CH3)2CH.CH2.CH(NH2)-COOH. L-leucine, the natural
form, is present in most proteins. -->
Leucite
Leu"cite (?), n. [Gr.leucite.]
1. (Min.) A mineral having a glassy fracture, occurring in translucent
trapezohedral crystals. It is a silicate of alumina and potash. It is
found in the volcanic rocks of Italy, especially at Vesuvius.
2. (Bot.) A leucoplast.
Leucitic
Leu*cit"ic (?), a. (Min.) Containing leucite; as, leucitic rocks.
Leucitoid
Leu"ci*toid (?), n. [Leucite + -oid.] (Crystallog.) The trapezohedron
or tetragonal trisoctahedron; -- so called as being the form of the
mineral leucite.
Leuco-, Leuc-
Leu"co- (?), Leuc- (?).[Gr. A combining form signifying white,
colorless; specif. (Chem.), denoting an extensive series of colorless
organic compounds, obtained by reduction from certain other colored
compounds; as, leucaniline, leucaurin, etc.
Leucocyte
Leu"co*cyte (?), n. [Leuco- + Cr. (Physiol.) A colorless corpuscle, as
one of the white blood corpuscles, or those found in lymph, marrow of
hone, connective tissue, etc.
NOTE: &hand; Th ey al l consist of more or less spherical masses of
protoplasm, without any surrounding membrane or wall, and are
capable of motion.
Leucocyth\'91mia, Leucocythemia
Leu`co*cy*th\'91"mi*a, Leu`co*cy*the"mi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
A disease in which the white corpuscles of the blood are largely
increased in number, and there is enlargement of the spleen, or the
lymphatic glands; leuch\'91mia.
Leucocytogenesis
Leu`co*cy`to*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Leucocyte + genesis.] (Physiol.) The
formation of leucocytes.
Leucoethiopic
Leu`co*e`thi*op"ic (?), a. [Leuco- + Ethiopic.] White and black; --
said of a white animal of a black species, or the albino of the negro
race.
Leucoethiops
Leu`co*e"thi*ops (?), n. [Leuco- + Aethiops.] An albino. [Also written
leuc\'d2thiops.]
Leucoline
Leu"co*line (?), n. [Leuc- + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) A nitrogenous
organic base from coal tar, and identical with quinoline. Cf.
Quinoline.
Leucoma
Leu*co"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) A white opacity in the cornea
of the eye; -- called also albugo.
Leucomaine
Leu*co"ma*ine (?), n. [Leuco- + -maine, as in ptomaine.] (Physiol.
Chem.) An animal base or alkaloid, appearing in the tissue during
life; hence, a vital alkaloid, as distinguished from a ptomaine or
cadaveric poison.
Leuconic
Leu*con"ic (?), a. [Leuc- + croconic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, a complex organic acid, obtained as a yellowish white gum
by the oxidation of croconic acid.
Leucopathy
Leu*cop"a*thy (?), n. [Leuco- + Gr. The state of an albino, or of a
white child of black parents.
Leucophane
Leu"co*phane (?), n. [Gr. leukophan.] (Min.) A mineral of a greenish
yellow color; it is a silicate of glucina, lime, and soda with
fluorine. Called also leucophanite.
Leucophlegmacy
Leu`co*phleg"ma*cy (?), n. [Gr. leucophlegmasie.] (Med.) A dropsical
habit of body, or the commencement of anasarca; paleness, with viscid
juices and cold sweats.
Leucophlegmatic
Leu`co*phleg*mat"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. leucophlegmatique, Gr. Having a
dropsical habit of body, with a white bloated skin.
Leucophyll
Leu"co*phyll (?), n. [Leuco- + Gr. (Chem.) A colorless substance
isomeric with chlorophyll, contained in parts of plants capable of
becoming green. Watts.
Leucophyllous
Leu*coph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. (Bot.) Having white or silvery foliage.
Leucoplast, Leucoplastid
Leu"co*plast (?), Leu`co*plas"tid (?), n. [Leuco- + Gr. (Bot.) One of
certain very minute whitish or colorless granules occurring in the
protoplasm of plants and supposed to be the nuclei around which starch
granules will form.
