List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary (part 9)

Laodicean, lā-od-i-sē′an, adj. lukewarm in religion, like the Christians of Laodicea (Rev. iii. 14-16).—n. Laodicē′anism, lukewarmness in religion.

Lap, lap, v.t. to lick up with the tongue: to wash or flow against.—v.i. to drink by licking up a liquid: to make a sound of such a kind:—pr.p. lap′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. lapped.—n. a motion or sound like lapping. [A.S. lapian; Low Ger. lappen; L. lambĕre, Gr. laptein.]

Lap, lap, n. the loose or overhanging flap of anything: the part of a substance extending over or partly over the rear of another, or the extent of such extension: the part of the clothes lying on the knees when a person sits down: the part of the body thus covered, esp. with reference to nursing, &c.: a fold: a course or round of the track, as in foot-racing, &c.: at euchre, &c., a carrying over to the next game of a surplus of points from the last: the space over which a steam-engine slide-valve travels after the closing of the steam-passage to or from the cylinder: a rotating disc of lead, copper, leather, &c., charged with an abrasive powder, used in cutting gems, &c.—v.t. to lay over or on.—v.i. to be spread on or over: to be turned over or upon.—ns. Lap′-board, a flat wide board resting on the lap, used by tailors and seamstresses; Lap′-dog, a small dog fondled in the lap: a pet dog; Lap′ful, as much as fills a lap.—adj. Lap′-joint′ed, having joints formed by overlapping edges.—ns. Lap′-stone, a stone which shoemakers hold in the lap to hammer leather on; Lap′-streak, a clinker-built boat—also adj.; Lap′work, work containing lap-joints. [A.S. læppa, a loosely hanging part; Ice. lapa, to hang loose, Ger. lappen, a rag.]

Lap, lap, v.t. to wrap, fold, involve.—ns. Lap′per, one who wraps or folds: in cotton manufacturing, a machine which compacts the scutched cotton into a fleece upon the surface of a roller called a lap-roller; Lap′ping, the process of forming a lap or fleece of fibrous material for the carding-machine: the rubbing or polishing of a metal surface: the process of rubbing away the lands, or metal between the grooves of a rifled gun, to increase the bore. [M. E. wlappen, being a form of wrap.]

Lapel, Lappel, Lapelle, la-pel′, n. the part of the breast of a coat which laps over and is folded back.—adj. Lapelled′. [Dim. of lap.]

Lapidary, lap′i-dar-i, adj. pertaining to stones and the cutting of stones: pertaining to inscriptions and monuments.—n. a cutter of stones, esp. precious stones: a dealer in precious stones—also Lapidā′rian, Lap′idarist, Lap′idist.—v.t. Lap′idate (rare), to pelt with stones.—n. Lapidā′tion, punishment by stoning.—adj. Lapid′eous, stony.—n. Lapidesc′ence.—adj. Lapidesc′ent, becoming stone: petrifying.—adj. Lapidif′ic.—n. Lapidificā′tion.—v.t. Lapid′ify, to make into stone.—v.i. to turn into stone:—pr.p. lapid′ifying; pa.p. lapid′ified.—adj. Lapil′liform, having the form of small stones.—ns. Lapil′lus, a fragment of lava ejected from a volcano:—pl. Lapil′li; Lā′pis, a kind of calico-printing with indigo, the resists acting as methods for other dyes, as madder or quercitron; Lā′pis-laz′uli, a mineral of beautiful ultramarine colour, used largely in ornamental and mosaic work, and for sumptuous altars and shrines.—Lapis-lazuli blue, a deep blue, sometimes veined with gold, used in decoration, and in the manufacture of Sèvres and Oriental porcelain; Lapis-lazuli ware, the name given by Josiah Wedgwood to a particular pebble ware veined with gold upon blue. [L. lapidarius—lapis, lapidis, a stone.]

Lapp, lap, n. a Laplander.—n. Lap′lander, a native or inhabitant of Lapland.—adjs. Lap′landish; Lapp′ish.—n. the language of the Lapps.

Lapper-milk, lap′ėr-milk, n. (Scot.) loppered or curdled milk. [Same word as lopper (obs.)—M. E. loper, curdled, prob. conn. with A.S. hléapan, to leap, run. Cf. rennet, runnet, from run.]

Lappet, lap′et, n. a little lap or flap.—adj. Lapp′eted.—n. Lapp′et-head, a head-dress made with lappets for lace pendants. [Dim. of lap.]

Lapse, laps, v.i. to slip or glide: to pass by degrees: to fall from the faith or from virtue: to fail in duty: to pass to another proprietor, &c., by the negligence of a patron, to become void: to lose certain privileges by neglect of the necessary conditions.—n. a slipping or falling: a failing in duty: a fault.—adj. Lap′sable.—The lapsed, the name applied in the early Christian Church to those who, overcome by heathen persecution, fell away from the faith. [L. labi, lapsus, to slip or fall, lapsus, a fall, akin to lap.]

Laputan, la-pū′tan, adj. pertaining to Laputa, a flying island described in Swift's Gulliver's Travels as inhabited by all sorts of ridiculous projectors: absurd: chimerical.

Lapwing, lap′wing, n. the name of a bird of the plover family, also called peewit, from its peculiar cry. [M. E. lappewinke—A.S. hleápewince—hleápan, to leap or run, and root of wink, to turn.]

Lar, lär, n. one of a class of local deities, originally Etruscan, but in Roman usage usually regarded as the tutelary deities of a house:—pl. Lares (lā′rēz). [L.]

Lar, lär, n. an Etruscan title, really peculiar to the eldest son, but often mistaken for an integral part of the name.—Also Lars. [L.,—Etruscan larth, lord.]

Larboard, lär′bōrd (by sailors, lab′erd), n. an obsolete naval term for the left side of a ship looking from the stern, now, by command of the Admiralty, replaced by the term port, to prevent the mistakes caused by its resemblance in sound to starboard.—adj. pertaining to the port or left side. [Perh. for a conjectural lade-bord, the lading-side—lade, a load, bord, board, side.]

Larceny, lär′sen-i, n. the legal term in England and Ireland for stealing: theft.—n. Lar′cenist, one who commits larceny: a thief.—adj. Lar′cenous.—adv. Lar′cenously.—Grand larceny, in England, larceny of property of the value of one shilling or more; Petty larceny, larceny of property less in value than one shilling; Simple larceny, as opposed to Compound larceny, is larceny uncombined with aggravating circumstances. [O. Fr. larrecin (Fr. larcin)—L. latrocinium—latro, a robber.]

Larch, lärch, n. a genus (Larix) of coniferous trees, distinct from firs (Abies), with perfectly erect and regularly tapering stem, small branches, numerous small leaves deciduous and clustered, growing rapidly, and yielding good timber. [L.,—Gr. larix.]

Lard, lärd, n. the melted fat of the hog.—v.t. to smear with lard: to stuff with bacon or pork: to fatten: to mix with anything.—adj. Lardā′ceous.—ns. Lard′-oil, a lubricating and illuminating oil expressed from lard; Lar′don, Lar′doon, a strip of bacon used for larding.—adj. Lar′dy. [O. Fr.,—L. laridum, lardum; cf. Gr. larinos, fat, laros, sweet.]

Larder, lärd′ėr, n. a room or place where meat, &c., is kept: stock of provisions.—n. Lard′erer, one who has charge of a larder. [O. Fr. lardier, a bacon-tub—L. lardum.]

Lare, lār, n. obsolete form of lore, and of lair.

Large, larj, adj. great in size: extensive: bulky: wide: long: abundant: liberal: diffuse: (Shak., of language) free, licentious.—adv. (naut.) before the wind.—adjs. Large′-ā′cred, possessing much land; Large′-hand′ed, having large hands: grasping, greedy: profuse; Large′-heart′ed, having a large heart or liberal disposition: generous.—adv. Large′ly.—adj. Large′-mind′ed, characterised by breadth of view.—ns. Large′ness; Lar′get, a length of iron cut from a bar and of proper size to roll into a sheet.—At large, without restraint or confinement: fully: as a whole, altogether. [Fr.,—L. largus.]

Largess, Largesse, lärj′es, n. a present or donation: (arch.) liberality.—n. Largit′ion, giving of largess. [Fr.,—L. largitio—largīri, to give freely—largus.]

Largo, lär′gō, adj. (mus.) slow in time.—n. a movement to be performed in such style.—adj. Larghet′to, somewhat slow: not so slow as largo.—n. a movement in somewhat slow time.—adj. Larghis′simo, extremely slow. [It.,—L. largus.]

Lariat, lär′i-at, n. a rope for picketing horses while grazing: a lasso. [Sp. la reata—la, the, reata, a rope for tying animals together.]

Lark, lärk, n. a well-known singing-bird.—v.i. to catch larks.—ns. Lark's′-heel, the Indian cress; Lark′spur, a plant with showy flowers, so called from the spur-shaped formation of calyx and petals. [M. E. laverock—A.S. láwerce; Ger. lerche.]

Lark, lärk, n. a game, frolic.—v.i. to frolic, make sport.—adj. Lar′ky (coll.), frolicsome, sportive. [A.S. lác, play—lácan, to swing, wave, play.]

Larmier, lar′mi-ėr, n. (archit.) another name for the corona (q.v.): a horizontal string-course for preventing rain from trickling down the wall: (zool.) a tear-bag. [Fr. larme, a tear—L. lacrima, a tear.]

Larrikin, lar′i-kin, adj. (Australian) rowdy, disorderly.—n. a rough or rowdy.—n. Larr′ikinism.

Larrup, lar′up, v.t. (coll.) to flog, thrash. [Prob. from Dut. larpen, thresh with flails.]

Larry, lar′i, n. Same as Lorry.

Larum, lar′um, n. alarm: a noise giving notice of danger.—v.t. (obs.) to alarm. [Alarm.]

Larus, lā′rus, n. a genus of Laridæ, the gulls proper.

Larva, lär′va, n. an insect in its first stage after issuing from the egg—i.e. in the caterpillar state: a ghost, spectre:—pl. Larvæ (lär′vē).—adjs. Lar′val; Lar′vate, -d, clothed as with a mask; Lar′viform; Larvip′arous, producing young in a larva-form. [L. larva, a spectre, a mask.]

Larynx, lār′ingks, n. the upper part of the windpipe: the throat:—pl. Lar′ynges, Lar′ynxes (rare).—adjs. Laryn′geal, Laryn′gean.—n. Laryngis′mus, spasm of the glottis.—adj. Laryngit′ic.—n. Laryngī′tis, inflammation of the larynx.—adj. Laryngolog′ical.—ns. Laryngol′ogist; Laryngol′ogy, the science of the larynx; Laryngoph′ony, the sound of the voice as heard through the stethoscope applied over the larynx; Laryng′oscope, a mirror for examining the larynx and trachea.—adj. Laryngoscop′ic.—ns. Laryngos′copist; Laryngos′copy; Laryngot′omy, the operation of cutting into the windpipe to remove obstructions and assist respiration; Laryngotracheot′omy, the operation of cutting into the windpipe through the cricoid cartilage, the cricothyroid membrane, and the upper rings of the trachea. [L.,—Gr. larynx, laryngos.]

Lascar, las′kar, n. a native East Indian sailor or camp-follower. [Hind.,—Pers. lashkari, a soldier.]

Lascivious, las-siv′i-us, adj. lustful: tending to produce lustful emotions.—adv. Lasciv′iously.—n. Lasciv′iousness. [L. lascivus; perh. from the same root as laxus, loose.]

Laser, lā′ser, n. a gum-resin from North Africa, esteemed by the ancients as a deobstruent and diuretic. [L. laser, juice of laserpitium.]

Laserpitium, las-er-pish′i-um, n. a genus of perennial herbs of the parsley family—Las′erwort or herb frankincense.—Also Silphium. [L. laserpicium, a plant yielding laser.]

Lash, lash, n. a thong or cord: the flexible part of a whip: a stroke with a whip or anything pliant: a stroke of satire, a sharp retort: a beating or dashing: an eyelash.—v.t. to strike with a lash: to dash against: to fasten or secure with a rope or cord: to censure severely: to scourge with sarcasm or satire.—v.i. to use the whip.—n. Lash′er, one who lashes or whips: a rope for binding one thing to another; Lash′ing, act of whipping: a rope for making things fast: a great plenty of anything—esp. in pl.—Lash out, to kick out, as a horse: to break out recklessly. [M. E. lasshe; Dut. lasch, Ger. lasche, a joint.]

Lash, lash, adj. (obs.) slow, slack: soft: insipid.—n. Lash′er, the slack water collected above a weir in a river. [M. E. lasche, slack—O. Fr. lasche (Fr. lâche, cowardly)—L. laxus, lax.]

Lasket, las′ket, n. a loop of line at the foot of a sail, to which to fasten an extra sail.

Lass, las, n. (fem. of Lad) a girl, esp. a country girl: a sweetheart: (Scot.) a maid-servant.—(Diminutives) Lass′ie, Lass′ock.—adj. Lass′lorn (Shak.), forsaken by one's mistress. [Prob. a contr. of laddess, formed from lad; or directly from W. llodes, fem. of llawd, a lad. Mr H. Bradley thinks the association with lad merely accidental, the word first appearing about 1300 in northern writings as lasce, evidently representing a Scand. laskw, the fem. of an adj. meaning unmarried; cf. Middle Sw. lösk kona, unmarried woman.]

Lassitude, las′i-tūd, n. faintness: weakness: weariness: languor. [Fr.,—L. lassitudo—lassus, faint.]

Lasso, las′ō, n. a long rope with a running noose for catching wild horses, &c.:—pl. Lass′os, Lass′oes.—v.t. to catch with the lasso:—pr.p. lass′ōing; pa.p. lass′ōed. [Port. laço, Sp. lazo—L. laqueus, a noose.]

Last, last, n. a wooden mould of the foot on which boots and shoes are made.—v.t. to fit with a last.—n. Last′er, one who fits the parts of shoes to lasts: a tool for doing so. [A.S. lást, a trace.]

Last, last, v.i. to continue, endure: to escape failure: remain fresh, unimpaired.—adj. Last′ing, permanent, durable.—n. endurance.—adv. Last′ingly.—n. Last′ingness. [A.S. lǽstan, to keep a track. See foregoing word.]

Last, last, n. a load, cargo, a weight generally estimated at 4000 lb., but varying in different articles.—n. Last′age, the lading of a ship: room for stowing goods in a ship: a duty formerly paid for the right of carrying goods, &c. [A.S. hlæst—hladan, to load; Ger. last, Ice. hlass.]

Last, last, adj. latest: coming after all the others: final: next before the present: utmost: meanest: most improbable or unlikely—also adv.—n. Last′-court, a court held by the jurats in the marshes of Kent to fix rates chargeable for the preservation of these—also Last.—adv. Last′ly.—Last day (Scot.), yesterday; Last heir (Eng. law), he to whom lands come by escheat for want of lawful heirs.—At last, in conclusion (this from A.S. on lást, therefore not from late at all, but from last (1), which is the A.S. lást, a trace); Breathe one's last, to die; Die in the last ditch, to fight to the bitter end; First and last, altogether; On one's last legs, on the verge of utter failure or exhaustion; Put the last hand to, to finish, put the finishing touch to; The last cast (see Cast); The last day, the Day of Judgment; The last days, times (B.), the period when the end of the world draws near; To the last, to the end: till death. [A contr. of latest.]

Lastery, last′ėr-i, n. (Spens.) a red colour.

Lat, lät, n. in Indian architecture, an isolated pillar.

Latakia, lat-a-kē′a, n. a fine kind of tobacco produced at Latakia (Laodicea ad Mare) in Syria.

Latch, lach, v.t. (Shak.) to moisten. [Leach.]

Latch, lach, n. a small piece of wood or iron to fasten a door.—v.t. to fasten with a latch: to hold, retain: (obs.) to seize.—ns. Latch′et, a strap or buckle for fastening a shoe; Latch′key, a key to raise the latch of a door.—On the latch, not locked, but opened by a latch. [A.S. læccan, to catch.]

Late, lāt, adj. (comp. Lat′er; superl. Lat′est) slow, tardy; behindhand: coming after the expected time: long delayed: far advanced towards the close: last in any place or character: deceased: departed: out of office: not long past—also adv.—adj. Lat′ed (Shak.), belated, being too late.—adv. Late′ly.—n. Late′ness, state of being late.—adv. Lat′er.—adj. Lat′ish, somewhat late. [A.S. læt, slow; Dut. laat, Ice. latr, Ger. lass, weary; L. lassus, tired.]

Latebra, lat′eb-ra, n. the cavity in the food-yolk of a meroblastic ovum.—adj. Lat′ebrous. [L.—latēre.]

Lateen, la-tēn′, adj. applied to a triangular sail, common in the Mediterranean, the Lake of Geneva, &c. [Fr.,—L. Latinus, Latin.]

Latent, lā′tent, adj. hid: concealed: not visible or apparent: dormant, undeveloped.—ns. Lā′tence, Lā′tency.—adv. Lā′tently.—Latent heat (see Heat); Latent life, a phrase describing the physiological condition of organisms in which the functions are for a time suspended without losing the power of future activity; Latent period of a disease, the time that elapses before symptoms show the presence of the disease. [L. latens, pr.p. of latēre, to lie hid; Gr. lanthanein, to be hidden.]

Lateral, lat′ėr-al, adj. belonging to the side: proceeding from or in the direction of the side: (anat. and zool.) situated on one of the sides of the median vertical longitudinal plane of the body: (physics) at right angles to a line of motion or strain.—n. Lateral′ity.—adv. Lat′erally.—adj. Laterifō′lious (bot.), growing by the side of a leaf at its base.—Lateral fin, one of the paired side fins of a fish:—opp. to Vertical fin. [L. lateralis—latus, latĕris, a side.]

Lateran, lat′ėr-an, adj. pertaining to the Church of St John Lateran at Rome, the Pope's cathedral church, on the site of the splendid palace or basilica of Plautius Lateranus (executed 66 A.D.).—Lateran Councils, five general councils of the Western Church, held in the Lateran basilica (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215, and 1512-17), regarded by Roman Catholics as œcumenical: also an important synod against the Monothelites in 649.

Latericeous, lat-ėr-ish′us, adj. of brick, or brick-coloured.—Also Laterit′ious. [L. latericius—later, lateris, a brick.]

Laterite, lat′ėr-īt, n. an argillaceous sandstone of a reddish or brick colour found in India, esp. in Ceylon. [L. later, lateris, a brick.]

Latescent, lā-tes′ent, adj. becoming hidden.—n. Latesc′ence. [L. latescĕre—latēre, to lie hid.]

Latest, lāt′est, adj. superl. of late.

Latex, lā′teks, n. (bot.) the sap of plants after it has been elaborated in the leaves.—adj. Laticif′erous, containing or conveying latex. [L.]

Lath, läth, n. a thin cleft slip of wood used in slating, plastering, &c.:—pl. Laths (läthz).—v.t. to cover with laths.—adj. Lath′en.—ns. Lath′ing, the act or process of covering with laths: a covering of laths; Lath′-split′ter, one who splits wood into laths.—adj. Lath′y, like a lath.—Dagger of lath, any insufficient means of attack or defence. [A.S. lættu; Dut. lat, Ger. latte, a lath.]

Lathe, lāth, n. a machine for turning and shaping articles of wood, metal, &c.: the movable swing-frame of a loom carrying the reed for separating the warp threads and beating up the weft. [Ice. löð.]

Lathe, läth, n. a part or division of a county, now existing only in Kent, and consisting of four or five hundreds. [A.S. lǽth, a district.]

Lather, lath′ėr, n. a foam or froth made with water and soap: froth from sweat.—v.t. to spread over with lather.—v.i. to form a lather: to become frothy. [A.S. leáðor, lather; Ice. lauðr, foam.]

Latibulum, lā-tib′ū-lum, n. a hiding-place, burrow:—pl. Latib′ula.—v.i. Latib′ulise, to hibernate. [L.]

Laticlave, lat′i-klāv, n. a broad vertical purple stripe running down the front of a Roman senator's tunic. [L. latus, broad, clavus, a stripe.]

Laticostate, lat-i-kos′tāt, adj. broad-ribbed.

Latidentate, lat-i-den′tāt, adj. broad-toothed.

Latifoliate, lat-i-fō′li-āt, adj. broad-leafed.—Also Latifō′lious.

Latin, lat′in, adj. pertaining to ancient Latium (esp. Rome) or its inhabitants, also to all races claiming affinity with the Latins by language, race, or civilisation: written or spoken in Latin.—n. an inhabitant of ancient Latium: a member of a modern race ethnically or linguistically related to the ancient Romans or Italians: the language of ancient Rome—the foundation of the modern Romance tongues: a member of the Latin or Roman Catholic Church.—adj. Lā′tian.—n. Lat′iner, one who knows Latin: (obs.) an interpreter.—v.t. Lat′inīse, to give Latin forms to: to render into Latin.—ns. Lat′inism, a Latin idiom; Lat′inist, one skilled in Latin; Latin′ity, the Latin tongue, style, or idiom.—Latin Church, the Western Church as distinguished from the Greek or Oriental Church, so named as having employed Latin as its official language: the Roman Catholic Church; Latin Empire, that portion of the Byzantine Empire seized in 1204 by the Crusaders, and overthrown by the Greeks in 1261; Latin kingdom, the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem ruled by French or Latin kings, and lasting from 1099 to 1187.—Classical Latin, the Latin of the writers who flourished from about 75 B.C. to 200 A.D.; Dog Latin, barbarous Latin; Late Latin, the Latin written by authors between 200 and (circ.) 600 A.D.; Middle, Medieval, or Low Latin, the Latin of the middle age between 600 and 1500 A.D.; New, Modern, Latin, Latin as written between 1500 and the present time, mostly used as a scientific medium; Thieves' Latin, thieves' cant. [L. Latinus, belonging to Latium, the district round Rome.]

Latipennate, lat-i-pen′āt, adj. broad-winged.

Latirostral, lat-i-ros′tral, adj. broad-billed.—Also Latiros′trate.

Latissimus, lā-tis′i-mus, n. the broadest muscle which lies upon the back.

Latitude, lat′i-tūd, n. the distance of a place north or south from the equator, measured in degrees of the meridian: a place as indicated by latitude: the angular distance of a celestial body above the plane of the ecliptic (apparent when the point of view is on the earth's surface, geocentric when at the earth's centre, heliocentric when at the centre of the sun): (fig.) extent of signification: freedom from restraint: scope: (obs.) width.—adjs. Latitud′inal, pertaining to latitude: in the direction of latitude; Latitudinā′rian, broad or liberal, esp. in religious belief: lax.—n. a name applied by contemporaries to a member of a school of liberal and philosophical theologians within the English Church in the later half of the 17th century: one who affects to regard specific creeds, methods of church government, &c. with indifference.—n. Latitudinā′rianism.—adj. Latitud′inous, having latitude or large extent.—Latitude by account, in navigation, the latitude calculated from the course and distance sailed since last observation; Latitude by observation, the latitude determined from an observation of a heavenly body; Middle latitude, the latitude of the parallel midway between two places situated in the same hemisphere. [Fr.,—L. latitudo, -inis—latus, broad.]

Latria, lā-trī′a, n. the kind of supreme worship lawfully offered to God alone—opposed to Dulia, that given to saints and angels, and to Hyperdulia, that given to the Virgin. [Gr. latreuein, to serve.]

Latrine, lat′rin, n. a privy or water-closet in barracks, factories, hospitals, &c. [Fr.,—L. lavatrina, latrina—lavāre, to wash.]

Latrobe, la-trōb′, n. a form of stove set into a fireplace, heating the room by radiation, and the rooms above by hot air—from I. Latrobe of Baltimore.

Latrocinium, lat-rō-sin′i-um, n. the Robber-Council, that held at Ephesus in 449, in which the doctrines of the heretic Eutyches were upheld by means of intimidation—its acts revoked at the œcumenical council of Chalcedon in 451: larceny: right of adjudging and executing thieves. [L., robbery.]

Latten, lat′en, n. brass or bronze used for crosses: sheet tin, tinned iron-plate. [O. Fr. laton (Fr. laiton)—Ger. latte, a lath, thin plate.]

Latter, lat′ėr, adj. later: coming or existing after: mentioned the last of two: modern: recent: (Shak.) last.—adjs. Latt′er-born (Shak.), younger; Latt′er-day, belonging to recent times.—adv. Latt′erly, in latter time: of late.—Latter-day saints (see Mormon); Latter end (see End); Latter-mint, a late kind of mint.—The former and the latter rain (see Rain). [A variant of later.]

Lattice, lat′is, n. a network of crossed laths or bars, called also Latt′ice-work: anything of lattice-work, as a window: (her.) a bearing of vertical and horizontal bars crossing each other.—v.t. to form into open work: to furnish with a lattice.—ns. Latt′ice-bridge, a bridge with its sides consisting of cross-framing like lattice-work; Latt′ice-gird′er, a girder of which the web consists of diagonal pieces arranged like lattice-work; Latt′ice-leaf, an aquatic plant, native to Madagascar, so called from the singular resemblance of the leaves to open lattice-work—otherwise Lattice-plant, Lace-leaf, Water-yam, or Ouvirandrano.—Red lattice (Shak.), a frame of lattice-work painted red, formerly used to fill the windows of an ale-house. [Fr. lattis—latte, a lath.]

Laud, lawd, v.t. to praise in words or with singing: to celebrate.—n. commendation: praise in divine worship: (pl.) in the R.C. Church, the prayers immediately following matins, constituting with the latter the first of the seven canonical hours.—adj. Laud′able, worthy of being praised.—n. Laud′ableness.—adv. Laud′ably.—ns. Laudā′tion, praise: honour paid; Laud′ative, a panegyric, a eulogium.—adj. Laud′atory, containing praise: expressing praise.—n. that which contains praise.—n. Laud′er. [L. laudāre—laus, laudis, praise.]

Laudanum, lawd′a-num, n. a preparation of opium: tincture of opium. [Same word as ladanum, transferred to a different drug.]