Leucopyrite
Leu*cop"y*rite (?), n. [Leuco- + pyrites.] (Min.) A mineral of a color
between white and steel-gray, with a metallic luster, and consisting
chiefly of arsenic and iron.
Leucorrh\'d2a
Leu`cor*rh\'d2"a (?), n. [Leuco- + Gr. "rei^n to flow.] (Med.) A
discharge of a white, yellowish, or greenish, viscid mucus, resulting
from inflammation or irritation of the membrane lining the genital
organs of the female; the whites.<-- leukorrhea, leukorrhagia -->
Dunglison.
Leucoryx
Leu"co*ryx (?), n. [NL., from Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A large antelope of North
Africa (Oryx leucoryx), allied to the gemsbok.
Leucoscope
Leu"co*scope (?), n. [Leuco- + -scope.] (Physics) An instrument,
devised by Professor Helmholtz, for testing the color perception of
the eye, or for comparing different lights, as to their constituent
color or their relative whiteness.
Leucosoid
Leu"co*soid (?), a. [NL. Leucosia, the typical genus (fr. Gr. -oid.]
(Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to the Leucosoidea, a tribe of marine
crabs including the box crab or Calappa.
Leucosphere
Leu"co*sphere (?), n. [Leuco- + sphere.] (Astron.) The inner corona.
[R.]
Leucoturic
Leu`co*tu"ric (?), a. [Leuco- + allantoic + uric.] (Chem.) Pertaining
to, or designating, a nitrogenous organic substance of the uric acid
group, called leucoturic acid or oxalantin. See Oxalantin.
Leucous
Leu"cous (?), a. [Gr. White; -- applied to albinos, from the whiteness
of their skin and hair.
Leucoxene
Leu*cox"ene (?), n. [Leuco- + Gr. xe`nos stranger.] (Min.) A nearly
opaque white mineral, in part identical with titanite, observed in
some igneous rocks as the result of the alteration of titanic iron.
Leuk\'91mia
Leu*k\'91"mi*a (?), n. Leucocyth\'91mia.
Leuke, a., Leukeness
Leuke (?), a., Leuke"ness, n. See Luke, etc.
Leucoplast
Leu"co*plast (?), n. (Bot.) See Leucoplast.
Levana
Le*va"na (?), n. [L., fr. levare to raise.] (Rom. Myth.) A goddess who
protected newborn infants.
Levant
Le"vant (?), a. [F., p. pr. of lever to raise.] (Law) Rising or having
risen from rest; -- said of cattle. See Couchant and levant, under
Couchant.
Levant
Le*vant" (?), n. [It. levante the point where the sum rises, the east,
the Levant, fr.levare to raise, levarsi to rise: cf. F. levant. See
Lever.]
1. The countries washed by the eastern part of the Mediterranean and
its contiguous waters.
2. A levanter (the wind so called).
Levant
Le"vant (?), a. Eastern. [Obs.]
Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds. Milton.
Levant
Le*vant" (?), v. i. [Cf. Sp. levantar to raise, go from one place to
another.] To run away from one's debts; to decamp. [Colloq. Eng.]
Thackeray.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 846
Levanter
Le*vant"er (?), n. [From Levant, v.] One who levants, or decamps.
[Colloq. Eng.]
Levanter
Le*vant"er, n. [From Levant, n.] A strong easterly wind peculiar to
the Mediterranean. W. H. Russell.
Levantine
Le*vant"ine (?), a. [F. levantin, or It. levantino. See Levant, n.] Of
or pertaining to the Levant. J. Spencer.
Levantine
Le*vant"ine, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of the Levant.
2. [F. levantine, or It. levantina.] A stout twilled silk fabric,
formerly made in the Levant.
Levari facias
Le*va`ri fa"ci*as (?). [Law L., cause to be levied.] A writ of
execution at common law.
Levation
Le*va"tion (?), n. [L. levatio.] The act of raising; elevation; upward
motion, as that produced by the action of a levator muscle.
Levator
Le*va"tor (?), n. [NL., fr. L. levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. (Anat.) A muscle that serves to raise some part, as the lip or the
eyelid.
2. (Surg.) A surgical instrument used to raise a depressed part of the
skull.
Leve
Leve (?), a. Dear. See Lief. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leve
Leve, n. & v. Same as 3d & 4th Leave. [Obs.]
Leve
Leve, v. i. To live. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leve
Leve, v. t. [OE., fr. AS. l, abbrev. fr. gel. See Believe.] To
believe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Leve
Leve, v. t. [OE. leven, AS. l, l. See Leave permission.] To grant; --
used esp. in exclamations or prayers followed by a dependent clause.
[Obs.]
God leve all be well. Chaucer.
Levee
Lev"ee (?), n. [F. lever, fr. lever to raise, se lever to rise. See
Lever, n.]
1. The act of rising. " The sun's levee." Gray.
2. A morning assembly or reception of visitors, -- in distinction from
a soir\'82e, or evening assembly; a matin\'82e; hence, also, any
general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, whether in the
daytime or evening; as, the president's levee.
NOTE: &hand; In England a ceremonious day reception, when attended
by both ladies and gentlemen, is called a drawing-room.
Levee
Lev"ee, v. t. To attend the levee or levees of.
He levees all the great. Young.
Levee
Lev"ee, n. [F. lev\'82e, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Levy.]
An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the
Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river. [U. S. ]
Levee
Lev"ee, v. t. To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to
levee a river. [U. S.]
Lev\'82e en masse
Le*v\'82e" en` masse" (?). [F.] See Levy in mass, under Levy, n.
Leveful
Leve"ful (?), a. [Leve, n. + -ful.] Allowable; permissible; lawful.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Level
Lev"el (?), n. [OE. level, livel, OF. livel, F. niveau, fr. L. libella
level, water level, a plumb level, dim. of libra pound, measure for
liquids, balance, water poise, level. Cf. Librate, Libella.]
1. A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb
line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel
to the surface of still water; -- this is the true level, and is a
curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the
center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact
sphere.
2. A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane
which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel
to the horizon at that point; -- this is the apparent level at the
given point.
3. An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of
altitude, or distance from the center of the earth; as, to climb from
the level of the coast to the l of the plateau and then descent to the
level of the valley or of the sea.
After draining of the level in Northamptonshire. Sir M. Hale.
Shot from the deadly level of a gun. Shak.
4. Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree,
quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of
different elevation.
Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level. Addison.
Somebody there of his own level. Swift.
Be the fair level of thy actions laid As temperance wills and
prudence may persuade. Prior.
5. A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a
condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level
surface; as, moving fluids seek a level.
When merit shall find its level. F. W. Robertson.
6. (Mech. & Surv.) (a) An instrument by which to find a horizontal
line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line. (b) A
measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a
level; as, to take a level.
7. A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in mine.
Air level, a spirit level. See Spirit level (below). -- Box level, a
spirit level in which a glass-covered box is used instead of a tube.
-- Garpenter's level, Mason's level, either the plumb level or a
straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small spirit level. --
Level of the sea, the imaginary level from which heights and depths
are calculated, taken at a mean distance between high and low water.
-- Line of levels, a connected series of measurements, by means of a
level, along a given line, as of a railroad, to ascertain the profile
of the ground. -- Plumb level, one in which a horizontal bar is placed
in true position by means of a plumb line, to which it is at right
angles. -- Spirit level, one in which the adjustment to the horizon is
shown by the position of a bubble in alcohol or ether contained in a
nearly horizontal glass tube, or a circular box with a glass cover. --
Surveyor's level, a telescope, with a spirit level attached, and with
suitable screws, etc., for accurate adjustment, the whole mounted on a
tripod, for use in leveling; -- called also leveling instrument. --
Water level, an instrument to show the level by means the surface of
water in a trough, or in upright tubes connected by a pipe.
Level
Lev"el (?), a.
1. Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or
conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid
parts of the earth's surface; as, a level field; level ground; the
level surface of a pond or lake.
Ample spaces o'er the smooth And level pavement. Milton.
2. Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal;
as, the telescope is now level.
3. Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or
plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; -- followed by with,
sometimes by to.
Young boys and girls Are level now with men; the odds is gone.
Shak.
Everything lies level to our wish. Shak.
4. Straightforward; direct; direct; clear; open.
A very plain and level account. M. Arnold.
5. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a
level understanding. [Colloq.] " A level consideration." Shak.
6. (Phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection. H.
Sweet.