Laugh, läf, v.i. to express mirth or joy by an explosive inarticulate sound of the voice and peculiar facial distortion: to be gay or lively: make merry (with at), to flout.—v.t. to express with a laugh: to affect in some way by laughter.—n. the sound caused by merriment.—adj. Laugh′able, ludicrous.—n. Laugh′ableness.—adv. Laugh′ably.—ns. Laugh′er; Laugh′ing-gas, a gas which excites laughter, called nitrous oxide, used as an anæsthetic in minor surgical operations, as in dentistry; Laugh′ing-jack′ass, the great kingfisher of Australia.—adv. Laugh′ingly, in a laughing manner.—ns. Laugh′ing-stock, an object of ridicule, like something stuck up to be laughed at; Laugh′ter, act or noise of laughing.—Laugh a thing off, to treat as if worthy only of a laugh; Laugh in one's sleeve, to laugh inwardly; Laugh one out of, to make a person abandon a habit, &c., by laughing at him for it; Laugh on the wrong side of the mouth, to be made feel disappointment or sorrow, esp. after boasting, &c.; Laugh to scorn, to deride or jeer at.—Have the laugh on one's side, to be able to laugh at another through getting the better of him by superior dexterity, &c. [A.S. hlihan; Ger. lachen, Goth. hlahjan; prob. imit.]

Launce, läns, n. Same as Lance.

Launce, läns, n. (Spens.) a balance. [L. lanx, lancis, a plate, a scale of a balance.]

Launch, Lanch, länsh, v.t. to throw as a lance or spear: (Shak.) to pierce or cut with a lance: to send forth: to cause to slide into the water.—v.i. to go forth, as a ship into the water: to come into new relations, make a transition.—n. act of launching or moving a newly-built ship from the stocks into the water: the largest boat carried by a man-of-war: (Spens.) a lancing.—n.pl. Launch′ing-ways, the timbers on which a ship is launched.—n. Steam′-launch, a large passenger-boat propelled by steam-power, and used largely on rivers. [O. Fr. lanchier, lancier (Fr. lancer). See Lance.]

Laund, lawnd, n. (Shak.) a park. [O. Fr. lande; prob. Celt. See Lawn.]

Laundress, lawn′dres, n. a woman who washes and irons clothes.—n. Laun′der, a washerwoman or washerman: a trough for conveying water.—v.t. to wash and iron, as clothes: (Shak.) to wet, wash.—ns. Laun′dry, a place where clothes are washed and dressed; Laun′dry-man, -maid, a male, female, worker in a laundry. [M. E. lavander—O. Fr. lavandier—L., gerundive of lavāre to wash.]

Laura, law′ra, n. an early kind of monastic community, its cells separate structures, the inmates living in solitude, meeting only for common services in the chapel—found only in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. [Most prob. Gr. laura, an alley, lane.]

Laureate, law′re-āt, adj. crowned with laurel.—n. one crowned with laurel: a poet-laureate.—v.t. to crown with laurel, in token of literary merit: to confer a degree upon.—ns. Lau′reateship, office of a laureate; Laureā′tion, act of laureating or conferring a degree; Pō′et-lau′reate, formerly one who received a degree in grammar (i.e. poetry and rhetoric) at the English universities: a poet bearing that honorary title, a salaried officer in the royal household, appointed to compose annually an ode for the king's birthday and other suitable occasions.

Laurel, law′rel, n. the bay-tree, used by the ancients for making honorary wreaths: a crown of laurel, honours gained (freq. in pl.): any species of the genus Laurus.—adjs. Lau′rel; Lau′relled, crowned with laurel.—n. Lau′rel-wa′ter, a sedative and narcotic water distilled from the leaves of the cherry-laurel.—adjs. Laurif′erous, producing laurel; Lau′riger, laurel-wearing.—n Laurustī′nus, an evergreen shrub. [Fr. laurier—L. laurus.]

Laurentian, law-ren′shi-an, adj. pertaining to Lorenzo or Laurentius dei Medici, or to the Laurentian library founded by him at Florence: of or pertaining to the river St Lawrence: applied to a series of rocks covering a large area in the region of the Upper Lakes of North America.

Lauwine, law′vin, n. (Byron) an avalanche. [Ger., from Low L. lavina, prob. L. labi, to fall.]

Lav, lav, n. word—in lavengro, word-master. [Gypsy.]

Lava, lä′va, n. the melted matter discharged from a burning mountain, that flows down its sides. [It. lava, a stream—L. lavāre, to wash.]

Lave, lāv, v.t. and v.i. to wash: to bathe.—ns. Lā′vabo, the ritual act of washing the celebrant's fingers after the offertory, before proceeding with the eucharistic service—from Lavabo manus meas in innocentia (Ps. xxvi. 6): a stone basin in monasteries for washing in before meals or religious exercises: a modern convenience or lavatory of similar kind; Lā′vage, a washing out; Lavā′tion, a washing or cleansing; Lav′atory, a place for washing: a medieval stone table in monasteries, &c., on which bodies were washed before burial: (med.) a lotion for a diseased part; Lā′ver, a large vessel for laving or washing. [Fr. laver—L. lavāre, -ātum; Gr. louein, to wash.]

Lave, lāv, n. (Scot.) what is left, the remainder. [A.S. láf; Ice. leif. See Leave.]

Lave, lāv, v.t. to lade or throw out (as water from a boat). [A.S. lafian, pour out water; Ger. laben, refresh. Conn. with L. lavāre, to wash, dub.]

Lavender, lav′en-dėr, n. an odoriferous plant, probably so called from its being laid with newly washed clothes: a pale-lilac colour, the colour of lavender blossoms.—v.t. to sprinkle with lavender.—n. Lav′ender-wa′ter, a perfume composed of spirits of wine, essential oil of lavender, and ambergris.—Lay in lavender, to lay by carefully, as clothes, with sprigs of lavender in them; Oil of lavender, an aromatic oil distilled from lavender flowers and stems, used as a stimulant and tonic. [M. E. lavendre—Fr. lavande—L. lavāre, to wash.]

Laver. See Lave (1).

Laver, lāv′ėr, n. the fronds of certain marine plants, sometimes used as food. [L. laver.]

Laverock, lav′ėr-ock, n. (prov.) a lark. [Cf. Lark.]

Lavish, lav′ish, v.t. to expend profusely: to waste.—adj. bestowing profusely: prodigal: extravagant: unrestrained.—adv. Lav′ishly.—ns. Lav′ishment, Lav′ishness. [From Lave (3).]

Lavolt, la-volt′, Lavolta, la-vol′ta, n. (Shak.) an old dance in which there were much turning and high leaping. [It. la volta, the turn.]

Law, law, n. a rule of action established by authority: statute: the rules of a community or state: a rule or principle of science or art: the whole jurisprudence or the science of law: established usage: that which is lawful: the whole body of persons connected professionally with the law: litigation: a theoretical principle educed from practice or observation: a statement or formula expressing the constant order of certain phenomena: (theol.) the Mosaic code or the books containing it.—v.t. (coll.) to give law to, determine.—v.i. (obs.) to go to law.—adj. Law′-abid′ing, obedient to the law.—ns. Law-bind′ing; Law′-book, a book treating of law or law cases; Law′-break′er, one who violates a law; Law′-burr′ows (Scots law), a writ requiring a person to give security against doing violence to another; Law′-calf, a book-binding in smooth, pale-brown calf; Law′-day, a day of open court.—adj. Law′ful, allowed by law: rightful.—adv. Law′fully.—ns. Law′fulness; Law′giver, one who enacts laws: a legislator.—adj. Law′giving, legislating.—n. Law′ing, going to law: litigation: (obs.) the practice of cutting off the claws and balls of a dog's forefeet to hinder it from hunting: (Scot.) a reckoning at a public-house, a tavern bill.—adj. Law′less.—adv. Law′lessly.—ns. Law′lessness; Law′-list, an annual publication containing all information regarding the administration of law and the legal profession; Law′-lord, a peer in parliament who holds or has held high legal office: in Scotland, a judge of the Court of Session; Law′-mak′er, a lawgiver; Law′-man, one of a select body with magisterial powers in some of the Danish towns of early England; Law′-mer′chant, a term applied to the customs which have grown up among merchants in reference to mercantile documents and business; Law′-mong′er, a low pettifogging lawyer; Law′-stā′tioner, a stationer who sells parchment and other articles needed by lawyers; Law′suit, a suit or process in law; Law′-writ′er, a writer on law: a copier or engrosser of legal papers; Law′yer, a practitioner in the law: (N.T.) an interpreter of the Mosaic Law: the stem of a brier.—Law Latin, Latin as used in law and legal documents, being a mixture of Latin with Old French and Latinised English words; Law of nations, now international law, originally applied to those ethical principles regarded as obligatory on all communities; Law of nature (see Nature); Law of the land, the established law of a country; Laws of association (see Association); Laws of motion (see Motion); Lawful day, one on which business may be legally done—not a Sunday or a public holiday.—Boyle's (erroneously called Mariotte's) law (physics), in gases, the law that, for a given quantity at a given temperature, the pressure varies inversely as the volume—discovered by Robert Boyle in 1662, and treated in a book by Mariotte in 1679; Brehon law (see Brehon); Canon law (see Canon); Case law, law established by judicial decision in particular cases, in contradistinction to statute law; Common law (see Common); Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes and their punishment; Crown law, that part of the common law of England which is applicable to criminal matters; Customary law (see Consuetudinary); Empirical law, a law induced from observation or experiment, and though valid for the particular instances observed, not to be relied on beyond the conditions on which it rests; Federal law, law prescribed by the supreme power of the United States, as opposed to state law; Forest law, the code of law which was drawn up to preserve the forests, &c., forming the special property of the English kings; Gresham's law (polit. econ.), the law that of two forms of currency the inferior or more depreciated tends to drive the other from circulation, owing to the hoarding and exportation of the better form; Grimm's law (philol.), the law formulating certain changes or differences which the mute consonants exhibit in corresponding words in the Teutonic branches of the Aryan family of languages—stated by Jacob Grimm (1785-1863); International law (see International); Judiciary law, that part of the law which has its source in the decisions and adjudications of the courts; Kepler's laws, three laws of planetary motion discovered by Johann Kepler (1571-1630)—viz. (1) the orbits of the planets are ellipses with the sun at one focus; (2) the areas described by their radii vectores in equal times are equal; (3) the squares of their periodic times vary as the cubes of their mean distances from the sun; Lynch law (see Lynch); Maine law, a prohibitory liquor law passed by the legislature of Maine State, U.S.A., in 1851; Maritime, Martial, Mercantile, Military law (see the adjs.); May laws, several Prussian enactments (1873-74) directed to control the action of the Church, and limit its interference in civil matters, largely modified in 1887—often called Falk laws, from the introducer; Moral law, that portion of the Old Testament which relates to moral principles, especially the ten commandments; Mosaic, Municipal, Natural law (see the adjs.); Ohm's law, the basis of electrical measurements, established in 1827 by Ohm (1787-1854), that the resistance of a conductor is measured by the ratio of the electromotive force between its two ends to the current flowing through it; Poor-law, -laws, laws providing for the support of paupers at the public expense; Positive law, law owing its force to human sanction as opposed to divine law; Private law (see Private); Roman law, the system of law developed by the ancient Romans, and often termed the civil law (q.v.); Salic law (see Salian); Statute law (see Statute); Sumptuary law (see Sumptuary); Verner's law (philol.), a law stated by Karl Verner in 1875, showing the effect of the position of accent in the shifting of the original Aryan mute consonants, and s, into Low German, and explaining the most important anomalies in the application of Grimm's law; Written law, statute law as distinguished from the common law.—Have the law of (coll.), to enforce the law against; Lay down the law, to state authoritatively or dictatorially. [M. E. lawe—A.S. lagu, from licgan, to lie; Ice. lōg.]

Lawk, lawk, interj. implying surprise. [For Lord!]

Lawn, lawn, n. a sort of fine linen or cambric.—adj. made of lawn.—adj. Lawn′y.—Lawn sleeves, wide sleeves of lawn worn by Anglican bishops. [Prob. from Fr. Laon, a town near Rheims.]

Lawn, lawn, n. an open space between woods: a space of ground covered with grass, generally in front of or around a house or mansion.—ns. Lawn′-mow′er, a machine for cutting the grass on a lawn; Lawn′-sprink′ler, a machine for watering a lawn by sprinkling from a hose with perforated swivel-collar; Lawn′-tenn′is, a game played with a ball and rackets on an open lawn or other smooth surface by two, three, or four persons.—adj. Lawn′y. [A corr. of laund, lawnd.]

Lax, laks, adj. slack: loose: soft, flabby: not strict in discipline or morals: loose in the bowels.—adj. Lax′ative, having the power of loosening the bowels.—n. a purgative or aperient medicine.—ns. Lax′ativeness, Lax′ity, Lax′ness, state or quality of being lax; Laxā′tor, a muscle that relaxes an organ or part; Lax′ist, one holding loose notions of moral laws, or of their application.—adv. Lax′ly. [L. laxus, loose.]

Lay, pa.t. of lie, to lay one's self down.

Lay, lā, v.t. to cause to lie down: to place or set down: to beat down: to spread on a surface: to conjoin: to spread the proper thing on: to calm: to appease: to wager: to bring forth: to impose: to charge: to present.—v.i. to produce eggs: to wager, bet:—pr.p. lay′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. laid.—n. situation: (Shak.) a bet: a share of profit, esp. in whaling enterprises: (slang) a field or method of operations, esp. of thieves: a measure in thread manufacture, about 800 yards.—ns. Lay′er, that which lays—e.g. a hen, a bricklayer: a bed or stratum: a shoot laid for propagation; Lay′ering, the propagation of plants by layers; Lay′ing, the first coat of plaster: the act or time of laying eggs: the eggs laid; Lay′-out, that which is laid out, a spread, for dining, gaming, &c.; Lay′-stall, a place for laying dung, rubbish, &c.—Lay about one, to deal blows vigorously or on all sides; Lay aside, away, to discard: to put apart for future use; Lay at, to endeavour to strike; Lay bare, to make bare, disclose; Lay before, to submit to, as of plans; Lay by, to keep for future use, to dismiss, to put off; Lay by the heels (see Heel); Lay down, to give up: to deposit, as a pledge: to apply, as embroidery: to delineate, describe: to affirm, assert: (rare) to store for future use; Lay heads together, to consult together, to deliberate; Lay hold of, or on, to seize, apprehend; Lay in, to get in a supply of; Lay into, to chastise thoroughly; Lay it on, to charge exorbitantly, to do anything with profuseness; Lay off, to cast aside: to mark off; Lay on, to apply with force, to strike, to act with vigour; Lay one's self out to, to put forth one's best efforts for anything; Lay on load (Spens.), to belabour; Lay on the table (see Table); Lay open, to make bare, to show, expose; Lay out, to expand, to display: to expend, to plan, to exert: to dress in grave-clothes: to take measures, seek; Lay siege to, to besiege: to importune; Lay the land, to cause the land to disappear below the horizon by sailing away from it; Lay to, to apply with vigour: to bring a ship to rest; Lay to heart (see Heart); Lay under, to subject to; Lay up, to store up, preserve: to confine to one's bed or room for a time: to put a ship in dock after dismantling; Lay upon, to wager upon; Lay wait, to lie in wait, or in ambush; Lay waste, to devastate, to destroy.—Laying on of hands (see Hand).—Laid embroidery, gimped or raised embroidery.—On a lay, on shares, as when a crew is shipped 'on a lay' instead of receiving wages. [Lay is the causal to lie, from A.S. lecgan; Ice. leggja, Ger. legen.]

Lay, lā, n. a song: a lyric or narrative poem. [O. Fr. lai, from Celt.; cf. Gael. laoidh, a hymn.]

Lay, lā, Laic, -al, lā′ik, -al, adjs. pertaining to the people: not clerical: unprofessional: (cards) not trumps.—v.t. Lā′icise, to deprive of a clerical character.—ns. Lā′ity, the people as distinguished from any particular profession, esp. the clerical; Lay′-bap′tism, baptism administered by a layman; Lay′-broth′er, a layman: a man under vows of celibacy and obedience, who serves a monastery, but is exempt from the studies and religious services required of the monks; Lay′-commun′ion, the state of being in the communion of the church as a layman; Lay′-imprō′priator, an impropriator who is a layman (see Impropriator); Lay′-lord, a civil lord of the Admiralty; Lay′man, one of the laity: a non-professional man; Lay′-read′er, in the Anglican Church, a layman who receives authority to read the lessons or a part of the service, and who may in certain cases preach or read the sermons of others. [O. Fr. lai—L. laicus—Gr. laikos—laos, the people.]

Lay-day, lā′-dā, n. one of a number of days allowed a charter-party for shipping or unshipping cargo.

Layer, lā′ėr, n. a stratum—better Lair (q.v.). See Lay.

Layette, lā-yet′, n. a baby's complete outfit: a tray for carrying powder in powder-mills. [Fr.]

Lay-figure, lā′-fig′ūr, n. a jointed figure used by painters in imitation of the human body, as a model for drapery: a living person or a fictitious character wanting in individuality.—Also Lay′-man.

Lazar, lā′zar, n. one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential disease like Lazarus, the beggar.—ns. Lā′zar-house, a lazaretto; Laz′arist, a member of a R.C. order, the Congregation of the Priests of the Mission, founded by St Vincent de Paul in 1624.—adj. Lā′zar-like, like a lazar: full of sores: leprous. [Fr. lazare—L.,—Gr. Lazaros, in the parable in Luke xvi.—Heb. El‛āzār, 'he whom God helps.']

Lazaretto, laz-a-ret′ō, n. a public hospital for diseased persons, esp. for such as have infectious disorders: a prison hospital: a place where persons are kept during quarantine.—Also Laz′aret. [It. lazzeretto.]

Lazaroni, laz-a-rō′ni, n. Same as Lazzaroni.

Lazuli, laz′ū-lī. See Lapis-lazuli, under Lapidary.

Lazulite, laz′ū-līt, n. a mineral of a light, indigo-blue colour, occurring in quartz and in clay-slate.

Lazy, lā′zi, adj. disinclined to exertion: averse to labour: sluggish: tedious.—v.i. Laze, to be lazy.—adv. Lā′zily.—ns. Lā′ziness, state or quality of being lazy; Lā′zy-bed, a bed for growing potatoes, the seed being laid on the surface and covered with earth dug out of trenches along both sides; Lā′zybones (coll.), a lazy person, an idler; Lā′zy-jack, a jack constructed of compound levers pivoted together; Lā′zy-pin′ion (see Idle-wheel).—n.pl. Lā′zy-tongs, tongs consisting of a series of diagonal levers pivoted together at the middle and ends, capable of being extended by a movement of the scissors-like handles so as to pick up objects at a distance. [M. E. lasche—O. Fr. lasche (Fr. lâche), slack, weak, base—L. laxus, loose.]

Lazzaroni, laz-a-rō′ni, n. name given to the lowest classes in Naples, idle beggars, with no fixed habitation or regular occupation:—sing. Lazzarone. [It.]

Lea, lē, n. a meadow: grass-land, pasturage.—Older forms, Lay, Lee, Ley. [A.S. leáh; cf. prov. Ger. lohe, loh, found also in place-names, as Waterloo.]

Leach, lēch, v.t. to wash or drain away by percolation of water, esp. to make lye by leaching ashes—also Letch.—ns. Leach′-trough, -tub, a trough or tub in which ashes are leached.—adj. Leach′y, liable to be leached, letting water percolate through. [A.S. leccan, to moisten.]

Leach, lēch, n. Same as Leech.

Lead, lēd, v.t. to show the way by going first: to guide by the hand: to direct: to precede: to transport or carry: to allure.—v.i. to go before and show the way: to have a tendency: to exercise dominion:—pr.p. lead′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. led.—n. first place: precedence: direction: (naut.) the course of a running rope from end to end: the right of playing the first card in a round or trick: a main conductor in electrical distribution.—ns. Lead′er, one who leads or goes first: a chief: the leading editorial article in a newspaper (also Leading article): principal wheel in any machinery; Leaderette′, a brief newspaper leader; Lead′ership, state or condition of a leader or conductor; Lead′ing-bus′iness, the acting of the principal parts or rôles in plays; Lead′ing-mō′tive (Ger. leit-motif), in dramatic music, a principal theme: a theme, usually of but few tones, by which any personage or particular emotion is indicated by suggestion as often as it occurs; Lead′ing-ques′tion, a legal term for a question so put to a witness as to suggest the answer that is wished or expected.—n.pl. Lead′ing-strings, strings used to lead children when beginning to walk: vexatious care or custody.—Lead apes in hell (see Ape); Lead astray, to draw into a wrong course, to seduce from right conduct; Lead by the nose, to make one follow submissively; Lead in prayer, to offer up prayer in an assembly, uniting the prayers of others; Lead off, to begin or take the start in anything; Lead on, to persuade to go on, to draw on; Lead one a dance (see Dance); Lead up to, to bring about by degrees, to prepare for anything by steps or stages. [A.S. lǽdan, to lead, lád, a way; Ger. leiten, to lead.]

Lead, led, n. a well-known metal of a bluish-white colour: the plummet for sounding at sea: a thin plate of lead separating lines of type: (pl.) sheets of lead for covering roofs, a flat roof so covered.—v.t. to cover or fit with lead: (print.) to separate lines with leads.—n. Lead′-arm′ing, tallow, &c., placed in the hollow of a sounding-lead, to ascertain the nature of the bottom.—adjs. Lead′ed, fitted with or set in lead: (print.) separated by leads, as the lines of a book, &c.; Lead′en, made of lead: heavy: dull; Lead′en-heart′ed, having an unfeeling heart; Lead′en-step′ping (Milt.), moving slowly.—ns. Lead′-glance, lead ore, galena; Lead′-mill, a mill for grinding white-lead: a leaden disc charged with emery for grinding gems; Lead′-pen′cil, a pencil or instrument for drawing, &c., made of blacklead; Lead′-poi′soning, or Plumbism, poisoning by the absorption and diffusion of lead in the system, its commonest form, Lead or Painter's Colic; Leads′man, a seaman who heaves the lead.—adj. Lead′y, like lead. [A.S. leád; Ger. loth.]

Leaf, lēf, n. one of the lateral organs developed from the stem or axis of the plant below its growing-point: anything beaten thin like a leaf: two pages of a book: one side of a window-shutter, &c.:—pl. Leaves (lēvz).—v.i. to shoot out or produce leaves:—pr.p. leaf′ing; pa.p. leafed.—ns. Leaf′age, leaves collectively: abundance of leaves: season of leaves or leafing; Leaf′-bridge, a form of drawbridge in which the rising leaf or leaves swing vertically on hinges; Leaf′-bud, a bud producing a stem with leaves only; Leaf′iness; Leaf′-in′sect, an orthopterous insect of family Phasmidæ, the wing-covers like leaves.—adj. Leaf′less, destitute of leaves.—ns. Leaf′let, a little leaf, a tract; Leaf′-met′al, metal, especially alloys imitating gold and silver, in very thin leaves, for decoration; Leaf′-mould, earth formed from decayed leaves, used as a soil for plants; Leaf′-stalk, the petiole supporting the leaf.—adj. Leaf′y, full of leaves.—Take a leaf out of one's book (see Book); Turn over a new leaf, to take up a new and better course of conduct. [A.S. leáf; Ger. laub, Dut. loof, a leaf.]

League, lēg, n. a nautical measure, 1⁄20th of a degree, 3 geographical miles, 3.456 statute miles: an old measure of length, varying from the Roman league, 1.376 mod. Eng. miles, to the French, 2.764 miles, and the Spanish, 4.214 miles. [O. Fr. legue (Fr. lieue)—L. leuca, a Gallic mile of 1500 Roman paces; from the Celt., as in Bret. leó.]

League, lēg, n. a bond or alliance: union for mutual advantage.—v.i. to form a league: to unite for mutual interest:—pr.p. leag′uing; pa.t. and pa.p. leagued.—n. Leag′uer, one connected with a league. [Fr. ligue—Low L. liga—L. ligāre, to bind.]

Leaguer, lēg′ėr, n. a camp, esp. of a besieging army: siege or besiegement. [Dut. leger, a lair.]

Leak, lēk, n. a crack or hole in a vessel through which liquid may pass: the oozing of any fluid through an opening.—v.i. to let any fluid into or out of a vessel through a leak.—ns. Leak′age, a leaking: that which enters or escapes by leaking: an allowance for leaking; Leak′iness.—adj. Leak′y, having leaks: letting any liquid in or out.—Leak out, to find vent, to get to the public ears; Spring a leak, to begin to let in water. [Ice. leka; Dut. lekken, to drip.]

Leal, lēl, adj. true-hearted, faithful.—Land o' the Leal, the home of the blessed after death—Paradise, not Scotland. [Norm. Fr. leal, same as loyal.]

Leam, lēm, n. (obs.) a gleam of light, a glow.—v.i. to shine. [A.S. leóma.]

Lean, lēn, v.i. to incline or bend: to turn from a straight line: to rest against: to incline towards:—pr.p. lean′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. leaned or leant (lent).—n. Lean′-to, a shed or penthouse whose supports lean upon another building or wall. [A.S. hlinian, and causal form hlǽnan; Dut. leunen.]

Lean, lēn, adj. thin, wanting flesh: not fat: unprofitable, taking extra time—a printer's phrase.—n. flesh without fat.—adj. Lean′-faced, having a thin face: (print.) slender and narrow, as letters.—adv. Lean′ly.—n. Lean′ness.—adj. Lean′-wit′ted, of little sense. [A.S. hlǽne; Low Ger. leen; according to Skeat, from hlǽnan, to lean (above).]

Leap, lēp, v.i. to move with bounds: to spring upward or forward: to jump: to rush with vehemence.—v.t. to bound over: to cause to take a leap: to cover or copulate (of some beasts):—pr.p. leap′ing; pa.t. leaped or leapt (lept); pa.p. leaped, rarely leapt.—n. act of leaping: bound: space passed by leaping: sudden transition.—ns. Leap′-frog, a play in which one boy places his hands on the back of another stooping in front of him, and vaults over his head; Leap′ing-house (Shak.), a brothel; Leap′ing-time (Shak.), youth; Leap′-year, every fourth year—of 366 days, adding one day in February.—Leap in the dark, an act of which we cannot foresee the consequences. [A.S. hleápan, pa.t. hleóp; Ger. laufen, to run.]

Leap, lēp, n. a basket: a wicker net. [A.S. leáp.]

Lear, lēr, v.t. (Spens.) to learn.—n. that which is learned, a lesson: (Scot.) learning.