Level line (Shipbuilding), the outline of a section which is
horizontal crosswise, and parallel with the rabbet of the keel
lengthwise. Level surface (Physics), an equipotential surface at right
angles at every point to the lines of force.
Level
Lev"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leveled (?) or Levelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Leveling or Levelling.]
1. To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a
level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a
road, a walk, or a garden.
2. To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce
to a flat surface; to lower.
And their proud structures level with the ground. Sandys.
He levels mountains and he raises plains. Dryden.
3. To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in
taking aim; to aim; to direct.
Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, leveled a quarrel
out of a crossbow. Stow.
4. Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of
rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the
ranks and conditions of men.
5. To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the
capacity of children.
For all his mind on honor fixed is, To which he levels all his
purposes. Spenser.
Level
Lev"el, v. i.
1. To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with,
something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit. [Obs.]
With such accommodation and besort As levels with her breeding.
Shak.
2. To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a
weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or
effort, directly to an object.
The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife.
Shak.
The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the
mark whereat we also level. Hooker.
She leveled at our purposes. Shak.
Leveler
Lev"el*er (?), n. [Written also leveller.]
1. One who, or that which, levels.
2. One who would remove social inequalities or distinctions; a
socialist.
Leveling
Lev"el*ing, n. [Written also levelling.]
1. The act or operation of making level.
2. (Surveying) The art or operation of using a leveling instrument for
finding a horizontal line, for ascertaining the differences of level
between different points of the earth's surface included in a survey,
for establishing grades, etc., as in finding the descent of a river,
or locating a line of railroad.
Leveling instrument. See Surveyor's level, under Level, n. -- Leveling
staff, a graduated rod or staff used in connection with a leveling
instrument for measuring differences of level between points.
Levelism
Lev"el*ism (?), n. The disposition or endeavor to level all
distinctions of rank in society.
Levelly
Lev"el*ly, adv. In an even or level manner.
Levelness
Lev"el*ness, n. The state or quality of being level.
Leven
Lev"en (?), n. [See Levin.] Lightning. [Obs.]
Wild thunder dint and fiery leven. Chaucer.
Lever
Lev"er (?), a. [Old compar. of leve or lief.] More agreeable; more
pleasing. [Obs.] Chaucer. To be lever than. See Had as lief, under
Had.
Lever
Lev"er, adv. Bather. [Obs.] Chaucer.
For lever had I die than see his deadly face. Spenser.
Lever
Le"ver (?), n. [OE. levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever
to raise, L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and
perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. Alleviate, Elevate,
Leaven, Legerdemain, Levy, n.]
1. (Mech.) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point,
or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where
forces are applied; -- used for transmitting and modifying force and
motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used
to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length,
by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a
fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the
six mechanical powers, and is three kinds, according as either the
fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P. respectively, is situated
between the other two, as in the figures.
2. (Mach.) (a) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to
turn it. (b) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to
obtain motion from it.
Compound lever, a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon
each other. -- Lever escapement. See Escapement. -- Lever jack. See
Jack, n., 5. -- Lever watch, a watch having a vibrating lever to
connect the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance.
Universal lever, a machine formed by a combination of a lever with the
wheel and axle, in such a manner as to convert the reciprocating
motion of the lever into a continued rectilinear motion of some body
to which the power is applied.
Leverage
Lev"er*age (?), n. The action of a lever; mechanical advantage gained
by the lever. Leverage of a couple (Mech.), the perpendicular distance
between the lines of action of two forces which act in parallel and
opposite directions. -- Leverage of a force, the perpendicular
distance from the line in which a force acts upon a body to a point
about which the body may be supposed to turn.
Leveret
Lev"er*et (?), n. [F. levraut, dim. of li\'8avre hare, L. lepus. Cf.
Leporine.] (Zo\'94l.) A hare in the first year of its age.
Leverock
Lev"er*ock (?), n. [See Lark.] A lark. [Scot.]
Leverwood
Lev"er*wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The American hop hornbeam (Ostrya
Virginica), a small tree with very tough wood.
Levesel
Lev"e*sel (?), n. [AS. le\'a0f a leaf + s\'91l, sel, a room, a hall.]
A leafy shelter; a place covered with foliage. [Obs.]
Behind the mill, under a levesel. Chaucer.