Learn, lėrn, v.t. to acquire knowledge of, to get to know: to gain power of performing: (prov.) to teach.—v.i. to gain knowledge: to improve by example.—adjs. Learn′able, that may be learned; Learn′ed, having learning: versed in literature, &c.: skilful.—adv. Learn′edly.—ns. Learn′edness; Learn′er, one who learns: one who is yet in the rudiments of any subject; Learn′ing, what is learned: knowledge: scholarship: skill in languages or science.—New learning, the awakening to classical learning in England in the 16th century, led by Colet, Erasmus, Warham, More, &c. [A.S. leornian; Ger. lernen; cf. A.S. lǽran (Ger. lehren), to teach.]

Lease, lēs, n. a contract letting a house, farm, &c. for a term of years: the duration or term of tenure: any tenure.—v.t. to let for a term of years:—pr.p. leas′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. leased.—adjs. Leas′able; Lease′hold, held by lease or contract.—n. a tenure held by lease.—ns. Lease′holder; Leas′er, one who leases. [Fr. laisser, to leave—L. laxāre, to loose, laxus, loose.]

Lease, lēz, v.i. (prov.) to glean.—n. Leas′ing, gleaning. [A.S. lesan, to gather.]

Lease, lēs, n. in weaving, the plane in which the warp-threads cross: this system of crossing.

Leash, lēsh, n. a lash or line by which a hawk or hound is held: a brace and a half, three.—v.t. to hold by a leash: to bind. [O. Fr. lesse (Fr. laisse), a thong to hold a dog by—L. laxus, loose.]

Leasing, lēz′ing, n. falsehood, lies: lying. [A.S. lásung—leás, false, loose; Goth. laus, Ice. los.]

Leasowe, lē′sō, n. a pasture.—v.t. to feed or pasture. [A.S. lǽs, a meadow.]

Least, lēst, adj. (serves as superl. of Little) little beyond all others: smallest.—adv. in the smallest or lowest degree.—advs. Least′ways, Least′wise, at least: however.—At least, or At the least, at the lowest estimate: at any rate. [A.S. læst, contr. from læsast, from læssa (adj.), less, læs (adv.).]

Least, lēst, conj. (Spens.). Same as Lest.

Leat, Leet, lēt, n. (prov.) a trench for bringing water to a mill-wheel.

Leather, leth′ėr, n. the prepared skin of an animal, tanned, tawed, or otherwise dressed.—adj. consisting of leather.—ns. Leath′er-cloth, a textile fabric coated on one face with certain mixtures of a flexible nature when dry, so as to resemble leather—called also American leather-cloth, or simply American cloth; Leath′er-coat (Shak.), an apple with a rough coat or rind, the golden russet; Leatherette′, cloth or paper made to look like leather; Leath′er-head, a blockhead: an Australian bird with a bare head—called also Monk and Friar: Leath′ering, a thrashing; Leath′er-jack′et, one of various fishes; Leath′er-knife, a knife of curved form for cutting leather.—adj. Leath′ern, made or consisting of leather.—p.adj. Leath′er-winged (Spens.), having wings like leather.—adj. Leath′ery, resembling leather: tough.—Fair leather, leather not artificially coloured; Morocco leather (see Morocco); Patent leather, leather with a finely varnished surface—also Japanned or Lacquered leather; Russia leather, a fine brownish-red leather with a characteristic odour; Split leather, leather split by a machine, for trunk-covers, &c.; White leather, tawed leather, having its natural colour. [A.S. leðer, leather; Dut. and Ger. leder.]

Leave, lēv, n. permission: liberty granted: formal parting of friends: farewell. [A.S. leáf, permission, cog. with leóf, dear. See Lief.]

Leave, lēv, v.t. to allow to remain: to abandon, resign: to quit or depart from: to have remaining at death: to bequeath: to refer for decision.—v.i. to desist: to cease: to depart:—pr.p. leav′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. left.—Leave alone, to let remain undisturbed; Leave in the dark, to conceal information from; Leave off, to desist, to terminate: to give up using; Leave out, to omit.—Get left (coll.), to be beaten or left behind; Take French leave (see French); Take leave, to assume permission: to part, say farewell. [A.S. lǽfan, to leave a heritage (láf), lifian, to be remaining.]

Leave, lēv, v.t. (Spens.) to levy, to raise.

Leave, lēv, v.i. to put out leaves.—adj. Leaved, furnished with leaves: made with folds.

Leaven, lev′n, n. the ferment which makes dough rise in a spongy form: anything that makes a general change, whether good or bad.—v.t. to raise with leaven: to taint.—n. Leav′ening.—adj. Leav′enous, containing leaven. [Fr. levain—L. levamen—levāre, to raise—levis, light.]

Leaves, lēvz, pl. of leaf.

Leavings, lēv′ingz, n.pl. things left: relics: refuse.—n. Leav′ing-shop, an unlicensed pawnshop.

Leavy, lēv′i, adj. (Shak.). Same as Leafy.

Lecher, lech′ėr, n. a man addicted to lewdness.—v.i. to practise lewdness.—adj. Lech′erous, lustful: provoking lust.—adv. Lech′erously.—ns. Lech′erousness, Lech′ery. [O. Fr. lecheor—lecher, to lick; from Old High Ger. lechón, Ger. lecken, Eng. lick.]

Lectern, lek′tėrn, n. a reading-desk in churches from which the Scripture lessons are read.—ns. (obs.) Lec′turn, Let′tern. [Low L. lectrinum—Low L. lectrum, a pulpit—Gr. lektron, a couch.]

Lection, lek′shun, n. a reading: a variety in a manuscript or book: a portion of Scripture read in divine service.—ns. Lec′tionary, a book for use in worship, containing lessons for particular days; Lec′tor, a reader: a reader of Scripture in the ancient churches; Lec′tress, a female reader. [L. lection-em—legĕre, lectum, to read.]

Lectual, lek′tū-al, adj. confining to the bed.

Lecture, lek′tūr, n. a discourse on any subject, esp. a professional or tutorial discourse: an expository and discursive religious discourse, usually based on an extended passage of Scripture rather than a single text: an endowed lectureship, as the Bampton, Hulsean, &c.: a formal reproof.—v.t. to instruct by discourses: to instruct authoritatively: to reprove.—v.i. to give a lecture or lectures.—ns. Lec′turer, one who lectures: one of a class of preachers in the Church of England, chosen by the vestry and supported by voluntary contributions; Lec′tureship, the office of a lecturer. [See Lection.]

Led, led, pa.t. and pa.p. of lead, to show the way.—adj. under leading or control, esp. of a farm or place managed by a deputy instead of the owner or tenant in person.—Led captain, an obsequious attendant, a henchman; Led horse, a spare horse led by a servant, a sumpter-horse or pack-horse.

Leden, led′n, n. (Spens.) language, dialect, speech. [A.S. lǽden, Latin speech—L. Latinum, Latin.]

Ledge, lej, n. a shelf on which articles may be laid: that which resembles such a shelf: a ridge or shelf of rocks: a layer: a small moulding: a lode in mining.—adj. Ledg′y, abounding in ledges. [Skeat explains as Scand., allied to Sw. lagg, Ice. lögg, Norw. logg (pl. legger); cf. also Norw. lega, a couch; all from Ice. liggja; Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, to lie.]

Ledger, lej′ėr, n. the principal book of accounts among merchants, in which the entries in all the other books are entered: (Shak.) a resident, esp. an ambassador: a bar, stone, &c., made to lie flat, a piece of timber used in making a scaffolding, a horizontal slab, as over a tomb.—adj. lying in a certain place, stationary. [Skeat explains ledger-book as one that lies always ready, from Dut. legger, one that lies down, leggen, to lie, a common corr. of liggen, to lie (like lay for lie in English).]

Ledum, lē′dum, n. a genus of ericaceous plants. [Gr. lēdon, ladanum.]

Lee, lē, n. the quarter toward which the wind blows.—adj. as in Lee′-side, the sheltered side of a ship.—ns. Lee′-board, a board lowered on the lee-side of a vessel, and acting like a keel or centre-board to prevent her from drifting to leeward; Lee′-gage, the sheltered or safe side:—opp. to Weather-gage; Lee′-shore, the shore opposite to the lee-side of a ship; Lee′-tide, a tide running in the same direction as the wind is blowing.—adj. Lee′ward, pertaining to, or in, the direction toward which the wind blows.—adv. toward the lee.—n. Lee′way, the distance a ship is driven to leeward of her true course: a falling behind.—Make up leeway, to make up for time lost; Under the lee, on the side sheltered from the wind, under shelter from the wind. [A.S. hleów, shelter; Ice. hlé, Low Ger. lee; prov. Eng. lew.]

Lee, lē, n. (Spens.) a river: also the same as Lea.

Leech, lēch, n. the edge of a sail at the sides. [Ice. lík, a leech-line; Dan. lig; Sw. lik, a bolt-rope.]

Leech, lēch, n. a blood-sucking worm: a physician.—v.t. to apply leeches to.—ns. Leech′craft, Leech′dom. [A.S. lǽce, one who heals; cf. Goth. leikeis.]

Leef, lēf, adj. an obsolete form of lief.

Leefang, lē′fang, n. a rope through the clew of a jib, holding it amidships while lacing on the bonnet.

Leek, lēk, n. a well-known biennial species of the onion family, esteemed for cooking—national emblem of Wales.—Eat the leek, to be compelled to take back one's words or put up with insulting treatment—from the scene between Fluellen and Pistol in Henry V. [A.S. leác, a leek, a plant, present also in Char-lock, Gar-lic, Hem-lock.]

Leer, lēr, n. a sly, sidelong look: (Shak.) complexion, colour.—v.i. to look askance: to look archly or obliquely.—adv. Leer′ingly, with a leering look. [A.S. hleór, face, cheek; Ice. hlýr.]

Lees, lēz, n.pl. sediment or dregs that settle at the bottom of liquor. [Fr. lie—Low L. lia.]

Leese, lēz, v.t. (Spens.) to lose. [A.S. leósan, to lose.]

Leet, lēt, n. (Scot.) a selected list of candidates for an office.—Short leet, a small list of selected candidates—for the final choice. [Ice. leiti, a share; cf. A.S. hlét, hlýt, forms of hlot, lot.]

Leet, lēt, n. an ancient English court, esp. the assembly of the men of a township: the district subject to such: the right to hold such a court.—n. Court′-leet (see Court). [A.S. lǽth.]

Leetle, lē′tl, a vulgarism for little.

Leeze, lēz (Scot.), in phrase Leeze me, it is pleasing to me. [Prob. a corr. of Lief is me.]

Left, left, pa.p. (Spens.) lifted.

Left, left, pa.t. and pa.p. of leave.—adj. Left′-off, laid aside.

Left, left, adj. being on the left side—also Left′-hand.—n. the side opposite to the right: the part of an assembly sitting on the president's left hand, generally the more liberal or democratic section.—adv. toward the left.—adj. Left′-hand′ed, having the left hand stronger and readier than the right: awkward: unlucky.—ns. Left′-hand′edness; Left′-hand′er, a blow with the left hand, a sudden and unexpected attack; Left′-hand′iness, awkwardness.—adv. Left′ward, towards the left: on the left side. [M. E. lift, left—A.S. left for lyft, weak; prob. allied to lop.]

Leg, leg, n. one of the limbs by which animals walk: a long, slender support of anything, as of a table: (fig.) something that supports: in cricket, that part of the field, or that fielder, to the left of and behind the batsman as he faces the bowler.—v.i. to pass on briskly, often with indef. it.—ns. Leg′-bail (see Bail); Leg′-bus′iness, ballet-dancing; Leg′-bye, in cricket, a run made when the ball touches any part of the batsman's person except his hand.—adj. Legged, having legs.—ns. Leg′ging, an outer and extra gaiter-like covering for the legs; Leg′gism, character of a blackleg.—adj. Leg′gy, having disproportionately long and lank legs.—n. Leg′-ī′ron, a fetter for the leg.—adj. Leg′less, without legs.—Change the leg (of a horse), to change the gait; Feel one's legs (of an infant), to begin to support one's self on the legs; Find one's legs, to become habituated to, to attain ease in; Give a leg to, to assist by supporting the leg; In high leg, in great excitement; Make a leg (Shak.), to make a bow; On one's last legs (see Last); On one's legs, standing, esp. to speak; Upon its legs, in an independent position. [Ice. leggr, a leg; Dan. læg, Sw. lägg.]

Legacy, leg′a-si, n. that which is left to one by will: a bequest of personal property.—ns. Leg′acy-hunt′er, one who hunts after legacies by courting those likely to leave them; Leg′atary, a legatee; Legatee′, one to whom a legacy is bequeathed.—Legacy duty, a duty levied on legacies, varying according to degree of relationship, and reaching its maximum where the legatee is not related to the testator.—Cumulative, or Substitutional, legacy, a second legacy given to the same person, either in addition to or in place of the first; Demonstrative legacy, a general legacy, but with a particular fund named from which it is to be satisfied; General legacy, a sum of money payable out of the assets generally; Residuary legatee, the person to whom the remainder of the property is left after all claims are discharged; Specific legacy, a legacy of a definite thing, as jewels, pictures, a sum of stock in the Funds, &c. [L. legatum—legāre, to leave by will.]

Legal, lē′gal, adj. pertaining to, or according to, law: lawful: created by law: (theol.) according to the Mosaic law or dispensation.—n. Lē′galisātion.—v.t. Lē′galise, to make legal or lawful: to authorise: to sanction.—ns. Lē′galism, strict adherence to law: (theol.) the doctrine that salvation depends on strict adherence to the law, as distinguished from the doctrine of salvation by grace: the tendency to observe the letter rather than the spirit of religious law; Lē′galist; Legal′ity.—adv. Lē′gally.—Legal tender, that which can be lawfully used in paying a debt. [Fr.,—L. legalis—lex, legis, law.]

Legate, leg′āt, n. an ambassador, esp. from the Pope: a delegate, deputy, esp. a foreign envoy chosen by the senate of ancient Rome, or a general or consul's lieutenant.—n. Leg′ateship.—adj. Leg′atīne, of or relating to a legate.—n. Legā′tion, the person or persons sent as legates or ambassadors: the official abode of a legation. [Fr. légat, It. legato—L. legatus—legāre, to send with a commission.]

Legatee. See Legacy.

Legato, lā-gä′to, adj. (mus.) in a smooth manner, the notes being played as if bound together.—n. a smooth manner of performance, or a tune so played.—adv. (sup.) Legatiss′imo. [It.,—L. ligāre, to tie.]

Legend, lej′end, or lē′-, n. a marvellous story from early times: the motto on a coat of arms, medal, or coin: an inscription of any kind: a musical composition set to a poetical story.—n. Leg′endary, a book of legends: one who relates legends: (pl.) a chronicle of the lives of saints.—adj. consisting of legends: romantic: fabulous.—n. Leg′endist, a writer of legends.—Golden legend (see Golden). [Fr.,—Low L. legenda, a book of chronicles of the saints read at matins—L. legendus—legĕre, to read.]

Leger, lej′ėr, adj. light: small.—ns. Leger′ity (Shak.), lightness; Leg′er′-line (mus.), one of the short lines added above or below the staff to extend its compass. [O. Fr.,—L. lĕvis, light.]

Legerdemain, lej-ėr-dē-mān′, n. sleight-of-hand: jugglery. [Fr. léger de main—L. as if leviarius—levis, light, Fr. de, of, main—L. manus, hand.]

Leghorn, leg′horn, n. fine plait for bonnets and hats made in Tuscany: a bonnet of this material: a small breed of the common domestic fowl. [Leghorn (It. Livorno), a seaport of Tuscany, Italy.]

Legible, lej′i-bl, adj. that may be read: that may be understood.—ns. Leg′ibleness, Legibil′ity.—adv. Leg′ibly. [L. legibilis—legĕre, to read.]

Legion, lē′jun, n. in ancient Rome, a body of soldiers of from three to six thousand: a military force: a great number: in French history, the name of several military bodies, more esp. one which distinguished itself in Algeria and in the Crimea.—v.t. to form into legions.—adj. Lē′gionary, relating to, or consisting of, a legion or legions: containing a great number.—n. a soldier of a legion.—Legion of Honour, an order of merit instituted in France in 1802 by Napoleon I.; Thundering Legion, the name in Christian tradition for a body of soldiers under Marcus Aurelius, whose prayers for rain once brought down a thunderstorm and destroyed the enemy. [Fr.,—L. legion-em—legĕre, to levy.]

Legislate, lej′is-lāt, v.i. to bring forward, propose, or make laws.—n. Legislā′tion.—adj. Leg′islative, giving or enacting laws: pertaining to legislation, or a legislature.—n. a body of persons, or a single person, with powers to enact laws.—adv. Leg′islatively.—n. Leg′islator, one who makes laws: a lawgiver:—fem. Leg′islatress.—adj. Legislatō′rial, of or pertaining to a legislature.—ns. Leg′islatorship; Leg′islature, the body of men in a state who have the power of making laws.—Legislative assembly (see Assembly); Legislative power, the power to make laws.—Class legislation, legislation affecting the interests of a particular class. [L. lex, legis, law, ferre, latum, to bear.]

Legist, lē′jist, n. one skilled in the laws. [Fr.]

Legitim, lej′i-tim, n. (Scots law) the legal provision which a child is entitled to out of the movable or personal estate of the deceased father.—Also Bairn's Part. [Fr.,—L. legitimus—lex, law.]

Legitimate, le-jit′i-māt, adj. lawful: lawfully begotten, born in wedlock: fairly deduced: following by natural sequence: authorised by usage.—v.t. to make lawful: to give the rights of a legitimate child to an illegitimate one.—n. Legit′imacy, state of being legitimate: lawfulness of birth: regular deduction: directness of descent as affecting the royal succession.—adv. Legit′imately.—ns. Legit′imateness, lawfulness; Legitimā′tion, act of rendering legitimate, esp. of conferring the privileges of lawful birth.—v.t. Legit′imise (same as Legitimate).—n. Legit′imist, one who supports legitimate authority: in France, a follower of the elder Bourbon line (descendants of Louis XIV.), as opposed to the Orleanists or supporters of the descendants of the Duke of Orleans, Louis XIV.'s brother.—Legitimate drama, a designation frequently applied to the representation of Shakespeare's plays—often employed as vaguely indicating approval of the drama of some former time. [Low L. legitimāre. -ātum—L. legitimus, lawful—lex, law.]

Legume, leg′ūm, n. a seed-vessel which splits into two valves, having the seeds attached to the ventral suture only: a pod, as of the pea, bean, &c.—also Legū′men:—pl. Legū′mens, Legū′mina.—adj. Legū′minar.—n. Legū′mine, a nitrogenous proteid substance in the seeds of most leguminous plants, corresponding with the casein of milk.—adj. Legū′minous, pertaining to pulse: bearing legumes. [Fr.,—L. legumen—legĕre, to gather.]

Leibnitzian, līb-nit′zi-an, adj. pertaining to the great German philosopher and mathematician, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646-1716).—n. Leibnit′zianism, the philosophy of Leibnitz—the doctrine of primordial monads, pre-established harmony, fundamental optimism on the principle of sufficient reason.

Leiger, lej′ėr, n. (Shak.) a resident ambassador.—Also Leidg′er. [See Ledger.]

Leiotrichous, lī-ot′ri-kus, adj. of the smooth-haired races. [Gr. leios, smooth, thrix, trichos, hair.]

Leipoa, lī-pō′a, n. a genus of Australian mound-birds.

Leister, lēs′tėr, n. (Scot.) a salmon-spear. [Cf. Ice. ljóstr; Dan. lyster, a salmon-spear.]

Leisure, lē′zhōōr, or lezh′-, n. time free from employment: freedom from occupation, convenient opportunity, ease.—adj. unoccupied.—adj. Lei′sured, not occupied with business.—adj. and adv. Lei′surely, not hasty or hastily.—At leisure, At one's leisure, free from occupation, at one's ease or convenience. [O. Fr. leisir—L. licēre, to be permitted.]

Leman, lē′man, or lem′-, n. a sweetheart; paramour. [A.S. leóf, loved, mann, man.]

Lemma, lem′a, n. (math.) a preliminary proposition demonstrated for the purpose of being used in a subsequent proposition: sometimes in logic a premise taken for granted: a theme:—pl. Lemm′as, Lemm′ata. [L.,—Gr. lēmma—lambanein, to take.]

Lemming, lem′ing, n. a genus of rodents, nearly allied to voles, migrating southward in great numbers. [Norw. lemende, lemming—lemja, to beat. Perh. Lapp, loumek, a lemming.]

Lemnian, lem′ni-an, adj. pertaining to Lemnos in the Ægean Sea.—Lemnian earth, cimolite; Lemnian ruddle, a red chalk found in Lemnos.

Lemniscate, lem-nis′kāt, n. a curve in general form like the figure 8—also adj.—n. Lemnis′cus, a woollen fillet attached to the back of crowns, diadems, &c. [Gr. lēmniskos.]

Lemon, lem′un, n. an oval fruit resembling the orange, with an acid pulp: the tree that bears lemons.—n. Lemonade′, a drink made of lemon-juice, water, and sugar.—adj. Lem′on-col′oured, having the colour of a ripe lemon.—ns. Lem′on-grass, a fragrant perennial grass, in India, Arabia, &c., yielding an essential oil used in perfumery; Lem′on-squash, unfervescent lemonade; Lem′on-squeez′er, a small hand-press for extracting the juice of lemons; Lem′on-yell′ow, a clear, pale yellow colour. [Fr. limon—Ar. līmūn.]

Lemur, lē′mur, n. a genus of mammals appearing to stand between the Insectivora and the monkeys, forest dwellers, mainly nocturnal in habits, common in Madagascar. [L. lemur, a ghost.]

Lemures, lem′ū-rēz, n.pl. (Milt.) spirits of the departed: spectres. [L.]

Lend, lend, v.t. to give for a short time something to be returned: to afford, grant, or furnish, in general: to let for hire.—v.i. to make a loan:—pr.p lend′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. lent.—ns. Lend′er; Lend′ing, the act of giving in loan: (Shak.) that which is lent or supplied. [A.S. lǽnan—lǽn, lán, a loan.]

Length, length, n. quality of being long: extent from end to end: the longest measure of anything: long continuance: detail: (prosody) time occupied in uttering a vowel or syllable: the quality of a vowel as long or short: any definite portion of a known extent.—v.t. Length′en, to increase in length: to draw out.—v.i. to grow longer.—adv. Length′ily.—n. Length′iness.—adv. Length′wise, in the direction of the length.—adj. Length′y, of great length: rather long—(obs.) Length′ful.—Length of days, prolonged life.—At length, in the full extent: at last; Go great lengths, Go to all lengths, to use extreme efforts; Go to the length of, to proceed as far as. [A.S.,—lang, long.]

Lenient, lē′ni-ent, adj. softening: mild: merciful.—n. (med.) that which softens: an emollient.—ns. Lē′nience, Lē′niency.—adv. Lē′niently.—v.t. Lē′nify (rare), to assuage.—adj. Len′itive, mitigating: laxative.—n. any palliative: (med.) an application for easing pain: a mild purgative.—n. Len′ity, mildness: clemency. [L. leniens, -entis, pr.p. of lenīre, to soften—lenis, soft.]

Leno, lē′nō, n. a thin linen like muslin.

Lenocinium, lē-nō-sin′i-um, n. (Scots law) a husband's connivance at his wife's adultery. [L.]

Lens, lenz, n. (optics) a piece of transparent substance with one or both sides convex or concave, the object to refract rays of light really or apparently radiating from a point, and make them deviate so as to pass, or travel on as if they had passed, through another point: the crystalline humour of the eye: a genus of leguminous plants:—pl. Lens′es. [L. lens, lentis, the lentil.]

Lent, lent, n. an annual fast of forty days in commemoration of the fast of our Saviour (Matt. iv. 2), from Ash-Wednesday to Easter.—adj. Lent′en, relating to, or used in, Lent: sparing.—n. Lent′-lil′y, the daffodil, as flowering in Lent. [A.S. lencten, the spring; Dut. lente, Ger. lenz.]

Lentamente, len-ta-men′te, adv. (mus.) slowly, in slow time.—advs. Lentan′do, becoming slower by degrees; Len′to, slow, slowly. [It.]

Lenticular, len-tik′ū-lar, adj. resembling a lens or lentil seed: double-convex—also Len′tiform.—n. Len′ticel (bot.), a loose, lens-shaped mass of cells belonging to the corky layer or periderm of plants.—adj. Lenticel′late.—n. Lentic′ula, a small lens: a lenticel: a freckle—also Len′ticule.—adv. Lentic′ularly.—adjs. Lentig′erous, having a crystalline lens; Len′toid, lens-shaped. [L. lenticularis—lenticula, dim. of lens, a lentil.]

Lentigo, len-tī′gō, n. a freckle.—adjs. Lentig′inose, Lentig′inous (bot.), covered with minute dots as if dusted. [L.]

Lentil, len′til, n. an annual plant, common near the Mediterranean, bearing pulse used for food. [O. Fr. lentille—L. lens, lentis, the lentil.]

Lentisk, len′tisk, n. the mastic-tree. [L. lentiscus.]

Lentor, len′tor, n. tenacity, viscidity.—adj. Len′tous. [L. lentus, slow.]

Lenvoy, len-voi′, n. a kind of postscript appended to a literary composition: an envoy. [O. Fr. l'envoi.]

Leo, lē′ō, n. the Lion, the 5th sign of the zodiac.

Leonine, lē′o-nīn, adj. of or like a lion.

Leonine, lē′o-nīn, adj. a kind of Latin verse, generally alternate hexameter and pentameter, rhyming at the middle and end. [From Leoninus, a 12th-cent. canon in Paris; or from Pope Leo II.]

Leopard, lep′ard, n. an animal of the cat kind, with a spotted skin, now generally supposed to be identical with the panther:—fem. Leop′ardess: (her.) a lion passant gardant. [O. Fr.,—L.,—Gr. leopardos—leōn, lion, pardos, pard.]

Leper, lep′ėr, n. one affected with leprosy.—adjs. Lep′erous (Shak.), Lep′rous. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. lepra—lepros, scaly—lepos, a scale—lepein, to peel off.]

Lepid, lep′id, adj. pleasant, jocose. [L. lepidus.]

Lepidodendron, lep-i-do-den′dron, n. a common fossil plant of the Carboniferous strata, the stem covered with ovate leaf-scars arranged spirally. [Gr. lepis, -idos, a scale, dendron, a tree.]

Lepidoptera, lep-i-dop′tėr-a, n.pl. an order of insects, with four wings covered with fine scales—butterfly, moth, &c.—adjs. Lepidop′teral, Lepidop′terous. [Gr. lepis, -idos, a scale, pteron, a wing.]

Lepidosauria, lep-i-do-sawr′i-a, n. a sub-class or sub-order of Reptilia, with scales and plates—the ophidians and lacertilians, not crocodilians and chelonians. [Gr. lepis, a scale, sauros, a lizard.]

Lepidosiren, lep-i-do-sī′ren, n. one of the Amazon mud-fishes or Dipnoi. [Gr. lepis, a scale, Eng. siren.]

Lepidosteus, lep-i-dos′te-us, n. a genus of fishes with rhomboid scales hard like bone. [Gr. lepis, -idos, a scale, osteon, a bone.]

Leporine, lep′o-rīn, adj. pertaining to or resembling the hare. [L. leporinus—lepus, lepŏris, the hare.]

Lepped, lep′d, pa.t. (Spens.) leaped.

Leprechaun, Leprechawn, lep′rē-kawn, n. a small-sized brownie who helps Irish housewives, mends shoes, grinds meal, &c. [Ir. luchorpan, lu, small, corpan, corp, a body—L. corpus.]

Leprosy, lep′ro-si, n. a name applied to several different cutaneous diseases of contagious character, now confined to lepra cutanea, elephantiasis, Græcorum, or Leontiasis.—n. Lep′ra, leprosy: a scurfy, mealy substance on the surface of some plants.—adjs. Lep′rose, scale-like or scurf-like; Lep′rous, affected with leprosy.—adv. Lep′rously.—ns. Lep′rousness, Lepros′ity. [See Leper.]

Leptocardian, lep-to-kär′di-an, adj. pertaining to the Leptocardii, the lowest group of true vertebrates, the lancelets.—n. a lancelet, branchiostome, or amphioxus. [Gr. leptos, thin, kardia, heart.]

Leptocephalic, lep-to-se-fal′ik, adj. having a narrow skull, as in certain flat-fishes. [Gr. leptos, thin, kephalē, the head.]

Leptodactyl, lep-to-dak′til, adj. having small or slender toes. [Gr. leptos, thin, daktylos, a finger.]

Leptology, lep-tol′o-ji, n. minute description. [Gr. leptos, thin, logia—legein, to speak.]

Lepton, lep′ton, n. the smallest of modern Greek coins, 100 to the drachma. [Gr.,—leptos, small.]

Leptorrhine, lep′tō-rin, adj. with small nose or slender snout. [Gr. leptos, thin, hris, hrinos, nose.]

Leptospermum, lep-to-sper′mum, n. a genus of Australian trees and shrubs, evergreens, with leaves like those of myrtles—the tea-tree, &c. [Gr. leptos, thin, sperma, seed.]

Lere, lēr, n. (Spens.) learning a lesson.—v.t. to learn: to teach. [Learn.]

Lesbian, les′bi-an, adj. pertaining to the island of Lesbos in the Ægean Sea, and the adjoining part of the coast of Asia Minor, together forming Æolis, the home of a famous school of lyric poets, including Alcæus and Sappho: amatory, erotic.

Lese-majestie, lēz′-maj′es-ti, n. any crime committed against the sovereign power in a state, treason.—Also Leze′-maj′esty. [O. Fr.,—Low L. læsa majestas—L. læsa—lædĕre, to hurt, majestas, majesty.]

Lesion, lē′zhun, n. a hurt: (med.) an injury or wound. [Fr.,—L. læsion-em—lædĕre, læsum, to hurt.]

Less, les, adj. (serves as comp. of little) diminished: smaller.—adv. not so much: in a lower degree.—n. a smaller portion: (B.) the inferior or younger. [A.S. lǽssa, less, lǽs (adv.); comparative form from a root lasinn, feeble, found also in Goth. lasiws, weak, Ice. las, weakness, not conn. with little.]

Lessee, les-sē′, n. one to whom a lease is granted.

Lessen, les′n, v.t. to make less, in any sense: to weaken: to degrade.—v.i. to become less, shrink.

Lesser, les′ėr, adj. (B.) less: smaller: inferior. [A double comp. formed from less.]

Lesson, les′n, n. a portion of Scripture appointed to be read in divine service: that which a pupil learns at a time: a precept or doctrine inculcated: instruction derived from experience: severe lecture.—v.t. to give a lesson to. [Fr. leçon—L. lection-em—legĕre, to read.]

Lessor, les′or, n. one who grants a lease.

Lest, lest, conj. that not: for fear that. [From the A.S. phrase ðý læs ðe (for the reason less that=L. quominus), the first word being dropped, while the others coalesced into lest.]

Lest, lest, v.i. (Spens.) to listen.

Let, let, v.t. to slacken or loose restraint upon: to give leave or power to: to allow, permit, suffer: to grant to a tenant or hirer: to cause (with infin. without to):—pr.p. let′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. let.—n. a letting for hire.—ns. Let′ter; Let′ting.—Let alone, to leave out, not to mention.—adj. passive, inactive—also n. (Shak.) forbearance.—Let blood, to open a vein and let the blood run out; Let down, to allow to fall: to bring down; Let go, to cease holding: to pass by or disregard; Let in, to allow to enter: to take in or swindle; Let into, to admit to the knowledge of; Let off, to allow to go free without punishment, to excuse from payment, &c.; Let on, to allow a thing to be believed, to pretend; Let one's self loose, to let go restraint on words or actions, to indulge in extravagant talk or conduct; Let out, to allow to get free, to let some secret become known; Let slip, to allow to escape: to lose sight of; Let well alone, to let things remain as they are from fear of making them worse. [A.S. lǽtan, to permit, pt.t. lét, leót, pp. læten; Ger. lassen, Fr. laisser, to permit.]

Let, let, v.t. (B.) to prevent.—n. (law) hinderance, obstruction: delay.—n. Let′ter. [A.S. lettan, to hinder—læt, slow.]

Letch, lech, n. strong desire: a crotchet.

Lethal, lē′thal, adj. death-dealing: deadly: mortal.—n. Lethe (Shak.), death.—adj. Lethif′erous, carrying death. [L. lethalis—lethum, letum, death.]

Lethargy, leth′ar-ji, n. heavy unnatural slumber: dullness.—v.t. (Shak.) to make lethargic.—adjs. Lethar′gic, -al, pertaining to lethargy: unnaturally sleepy: dull.—adv. Lethar′gically.—n. Lethar′gicness, the state of being lethargic: morbid sleepiness.—v.t. Leth′argise. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. lēthargia, drowsy forgetfulness—lēthē, forgetfulness.]

Lethe, lē′thē, n. one of the rivers of hell causing forgetfulness of the past to all who drank of it: oblivion.—adj. Lethē′an, of Lethe: oblivious. [Gr.,—lēthō, old form of lanthanein, to forget.]

Letter, let′ėr, n. a conventional mark to express a sound: a written or printed message: literal meaning: a printing-type: (pl.) learning, literary culture.—v.t. to stamp letters upon.—ns. Lett′er-bal′ance, a balance for testing the weight of a letter for post; Lett′er-board (print.), board on which matter in type is placed for keeping or convenience in handling; Lett′er-book, a book in which letters or copies of letters are kept; Lett′er-box, a box in a post-office, at the door of a house, &c., for receiving letters; Lett′er-carr′ier, a postman; Lett′er-case, a portable writing-desk.—adj. Lett′ered, marked with letters: educated: versed in literature: belonging to learning (Lettered proof and Proof before letters; see Proof).—ns. Lett′erer; Lett′er-found′er, one who founds or casts letters or types; Lett′ering, the act of impressing letters: the letters impressed.—adj. Lett′erless, illiterate.—ns. Lett′er-miss′ive, an official letter on matters of common interest, sent to members of a church: a letter from the sovereign addressed to a dean and chapter, naming the person they are to elect bishop—also Royal letter; Lett′ern (same as Lectern); Lett′er-of-cred′it, a letter authorising credit or cash to a certain sum to be paid to the bearer; Lett′er-of-marque (märk), a commission given to a private ship by a government to make reprisals on the vessels of another state.—adj. Lett′er-per′fect, kept in the memory exactly (of an actor's part, &c.).—ns. Lett′erpress, letters impressed or matter printed from type, as distinguished from engraving: a copying-press; Lett′ers-pā′tent, a writing conferring a patent or authorising a person to enjoy some privilege, so called because written on open sheets of parchment; Lett′er-stamp, a post-office implement for defacing a postage-stamp: a stamp for imprinting dates, &c., on letters or papers; Lett′er-wood, the heart-wood of a tree found in British Guiana, dark brown, with darker spots somewhat resembling hieroglyphics; Lett′er-writ′er, one who writes letters, esp. for hire: a book containing forms for imitation in writing letters.—Letter of indication (see Circular); Letters of administration, a document issued by court appointing an administrator of an intestate estate; Letters requisitory, or rogatory, an instrument by which a court of one country asks that of another to take certain evidence on its behalf; Lettre de cachet (see Cachet). [Fr. lettre—L. littera.]

Lettic, let′ik, adj. of or pertaining to the Letts or Lithuanians, or to their language.—Also Lett′ish.

Letting, let′ing, n. the act of granting to a tenant: the act of giving to a contractor.

Lettuce, let′is, n. a plant containing a milky juice, its leaves used as a salad. [O. Fr. laictuce (Fr. laitue)—L. lactuca—lac, milk.]

Leucæmia, lū-sē′mi-a, n. a disease in which the number of white corpuscles in the blood is greatly increased, with changes in the lymphatic tissues, enlargement of the spleen, &c.—Also Leucocythæ′mia. [Gr. leukos, white, haima, blood.]

Leucine, lū′sin, n. a product of the decomposition of albuminous materials occurring in many of the juices of the animal body. [Gr. leukos, white.]

Leuciscus, lū-sis′kus, n. a genus of fresh-water fishes of the Cyprinoid family, including the roach, dace, chub, minnow, &c. [Gr. leukos, white.]

Leucite, lū′sīt, n. a whitish mineral occurring only in volcanic rocks.—adj. Leucit′ic. [Gr. leukos, white.]

Leucocyte, lū′kō-sīt, n. a white corpuscle of the blood or lymph (see Phagocyte).—adj. Leucocyt′ic.—ns. Leucocytog′enesis, the production of leucocytes; Leucocytō′sis, the presence of an excessive number of white corpuscles in the blood.

Leucocythæmia. See Leucæmia.

Leucol, lū′kol, n. an organic base obtained by the distillation of coal-tar. [Gr. leukos, white.]

Leucoma, lū-kō′ma, n. a white opacity of the cornea, the result of acute inflammation. [Gr. leukos, white.]

Leucomaine, lū′kō-mān, n. an alkaloid found in living animal tissue:—opp. to Ptomaine (q.v.).

Leucorrhœa, lū-kō-rē′a, n. an abnormal mucous or muco-purulent discharge from the vagina, the whites. [Gr. leukos, white, hroia—hrein, to flow.]

Leucosis, lū-kō′sis, n. whiteness of skin, pallor.—ns. Leucism (lū′sizm), whiteness resulting from lack of colour, albinism; Leucop′athy, albinism.—adj. Leu′cous, white, albinotic. [Gr. leukos, white.]

Levant, le-vant′, n. the point where the sun rises: the East: the coasts of the Mediterranean east of Italy.—adj. Lev′ant, or Lē′vant, eastern.—n. Levant′er, a strong easterly wind in the Levant.—adj. Levant′ine, belonging to the Levant. [Fr. levant—L. levāre, to raise.]

Levant, le-vant′, v.i. to decamp.—n. Levant′er, one who runs away dishonourably, who dodges paying his bets, &c. [Sp. levantar, to move—L. levāre, to raise.]

Levator, le-vā′tor, n. that which raises (of a muscle):—opp. to Depressor. [L. levāre, to raise.]

Levee, lev′ā, lev′ē, le-vē′, n. a morning assembly of visitors: an assembly received by a sovereign or other great personage.—v.t. to attend the levee of. [Fr. lever, to rise.]

Levee, le-vē′, n. an artificial bank, as that of the Lower Mississippi: a quay. [Fr.]

Level, lev′el, n. a horizontal line or surface: a surface without inequalities: proper position: usual elevation: state of equality: the line of direction: an instrument for showing the horizontal.—adj. horizontal: even, smooth: even with anything else: uniform: well-balanced, sound of judgment: in the same line or plane: equal in position or dignity.—v.t. to make horizontal: to make flat or smooth: to make equal: to take aim:—pr.p. lev′elling; pa.t. and pa.p. lev′elled.—ns. Lev′el-cross′ing, or Grade′-cross′ing, a place at which a common road crosses a railway at the same level; Lev′eller, one who levels or makes equal, esp. one of an ultra-republican and revolutionary sect or party which grew up in the parliamentary army in 1647, crushed by Cromwell in 1649; Lev′elling, the act of making uneven surfaces level: the process of finding the differences in level between different points on the surface of the earth by means of a Levelling instrument, consisting of a telescope carrying a parallel and sensitive spirit-level, adjustable by means of screws; Lev′elling-rod, -staff, an instrument used in levelling, in conjunction with a levelling instrument, or with a spirit-level and a telescope.—adv. Lev′elly, evenly.—n. Lev′elness, state of being level, even, or equal.—Level down or up, to lower or raise to the same level or status; Do one's level best (coll.) to do one's utmost. [O. Fr. livel, liveau (Fr. niveau)—L. libella, a plummet, dim. of libra, a balance.]

Lever, lē′vėr, n. a bar of metal or other substance turning on a support called the fulcrum or prop, for imparting pressure or motion from a source of power to a resistance—of three kinds, according to the relative positions of the power, weight, and fulcrum: (fig.) anything which exerts influence: any one of various tools on the principle defined above—in surgery, dentistry, &c.: a removable rod or bar inserted in a machine, to be operated by hand leverage.—ns. Lē′verage, the mechanical power gained by the use of the lever: advantage gained for any purpose; Lē′ver-watch, a watch having a vibrating lever in the mechanism of the escapement. [Fr. levier—lever—L. levāre, to raise.]

Lever, lē′vėr, adv. an obsolete comp. of lief.

Leveret, lev′ėr-et, n. a hare in its first year. [O. Fr. levret (Fr. lièvre)—L. lepus, lepŏris, a hare.]

Leviable, lev′i-a-bl, adj. able to be levied or assessed.

Leviathan, le-vī′a-than, n. (B.) a huge aquatic animal in Job xli., here a crocodile; in Isa. xxvii. 1, apparently the great python of Egyptian monuments: anything of huge size: any huge sea-monster, as in Ps. civ. 26. [Heb. livyāthān—lāvāh, to cleave.]

Levigate, lev′i-gāt, v.t. to make smooth: to grind to a fine, impalpable powder.—adj. made smooth, polished.—adj. Lev′igable, capable of being ground down to fine powder.—n. Levigā′tion. [L. lēvigāre, -ātum—lēvis, smooth; Gr. leios, akin to level.]

Levigate, lev′i-gāt, v.t. to lighten, belittle. [L. lĕvigāre, -ātum—lĕvis, light.]

Levin, lev′n, n. (Spens.) lightning.—Also Lev′en.

Levirate, lev′i-rāt, n. marriage between a man and a childless brother's widow—an obligation amongst the ancient Hebrews.—adj. Levirat′ical.—n. Levirā′tion. [L. levir, a brother-in-law.]

Levitation, lev-i-tā′shun, n. act of rendering light: the floating in the air of heavy bodies believed in by spiritualists.—v.t. Lev′itate, to cause to float.

Levite, lē′vīt, n. a descendant of Levi: an inferior priest of the ancient Jewish Church.—adjs. Levit′ic, -al.—adv. Levit′ically.—n. Levit′icus, the third book of the Old Testament.—Levitical degrees, the degrees of kindred within which marriage was forbidden in Lev. xviii. 6-18.

Levity, lev′it-i, n. lightness of weight: lightness of temper or conduct: thoughtlessness: disposition to trifle: vanity. [L. levitat-em—lĕvis, light.]

Levogyrate (Læv-), lē-vō-jī′rāt, adj. causing to turn toward the left hand.—n. Levogyrā′tion.—adj. Levogy′rous.

Levulose, lev′ū-lōs, n. a sugar isomeric with dextrose, but turning the plane of polarisation to the left. [L. lævus, left.]

Levy, lev′i, v.t. to raise: to collect by authority, as an army or a tax:—pr.p. lev′ying; pa.t. and pa.p. lev′ied.—n. the act of collecting by authority: the troops so collected. [L. levāre, to raise.]

Lew, lū, adj. tepid, lukewarm. [Cf. Ger. lau.]

Lewd, lūd, or lōōd, adj. lustful: unchaste: debauched: ignorant, vicious, or bad, so in B.—adv. Lewd′ly.—ns. Lewd′ness; Lewd′ster, one addicted to lewdness. [A.S. lǽwede, ignorant, belonging to the laity, the pa.p. of the verb lǽwan, to weaken.]

Lewis, lū′is, n. a contrivance for securing a hold on a block of stone to allow of its being raised by a derrick.—Also Lew′isson. [Ety. dub.]

Lexicon, leks′i-kon, n. a word-book or dictionary.—adj. Lex′ical, belonging to a lexicon.—adv. Lex′ically.—n. Lexicog′rapher, one skilled in lexicography.—adjs. Lexicograph′ic, -al.—ns. Lexicog′raphist, Lexicol′ogist, one skilled in lexicology; Lexicog′raphy, the art of compiling a dictionary; Lexicol′ogy, that branch of philology which treats of the proper signification and use of words.—adjs. Lexigraph′ic, -al, pertaining to lexigraphy.—n. Lexig′raphy, the art of defining words. [Gr.,—lexis, a word, legein, to speak.]

Ley, lē, n. Same as Lea.

Leyden jar, lī′den jär, n. a form of condenser for statical electricity, a glass jar coated inside and outside with tinfoil for two-thirds of its height, the inner coating connected with a metallic knob at the top of the jar, usually by means of a loose chain.

Lherzolite, ler′zō-līt, n. an igneous rock, consisting of a granular aggregate of olivine, pyroxene, enstatite, and picotite. [From Lake Lherz.]

Li, lē, n. a Chinese weight, equal to the one-thousandth of a liang or ounce, and nominally to the Japanese rin: a Chinese mile, equal to rather more than one-third of an English mile. [Chinese.]

Liable, lī′a-bl, adj. able to be bound or obliged: responsible: tending to: subject: (Shak.) exposed: suitable.—ns. Liabil′ity, state of being liable: that for which one is liable, an obligation, debt, &c.; Lī′ableness, state of being liable.—Employers' Liability Act, an enactment (1880) making employers answerable to their servants for the negligence of those to whom they have delegated their authority; Limited liability, a principle of modern statute law which attempts to limit the responsibilities of shareholders in a partnership, joint-stock company, &c., by the extent of their personal interest therein. [Fr. lier—L. ligāre, to bind.]

Liaison, lē-ā-zong′, n. union, or bond of union: connection, esp. if illicit between the sexes: in French, the linking in pronunciation of a final consonant to the succeeding word, when that begins with a vowel. [Fr.—L. ligation-em—ligāre, to bind.]

Liana, li-an′a, n. a general name for the woody, climbing, and twining plants in tropical forests. [Fr. liane—lier, to bind—L. ligāre, to bind.]

Liang, lyang, n. a Chinese ounce or tael, reckoned as one-third heavier than the ounce avoirdupois.

Liar, lī′ar, n. one who lies. [Lie.]

Liard, lī′ard, adj. gray, dapple-gray—(Scot.) Lī′art, Ly′art. [M. E. liard—O. Fr. liard, liart.]

Liard, liär, n. an old French coin, worth 3 deniers.

Lias, lī′as, n. (geol.) a formation of argillaceous limestone, &c., underlying the oolitic system.—adj. Lias′sic, pertaining to the lias formation. [Fr., perh. Bret. liach, a stone, Gael. leac, a stone.]

Lib, lib, v.t. (prov.) to geld, castrate.

Libation, lī-bā′shun, n. the pouring forth wine or other liquid in honour of a deity: the liquid poured.—adj. Lī′bant, sipping.—v.t. Lī′bate (rare), to make a libation to.—adj. Lī′batory, pertaining to libation. [L. libation-em—libāre, -ātum; Gr. leibein, to pour.]

Libbard, lib′bard, n. (Spens.) a leopard.

Libeccio, li-bech′ō, n. the south-west wind. [It.]

Libel, lī′bel, n. a written accusation: any malicious defamatory publication or statement: (law) the statement of a plaintiff's grounds of complaint against a defendant.—v.t. to defame by a libel: to satirise unfairly: (law) to proceed against by producing a written complaint:—pr.p. lī′belling; pa.t. and pa.p. lī′belled.—ns. Lī′bellant, one who brings a libel; Lī′beller; Lī′belling, defaming.—adj. Lī′bellous, containing a libel: defamatory.—adv. Lī′bellously. [L. libellus, dim. of liber, a book.]

Liber, lī′ber, n. the bast or inner bark of exogenous plants: a book. [L.]

Liberal, lib′ėr-al, adj. becoming a gentleman: generous: noble-minded: candid: free: free from restraint: general, extensive.—n. one who advocates greater freedom in political institutions.—n. Liberalisā′tion, the process of making liberal.—v.t. Lib′eralise, to make liberal, or enlightened: to enlarge.—ns. Lib′eralism, the principles of a Liberal in politics or religion; Liberal′ity, the quality of being liberal: generosity: largeness or nobleness of mind: candour: impartiality.—adv. Lib′erally.—v.t. Lib′erāte, to set free: to release from restraint, confinement, or bondage.—ns. Liberā′tion; Liberā′tionist, one who is in favour of church disestablishment; Lib′erātor, one who liberates or frees.—adj. Lib′erātory, tending to liberate.—Liberal Party, the name adopted by the Whigs (1830) to denote the body formed by their union with the Radicals; Liberal Unionist, one of that section of the Liberal Party which joined the Conservatives from inability to accede to Mr Gladstone's policy of giving Home Rule to Ireland (1886); German Liberals, a party in German politics, formed by the amalgamation of the Progressist party and the Liberal union, and advocating moderate liberalism in opposition to the policy of Prince Bismarck; National Liberals, a party in German politics which before 1871 advocated the completion of governmental unity in Germany, as well as supported progressive measures of reform. [Fr.,—L. liberalis, befitting a freeman—liber, free, akin to libet, lubet, it pleases.]

Liberty, lib′ėr-ti, n. freedom to do as one pleases: the unrestrained enjoyment of natural rights: power of free choice: privilege: exemption: relaxation of restraint: the bounds within which certain privileges are enjoyed: freedom of speech or action beyond ordinary civility.—ns. Libertā′rian, one who believes in free-will as opposed to necessity; Libertā′rianism, the doctrine of the freedom of the will, as opposed to necessitarianism; Liber′ticide, a destroyer of liberty; Liber′tinage, debauchery; Lib′ertine, formerly one who professed free opinions, esp. in religion: one who leads a licentious life, a rake or debauchee.—adj. belonging to a freedman: unrestrained: licentious.—n. Lib′ertinism, licentiousness of opinion or practice: lewdness or debauchery.—Liberty of indifference, freedom of the will—because before action the will is undetermined as to acting or not acting; Liberty of the press, liberty to print and publish without previous permission from government.—Cap of liberty (see Bonnet rouge, under Bonnet); Religious liberty, the right of thinking about religion or of worshipping as one likes. [Fr.,—L. libertas.]

Libidinous, li-bid′in-us, adj. lustful, lascivious, lewd.—ns. Libid′inist, a lewd person; Libidinos′ity, Libid′inousness.—adv. Libid′inously. [Fr.,—L. libidinosus—libido, desire—libet, lubet, it pleases.]

Libken, lib′ken, n. (slang) a place of abode.

Libra, lī′bra, n. the balance, the seventh sign of the zodiac. [L.]

Library, lī′brar-i, n. a building or room containing a collection of books: a collection of books.—ns. Librā′rian, the keeper of a library; Librā′rianship. [L. librarium—liber, a book.]

Librate, lī′brāt, v.t. to poise: to balance.—v.i. to move slightly: to be poised.—n. Librā′tion, balancing: a state of equipoise: a slight swinging motion.—adj. Lī′bratory.—Libration of the moon, an apparent irregularity in the moon's motion, whereby its globe seems to turn slightly round to each side alternately. [L. librāre, -ātum—libra, balance.]

Libretto, li-bret′ō, n. a book of the words of an opera or other musical composition: the text itself.—n. Librett′ist, a writer of librettos. [It., dim. of libro—L. liber, a book.]

Libyan, lib′yan, adj. of Libya, northern Africa from Egypt to the Atlantic.—n. a native thereof.

Lice, līs, pl. of louse.

License, Licence, lī′sens, n. a being allowed: leave: grant of permission, as for manufacturing a patented article or for the sale of intoxicants: the document by which authority is conferred: excess or abuse of freedom: a departure from rules or standards in art or literature.—v.t. Lī′cense, to grant license to: to authorise or permit.—adj. Lī′censable.—ns. Licensee′, one to whom license is granted; Lī′censer, one who grants license or permission: one authorised to license; Lī′censure, act of licensing; Licen′tiate, among Presbyterians, a person authorised by a Presbytery to preach: on the Continent, an academical dignity, forming the step from the baccalaureate to the doctorate.—adj. Licen′tious, indulging in excessive freedom: given to the indulgence of the animal passions: dissolute.—adv. Licen′tiously.—n. Licen′tiousness.—High license, a mode of regulating the traffic in alcoholic drinks by exacting a comparatively large sum for the privilege of selling such; Special license, license given by the Archbishop of Canterbury permitting the marriage of two specified persons without banns, and at a place and time other than those prescribed by law. [Fr.,—L. licentia—licet.]

Lichen, lī′ken, lich′en, n. one of an order of cellular flowerless plants: an eruption on the skin.—adjs. Lī′chened, covered with lichens; Lichen′ic, pertaining to lichens; Lī′cheniform.—ns. Lī′chenine, a starch-like substance, found in Iceland moss and other lichens; Lī′chenist, Lichenog′rapher, one versed in Lichenog′raphy, the description of lichens.—adjs. Lichenograph′ic, -al.—n. Lichenol′ogy, the department of botany relating to lichens.—adj. Lī′chenous, abounding in, or pertaining to, lichens. [L.,—Gr. leichēn—leichein, to lick.]