Levet
Lev"et (?), n. [Cf. F. lever to raise.] A trumpet call for rousing
soldiers; a reveille. [Obs.] Hudibras.
Leviable
Lev"i*a*ble (?), a. [From Levy to assess.] Fit to be levied; capable
of being assessed and collected; as, sums leviable by course of law.
Bacon.
Leviathan
Le*vi"a*than (?), n. [Heb. livy\'beth\'ben.]
1. An aquatic animal, described in the book of Job, ch. xli., and
mentioned on other passages of Scripture.
NOTE: &hand; It is no t ce rtainly known what animal is intended,
whether the crocodile, the whale, or some sort of serpent.
2. The whale, or a great whale. Milton.
Levier
Lev"i*er (?), n. One who levees. Cartwright.
Levigable
Lev"i*ga*ble (?) a. [See Levigate, v. t.] Capable of being levigated.
Levigate
Lev"i*gate (?), a. [L. levigatus, p. p. of levigare to lighten, fr. l
light.] Made less harsh or burdensome; alleviated. [Obs.] Sir. T.
Elyot.
Levigate
Lev"i*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Levigated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Levigating.] [L. levigatus, p. p. of levigare to make smooth, fr. l
smooth; akin to Gr. To make smooth in various senses: (a) To free from
grit; to reduce to an impalpable powder or paste. (b) To mix
thoroughly, as liquids or semiliquids. (c) To polish. (d) To make
smooth in action. " When use hath levigated the organs." Barrow. (e)
Technically, to make smooth by rubbing in a moist condition between
hard surfaces, as in grinding pigments.
Levigate
Lev"i*gate (?), a. [L. levigatus, p. p.] Made smooth, as if polished.
Levigation
Lev"i*ga"tion (?), n. [L. levigatio a smoothing: cf. F.
l\'82vigation.] The act or operation of levigating.
Levin
Lev"in (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain. Cf. Leven.] Lightning. [Obs.]
Spenser. Levin brand, a thunderbolt. [Obs.] Spenser.
Leviner
Lev"in*er (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A swift hound.
Levir
Le"vir (?), n. [L.] A husband's brother; -- used in reference to
levirate marriages.
Levirate, Leviratical
Lev"i*rate (?), Lev`i*rat"ic*al (?), a. [L. levir a husband's brother,
brother-in-law; akin to Gr. l\'82virat leviration.] Of, pertaining to,
or in accordance with, a law of the ancient Israelites and other
tribes and races, according to which a woman, whose husband died
without issue, was married to the husband's brother.
The firstborn son of a leviratical marriage was reckoned and
registered as the son of the deceased brother. Alford.
Leviration
Lev`i*ra"tion (?), n. Levirate marriage or marriages. Kitto.
Levirostres
Lev`i*ros"tres (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. levis light + rostrum beak.]
(Zo\'94l.) A group of birds, including the hornbills, kingfishers, and
related forms.
Levitate
Lev"i*tate (?), v. i. [L. levitas, -atis, lightness. See Levity.] To
rise, or tend to rise, as if lighter than the surrounding medium; to
become buoyant; -- opposed to gravitate. Sir. J. Herschel.
Levitate
Lev"i*tate, v. i. (Spiritualism) To make buoyant; to cause to float in
the air; as, to levitate a table. [Cant]
Levitation
Lev`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. levis light in weight.]
1. Lightness; buoyancy; act of making light. Paley.
2. The act or process of making buoyant.
Levite
Le"vite (?), n. [L. Levites, Gr. Levi, one of the sons of Jacob.]
1. (Bib. Hist.) One of the tribe or family of Levi; a descendant of
Levi; esp., one subordinate to the priests (who were of the same
tribe) and employed in various duties connected with the tabernacle
first, and afterward the temple, such as the care of the building,
bringing of wood and other necessaries for the sacrifices, the music
of the services, etc.
2. A priest; so called in contempt or ridicule.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 847
Levitical
Le*vit"ic*al (?), a. [L. Leviticus, Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to a Levite or the Levites.
2. Priestly. " Levitical questions." Milton.
3. Of or pertaining to, or designating, the law contained in the book
of Leviticus. Ayliffe.
Levitical degrees, degrees of relationship named in Leviticus, within
which marriage is forbidden.