Lichgate, lich′gāt, n. a churchyard gate with a porch to rest the bier under.—ns. Lich′wake, the wake or watch held over a dead body—also Likewake, Lykewake, and even Latewake; Lich′way, the path by which the dead are carried to the grave. [M. E. lich—A.S. líc (Ger. leiche), geat, a gate.]

Licit, lis′it, adj. lawful, allowable.—adv. Lic′itly. [L.]

Lick, lik, v.t. to pass the tongue over: to take in by the tongue: to lap: to beat by repeated blows: (coll.) to triumph over, overcome.—n. a passing the tongue over: a slight smear: (Scot.) a tiny amount: a blow: (coll.) an attempt, trial: (pl., Scot.) a thrashing.—ns. Lick′er; Lick′ing, a thrashing; Lick′penny (Scot.), a miserly person; Lick′-plat′ter, Lick′-trench′er, Lick′spittle, a mean, servile dependent.—Lick into shape, to give form and method to—from the notion that the she-bear gives form to her shapeless young by licking them; Lick the dust, to be slain: to be abjectly servile. [A.S. liccian; Ger. lecken, L. lingĕre, Gr. leichein.]

Lickerish, lik′ėr-ish, adj. dainty: eager to taste or enjoy: tempting.—adv. Lick′erishly.—n. Lick′erishness. [Formerly also liquorish; a corr. of obsolete lickerous, lecherous.]

Licorice. Same as Liquorice.

Lictor, lik′tor, n. an officer who attended the Roman magistrates, bearing an axe and bundle of rods. [L.]

Lid, lid, n. a cover: that which shuts a vessel: the cover of the eye.—adjs. Lid′ded, having a lid or lids; Lid′less, without lid or lids. [A.S. hlid (Dut. lid)—hlídan, to cover.]

Lie, lī, n. anything meant to deceive: an intentional violation of truth: anything that misleads.—v.i. to utter falsehood with an intention to deceive: to make a false representation:—pr.p. ly′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. lied.—Lie in one's throat, to lie shamelessly; Lie out of whole cloth, to lie without any foundation whatever; Give the lie to, to charge with falsehood; White lie, a conventional phrase not strictly true: a well-meant falsehood. [A.S. leógan (lyge, a falsehood), prov. Eng. lig; Dut. liegen, Goth. liugan, Ger. lügen, to lie.]

Lie, lī, v.i. to rest in a reclining posture: to lean: to press upon: to be situated: to abide: to consist: (law) to be sustainable: (Shak.) to be imprisoned: to lodge, pass the night:—pr.p. ly′ing; pa.t. lay; pa.p. lain, (B.) lī′en.—n. manner of lying: relative position: an animal's lair: (golf) position of the ball for striking.—ns. Lī′er, Lie′-abed′, one who lies late—also adj.—Lie along, to be extended at full length; Lie at one's door, to be directly imputable to one; Lie at one's heart, to be an object of interest or affection to one; Lie by, to take rest from labour: (Shak.) to be under the charge of; Lie hard or heavy on, upon, (Shak.) to, to oppress, burden; Lie in, to be in childbed; Lie in one, to be in one's power; Lie in the way, to be ready, at hand: to be an obstacle; Lie in wait, to lie in ambush; Lie low, to conceal one's actions or intentions; Lie on, upon, to be incumbent on; Lie on the hands, to remain unused or unoccupied; Lie over, to be deferred to a future occasion; Lie to, to be checked in sailing; Lie under, to be subject to or oppressed by; Lie up, to abstain from work; Lie with, to lodge or sleep with: to have carnal knowledge of; Lying-in hospital, a hospital for those about to become mothers. [A.S. licgan; Ger. liegen; Goth. ligan.]

Liebig, lē′big, n. a nutritious extract of beef first prepared by the great German chemist, Baron von Liebig (1803-1873).

Lied, lēt, n. a German ballad, secular or sacred, fitted for singing and often set to music. [Ger.; cf. A.S. leóth, a song.]

Lief, lēf, adj. (arch.) loved, dear.—adv. willingly—now chiefly used in the phrases, 'I had as lief,' 'to have liefer.' [A.S. leóf; Ger. lieb, loved.]

Liege, lēj, adj. free, except as within the relations of vassal and feudal lord: under a feudal tenure.—n. one under a feudal tenure: a vassal: a lord or superior, or one who has lieges.—n. Liege′dom, allegiance.—adj. Liege′less, not subject to a superior.—n. Liege′man, a vassal: a subject. [O. Fr. lige, prob. from Old High Ger. ledic, free (Ger. ledig, free, unfettered), līdan, to depart.]

Lien, lī′en, or lē′en, n. (law) a right in one to retain the property of another to pay a claim. [Fr., tie, band—L. ligamen—ligāre, to bind.]

Lien, lī′en (B.), pa.p. of lie, to lie down.

Lientery, lī′en-ter-i, n. a form of diarrhœa, with frequent liquid evacuations in which the food is discharged undigested.—adj. Lienter′ic. [Gr. leios, smooth, enteron, an intestine.]

Lierne, li-ern′, n. (archit.) a cross-rib or branch-rib in vaulting. [Fr.]

Lieu, lū, n. place, stead, chiefly in the phrase 'in lieu of.' [Fr.,—L. locus, place.]

Lieutenant, lef-ten′ant, n. one representing or performing the work of another: an officer holding the place of another in his absence: a commissioned officer in the army next below a captain, or in the navy next below a commander and ranking with captain in the army: one holding a place next in rank to a superior, as in the compounds Lieuten′ant-col′onel, Lieuten′ant-gen′eral.—ns. Lieuten′ancy, Lieuten′antship, office or commission of a lieutenant: the body of lieutenants; Lieuten′ant-gov′ernor, in India, the name of the chief official in the provinces of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, the North-western Provinces, and Oudh, Punjab, and Delhi; Lieuten′ant-gov′ernorship; Lieuten′antry (Shak.), lieutenancy; Lord′-lieuten′ant, the title of the viceroy of Ireland: in the British Isles, a permanent governor of a county appointed by the sovereign, usually a peer or other large land-owner, at the head of the magistracy and the chief executive authority; Sub′-lieuten′ant, formerly mate or passed midshipman, now the intermediate rank in the navy between midshipman and lieutenant.—Field-marshal lieutenant (see Field-marshal). [Fr.; cf. Lieu and Tenant.]

Life, līf, n. state of living: animate existence: union of soul and body: the period between birth and death: present state of existence: manner of living: moral conduct: animation: a living being: system of animal nature: social state: human affairs: narrative of a life: eternal happiness, also He who bestows it: a quickening principle in a moral sense: the living form and expression, living semblance: (cricket) an escape, as by a missed or dropped catch:—pl. Lives (līvz).—interj. used as an oath, abbreviated from God's life.—adj. Life′-and-death′, critical: desperate.—ns. Life′-annū′ity, a sum paid to a person yearly during life; Life′-assur′ance, Life′-insur′ance (see Insurance); Life′-belt, a belt either inflated with air, or with cork attached, for sustaining a person in the water; Life′-blood, the blood of an animal in the body: that which gives strength or life; Life′boat, a boat for saving shipwrecked persons, having air-chambers or the like, by which it is rendered specially buoyant and sometimes self-righting; Life′-buoy, a buoy intended to support a person in the water till he can be rescued; Life′-estate′, an estate held during the life of the possessor.—adjs. Life′ful (Spens.), full of vital energy; Life′-giv′ing, imparting life: invigorating.—ns. Life′-guard, a guard of the life or person: a guard of a prince or other dignitary; Life′-his′tory, Life′-cy′cle, the series of vital phenomena exhibited by an organism in its passage from the ovum to full development; Life′hold, land held by lease for life; Life′-in′terest, an interest lasting during one's life.—adj. Life′less, dead: without vigour: insipid: sluggish.—adv. Life′lessly.—n. Life′lessness.—adj. Life′-like, like a living person.—n. Life′-line, a rope stretched anywhere on board a vessel for support of the sailors in difficult operations or during wild weather: a line attached to a life-buoy or lifeboat for an immersed person to seize hold of.—adj. Life′long, during the length of a life.—ns. Life′-mor′tar, a mortar for throwing a shot of some kind to carry a rope from the shore to a ship in distress; Life′-peer, a peer whose title is not hereditary; Life′-peer′age; Life′-preserv′er, an invention, as a buoyant belt or jacket, for the preservation of life in cases of shipwreck: a cane with a loaded head; Life′-raft, a raft-like structure for use in case of shipwreck; Life′-rate, rate of payment on a policy of life-insurance.—adj. Life′-ren′dering (Shak.), yielding up life.—ns. Life′rent, a rent that continues for life; Life′renter, one who enjoys a liferent:—fem. Life′rentrix; Life′-rock′et, a rocket for carrying a line from the shore to a ship in distress.—adjs. Life′-sav′ing, designed to save life, esp. from drowning.—n. Life′-school, a school where artists work from living models.—adjs. Life′-size, similar in size to the object represented; Life′some, full of life: gay, lively.—ns. Life′-tā′ble, a table of statistics as to the probability of life at different ages; Life′-ten′ant, the owner of a life-estate: one who holds lands, &c., for the term of his own or another's life; Life′-time, continuation or duration of life.—adj. Life′-wea′ry (Shak.), weary of life: wretched.—n. Life′-work, the work to which one's life is or is to be devoted.—Life-saving apparatus, all materials, appliances, &c. available for preserving life in cases of shipwreck or fire.—Bring to life, to restore to life one apparently dead; Come to life, to be reanimated; For life, for the whole period of one's existence: so as to save life: very fast or strenuously; High life, the manner of living of those in high or fashionable society: the upper classes of society; Line of life (see Line); To the life, very closely resembling the original: exactly drawn. [A.S. líf; Ice. líf, Sw. lif, Dut. lijf, body, life; Ger. leben, to live.]

Lift, lift, n. (Scot.) the air, heavens, sky. [A.S. lyft; Ger. luft, Ice. lopt, Goth. luftus, the air.]

Lift, lift, v.t. to bring to a higher position: to elevate or keep elevated: to elate: to take and carry away: (obs.) to bear, support: (slang) to arrest: to steal.—v.i. to rise: to try to rise.—n. act of lifting: that which is to be raised: that which assists to lift: a hoisting-machine: advancement.—adj. Lift′able.—ns. Lift′er, one who, or that which, lifts: (Shak.) a thief; Lift′ing-bridge, a drawbridge raised so as to allow ships to pass; Lift′-pump, any pump which is not a force-pump.—Lift the hand, to raise it in hostility; Lift up the eyes, to look, direct one's eyes, or thoughts, to; Lift up the face, to look upward, as in supplication; Lift up the hand, to make oath, swear: to pray; Lift up the head, to rejoice, exult; Lift up the voice, to cry loudly.—Dead lift (see Dead). [Ice. lypta—lopt, the air.]

Lig, lig, v.i. (Spens.) to lie. [See Lie.]

Ligament, lig′a-ment, n. anything that binds: (anat.) the membrane connecting the movable bones: a bond of union.—adjs. Ligament′al, Ligament′ous, composing or resembling a ligament.—ns. Ligā′tion, act of binding: state of being bound; Lig′ature, anything that binds: a bandage: (mus.) a line connecting notes: (print.) a type of two letters: (med.) a cord for tying the blood-vessels, &c.: impotence produced by magic.—adj. Lig′atured, bound by a ligature. [Fr.,—L. ligamentum—ligāre, to bind.]

Ligan, lī′gan, n. goods sunk at sea, with a float attached for recovery. [L. ligamen, a band.]

Ligger, lig′ėr, n. the horizontal timber of a scaffolding: a nether millstone: a board-pathway over a ditch: a coverlet for a bed: a kelt or spent salmon: a night-line with float and bait for pike-fishing.

Light, līt, n. that which shines or is brilliant: the agent by which objects are rendered visible: the power of vision: day: dawn of day: that which gives light, as the sun, a candle: the illuminated part of a picture: means of communicating fire or light: a lighthouse: (fig.) mental or spiritual illumination: enlightenment: knowledge: public view: point of view: a conspicuous person: an aperture for admitting light: (B.) prosperity, favour.—adj. not dark: bright: whitish.—v.t. to give light to: to set fire to: to attend with a light.—v.i. to become light or bright:—pr.p. light′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. light′ed or lit.—adj. Light′able.—n. Light′-ball, a composition of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, and linseed-oil formed into a ball, and used by soldiers to give light during military operations.—n.pl. Light′-dues, tolls taken from ships in certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses.—ns. Light′er; Light′house, a tower-like construction exhibiting a light for indicating to vessels, when nearing a port or coasting along shore, the proximity of rocks, shoals, and other dangers; Light′house-man, Light′-keep′er, the keeper of a lighthouse.—adj. Light′less.—ns. Light′ness; Light′-room, in a man-of-war, a small room separated from the magazine by thick glass windows, and used to illuminate it: the room in a lighthouse containing the lighting apparatus; Light′-ship, a stationary ship carrying a light and serving the purpose of a lighthouse in very deep waters.—adj. Light′some, full of light.—n. Light′wave, a wave of the luminous ether.—Light of nature, intellectual perception or intuition: (theol.) man's capacity of discovering truth unaided by revelation.—Between the lights, in the twilight; Between two lights, under cover of darkness; Bring to light, to reveal; Children of light, Christians as under the illumination of the Divine light, that illumination which comes directly from God; Come to light, to be revealed; Fixed light, in lighthouses, a light which is maintained steadily without change, as opposed to a revolving light; Floating light, a light displayed at the mast-head of a lightship to show dangers to navigation; Foot, Ground, lights, a row of lights used on a stage to light up the base of a scene; Inner light, spiritual illumination, light divinely imparted; Northern lights, aurora borealis; See the light, to come into view; Stand in one's own light, to hinder one's own advantage. [A.S. leóht; Ger. licht.]

Light, līt, adj. not heavy: of short weight: easily suffered or performed: easily digested: not heavily armed: active: not heavily burdened: unimportant: not dense or copious or intense: gentle: gay, lively: amusing: unchaste: loose, sandy: giddy, delirious: idle, worthless.—vs.t. Light, Light′en, to make less heavy: to alleviate, cheer.—advs. Light, Light′ly (Shak.), commonly, usually.—adj. Light′-armed, armed in a manner suitable for active service.—ns. Light′er, a large open boat used in unloading and loading ships; Light′erage, price paid for unloading ships by lighters: the act of thus unloading; Light′erman.—adjs. Light′-fing′ered, light or active with one's fingers: thievish; Light′-foot, -ed, nimble, active; Light′ful (rare), cheery, happy; Light′-hand′ed, with light or dexterous touch: having little in the hand: empty-handed: insufficiently manned; Light′-head′ed, giddy in the head: delirious: thoughtless: unsteady.—n. Light′-head′edness.—adj. Light′-heart′ed, light or merry of heart: free from anxiety: cheerful.—adv. Light′-heart′edly.—n. Light′-heart′edness.—adj. Light′-heeled, swift of foot.—ns. Light′-horse, light-armed cavalry; Light′-horse′man; Light′-in′fantry, infantry lightly or not heavily armed.—adjs. Light′-legged, swift of foot; Light′-mind′ed, having a light or unsteady mind: not considerate.—ns. Light′-mind′edness; Light′ness (Shak.), light-headedness; Light′ning (Shak.), an exhilaration of the spirits; Light′-o'-love, a capricious and wanton woman: an old dance tune.—n.pl. Lights, the lungs.—adj. Light′some, light, gay, lively, cheering.—n. Light′someness.—adj. Light′-spir′ited, having a cheerful spirit.—n. Light′-weight, in sporting and especially boxing, a man or animal of a certain weight prescribed by the rules, intermediate between the middle-weight and the feather-weight: a person of little importance.—adj. Light′-winged, having light wings: volatile.—Make light of, to treat as of little consequence. [A.S. leóht; Ger. leicht, Ice. léttr; L. lĕvis.]

Light, līt, v.i. (with on, upon) to stoop from flight: to settle: to rest: to come by chance: (with down, from) to descend, to alight:—pr.p. light′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. light′ed or lit.—v.i. Light′en upon′ (Pr. Bk.), to alight or descend upon. [A.S. líhtan, to dismount, lit. 'make light,' relieve of a burden.]

Lighten, līt′n, v.t. to make light or clear: (fig.) to illuminate with knowledge.—v.i. to shine like lightning: to flash: to become less dark.—ns. Light′ning, the electric flash usually followed by thunder: (Shak.) a becoming bright; Light′ning-arrest′er, an apparatus used for protecting telegraph or telephone lines, &c., from lightning-discharges; Light′ning-bug, a sort of phosphorescent beetle or firefly; Light′ning-conduc′tor, Light′ning-rod, a metallic rod for protecting buildings from lightning.

Lignage, līn′āj, n. (Spens.) lineage.

Lign-aloes, līn-al′ōz, Lignaloes, lig-nal′ōz, n. (B.) aloes-wood. [L. lignum, wood, and aloes, aloes.]

Lignum, lig′num, n. wood as contrasted with soft tissues or with bark.—adjs. Lig′neous, wooden: woody: made of wood; Lignif′erous. producing wood.—n. Lignificā′tion.—adj. Lig′niform, resembling wood.—v.t. Lig′nify, to turn into wood.—v.i. to become wood or woody:—pr.p. lig′nifying; pa.p. lig′nifīed.—n. Lig′nīne, pure woody fibre.—adj. Ligniper′dous, destructive of wood.—n. Lig′nīte, brown coal, coal retaining the texture of wood.—adj. Lignit′ic.—ns. Lig′num-cru′cis, wood of the cross: a relic asserted to be a piece of the true cross; Lig′num-vī′tæ, popular name of a South American tree with very hard wood. [L. lignum, wood.]

Ligule, lig′ūl, n. (bot.) the flat part of the leaf of a grass: a strap-shaped petal in certain flowers.—n. Lig′ula, a tongue-like part or organ: in entomology, a fleshy membranaceous or horny anterior part of the labium.—adjs. Lig′ular, pertaining to a ligula; Lig′ulate (bot.), like a bandage or strap: composed of ligules. [L. ligula, dim. of lingua, a tongue.]

Ligure, lī′gūr, or lig′ūr, n. (B.) a precious stone.—n. Lig′urite, a variety of sphene or titanite. [Gr.]

Like, līk, adj. equal in quantity, quality, or degree: similar: likely, probable.—n. the like thing or person: an exact resemblance: a liking.—adv. in the same manner: probably.—conj. as, as if.—v.t. (Shak.) to compare, liken.—ns. Like′liness, Like′lihood.—adj. Like′ly, like the thing required: credible: probable: having reason to expect.—adv. probably.—adj. Like′-mind′ed, having a similar disposition or purpose.—v.t. Lik′en, to represent as like or similar: to compare.—n. Like′ness, resemblance: one who resembles another: that which resembles: a portrait or picture: effigy.—adv. Like′wise, in like wise or manner: also: moreover: too.—Feel like, to be disposed to do anything; Had like, was likely, came near to do something; Look like, to show a likelihood of: to appear similar to; Such like, of that kind. [A.S. líc, seen in ge-líc; Ice. líkr, Dut. ge-lijk, Ger. gleich (=ge-leich).]

Like, līk, v.t. to be pleased with: to approve: to enjoy: (obs.) to please.—n. a liking, chiefly in phrase 'likes and dislikes.'—adjs. Like′able, lovable: amiable; Like′ly, that may be liked: pleasing.—n. Lik′ing, state of being pleased with: inclination: satisfaction in: (B.) condition, plight.—adj. (B.) as in Good′-lik′ing, Well′-lik′ing, in good condition.—On liking, on approval. [Orig. the verb meant 'to be pleasing,' and was used impersonally, as it 'likes me'—i.e. it pleases me, A.S. lícian—líc, like.]

Lilac, lī′lak, n. a pretty flowering shrub, with a flower of a light-purple colour.—adj. having the colour of the lilac flower. [Sp.,—the Pers. lilaj.]

Lill, lil, v.t. (Spens.) to loll.

Lillibullero, lil-i-bu-lē′rō, n. the famous ballad in mockery of the Irish Catholics, which 'sung James II. out of three kingdoms.'—Also Lilliburlē′ro. [From the refrain.]

Lilliputian, lil-i-pū′shi-an, n. an inhabitant of the island of Lilliput, described by Swift in his Gulliver's Travels: a person of small size, a dwarf.—adj. of small size: dwarfish.

Lilt, lilt, v.i. to do anything cleverly or quickly, as to hop about: to sing, dance, or play merrily.—v.t. to sing a song easily or gaily.—n. a cheerful song or air. [M. E. lilten, lulten; ety. dub.]

Lily, lil′i, n. a bulbous plant, with showy and fragrant flowers.—adj. resembling a lily: pure.—adjs. Liliā′ceous, pertaining to lilies; Lil′ied, adorned with lilies: resembling lilies.—n. Lil′y-en′crinite, same as Stone-lily (see Encrinite).—adj. Lil′y-hand′ed, having hands white as the lily.—n. Lil′y-hy′acinth, a bulbous perennial plant with blue flowers.—adjs. Lil′y-liv′ered, white-livered: cowardly; Lil′y-white, white as the lily.—Lily of the valley, a very beautiful flower of the lily genus. [A.S. lilie—L. lilium—Gr. leirion, lily.]

Limaceous, lī-mā′shi-us, adj. like a slug.—adjs. Lim′acoid (also n.); Limac′iform.—n. Lī′max, a slug.

Limation, lī-mā′shun, n. the act of filing or polishing.—n. Lī′mature, act of filing: filings.

Limb, lim, n. a jointed part in animals, the leg: a projecting part: a branch of a tree: a part of something else, as 'a limb of the law:' an imp, scapegrace, as 'a limb of Satan.'—v.t. to supply with limbs: to tear off the limbs of.—adjs. Limbed, having limbs: formed in regard to limbs; Limb′meal (Shak.), limb from limb. [A.S. lim; Ice. limr, Sw. lem.]

Limb, lim, n. an edge or border, as of the sun, &c.: the edge of a sextant, &c.—adj. Lim′bate (bot.), bordered. [Fr. limbe—L. limbus.]

Limbec, lim′bek, n. (Spens.) an alembic.

Limber, lim′bėr, n. the part of a gun-carriage consisting of two wheels and a shaft to which the horses are attached.—v.t. to attach to the limber, as a gun. [Prov. Eng. limbers, shafts—Ice. limar, boughs; cf. limb, a branch.]

Limber, lim′bėr, adj. pliant, flexible.—n. Lim′berness, flexibleness, pliancy. [See limp (adj.).]

Limbo, lim′bō, n. an indefinite region in the intermediate state, the abode of those who have had no opportunity to accept Christ, of the souls of the pious who died before the time of Christ, and of the souls of unbaptised infants: a place of confinement, or where things are thrown aside.—Also Lim′bus. [L. limbus, border.]

Lime, līm, n. any slimy or gluey material: bird-lime: the white caustic earth from limestone, and used for cement.—v.t. to cover with lime: to cement: to manure with lime: to ensnare.—ns. Lime′-burn′er, one who burns limestone to form lime; Lime′kiln, a kiln or furnace in which limestone is burned to lime; Lime′-light, or Calcium-light, light produced by a blowpipe-flame directed against a block of pure, compressed quicklime; Lime′stone, stone from which lime is procured by burning; Lime′twig, a twig smeared with bird-lime: a snare; Lime′wash, a coating given with a solution of lime; Lime′wa′ter, a saturated aqueous solution of lime.—adjs. Lim′ous, gluey: slimy: muddy; Lim′y, glutinous: sticky: containing, resembling, or having the qualities of lime. [A.S. lím; Ger. leim, glue, L. limus, slime.]

Lime, līm, n. a kind of citron or lemon tree and its fruit.—n. Lime′-juice, the acid juice of the lime, used at sea as a specific against scurvy. [Fr.]

Lime-hound, līm′-hownd, n. (Spens.) a boar-hound.

Lime-tree, līm′-trē, n. the linden-tree. [Lime is a corr. of line, for lind=linden-tree.]

Limit, lim′it, n. boundary: utmost extent: restriction: (Shak.) a limb, as the limit of the body.—v.t. to confine within bounds: to restrain: to fix within limits.—adjs. Lim′itable, that may be limited, bounded, or restrained; Limitā′rian, tending to limit.—n. one who limits.—adjs. Lim′itary, placed at the boundary as a guard, &c.: confined within limits; Lim′itate (bot.), bounded by a distinct line.—n. Limitā′tion, the act of limiting, bounding, or restraining: the state of being limited, bounded, or restrained: restriction.—adjs. Limitā′tive, Lim′ited, within limits: narrow: restricted.—adv. Lim′itedly.—ns. Lim′itedness; Lim′iter, the person or thing that limits or confines: a friar who had a license to beg within certain bounds.—adj. Lim′itless, having no limits: boundless: immense: infinite.—Limited liability (see Liability); Limited monarchy, a monarchy in which the supreme power is shared with a body of nobles, a representative body, or both. [Fr.,—L. limes, limitis, a boundary.]

Limma, lim′a, n. in prosody, a monosemic empty time or pause: in Pythagorean music, the smaller half-step or semi-tone. [Gr. leimma, a remnant.]

Limmer, lim′ėr, n. a mongrel-hound: a base person, esp. a jade. [O. Fr. liemier—liem, a leash.]

Limn, lim, v.t. to draw or paint, esp. in water-colours: (orig.) to illuminate with ornamental letters, &c.—n. Lim′ner, one who limns or paints on paper or parchment: a portrait-painter. [Contr. of O. Fr. enluminer—L. illumināre.]

Limonite, lī′mō-nīt, n. an iron ore—also Brown hematite and Brown iron ore.—adj. Limonit′ic. [Gr. leimōn, a meadow.]

Limosis, lī-mō′sis, n. a morbidly ravenous appetite. [Gr. limos, hunger.]

Limp, limp, adj. wanting stiffness, flexible: weak, flaccid. [According to Skeat, a nasalised form of lip, a weakened form of lap, as seen in Eng. lap, a flap; cf. prov. Ger. lampen, to hang loosely down.]

Limp, limp, v.i. to halt: to walk lamely—fig. as 'limping verses.'—n. act of limping: a halt.—p.adj. Limp′ing, having the imperfect movement of one who limps.—adv. Limp′ingly. [Prob. conn. with preceding. There is an A.S. adj. lemp-healt, halting.]

Limpet, lim′pet, n. a small shellfish which clings to intertidal rocks. [A.S. lempedu, lamprede, lamprey.]

Limpid, lim′pid, adj. clear: shining: transparent: pure.—ns. Limpid′ity, Lim′pidness.—adv. Lim′pidly. [Fr.,—L. limpidus, liquidus, liquid.]

Lin, lin, v.i. (Spens.) to cease, to give over.—v.t. to cease from. [A.S. linnan, to cease.]

Linament, lin′a-ment, n. lint: a tent for a wound. [L.]

Linch, linsh, n. a ridge of land, a boundary, a cliff.—n. Linch′et, a terrace seen on the slopes of the chalk, oolitic, and liassic escarpments in Bedfordshire, Somerset, &c. [A.S. hlinc, a ridge of land.]

Linchpin, linsh′pin, n. a pin used to keep the wheel of a carriage on the axle-tree. [Properly linspin, 'axle-pin'—obs. linse, axle, and pin.]

Lincoln-green, lingk′un-grēn, n. the colour of cloth made formerly at Lincoln: the cloth itself.

Lincture, lingk′tūr, n. medicine to be sucked up.—Also Linc′tus. [L. lingĕre, linctum, to lick.]

Linden, lin′den, n. the lime-tree. [A.S. linden—lind; cf. Ice. lind, Ger. linde.]

Line, līn, v.t. to cover on the inside: to pad: to impregnate: (Shak.) to aid.—n. Lin′ing. [M. E. linen, to cover, perh. orig. with linen—obs. line, linen—A.S. lín—L. linum.]

Line, līn, n. a thread of linen or flax: a slender cord: (math.) that which has length without breadth or thickness: an extended stroke: a straight row: a cord extended to direct any operations: outline: a series or succession, as of progeny: a series of steamers, &c., plying continuously between places: a railroad: a telegraph wire between stations: an order given to an agent for goods, such goods received, the stock on hand of any particular goods: a mark or lineament, hence a characteristic: a rank: a verse: a short letter or note: a trench: limit: method: the equator: lineage: direction: occupation: the regular infantry of an army: the twelfth part of an inch: (pl.) marriage-lines, a marriage certificate: a certificate of church membership: military works of defence.—v.t. to mark out with lines: to cover with lines: to place along by the side of for guarding: to give out for public singing, as a hymn, line by line: (rare) to delineate, paint: to measure.—n. Lin′eāge, descendants in a line from a common progenitor: race: family.—adj. Lin′eal, of or belonging to a line: composed of lines: in the direction of a line: descended in a direct line from an ancestor.—n. Lineal′ity.—adv. Lin′eally.—n. Lin′eament, feature: distinguishing mark in the form, esp. of the face.—adj. Lin′ear, of or belonging to a line: consisting of, or having the form of, lines: straight.—adv. Lin′early.—adjs. Lin′eāte, -d, marked longitudinally with depressed lines.—ns. Line′ātion (same as Delineation); Line′-engrav′ing, the process of engraving in lines, steel or copperplate engraving.—n.pl. Line′-fish, those taken with the line, as cod, halibut, &c.—adj. Lin′eolate, marked with fine or obscure lines.—ns. Lin′er, a vessel belonging to a regular line or series of packets; Lines′man (mil.), a private in the line; Line′-storm, an equinoctial storm.—Linear perspective, that part of perspective which regards only the positions, magnitudes, and forms of the objects delineated.—Equinoctial line, the celestial equator: the terrestrial equator; Fraunhofer's lines, the dark lines observed crossing the sun's spectrum at right angles to its length—from the Bavarian optician, Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826); Give line, from angling, to allow a person apparent freedom, so as to gain him at last; Ship of the line (see Ship). [A.S. líne—L. linea—linum, flax.]

Linen, lin′en, n. cloth made of lint or flax: underclothing, particularly that made of linen: articles of linen, or of linen and cotton—table-linen, bed-linen, body-linen.—adj. made of flax: resembling linen cloth.—n. Lin′en-drap′er, a merchant who deals in linens. [Properly an adj. with suffix -en—A.S. lín—L. linum, flax; Gr. linon.]

Ling, ling, n. a fish resembling the cod, so called from its lengthened form. [A.S. lang, long.]

Ling, ling, n. heather.—adj. Ling′y. [Ice. lyng.]

Lingam, ling′gam, n. the phallus in Hindu mythology, representative of Siva and the generative power of nature, its female counterpart the Yoni.—Also Ling′a. [Sans.]

Lingel, ling′l, n. a shoemaker's thread rubbed with beeswax. [M. E. lingel, through O. Fr.,—L. lineola, dim. of linea, a line.]

Linger, ling′gėr, v.i. to remain long in any state: to loiter.—v.t. (Shak.) to prolong, protract: (with out) to pass in a tedious manner.—n. Ling′erer.—adj. Ling′ering, protracted.—n. a remaining long.—advs. Ling′eringly; Ling′erly (rare). [A.S. lengan, to protract—lang, long.]

Lingerie, lang-zhe-rē′, n. linen goods, esp. women's underclothing. [Fr.,—linge, flax—L. linum.]

Linget, Lingot, n. Same as Ingot.

Lingism, ling′izm, n. the Swedish movement-cure, kinesitherapy. [From Peter Henrik Ling, 1776-1839.]

Lingo, ling′gō, n. language, speech: esp. applied to dialects. [Corrupted from L. lingua, language.]

Lingua franca, ling′gwa frank′a, n. a mixed jargon used by Frenchmen and other Western people in intercourse with Arabs, Moors, and other Eastern peoples: an international dialect.

Lingual, ling′gwal, adj. pertaining to the tongue or utterance.—n. a letter pronounced mainly by the tongue, as t, d (also called Dental).—adj. Linguaden′tal—Dentilingual.—adv. Ling′ually.—adj. Ling′uiform, tongue-shaped.—ns. Ling′uist, one skilled in tongues or languages; Ling′uister, a dabbler in philology.—adjs. Linguist′ic, -al, pertaining to languages and the affinities of languages.—adv. Linguist′ically.—n.pl. Linguist′ics, the general or comparative science, or study, of languages.—n. Ling′ula, a tongue-like part or process.—adjs. Ling′ular, Ling′ulate, tongue-shaped. [L. lingua (old form dingua), the tongue.]

Linhay, lin′hā, n. a donkey-stable.—Also Lin′ny.

Liniment, lin′i-ment, n. a kind of thin ointment. [L. linimentum—linĕre, to besmear.]

Lining, lī′ning, n. the cover of the inner surface of anything, contents.

Link, lingk, n. a ring of a chain: anything connecting: a single part of a series: the 1⁄100th part of the chain, a measure used in surveying, &c. (see Chain).—v.t. to connect as by a link: to join in confederacy.—v.i. to be connected.—n. Link′-mō′tion, a system of pieces pivoted together, describing definite curves in the same plane or in parallel planes.—Missing link, any point or fact needed to complete a series or a chain of argument: (zool.) a conjectural form of animal life, supposed necessary to complete the chain of evolution from some simian to the human animal: (coll.) an ape, monkey, or apish-looking man. [A.S. hlence; Ice. hlekkr, Ger. gelenk, a joint.]

Link, lingk, n. a light or torch of pitch and tow.—ns. Link′boy, Link′man, a boy or man who carries such to light travellers. [Prob. corr. from Dut. lont, a match; cf. Scot. lunt, Dan. lunte.]

Link, lingk, n. a crook or winding of a river.—n.pl. Links, a stretch of flat or gently undulating ground along a sea-shore, on which the game of golf is played. [A.S. hlinc, a ridge of land, a bank.]

Link, lingk, v.i. (Scot.) to go quickly.

Linn, Lin, lin, n. a waterfall: a precipice.

Linnæan, Linnean, lin-nē′an, adj. pertaining to Linnæus, the Latinised form of the name of Linné, the celebrated Swedish botanist (1707-78), or to his artificial system of classification.

Linnet, lin′et, n. a small singing-bird—from feeding on flax-seed. [Fr. linot—lin, flax—L. linum.]

Linoleum, lin-ō′le-um, n. a preparation used as a floor-cloth, linseed-oil being greatly used in the making of it. [L. linum, flax, oleum, oil.]

Linotype, lin′ō-tīp, n. a machine for producing stereotyped lines or bars of words, &c., as a substitute for type-setting: a line of printing-type cast in one piece. [L. linea, a line, and type.]

Linseed, lin′sēd, n. lint or flax seed—also Lint′seed.—ns. Lin′seed-cake, the cake remaining when the oil is pressed out of lint or flax seed, used as a food for sheep and cattle; Lin′seed-meal, the meal of linseed, used for poultices and as a cattle-food; Lin′seed-oil, oil from flax-seed.

Linsey, lin′si, n. cloth made of linen and wool: a peculiar kind of clayey rock.—adj. Lin′sey-wool′sey, made of linen and wool mixed: mean: of unsuitable parts.—n. a thin coarse stuff of linen and wool mixed: inferior stuffs of doubtful composition: (Shak.) a mixture of nonsense, gibberish. [Obs. linsel, and wool.]

Linstock, lin′stok, n. a staff to hold a lighted match for firing cannon.—Also Lint′stock. [Dut. lontstok—lont, a match, stok, a stick.]

Lint, lint, n. linen scraped into a soft woolly substance for dressing wounds: raw cotton ready for baling. [L. linteus—linum, linen.]

Lintel, lin′tel, n. the piece of timber or stone over a doorway: the headpiece of a door or casement. [O. Fr. lintel (Fr. linteau)—Low L. lintellus for limitellus, dim. of L. limes, border.]

Lintie, lin′ti, Lintwhite, lint′hwīt=Linnet.

Lion, lī′un, n. a fierce quadruped of immense strength, the largest of all carnivorous animals, tawny-coloured, the male with a shaggy mane, springing on his prey with a terrific roar: a man of unusual courage: (astron.) Leo, a sign of the zodiac: any object of interest, esp. a famous or conspicuous person much sought after: an old Scotch coin, with a lion on the obverse, worth 74 shillings Scotch (James VI.): (her.) representation of a lion used as a bearing:—fem. Lī′oness.—ns. Lī′oncel, Lī′oncelle (her.), a small lion used as a bearing; Lī′onel, Lī′onet, a young lion; Lī′on-heart, one with great courage.—adj. Līon-heart′ed.—n. Lī′on-hunt′er, a hunter of lions: one who runs after celebrities with foolish adulation, or to get reflected glory from their company.—v.t. Lī′onise, to treat as a lion or object of interest.—n. Lī′onism.—adj. Lī′on-like.—Lion's provider, a popular name for the jackal, supposed to attend upon the lion: any humble friend or follower; Lion's share, the largest share.—A lion in the way, a danger to be met and overcome; British lion, the lion as the British national emblem; Put one's head into the lion's mouth, to get into a position of great danger. [O. Fr. lion—L. leon-em—Gr. leōn; Ger. löwe.]

Lip, lip, n. the muscular border in front of the teeth by which things are taken into the mouth; the edge of anything: (slang) impudent talk, insolence: (pl.) speech as passing through the lips.—v.t. to touch with the lips: to utter with the lips.—v.i. to apply the lips to the mouthpiece of an instrument.—adj. Lip′born, from the lips only: not genuine.—ns. Lip′-devō′tion, prayer of the lips without devotion in the heart; Lip′-hom′age, insincere homage; Lip′-lā′bour, empty speech; Lip′-lang′uage, oral or articulate language, communicated by motions of the lips, as opposed to the fingers, in teaching or conversing with the deaf and dumb; Lip′let, a little lip; Lip′-or′nament, an object inserted as an ornament in the lip, common among savage tribes.—adj. Lipped, having lips, or edges like lips, labiate.—ns. Lip′-read′ing, reading what a person says from the movement of the lips, in the instruction of the deaf and dumb; Lip′-serv′ice, service with the lips only: insincere devotion or worship; Lip′-wis′dom, wisdom in words only, not in deeds.—Bite the lip, to press the lips between the teeth to keep one's self from betraying vexation, anger, &c.; Curl of the lip, the causing the lip to curl as an indication of scorn; Hang the lip, to be sullen or sulky; Make a lip (Shak.), to pout in sullenness or contempt. [A.S. lippa; Dut. lip, Ger. lippe, L. labium, not conn. with L. lambĕre, Eng. lap.]

Lipæmia, li-pē′mi-a, n. excessive fat in the blood.

Liphæmia, li-fē′mi-a, n. deficiency or poverty of blood.

Lipogram, lī′pō-gram, n. the name given to a writing, esp. a poem from which all words are omitted which contain a particular letter.—adj. Lipogrammat′ic.—ns. Lipogram′matism; Lipogram′matist. [Gr. leipein, to leave, gramma, a letter.]

Lipoma, li-pō′ma, n. a tumour formed of fatty tissue—also Lip′arocele.—n. Lipomatō′sis, the excessive growth of fatty tissue.—adj. Lipom′atous.

Lippen, lip′n, v.i. (Scot.) to trust, rely, depend (with to, on).—adj. Lippe′ning, occasional, accidental.

Lippitude, lip′i-tūd, n. soreness of the eyes. [L.,—lippus, blear-eyed.]

Lippy, Lippie, lip′i, n. an old Scottish dry measure, the fourth of a peck. [Dim. from. A.S. leáp, a basket; Ice. laupr.]

Liquate, lik′wāt, v.t. to melt: to separate one metal from another which is less fusible, by applying sufficient heat.—adj. Liq′uable.—n. Liquā′tion. [L. liquāre, -ātum—liquēre, to be fluid.]

Liquefy, lik′we-fī, v.t. to make liquid: to dissolve.—v.i. to become liquid:—pa.t. and pa.p. liq′uefīed.—adj. Liquefā′cient.—n. Liquefac′tion, the act or process of making liquid: the state of being melted.—adj. Liq′uefiable.—ns. Liq′uefier; Liquesc′ency.—adj. Liquesc′ent, melting. [L. liquefacĕre—liquēre, to be fluid or liquid, facĕre, to make.]

Liqueur, li-kėr′, n. the name given to the many alcoholic preparations which are flavoured or perfumed and sweetened to be more agreeable to the taste—chartreuse, cherry brandy, curaçao, benedictine, kümmel, maraschino, &c.—ns. Liqueur′-glass, a very small drinking-glass intended for liqueurs or cordials; Liqueur′ing, the process of qualifying wine by means of liqueur. [Fr.]

Liquid, lik′wid, adj. flowing: fluid: soft: smooth: clear.—n. a flowing substance: a letter of a smooth flowing sound, coalescing easily with a preceding mute, l, m, n, r.—adj. Liq′uidable.—v.t. Liq′uidate, to make clear, esp. to clear or settle an account: to arrange or wind up the affairs of a bankrupt estate.—ns. Liquidā′tion, the clearing up of the money affairs, esp. the adjustment of the affairs of a bankrupt estate; Liquidāt′or, one engaged in a liquidation.—v.t. Liq′uidise, to render liquid.—n. Liquid′ity.—adv. Liq′uidly.—n. Liq′uidness. [Fr.,—L. liquidus, fluid—liquēre, to be fluid.]

Liquidambar, lik′wid-am-bar, n. a genus of balsamiferous trees of the witch-hazel family (Hamamelidaceæ), native to Mexico and the United States. [L. liquidus, liquid, Low L. ambar, amber.]

Liquor, lik′ur, n. anything liquid: strong drink: a strong solution of a particular substance: any prepared solution.—v.t. to apply liquor or a solution to: (Shak.) to rub with oil or grease.—v.i. (slang) to drink (esp. with up).—n. Liq′uor-gauge, a rod used by excisemen for measuring the depth of liquid in a cask.—Liquor laws, restrictive legislation with regard to the sale of intoxicating drink.—In liquor, drunk; Malt liquors, liquors brewed from malt. [O. Fr. liqeur—L. liquor-em—liquēre.]

Liquorice, lik′ur-is, n. a plant with a sweet root which is used for medicinal purposes. [Through an O. Fr. form, from Low L. liquiritia, a corr. of Gr. glykyrrhiza—glykys, sweet, rhiza, root.]

Liquorish, lik′ur-ish, adj. obsolete spelling of lickerish.

Lira, lē′ra, n. an Italian coin, worth a franc, and divisible into 100 centesimi:—pl. Lire (lē′rā). [It.]

Liriodendron, lir-i-ō-den′dron, n. a North American tree, sometimes above 100 feet in height, having close bark, large four-lobed leaves, and greenish-yellow flowers, something like a tulip.—Also Tulip-tree. [Gr. leirion, a lily, dendron, a tree.]

Liripoop, lir′i-poop, n. (obs.) a graduate's hood: smartness: a silly person.—Also Liripip′ium.

Lirk, lirk, n. (Scot.) a fold.—v.i. to hang in creases.

Lis, lis, n. a controversy, litigation. [L.]

Lis, lēs, n. (her.) same as Fleur-de-lis:—pl. Lisses.

Lisbon, liz′bon, n. a light-coloured wine from Estremadura in Portugal.

Lisle thread. See Thread.

Lisp, lisp, v.i. to speak with the tongue against the upper teeth or gums, as in pronouncing th for s or z: to articulate as a child: to utter imperfectly.—v.t. to pronounce with a lisp.—n. the act or habit of lisping.—n. Lisp′er.—adj. Lisp′ing, pronouncing with a lisp.—n. the act of speaking with a lisp.—adv. Lisp′ingly. [A.S. wlispian (a conjectural form)—wlisp, stammering; Dut. lispen, Ger. lispeln; from the sound.]

Lisse, lēs, n. in tapestry, the threads of the warp taken together. [Fr., also lice—L. licium.]

Lissencephalous, lis-en-sef′a-lus, adj. having a brain smooth or slightly convoluted.

Lissome, Lissom, lis′um, adj. lithesome, nimble, flexible.—n. Liss′omeness.

Lissotrichous, li-sot′ri-kus, adj. smooth-haired.

List, list, n. the selvage on woven textile fabrics: a stripe of any kind: (Shak.) a border.—adj. made of strips of woollen selvage. [A.S. líst; Ger. leiste.]

List, list, n. a catalogue, roll, or enumeration: a book, &c., containing a series of names of persons or things.—v.t. to place in a list or catalogue: to engage for the public service, as soldiers.—v.i. to enter the public service by enrolling one's name, to enlist.—Active list, the roll of soldiers on active service; Civil list (see Civil); Free list (see Free). [O. Fr. liste—Mid. High Ger. liste (Ger. leiste), border; A.S. líst, orig. same word as above.]

List, list, n. a line enclosing a piece of ground, esp. for combat: (pl.) the ground enclosed for a contest.—v.t. to enclose for a tournament.—Enter the lists, to engage in contest. [O. Fr. lisse (Fr. lice, It. lizza)—Low L. liciæ, barrier, perh. from L. licium, a thrum.]

List, list, v.i. to have pleasure in: to desire: to like or please: to choose: (naut.) to incline or heel over to one side.—v.t. to cause to careen or heel over.—n. such an inclination. [A.S. lystan, impers., please—lust, pleasure.]

List, list, v.t. and v.i. original form of listen: now poetical.—v.t. Listen (lis′n), to hear or attend to.—v.i. to give ear or hearken: to follow advice.—n. List′ener, one who listens or hearkens.—adjs. List′ful, attentive; List′less, having no desire or wish: careless: uninterested: weary: indolent.—adv. List′lessly.—n. List′lessness. [A.S. hlystan—hlyst, hearing; Ice. hlusta.]

Listel, lis′tel, n. (archit.) a narrow fillet.

Lister, lis′tėr, n. a form of plough for throwing up ridges.—n. List′ing.

Listerism, lis′tėr-izm, n. an antiseptic method of operating introduced by the English surgeon, Lord Lister, born 1827.—v.t. Lis′terise, to treat by Listerism.

Lit, pa.t. and pa.p. of light, lighten, light, to alight.

Litany, lit′a-ni, n. a prayer of supplication, esp. in processions: an appointed form of responsive prayer in public worship in which the same thing is repeated several times at no long intervals.—ns. Lit′any-desk, -stool, in the English Church, a movable desk at which a minister kneels, facing the altar, while he recites the litany.—Lesser litany, the common formula, 'Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.' [O. Fr.,—Low L. litania—Gr. litaneia—litesthai, to pray.]

Literal, lit′ėr-al, adj. according to the letter: plain: not figurative or metaphorical: following the letter or exact meaning, word for word.—v.t. Lit′eralise.—ns. Lit′eraliser; Lit′eralism, strict adherence to the letter: interpretation that is merely verbal: (art) exact and unimaginative rendering of objects; Lit′eralist; Literal′ity.—adv. Lit′erally.—n. Lit′eralness. [Fr.,—L. literalis—litera, a letter.]

Literary, lit′ėr-ar-i, adj. belonging to letters or learning: skilled in learning.—n. Lit′eracy, state of being literate:—opp. to Illiteracy.—adj. Lit′erāte, acquainted with letters of learning: learned.—n. one educated, but not having taken a university degree, esp. a candidate for holy orders who has not been at a university.—n.pl. Literā′tī, men of letters, the learned (sing. forms, Literā′tus, Literä′to).—adv. Literā′tim, letter for letter: without the change of a letter.—n. Literā′tor, a dabbler in learning: a man of letters, a literary man—sometimes in the French form Littérateur.—adj. Lit′erose, distinctively literary.—n. Literos′ity. [L. literarius.]

Literature, lit′ėr-a-tūr, n. the science of letters or what is written: the whole body of literary compositions in any language, or on a given subject: all literary productions except those relating to positive science and art, usually confined, however, to the belles-lettres.—adj. Lit′eratured (Shak.), learned, having literary knowledge.—Light literature, books which can be read and understood without mental exertion: fiction; Polite literature, belles-lettres. [Fr.,—L. literatura—litera, a letter.]

Lith, lith, n. (prov.) a joint, segment, or portion of anything. [A.S. lið, a member; Ger. glied.]

Lithagogue, lith′a-gog, adj. expelling stone from the bladder or kidneys.—n. a medicine with this quality.

Lithanthrax, li-than′thraks, n. stone-coal, mineral coal.

Litharge, lith′ärj, n. the semi-vitrified oxide of lead separated from silver in refining. [Fr.,—Gr. lithargyros—lithos, a stone, argyros, silver.]

Lithe, līth, adj. easily bent, flexible, active.—adv. Lithe′ly.—n. Lithe′ness.—adj. Lithe′some.—n. Lithe′someness. [A.S. líðe; Ger. lind and gelinde.]

Lithe, līth, v.i. (obs.) to listen. [Ice. hlydha, to listen—hljódh, hearing.]

Lithemia, Lithæmia, li-thē′mi-a, n. an excess of uric acid in the blood.—adj. Lithē′mic.

Lither, līth′ėr, adj. (Shak.) soft, yielding: (obs.) bad, lazy.—adj. Lith′erly, mischievous.—adv. slowly: lazily. [A.S. lýthre, bad.]

Lithia, lith′i-a, n. an alkali, the oxide of lithium, discovered in 1817 by Arfvedson: a mineral water good against the stone. [Low L.,—Gr. lithos, stone.]

Lithiasis, li-thī′a-sis, n. a bodily condition in which uric acid is deposited as stone or gravel in the urinary canals. [Gr. lithos, a stone.]

Lithic, lith′ik, adj. pertaining to, or obtained from, stone, specially from urinary calculi.—ns. Lith′ate, a salt of lithic acid; Lithificā′tion, a hardening into stone. [Gr. lithikos—lithos, a stone.]

Lithium, lith′i-um, n. one of the alkaline metals, of a silvery appearance, found in several minerals combined with silica.—adj. Lith′ic. [Gr. lithos, a stone.]

Lithocarp, lith′o-karp, n. a fossil fruit.

Lithochromatic, lith-o-krō-mat′ik, adj. pertaining to painting in oils on stone.—n.pl. Lithochromat′ics, this art. [Gr. lithos, stone, chrōma, colour.]

Lithoclast, lith′o-klast, n. an instrument for crushing bladder-stones. [Gr. lithos, stone, klān, to crush.]

Lithodome, lith′ō-dōm, n. a shellfish living in a hole in a rock.—adj. Lithod′omous.

Lithofracteur, lith-ō-frak′tėr, n. a blasting explosive.

Lithogenous, li-thoj′e-nus, adj. stone-producing.—n. Lithogen′esy, the science of the origin of minerals.

Lithoglyph, lith′o-glif, n. any engraving on stone, esp. a precious stone.—adj. Lithoglyph′ic.—ns. Lith′oglyphics, Lithoglypt′ics, the art of engraving on precious stones; Lithog′lyphite, a fossil as if engraved by art. [Gr. lithos, stone, glyphein, to carve.]

Lithograph, lith′o-graf, v.t. to write or engrave on stone and transfer to paper by printing.—n. a print from stone.—n. Lithog′rapher.—adjs. Lithograph′ic, -al, belonging to lithography.—adv. Lithograph′ically.—n. Lithog′raphy, the art of writing or engraving on stone and printing therefrom.—Lithographic stone, slate, a yellowish, compact, fine-grained, slaty limestone used in lithography. [Gr. lithos, a stone, graphein, to write.]

Lithoid, -al, lith′oid, -al, adj. resembling a stone.

Litholabe, lith′ō-lāb, n. an instrument for grasping a calculus and holding it while being crushed.

Litholatry, li-thol′a-tri, n. the worship of stones.—adj. Lithol′atrous.

Lithology, lith-ol′o-ji, n. the science that treats of rocks as mineral masses: that part of medical science concerned with the calculi found in the human body.—adjs. Litholog′ic, -al.—n. Lithol′ogist, one skilled in lithology. [Gr. lithos, a stone, logos, discourse.]

Litholopaxy, lith′ol-o-pak-si, n. the operation of crushing stone in the bladder, and of at once removing the fragments by suction. [Gr. lithos, stone, hapax, once only.]

Lithomancy, lith′o-man-si, n. divination by stones. [Gr. lithos, a stone, manteia, divination.]

Lithomarge, lith′o-märj, n. a clay-like mineral substance, sometimes called Mountain marrow, soft, greasy to the touch, white, yellow, or red. [Gr. lithos, stone, L. marga, marl.]

Lithophagous, lith-of′a-gus, adj. eating stones: perforating stones, as certain molluscs. [Gr. lithos, stone, phagein, to eat.]

Lithophane, lith′o-fān, n. ornamental porcelain with pictures which show through the transparency. [Gr. lithos, stone, phainesthai, to appear.]

Lithophotography, lith-o-fo-tog′ra-fi, n. the art of printing from lithographic stones photographic pictures developed upon them.