Levitically
Le*vit"ic*al*ly, adv. After the manner of the Levites; in accordance
with the levitical law.
Leviticus
Le*vit"i*cus (?), n. [See Levitical.] The third canonical book of the
Old Testament, containing the laws and regulations relating to the
priests and Levites among the Hebrews, or the body of the ceremonial
law.
Levity
Lev"i*ty (?), n. [L. levitas, fr. levis light in weight; akin to
levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk;
relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or floating
upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; -- opposed to gravity.
He gave the form of levity to that which ascended; to that which
descended, the form of gravity. Sir. W. Raleigh.
This bubble by reason of its comparative levity to the fluidity
that incloses it, would ascend to the top. Bentley.
2. Lack of gravity and earnestness in deportment or character;
trifling gayety; frivolity; sportiveness; vanity. " A spirit of levity
and libertinism." Atterbury.
He never employed his omnipotence out of levity. Calamy.
3. Lack of steadiness or constancy; disposition to change; fickleness;
volatility.
The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with everything of which
it is in possession. Burke.
Syn. -- Inconstancy; thoughtlessness; unsteadiness; inconsideration;
volatility; flightiness. -- Levity, Volatility, Flightiness. All these
words relate to outward conduct. Levity springs from a lightness of
mind which produces a disregard of the proprieties of time and
place.Volatility is a degree of levity which causes the thoughts to
fly from one object to another, without resting on any for a moment.
Flightiness is volatility carried to an extreme which often betrays
its subject into gross impropriety or weakness. Levity of deportment,
of conduct, of remark; volatility of temper, of spirits; flightiness
of mind or disposition.
Levo-
Le"vo- (?). A prefix from L. laevus, meaning: (a) Pertaining to, or
toward, the left; as, levorotatory. (b) (Chem. & Opt.) Turning the
plane of polarized light to the left; as, levotartaric acid;
levoracemic acid; levogyratory crystals, etc. [Written also l\'91vo-.]
Levogyrate
Le`vo*gy"rate (?), a. [Levo- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Physics) Turning or
twisting the plane of polarization towards the left, as levulose,
levotartaric acid, etc. [Written also l\'91vogyrate.]
Levorotatory
Le`vo*ro"ta*to*ry (?), a. [Levo- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Physics)
Turning or rotating the plane of polarization towards the left;
levogyrate, as levulose, left handed quartz crystals, etc. [Written
also l\'91vorotatory.]
Levulin
Lev"u*lin (?), n. (Chem.) A substance resembling dextrin, obtained
from the bulbs of the dahlia, the artichoke, and other sources, as a
colorless, spongy, amorphous material. It is so called because by
decomposition it yields levulose. [Written also l\'91vulin.]
Levulinic
Lev`u*lin"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid
(called also acetyl-propionic acid), C5H8O3, obtained by the action of
dilute acids on various sugars (as levulose). [Written also
l\'91vulinic.]
Levulosan
Lev`u*lo"san (?), n. (Chem.) An unfermentable carbohydrate obtained by
gently heating levulose.
Levulose
Lev"u*lose` (?), n. [See Levo-.] (Chem.) A sirupy variety of sugar,
rarely obtained crystallized, occurring widely in honey, ripe fruits,
etc., and hence called also fruit sugar. It is called levulose,
because it rotates the plane of polarization to the left. [Written
also l\'91vulose.]<-- also called fructose: C6H12O6>
NOTE: &hand; It is ob tained, to gether with an equal quantity of
dextrose, by the inversion of ordinary cane or beet sugar, and
hence, as being an ingredient of invert sugar, is often so called.
It is fermentable, nearly as sweet as cane sugar, and is metameric
with dextrose. Cf. Dextrose.
Levy
Lev"y (?), n.; pl. Levies (#). [A contr. of elevenpence or elevenpenny
bit.] A name formerly given in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to
the Spanish real of one eight of a dollar (or 12 cents), valued at
eleven pence when the dollar was rated at 7s. 6d.
Levy
Lev"y, n. [F. lev\'82e, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Lever.]
1. The act of levying or collecting by authority; as, the levy of
troops, taxes, etc.
A levy of all the men left under sixty. Thirlwall.
2. That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc. " The Irish
levies." Macaulay.
3. (Law) The taking or seizure of proper