Lithophyl, lith′ō-fīl, n. a fossil leaf.

Lithophyte, lith′o-fīt, n. any one of the polyps whose substance is stony or hard, as corals. [Gr. lithos, stone, phyton, plant.]

Lithotint, lith′o-tint, n. the process of producing coloured pictures from lithographic stones: a picture so produced. [Gr. lithos, stone, and tint.]

Lithotomy, lith-ot′o-mi, n. cutting for stone in the bladder.—n. Lith′otome, a mineral resembling a cut gem: a cystotome.—adjs. Lithotom′ic, -al, pertaining to, or performed by, lithotomy.—n. Lithot′omist, one who practises lithotomy. [Gr. lithos, a stone, tomē, a cutting—temnein, to cut.]

Lithotrity, lith′ō-trī-ti, n. the operation of crushing a stone in the bladder, so that its fragments may be removed through the urethra—also Lith′otripsy.—ns. Lithothryp′tist, Lith′othryptor, Lithotrip′tist, Lith′otriptor, Lith′otritist, one who practises lithotrity; Lith′othrypty; Lith′otrite, Lith′otritor, an apparatus for crushing a stone in the bladder.—adjs. Lithotrit′ic, Lithotrip′tic—also Lithothryp′tic. [Gr. lithos, stone, tribein, to rub.]

Lithotypy, lith′ō-tī-pi, n. the process of making a kind of stereotype plates by filling a mould with a composition which, when cooled, becomes hard.—n. Lith′otype, a stereotype plate, produced by lithotypy.—v.t. to prepare for printing by lithotypy. [Gr. lithos, stone, typos, type.]

Litigate, lit′i-gāt, v.t. to contest in law.—v.i. to carry on a lawsuit.—adjs. Lit′igable, that may be contested in law; Lit′igant, contending at law: engaged in a lawsuit.—n. a person engaged in a lawsuit.—ns. Litigā′tion; Lit′igātor, one who litigates; Litigios′ity, Litig′iousness.—adj. Litig′ious, inclined to engage in lawsuits: subject to contention.—adv. Litig′iously. [L. litigāre, -ātum—lis, litis, a strife, agĕre, to do.]

Litmus, lit′mus, n. a dye obtained from certain lichens, originally red, but becoming blue on the addition of alkalies or of lime.—Litmus paper, paper used in chemical testing, tinged blue by litmus, reddened by an acid, made blue again by an alkali. [For lakmose—Dut. lakmoes—lak, lac, moes, pulp.]

Litotes, lit′ō-tēz, n. (rhet.) an affirmation made indirectly by the negation of its contrary, as 'a citizen of no mean city'='of an illustrious city.' [Gr. litotēs, simplicity—litos, plain.]

Litrameter, lit-ram′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the specific gravity of liquids by the height to which they rise in vertical tubes under a definite air-pressure. [Gr. litra, a pound, metron, measure.]

Litre, lē′tėr, n. (her.) a hatchment consisting of a black belt, charged with the arms of the deceased. [Fr.; prob. orig. listre=liste, border.]

Litre, lē′tr, n. the unit of the French measures of capacity, both dry and liquid. It is the volume of a cubic decimètre, and contains a kilogramme of water at 4° C. in a vacuum, equal to .2200967 British imperial gallon, therefore less than a quart—4½ litres being roughly equal to a gallon.

Litter, lit′ėr, n. a heap of straw, &c., for animals to lie upon: materials for a bed: any scattered collection of objects, esp. of little value: a vehicle containing a bed for carrying about, a hospital stretcher: a brood of small quadrupeds.—v.t. to cover or supply with litter: to scatter carelessly about: to give birth to (said of small animals).—v.i. to produce a litter or brood.—p.adj. Litt′ered. [O. Fr. litiere—Low L. lectaria—L. lectus, a bed.]

Littérateur, lit-ėr-a-tėr′, n. a literary man. [Fr.]

Little, lit′l, adj. (comp. Less; superl. Least) small in quantity or extent: weak, poor: brief.—n. that which is small in quantity or extent: a small space.—adv. in a small quantity or degree: not much.—ns. Litt′le-ease, discomfort, misery: a form of punishment, as the stocks; Litt′le-end′ian, one of the Lilliputian party who opposed the Big-endians, maintaining that boiled eggs should be cracked at the little end; Litt′le-go (see Go); Litt′leness; Litt′le-off′ice, a short service of psalms, hymns, collects, &c.—adj. Litt′leworth, worthless.—By little and little, by degrees; In little, on a small scale; Not a little, considerably. [A.S. lýtel.]

Littoral, lit′or-al, adj. belonging to the sea-shore.—n. the strip of land along it.—Littoral zone, the interval on a sea-coast between high and low water mark. [L.,—litus, litŏris, shore.]

Liturate, lit′ū-rāt, adj. (bot.) having spots formed by the abrasion of the surface: in entomology, marked with spots (Lituræ) growing paler at one end.

Liturgy, lit′ur-ji, n. the form of service or regular ritual of a church—strictly, that used in the celebration of the Eucharist: in ancient Greece, a form of personal service to the state.—n. Liturge′, a leader in public worship.—adjs. Litur′gic, -al.—adv. Litur′gically.—ns. Litur′gics, the doctrine of liturgies; Liturgiol′ogist, a student of liturgies; Liturgiol′ogy, the study of liturgical forms; Lit′urgist, a leader in public worship: one who adheres to, or who studies, liturgies. [Fr.,—Gr. leitourgia—laos, the people, ergon, work.]

Lituus, li-tū′us, n. an augur's staff with recurved top: a spiral of similar form.—adjs. Lit′uāte, forked with the points turned outward; Lit′uiform. [L.]

Live, liv, v.i. to have, or continue in, life, temporal or spiritual: to last, subsist: to enjoy life: to direct one's course of life: to be nourished or supported: to dwell.—v.t. to spend: to act in conformity to:—pr.p. liv′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. lived.—adj. Liv′able, capable of being lived: habitable.—n. Liv′er.—Live down, live so as to cause a slander, a grief, &c. to be forgotten by one's self or others; Live out, to continue alive until the end of anything: (U.S.) to be from home in domestic service; Live under, to be tenant to; Live up to, to rule one's life according to some standard. [A.S. lifian; Ger. leben.]

Live, līv, adj. having life: alive, not dead: active: containing fire: burning: vivid.—Lived (līvd), used in compounds, as long-lived.—ns. Live′-axle, driving-axle; Live′-bait, a living worm or minnow used in fishing: Live′-cir′cuit, a circuit through which an electric current is flowing.—n.pl. Live′-feath′ers, those plucked from the living fowl.—n. Live′-lē′ver, that one of a pair of brake-levers to which the power is first applied:—opp. to Dead-lever.—adj. Live′-long, that lives or lasts long.—ns. Live′-oak, an American oak, with durable wood; Live′-shell, a shell loaded and fused for firing, or fired and not yet exploded; Live′-stock, domestic animals, esp. horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs; Live′-well, the well in a fishing-boat where fish are kept alive.

Livelihood, līv′li-hood, n. means of living: support—(obs.) Live′lihed. [A.S. líf. life, lád, a way.]

Lively, līv′li, adj. showing life: vigorous, active: sprightly: spirited: vivid.—adv. vivaciously, vigorously.—adv. Līve′lily.—n. Līve′liness.

Liver, liv′ėr, n. the largest gland in the body, which secretes the bile.—adjs. Liv′er-col′our, of the colour of the liver: dark-red; Liv′ered, in compounds, as white-livered, lily-livered=cowardly.—n. Liver-fluke, a trematoid worm (Distoma hepatica).—adj. Liv′er-grown, having a swelled liver.—n. Liverwort, any plant of the cryptogamic family Hepaticæ, allied to mosses.—adj. Liv′ery, resembling the liver. [A.S. lifer; Ger. leber, Ice. lifr.]

Livery, liv′ėr-i, n. the dress or uniform worn by servants, esp. men-servants: a dress peculiar to certain persons or things, as in the trade-guilds of London: any characteristic dress: the being kept and fed at a certain rate, as horses at livery: the whole body of liverymen in London: (orig.) the distinctive dress worn by the household of a king or nobleman, so called because delivered or given at regular periods.—adj. Liv′eried, clothed in livery.—ns. Liv′ery-com′pany, a guild of the city of London; Liv′eryman, a man who wears a livery: a freeman of the city of London entitled to wear the livery and enjoy other privileges of his company; Liv′ery-ser′vant, a servant who wears a livery; Liv′ery-stā′ble, a stable where horses and vehicles are kept for hire.—Sue one's livery (Shak.), to ask for the writ delivering a freehold into the possession of its heir. [Fr. livrée—livrer—L. liberāre, to free.]

Lives, līvz, n. plural of life.

Livid, liv′id, adj. black and blue: of a lead colour: discoloured.—ns. Livid′ity, Liv′idness. [Fr.,—L. lividus—livēre, to be of a lead colour.]

Living, liv′ing, adj. having life: active, lively: producing action or vigour: running or flowing, as opposed to stagnant.—n. means of subsistence: manner of life: a property: the benefice of a clergyman.—Living rock, rock in its native state or location; Living room, a sitting-room for general family use; Living wage, a wage on which it is possible for a workman and his family to live fairly.—The living, those alive.

Livraison, lē-vrā-zon′, n. a number of a book published in parts. [Fr.]

Livre, lē′vr, n. an old French coin, about the value of a franc, by which it was superseded in 1795: the ancient French unit of weight, equal to about 1 lb. avoirdupois. [Fr.,—L. libra, a pound.]

Lixiviation, liks-iv-i-ā′shun, n. the process of washing or steeping certain substances in a fluid, for the purpose of dissolving a portion of their ingredients, and so separating them from the insoluble residue.—adjs. Lixiv′ial, Lixiv′ious.—v.t. Lixiv′iate.—n. Lixiv′ium, lye. [L. lixivium, lye.]

Lizard, liz′ard, n. a family of four-footed scaly reptiles, a saurian or lacertilian.—n. Liz′ard-stone, a Cornish serpentine. [Fr. lézard—L. lacerta.]

Llama, lä′ma, or lā′ma, n. a South American ruminant of the camel family, used for transport in the Andes.

Llano, lä′nō, or lyä′nō, n. one of the vast steppes or plains in the northern part of South America:—pl. Lla′nos.—n. Llanero (lya-nā′rō), an inhabitant of the llanos. [Sp.,—L. planus, plain.]

Lloyd's, loidz, n. a part of the London Royal Exchange frequented by ship-owners, underwriters, &c. to obtain shipping intelligence and transact marine insurance.—Lloyd's Register, a list of sea-going vessels classified according to seaworthiness (as A1, &c.), annually prepared by an association of members of Lloyd's. [From their originally meeting in the coffee-house in Tower Street kept by Edward Lloyd in the 17th century.]

Lo, lō, interj. look! see! behold! [A.S. lá; imit.]

Loach, Loche, lōch, n. a small river-fish.—Also Beardie. [Fr. loche, Sp. loja.]

Load, lōd, v.t. to lade or burden: to put on as much as can be carried: to heap on: to put on overmuch: to confer or give in great abundance: to weigh down, to oppress: to weight by something specially added: to charge, as a gun: to make heavy, as a thin wine: to mix with white: to lay on colour in masses.—v.i. to put or take on a load: to charge a gun: to become loaded or burdened.—n. a lading or burden: as much as can be carried at once: freight or cargo: a measure: any large quantity borne: a quantity sustained with difficulty: that which burdens or grieves: a weight or encumbrance.—Load′en, old pa.p. of load.—ns. Load′er, one who, or that which, loads; Load′ing, the act of lading: a charge, cargo, or lading; Load′ing-machine′, a contrivance for loading cartridge-shells; Load′ing-tray, an iron frame on which a shot or shell is placed and brought forward into the opening in the breech of a gun; Load′-line, a line along the ship's side to mark the depth to which her proper cargo causes her to sink—also Plimsoll's mark.—Load a cane, whip, to weight it with lead, &c.; Load dice, to make one side heavier than the other, for purposes of cheating; Load wine, to falsify by mixing it with distilled liquor, sugar, &c. [A.S. hladan, pa.t. hlód, to load.]

Loadstar. Same as Lodestar.

Loadstone. Same as Lodestone.

Loaf, lōf, n. a regularly shaped mass of bread: a mass of sugar: any lump:—pl. Loaves (lōvz).—n. Loaf′-sug′ar, refined sugar in the form of a cone.—Loaves and fishes, temporal benefits, the main chance for one's self—from John, vi. 26. [A.S. hláf.]

Loaf, lōf, v.i. to loiter, pass time idly.—n. Loaf′er.—adj. Loaf′erish. [Prob. directly Ger. läufer, a runner, laufen, to run about.]

Loam, lōm, n. a muddy soil, of clay, sand, and animal and vegetable matter.—v.t. to cover with loam.—adj. Loam′y. [A.S. lám; Ger. lehm; cf. lime.]

Loan, lōn, n. a lane: an open space for passage left between fields of corn: a place for milking cows.—Also Loan′ing. [Lane.]

Loan, lōn, n. anything lent: the act of lending: permission to use: money lent for interest.—v.t. to lend.—adj. Loan′able.—ns. Loan′-off′ice, a public office at which loans are negotiated, a pawnbroker's shop; Loan′-socī′ety, a society organised to lend money to be repaid with interest by instalments; Loan′-word, one taken into one language from another—like Loafer above. [A.S. lǽn; Ice. lán, Dan. laan, cf. Ger. lehen, a fief.]

Loath, Loth, lōth, adj. disliking: reluctant, unwilling.—adv. Loath′ly.—n. Loath′ness. [A.S. láð, hateful—líðan, to travel; Ger. leiden, suffer.]

Loathe, lōth, v.t. to dislike greatly, to feel disgust at.—adj. Loath′ful, full of loathing, hate, or abhorrence: exciting loathing or disgust.—n. Loath′ing, extreme hate or disgust: abhorrence.—adj. hating.—adv. Loath′ingly.—adjs. Loath′ly, Loath′y (obs.), loathsome; Loath′some, exciting loathing or abhorrence: detestable.—adv. Loath′somely.—n. Loath′someness. [A.S. láðian—láð; cf. loath.]

Lob, lob, n. a clumsy person, the last in a race: a lobworm: the coal-fish: at cricket, a long slow ball: something thick and heavy.—v.t. to throw gently, slowly, or with underhand delivery: at lawn-tennis, to strike the ball high over an opponent's head into the end of the court: to hang wearily down.—n. Lobs′pound, a prison.—Lob lie by the fire, Milton's lubber-fiend, a brownie who works by night for his bowl of cream. [W. llob; cf. Lubber.]

Lobby, lob′i, n. a small hall or waiting-room: a passage serving as a common entrance to several apartments: the ante-chamber of a legislative hall, frequented by outsiders for the purpose of influencing votes.—ns. Lobb′ying, frequenting the lobby to collect political intelligence, &c.; Lobb′yist, Lobb′y-mem′ber, a journalist, &c., who frequents a lobby in the interest of some cause or of a newspaper. [Low L. lobia—Middle High Ger. loube (Ger. laube), a portico, arbour—laub, a leaf.]

Lobe, lōb, n. the lower part of the ear: (anat.) a division of the lungs, brain, &c.: (bot.) a division of a leaf.—adjs. Lob′ar, Lob′āte, Lobed, Lob′ose; Lobe′-foot′ed, Lō′biped, having lobate feet, as a coot, grebe, or phalarope.—ns. Lobe′let, Lob′ule, a small lobe.—adjs. Lob′ular, Lob′ulāted.—ns. Lob′ulus, any small lobe or lobe-like structure:—pl. Lob′ulī; Lō′bus, a lobe:—pl. Lō′bī.—Lobar pneumonia, inflammation of a whole lobe of the lungs, as distinguished from Lobular pneumonia, which attacks the lungs in patches. [Fr., prob. through Low L. from Gr. lobos, lobe; cf. lap, to fold.]

Lobelia, lob-ē′li-a, n. an ornamental flower, its roots medicinal. [Lobel, a Flemish botanist.]

Loblolly, lob′lol-i, n. a loutish person: medicine.—n. Lob′lolly-boy, a ship-surgeon's attendant.

Lobscouse, lob′skows, n. a stew or hash with vegetables, a dish used at sea. [Origin dub.]

Lobster, lob′stėr, n. a shellfish with large claws, used for food: (slang) a British soldier. [A.S. loppestre, lopust—L. locusta, a lobster.]

Lobworm, lob′wurm, n. a large worm used as bait. [Perh. lob—W. llob, a dull fellow, and worm.]

Local, lō′kal, adj. of or belonging to a place: confined to a spot or district.—ns. Locale (lō-käl′), a locality: the scene of some event; Localisā′tion.—v.t. Lō′calise, to assign to a place: to refer a sensation in perception to some part of the body.—ns. Lō′calism, the state of being local: affection for a place: provincialism; Local′ity, existence in a place: position: district.—adv. Lō′cally.—v.t. Locāte′, to place: to set in a particular position: to designate the place of.—n. Locā′tion, act of locating or placing: situation: (law) a leasing on rent.—adj. Lō′cātive (gram.), indicating place.—Local Government Acts, a series of enactments instituting local self-government of the various counties of Great Britain and of a large number of boroughs; Local Option, a phrase first used by Mr Gladstone in a letter in 1868 for the determination by vote of the people of a town or district as to whether licenses to sell intoxicating liquors shall be granted or not. [Fr.,—Low L. localis—locus, a place.]

Loch, loh, n. a lake or arm of the sea.—ns. Lochaber axe (loh-ä′bėr aks), a battle-axe used by the Scottish Highlanders, having a narrow blade, but very long towards the shaft, and generally with a hook at the end of the staff; Loch′an (Scot.), a pond. [Gael. loch; cf. Lake.]

Loche, n. See Loach.

Lochia, lō′ki-a, n.pl. the evacuations from the womb after childbirth.—adj. Lō′chial. [Gr.]

Lock, lok, n. a device to fasten doors, &c.: an enclosure in a canal for raising or lowering boats: the part of a firearm by which it is discharged: a grapple in wrestling: a state of being immovable: any narrow, confined place.—v.t. to fasten with a lock: to fasten so as to impede motion: to shut up: to close fast: to embrace closely: to furnish with locks.—v.i. to become fast: to unite closely.—ns. Lock′age, the locks of a canal: the difference in their levels, the materials used for them, and the tolls paid for passing through them; Lock′-chain, a chain for fastening the wheels of a vehicle by tying the rims to some part which does not rotate; Lock′er, any closed place that may be locked; Lock′et, a little ornamental case of gold or silver, usually containing a miniature.—adj. Lock′fast, firmly fastened by locks.—ns. Lock′gate, a gate for opening or closing a lock in a canal or river; Lock′-hos′pital (see Hospital); Lock′house, the lock-keeper's house; Lock′-jaw, Locked′-jaw, a contraction of the muscles of the jaw by which its motion is suspended; Lock′-keep′er, one who keeps or attends the locks of a canal; Lock′out, the act of locking out, esp. used of the locking out of a teacher by the pupils or vice versâ, or of the refusal of an employer to admit his workmen within the works as a means of coercion; Locks′man, a turnkey; Lock′smith, a smith who makes and mends locks; Lock′stitch, a stitch formed by the locking of two threads together; Lock′up, a place for locking up or confining persons for a short time.—Not a shot in the locker (naut.), not a penny in the pocket. [A.S. loca, a lock; Ice. loka, a bolt, Ger. loch, a dungeon.]

Lock, lok, n. a tuft or ringlet of hair: a small quantity, as of hay: (Scots law) a quantity of meal, the perquisite of a mill-servant: (Shak.) a love-lock—n. Lock′man, an officer in the Isle of Man who acts as a kind of under-sheriff to the governor. [A.S. locc; Ice. lokkr, Ger. locke, a lock.]

Lockian, lok′i-an, adj. pertaining to the philosophy of John Locke (1632-1704).—ns. Lock′ian, Lock′ist.

Lockram, lok′ram, n. a kind of coarse linen—from Locrenan, in Brittany, where made.

Locofoco, lō-kō-fō′kō, n. (U.S.) a friction match: the extreme section of the Democratic party of 1835, known as the Equal Rights Party, or any adherent of it. [L. locus, a place, focus, a hearth.]

Locomotive, lō-ko-mō′tiv, adj. moving from place to place: capable of, or assisting in, locomotion.—n. a locomotive machine: a railway engine.—ns. Locomō′tion; Locomotiv′ity; Locomō′tor.—adj. Locomō′tory.—Locomotor ataxy (see Ataxia). [L. locus, a place, movēre, motum, to move.]

Locorestive, lō-kō-res′tiv, adj. staying in one place.

Loculus, lok′ū-lus, n. (bot., anat., zool.) a small compartment or cell: in ancient catacombs, a small recess for holding an urn:—pl. Loc′ulī.—n. Loc′ulament (bot.), loculus.—adjs. Loc′ular, Loc′ulāte, Loc′ulose, Loc′ulous. [Dim. of L. locus, a place.]

Locum-tenens, lō′kum-tēn′enz, n. a deputy or substitute.—n. Lō′cum-tēn′ency, the holding by a temporary substitute of a post. [L. locus, a place, tenēre, to hold.]

Locus, lō′kus, n. (math.) the curve described by a point, or the surface generated by a line, moving in a given manner: a passage in a writing:—pl. Loci (lō′sī), a collection of passages, esp. from sacred and ancient writings, arranged with special reference to some particular theme.—Locus classicus (pl. Loci classici), a standard passage, esp. in an ancient author: that passage which is the accepted authority for some particular subject or for the use of some special or disputed word; Locus standi (law), right of place in court: recognised place or position. [L.]

Locust, lō′kust, n. a migratory winged insect, in shape like the grasshopper, highly destructive to vegetation.—v.i. (rare) to lay waste like locusts. [L. locusta.]

Locust, lō′kust, n. a tree with thorny branches and dense clusters of white, heavily-scented flowers, found in the U.S.: the carob-tree.—ns. Locus′ta, the spikelet of grasses:—pl. Locus′tæ; Lō′cust-bean, the sweet pod of the carob-tree.

Locution, lō-kū′shun, n. the act of speaking: form of speaking, phraseology, a phrase.—n. Loc′utory, a room for conversation, esp. in monastic establishments. [L. locution-em—loqui, locutus, to speak.]

Lode, lōd, n. a vein containing metallic ore: a reach of water: an open ditch.—ns. Lodes′man, a pilot; Lode′star, the star that guides, the pole-star—often used figuratively; Lode′stone, a stone or ore of iron that attracts other pieces of iron. [A.S. lád, a course—líðan, to travel.]

Lodge, loj, n. a small house in a park: a hut: the cottage of a gatekeeper: a retreat: a secret association, also the place of meeting.—v.t. to furnish with a temporary dwelling: place, deposit: to infix, to settle: to drive to covert: to lay flat, as grain.—v.i. to reside: to rest: to dwell for a time: to pass the night: to lie flat, as grain.—ns. Lodg′er, one who lodges or lives at board or in a hired room; Lodg′ing, temporary habitation: a room or rooms hired in the house of another (often in pl.): harbour; Lodg′ing-house, a house where lodgings are let, a house other than a hotel where travellers lodge; Lodg′ment, act of lodging, or state of being lodged: accumulation of something that remains at rest: (mil.) the occupation of a position by a besieging party, and the works thrown up to maintain it.—Lodger franchise, a right to vote conferred on persons occupying lodgings.—Grand Lodge, the principal lodge of Freemasons, presided over by the Grand-master. [O. Fr. loge—Old High Ger. loubā, an arbour.]

Loess, lės, or lō′es, n. a loamy deposit of Pleistocene age, in the valleys of the Rhine, Danube, and Rhone.—Also Löss. [Ger. löss.]

Loft, loft, n. the room or space immediately under a roof: a gallery in a hall or church: an upper room.—v.t. to furnish with a loft: (golf) to strike the ball up by means of a club called the Loft′er.—adv. Loft′ily.—n. Loft′iness.—adj. Loft′y, high in position, character, sentiment, or diction: stately: haughty.—Lofted house (Scot.), a house of more than one story.—Cock of the loft, the head or chief of a set. [Ice. lopt (loft), the sky, an upper room; A.S. lyft, Ger. luft, the air.]

Log, log, n. a Hebrew liquid measure, believed to be very nearly an English pint. [Heb. lōgh.]

Log, log, n. a bulky piece of wood: a heavy, stupid, or sluggish person.—adj. consisting of logs.—ns. Log′-cab′in, -house, -hut, a cabin or hut built of hewn or unhewn logs, common in new American settlements; Log′gat, a small log or piece of wood: an old game somewhat like nine-pins; Log′gerhead, a blockhead: a dunce: (naut.) a round piece of timber, in a whale-boat, over which the line is passed: a species of sea-turtle: a round mass of iron with a long handle, heated for various purposes.—adj. Log′gerheaded.—ns. Log′-head, a blockhead; Log′-man (Shak.), a man who carries logs: (U.S.) one whose occupation is to cut and remove logs—also Log′ger.—v.t. Log′-roll, to engage in log-rolling.—ns. Log′-roll′er; Log′-roll′ing, a combination for facilitating the collection of logs after the clearing of a piece of land, or for rolling logs into a stream: mutual aid given by politicians for carrying out individual schemes: a system of literary criticism conducted on the lines of mutual admiration or adulation; Log′wood, the dark-red heart-wood of Hæmatoxylon campechianum, a native of Mexico and Central America, whence it is exported in logs.—At loggerheads, at issue, quarrelling about differences of opinion, &c. [Ice. lág, a felled tree, liggja, to lie. Cf. Lie and Log.]

Log, log, n. a piece of wood with a line for measuring the speed of a ship: the record of a ship's progress.—v.t. to exhibit by the indication of the log: to enter in the logbook.—ns. Log′board; Log′book, the official record of the proceedings on board ship: a book kept by the head-master of a board-school for recording attendances and other matters connected with the school; Log′-chip, the board, in the form of a quadrant, attached to a logline; Log′-glass, a 14- or 28-second sand-glass, used with the logline to ascertain the speed of a ship; Log′line, the line fastened to the log, and marked for finding the speed of a vessel; Log′-reel, a reel on which the logline is wound; Log′-slate, a double slate, marked and ruled in the inside, for recording the log.—Heave the log, to learn the speed of a ship by logline and glass. [Sw. logg, a ship's log, a piece of wood that lies in the water.]

Logan, log′an, n. a rocking-stone.—Also Log′ging-rock. [Prob. cog. with Dan. logre, to wag the tail.]

Logaœdic, log-a-ē′dik, adj. (ancient prosody) pertaining to a variety of trochaic or iambic verse, where dactyls are combined with trochees or anapæsts with iambi. [Gr. logos, prose, aoidē, song.]

Logarithm, log′a-rithm, n. (of a number) the power to which another given number must be raised in order that it may equal the former number: one of a series of numbers having a certain relation to the series of natural numbers by means of which many arithmetical operations are simplified.—adjs. Logarith′mic, -al, pertaining to, or consisting of, logarithms.—adv. Logarith′mically. [Gr. logos, ratio, arithmos, number.]

Loggia, loj′a, n. an open arcade enclosing a passage or open apartment, common in Italy:—pl. Logg′ie (-e). [It.; cf. Lodge.]

Logia, log′i-a, n.pl. oracles, sayings, a supposed primitive collection of the sayings and discourses of Jesus, largely drawn upon by the writers of the first and third gospels for much of what they have in common with each other apart from Mark. [Gr.]

Logic, loj′ik, n. the science and art of reasoning correctly: the science of the necessary laws of thought.—adj. Log′ical, according to the rules of logic: skilled in logic: discriminating.—ns. Logical′ity, Log′icalness.—adv. Log′ically.—n. Logic′ian, one skilled in logic.—v.i. Log′icise, to argue.—Chop logic (see Chop); Deductive logic, logic independent of probability or quantitative considerations; Formal logic, logic regarded as a distinct science, independent of matters of fact; Inductive logic, the logic of scientific reasoning; Material logic, logic which takes into account natural fact or phenomena, as distinct from formal logic; Natural logic, the natural faculty of distinguishing the true from the false: the logical doctrine applicable to natural things as opposed to the logic of faith; Pure logic, the general laws of thought. [Gr. logikē, from logos, speech.]

Logistic, -al, loj-is′tik, -al, adj. skilled in calculating: proportional.—n. Logis′tic, the art of calculation, sexagesimal arithmetic: (pl.) that branch of military science relating to the movement and supplying of armies. [Gr. logistēs, a calculator—logizesthai, to compute.]

Logodædaly, log-o-dē′da-li, n. verbal legerdemain.

Logogram, log′o-gram, n. a sign which represents a word: a puzzle in which from an original word, by combinations of all or some of its letters, other words are formed, which again are concealed under synonymous expressions in a series of verses. [Gr. logos, word, gramma, letter.]

Logographer, lo-gog′ra-fėr, n. in Greek literature, one of the earliest annalists, esp. those before Herodotus.—adjs. Logograph′ic, -al.—adv. Logograph′ically.—ns. Logog′raphy, a method of printing with whole words cast in a single type; Log′otype, a type containing two or more letters. [Gr.,—logos, word, graphein, to write.]

Logogriph, log′ō-grif, n. a riddle. [Gr. logos, word, griphos, a riddle.]

Logomachy, lo-gom′a-ki, n. contention about words or in words merely.—n. Logom′achist. [Gr. logomachia—logos, word, machē, fight.]

Logomania, log-o-mā′ni-a, n. disease of the faculty of language. [Gr. logos, speech, and mania.]

Logometer, lō-gom′e-tėr, n. a logarithmic scale: a scale for measuring chemical equivalents.

Logos, log′os, n. in the Stoic philosophy, the active principle living in and determining the world: (theol.) the Word of God incarnate. [Gr.]

Loimic, loi′mik, adj. relating to the plague.—ns. Loimog′raphy; Loimol′ogy.

Loin, loin, n. the back of a beast cut for food: (pl.) the reins, or the lower part of the back.—n. Loin′-cloth, a piece of cloth for wearing round the loins.—Gird up the loins, to prepare for energetic action—the clothes tucked up before running, &c. [O. Fr. logne—L. lumbus, loin.]

Loiter, loi′tėr, v.i. to delay: to be slow in moving: to linger.—n. Loi′terer.—adv. Loi′teringly. [Dut. leuteren, to trifle; Ger. prov. lottern, to waver.]

Loki, lō′ki, n. an evil giant-god in Norse mythology.

Loligo, lō-lī′go, n. the typical genus of Loliginidæ, embracing the common European squid. [L.]

Lolium, lō′li-um, n. a genus of grasses of the tribe Hordeeæ. [L., darnel, 'tares.']

Loll, lol, v.i. to lie lazily about, to lounge: to hang out from the mouth.—v.t. to thrust out (the tongue).—n. Loll′er.—adv. Loll′ingly.—v.i. Loll′op, to lounge, idle: (coll.) to be moved heavily about. [Old Dut. lollen, to sit over the fire; cf. Lull.]

Lollards, lol′ards, n.pl. the followers of Wycliffe in England: a society founded in Antwerp (1300 A.D.) for the burial of the dead and the care of the sick.—ns. Loll′ardy, Loll′ardism, the doctrines of the Lollards. [Old Dut. Lollaerd, from their peculiar hum in singing—lollen, to sing softly; but confused with M. E. loller, an idler; cf. Loll.]

Lolly, lol′i, n. a lump.—n. Loll′ypop, a sweetmeat made with sugar and treacle: (pl.) sweets.

Loma, lō′ma, n. a lobe, flap, or fringe bordering the toe of a bird.

Lombard, lom′bard, n. an inhabitant of Lombardy in Italy: one of the Lombards or Langobardi, a Germanic tribe, which founded a kingdom in Lombardy (568), overthrown by Charlemagne (774): (obs.) a banker or money-lender, so called from the number of Lombard bankers in London.—adjs. Lom′bard, Lombar′dic.—Lombard architecture, the style used by the Lombards, derived from the base Roman style they found in the country, superseded by the Pointed Style imported from France (13th century); Lombard Street, the chief centre of the banking interest in London. [O. Fr.,—L. Langobardus, from Old Teut. lang, long, bart, beard.]

Loment, lō′ment, n. (bot.) an indehiscent legume, with constrictions or transverse articulations between the seeds—also Lomen′tum.—adj. Lomentā′ceous.

Londoner, lun′dun-ėr, n. a native or citizen of London.—adj. Londonese′, pertaining to London: cockney.—n. English as spoken in London: cockney speech.—v.t. and v.i. Lon′donise.—n. Lon′donism, a mode of speech, &c., peculiar to London.—London clay, a geological formation in south-eastern England, belonging to the lower division of the Eocene Tertiary; London pride, a hardy perennial cultivated in cottage-gardens—also None-so-pretty and St Patrick's cabbage.

Lone, lōn, Lonely, lōn′li, adj. alone: solitary: retired: standing by itself.—ns. Lone′liness, Lone′ness.—adj. Lone′some, solitary: dismal.—adv. Lone′somely.—n. Lone′someness. [Alone.]

Long, long, conj. by means (of), owing (to). [Along.]

Long, long, v.i. (Spens.) to belong.

Long, long, adj. (comp. Long′er; superl. Long′est) extended: not short: extended in time: slow in coming: tedious: far-reaching.—n. (prosody) a long time or syllable: (coll.) the long summer vacation at the English universities, termed 'the Long.'—adv. to a great extent in space or time: through the whole: all along.—v.i. to desire earnestly.—adv. Long′-agō′, in the far past.—n. the far past.—n. Longanim′ity, long-suffering, endurance.—adj. Longan′imous.—ns. Long′boat, the largest and strongest boat of a ship; Long′-bow, a bow bent by the hand in shooting, called long as distinguished from the cross-bow.—adj. Long′-breathed, able to continue violent exercise of the lungs for a long time.—n.pl. Long′-coats, long clothes, worn by infants.—adj. Long′-descend′ed, of ancient lineage.—n. Long′-doz′en, thirteen.—adjs. Long′-drawn, prolonged; Longeval, Longevous (-jē′-), of long or great age.—ns. Longevity (-jev′-); Long′-field (cricket), a fielder placed near the boundary on the bowler's side; Long′-firm, the name given to a company of swindlers who obtain goods on pretence of being established in business, and then decamp without payment to do the like elsewhere; Long′hand, writing of the ordinary kind.—adj. Long′-head′ed, having good intellectual powers: sagacious.—ns. Long′-head′edness; Long′-hun′dred, a hundred and twenty.—adjs. Lon′gicorn (-ji-), having long antennæ; Longimanous (-jim′-), long-handed; Longimet′ric.—ns. Longimetry (-jim′-), the art of measuring distances; Long′ing, an eager desire, craving, esp. of the whimsical desires sometimes felt in pregnancy.—adv. Long′ingly.—n. Longinquity (-jinq′-), greatness of distance.—adj. Longipen′nate (-ji-), long-winged, as gulls.—n. Longiros′ter (-ji-), one of a family of birds having a long, slender bill, as the snipe.—adjs. Longiros′tral, Longiros′trate (-ji-), having a long bill or beak; Long′ish.—n. Lon′gitude (-ji-), distance of a place east or west of a given meridian: distance in degrees from the vernal equinox, on the ecliptic—adj. Longitud′inal, pertaining to longitude or length: extending lengthwise.—adv. Longitud′inally.—n. Long′-leg (cricket), see Leg.—adj. Long′-legged, having long legs.—n. Long′legs, an insect with long legs, as the common crane-fly.—adj. Long′-lived, having a long life.—adv. Long′ly (Shak.), longingly.—ns. Long′-meas′ure, lineal measure; Long′-off, Long′-on (cricket), the fielders in the long-field to the left and right of the bowler respectively; Long′-prim′er, a size of type intermediate between small pica and bourgeois; Long′-pur′ples, the manorchis.—adj. Long′-range, able to reach or hit from a considerable distance.—n.pl. Longs′-and-shorts′, verses.—adj. Long′shore, existing or employed along the shore.—n. Long′shoreman, a stevedore: one who makes a living along shores by oyster-fishing, &c.—adj. Long′-sight′ed, able to see far but not close at hand: sagacious.—ns. Long′-sight′edness; Long′-slip (cricket), a fielder some distance behind on the right of the batsman.—adjs. Long′some, long and tedious; Long′-spun, long-drawn, tedious; Long′-stā′ple, having a long fibre.—n. Long′-stop (cricket), one who stands behind the wicket-keeper and stops balls missed by him.—v.i. to field at long-stop.—adj. Long′-suff′ering, enduring long.—n. long endurance or patience.—n. Long′-tail, an animal, esp. a dog, with uncut tail—also adj.—adjs. Long′-tongued, talkative, babbling; Long′-vis′aged, having a long face, of rueful countenance; Long′-waist′ed, having a long waist, long from the armpits to the hips; Long′-wind′ed, long-breathed: tedious.—n. Long′-wind′edness.—adv. Long′wise, lengthwise.—Long home, the grave; Long Tom (see Tom).—A long figure (slang), a high price or rate; Before long, Ere long, soon; Draw the long-bow, to exaggerate, to tell incredible stories; For long, for a considerable period of time; In the long-run (see Run); Make a long arm (prov.), to help one's self liberally at table; The long and the short, the sum of the matter in a few words. [A.S. lang; Ger. lang, Ice. langr.]

Loo, lōō, n. a game at cards.—v.t. to beat in the game of loo:—pr.p. lōō′ing; pa.p. lōōed.—n. Loo′-tā′ble, a table for loo. [Formerly lanterloo—Dut. lanterlu. Cf. Dut. lanterfant, an idler.]

Looby, lōōb′i, n. a clumsy, clownish fellow.—adv. Loob′ily. [From root of lob.]

Loof, lōōf, n. the after-part of a ship's bow where the planks begin to curve in towards the cut-water. [Dut. loef, the weather-gauge, luff, orig. a paddle for steering; perh. conn. with loof, palm.]

Loof, lōōf, n. (Scot) the palm of the hand. [Ice. lófi.]

Loofa. See Luffa.

Look, lōōk, v.i. to turn the eye toward so as to see; to direct the attention to: to watch: to seem: to face, as a house: (B.) to expect.—v.t. to express by a look: to influence by look.—n. the act of looking or seeing: sight: air of the face: appearance.—imp. or interj. see: behold.—ns. Look′er, one who looks; Look′er-on, one that looks on, a mere spectator; Look′ing, seeing: search or searching; Look′ing-for (B.), expectation; Look′ing-glass, a glass which reflects the image of the person looking into it, a mirror; Look′out, a careful watching for: an elevated place from which to observe: one engaged in watching.—Look about, to be on the watch; Look after, to attend to or take care of: (B.) to expect; Look alive (coll.), to bestir one's self; Look down on, to treat with indifference, to despise; Look for, to search for, to expect; Look into, to inspect closely; Look on, to regard, view, think; Look out, to watch: to select; Look over, to examine cursorily: to overlook or pass over anything; Look through, to penetrate with the eye or the understanding; Look to, to take care of: to depend on; Look up, to search for: (coll.) to call upon, visit.—Have a look in (slang), to have a chance. [A.S. lócian, to look.]

Loom, lōōm, n. a machine in which yarn or thread is woven into a fabric, by the crossing of threads called chain or warp, running lengthwise, with others called weft, woof, or filling; the handle of an oar, or the part within the rowlock.—n. Jac′quard-loom, a famous apparatus devised by Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834), invaluable in weaving the finer kinds of figured silk fabrics. [A.S. gelóma, a tool.]

Loom, lōōm, v.i. to appear above the horizon, or larger than the real size: to show large in darkness, &c.: to stand out prominently in the future.—n. Loom′ing, a mirage. [O. Fr. lumer—L. lumināre.]

Loon, lōōn, n. a low fellow: a rascal: (Scot.) a lad. [Old Dut. loen, a stupid fellow, lome, slow.]

Loon, lōōn, n. a genus of web-footed aquatic birds, the Divers, with short wings, and legs placed very far back—also Loom.—n. Loon′ing, the cry of a loon, like the howl of a wolf, ominous of evil. [Ice. lómr, prob. influenced by loon, as above, from their awkward walk on land.]

Loop, lōōp, n. a doubling of a cord, chain, &c., through which another may pass: an ornamental doubling in fringes.—v.t. to fasten or ornament with loops.—n.pl. Loop′ers, the caterpillars of certain moths, which move by drawing up the hindpart of their body to the head.—n. Loop′-line, a branch from a main line of railway, returning to it after making a detour. [Prob. Celt.; Gael. lub, a bend.]

Loop, lōōp, Loophole, lōōp′hōl, n. a small hole in a wall, &c., through which small-arms may be fired: a means of escape.—adjs. Looped (Shak.), full of small openings; Loop′holed.—n. Loop′-light, a small narrow window. [O. Fr. loup.]

Loord, lōōrd, n. (Spens.) a lout. [Fr. lourd, heavy.]

Loos, lōōs, n. (Spens.) praise. [L. laus, praise.]

Loose, lōōs, adj. slack, free: unbound: not confined: not compact: indefinite: vague: not strict: unrestrained: lax in principle: licentious: inattentive.—adj. Loose′-bod′ied, flowing.—n. Loose′-kir′tle, a wanton.—adv. Loose′ly.—ns. Loos′ener, a laxative; Loose′ness, the state of being loose: diarrhœa.—Loose box, a part of a stable where horses are kept untied.—Break loose, to escape from confinement; Give a loose to, to give free vent to; Let loose, to set at liberty. [A.S. leás, loose; from the same root as loose (v.t.) and lose, seen also in Goth. laus, Ger. los; more prob. due to Ice. lauss.]

Loose, lōōs, v.t. to free from any fastening: to release: to relax: (Spens.) to solve.—v.i. (B.) to set sail.—v.t. Loos′en, to make loose: to relax anything tied or rigid: to make less dense; to open, as the bowels.—v.i. to become loose: to become less tight. [A.S. lósian; Ger. lösen, Goth. lausjan, to loose.]

Loosestrife, lōōs′strīf, n. the popular name for a plant of the natural order Lythraceæ (q.v.).

Loot, lōōt, n. act of plundering, esp. in a conquered city: plunder.—v.t. or v.i. to plunder, ransack. [Hindi lūt—Sans. lotra, loptra, stolen goods.]

Lop, lop, v.i. to hang down loosely.—adjs. Lop′-eared, having ears which hang downwards; Lop′sided, heavier on one side than the other, as a ship.

Lop, lop, v.t. to cut off the top or ends of, esp. of a tree: to curtail by cutting away superfluous parts:—pr.p. lop′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. lopped.—n. twigs of trees cut off—ns. Lop′per; Lop′ping, a cutting off: that which is cut off. [Cf. Dut. lubben, to cut; perh. conn. with leaf.]

Lope, lōp, v.i. to leap: to run with a long stride.

Lophobranch, lō′fō-brangk, adj. having tufted gills.—Also Lophobran′chiate. [Gr. lophos, a crest, brachia, gills.]

Loquacious, lo-kwā′shus, adj. talkative.—adv. Loquā′ciously.—ns. Loquā′ciousness, Loquac′ity, talkativeness. [L. loquax, -acis—loqui, to speak.]

Loquat, lō′kwat, n. an esteemed Chinese and Japanese fruit, yellowish, flavouring tarts. [Chinese.]

Lorate, lōr′āt, adj. (bot.) resembling a thong or strap. [L. loratus—lorum, a thong.]

Lorcha, lor′cha, n. a light vessel of European build, but rigged like a Chinese junk.

Lord, lawrd, n. a master: a superior: a husband: a ruler: the proprietor of a manor: a baron: a peer of the realm: the son of a duke or marquis, or the eldest son of an earl: a bishop, esp. if a member of parliament: (B.) the Supreme Being, Jehovah (when printed in capitals): a name also applied to Christ.—v.t. to raise to the peerage.—v.i. to act the lord: to tyrannise.—ns. Lord′liness; Lord′ling, a little lord: a would-be lord—also Lord′ing, Lord′kin.—adj. Lord′ly, like, becoming, or pertaining to a lord: dignified: haughty: tyrannical—also adv.—ns. Lordol′atry, excessive worship of nobility; Lords′-and-lā′dies, a popular name for the common arum (q.v.); Lord's′-day, the first day of the week; Lord′ship, state or condition of being a lord: the territory belonging to a lord: dominion: authority; Lord's′-sup′per, the sacrament of the communion, instituted at our Lord's last supper.—Lord-lieutenant of a county (see Lieutenant); Lord-lieutenant Of Ireland, a viceroy or deputy of the sovereign to whom the government of Ireland is nominally committed; Lord of misrule (see Misrule); Lords of Session, the judges of the Scotch Court of Session; Lords Ordinary, the five judges forming the outer house of the Court of Session; Lords spiritual, the archbishops and bishops in the House of Lords—opp. to Lords temporal, the peers proper.—House of Lords, the upper house in the two branches of the British parliament, consisting of the lords spiritual and temporal. [M. E. loverd, laverd—A.S. hláford—hláf, a loaf, bread, weard, warder.]

Lordosis, lor-dō′sis, n. abnormal curvature of the spinal column, the convexity towards the front.

Lore, lōr, n. that which is learned: doctrine: learning.—n. Lor′ing (Spens.), learning. [A.S. lár.]

Lore, lōr, n. (Spens.) something like a thong: (ornith.) the side of the head between the eye and the base of the upper mandible.

Lorel, lor′el, n. (Spens.) an idle fellow. [Losel.]

Lorette, lō-ret′, n. a showy strumpet. [Fr.]

Lorgnette, lōr-nyet′, n. an opera-glass.—n. Lor′gnon, an eye-glass with a handle. [Fr.]

Lorica, lo-rī′ka, n. in ancient Rome, a cuirass made of thongs—also Lor′ic (Browning).—v.t. Lor′icāte, to furnish with a coat-of-mail: to plate or coat over.—adj. covered with defensive armour: imbricated.—n. Loricā′tion, a coating or crusting over, as with plates of mail. [L.,—lorum, a thong.]

Lorikeet, lor-i-kēt′, n. a small parrot, a kind of lory.

Lorimer, lor′i-mėr, n. a maker of horse-furniture.—Also Lor′iner. [Fr. lormier—L. lorum, a thong.]

Loriot, lō′ri-ut, n. the oriole. [Fr. le, the, oriol—L. aureolus, dim. of aureus, golden—aurum, gold.]

Loris, lō′ris, n. the slender lemur of Ceylon.

Lorn, lorn, adj. (Spens.) lost, forsaken. [A.S. loren, pa.p. of leósan, to lose.]

Lorry, lor′i, n. a four-wheeled wagon without sides. [Perh. from prov. Eng. lurry, to pull.]

Lory, lō′ri, n. a common name for the members of a family of Australian parrots. [Malay.]

Lose, lōōz, v.t. to be deprived of: to cease to have: to mislay: to waste, as time: to miss: to bewilder: to cause to perish: to ruin.—v.i. to fail, to be unsuccessful: to suffer waste:—pr.p. los′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. lost.—adj. Los′able.—n. Los′er.—adj. Los′ing, causing loss.—adv. Los′ingly.—n. Loss, the act of losing: injury: destruction: defeat: that which is lost: waste.—adj. Lost, parted with: no longer possessed: missing: thrown away: squandered: ruined.—Lose one's self, to lose one's way, to become bewildered; Lost to, insensible to; Lost tribes, the tribes of Israel which never returned from captivity.—At a loss, in uncertainty. [A.S. losian—leósan; cog. with Ger. ver-lieren, to lose.]

Losel, lō′zel, n. a sorry, worthless fellow: a scamp.—adj. slothful: wasteful—n. Lō′selism, worthlessness, worthless fellows collectively. [Prob. lose.]

Löss. See Loess.

Lot, lot, n. one's fate in the future: destiny: that which falls to any one as his fortune: that which decides by chance: a separate portion.—v.t. to allot: to separate into lots: to catalogue:—pr.p. lot′ting; pa.p. lot′ted.—Cast, or Draw, lots, to determine an event by some arrangement of chances. [A.S. hlot, hlýt, a lot—hleótan, to cast lots.]

Lotah, lō′ta, n. a Hindu small brass or copper pot.

Lote. See Lotus.

Loth, lōth, adj. Same as Loathful, Loathly.

Lothario, lō-thā′ri-ō, n. a libertine, rake. [From Lothario, in Rowe's play, The Fair Penitent.]

Lotion, lō′shun, n. a liquid preparation for healing or cleansing any diseased or bruised part. [Fr.,—L.,—lavāre lotum, to wash.]

Lottery, lot′ėr-i, n. a distribution of prizes by lot or chance: a game of chance.

Lotto, lot′ō, n. a game played with numbered discs and cards.—Also Lot′o. [It.]

Lotus, lō′tus, n. the water-lily of Egypt: a tree in North Africa, whose fruit made strangers forget their home: a genus of leguminous plants—also Lote, Lō′tos.—ns.pl. Lotō′phagi, Lō′tus-eat′ers, a people who ate the fruit of the lotus, among whom Ulysses lived for a time.—ns. Lō′tus-eat′er, an eater of the lotus: one given up to sloth; Lō′tus-land, the country of the lotus-eaters. [Gr.]

Loud, lowd, adj. making a great sound: noisy: showy.—advs. Loud, Loud′ly.—adj. Loud′-lunged, vociferous.—n. Loud′ness.—adj. Loud′-voiced, stentorian. [A.S, hlúd; Ger. laut, sound; L. inclytus, renowned, Gr. klytos, heard.]

Lough, loh, n. the Irish form of loch.

Louis, lōō′i, n. a French gold coin superseded in 1795 by the 20-franc piece—also Lou′is-d'or.—adjs. Lou′is-Quatorze′, characteristic of the reign of Louis XIV. (1643-1715), in architecture and decoration; Lou′is-Quinze, of that of Louis XV. (1715-74); Lou′is-Seize, of that of Louis XVI. (1774-92); Lou′is-Treize, of that of Louis XIII. (1610-43).

Lounder, lown′dėr, v.t. (Scot.) to beat.—n. a heavy blow.—n. Loun′dering, a beating.

Lounge, lownj, v.i. to recline at one's ease: to move about listlessly.—n. the act or state of lounging: an idle stroll: a place for lounging: a kind of sofa.—n. Loung′er. [Fr. longis, one that is long in doing anything, formed (but with a pun on L. longus, long) from L. Longius or Longinus, the legendary name of the centurion who pierced the body of Christ.]

Loup, lōōp, n. (Spens.) loop.

Loup, lowp, v.i. (Scot.) to leap.—ns. Loup′ing-ill, a disease causing sheep to spring up in walking; Loup′ing-on′-stane, a stone from which to mount a horse; Loup′-the-dyke′, runaway.

Lour, lowr, v.i. Same as lower, to frown.

Louse, lows, n. a common wingless parasitic insect, with a flat body, and short legs furnished with claws:—pl. Lice (līs).—v.t. (obs.) to remove lice from.—n. Lous′iness.—adj. Lous′y, swarming with lice. [A.S. lús, pl. lýs; Ger. laus; from the root of Goth. liusan, to destroy.]

Lout, lowt, n. a clown, awkward fellow.—v.t. to treat as a lout.—v.i. to bend.—adj. Lout′ish, clownish: awkward and clumsy.—adv. Lout′ishly.—n. Lout′ishness. [A.S. lútan, to stoop.]

Louvre, Louver, lōō′vėr, n. an opening of a turret shape on roofs, to allow the smoke or foul air to escape from halls, kitchens, &c.—n. Lou′vre-win′dow, an open window in a church tower, crossed by a series of sloping boards. [O. Fr. louvert for l'ouvert, the open space.]

Lovage, luv′āj, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Umbelliferæ, allied to Angelica, used as a salad plant: a liquor made from the above. [O. Fr. luvesche—L. ligusticum, belonging to Liguria.]

Love, luv, n. fondness: an affection of the mind caused by that which delights: pre-eminent kindness: benevolence: reverential regard: devoted attachment to one of the opposite sex: the object of affection: the god of love, Cupid: (Shak.) a kindness, a favour done: nothing, in billiards, tennis, and some other games.—v.t. to be fond of: to regard with affection: to delight in with exclusive affection: to regard with benevolence.—v.i. to have the feeling of love.—adj. Lov′able, worthy of love: amiable.—ns. Love′-app′le, the fruit of the tomato; Love′bird, a genus of small birds of the parrot tribe, so called from their attachment to each other; Love′-brok′er (Shak.), a third person who carries messages and makes assignations between lovers; Love′-charm, a philtre; Love′-child, a bastard; Love′-day (Shak.), a day for settling disputes; Love′-fā′vour, something given to be worn in token of love; Love′-feast, a religious feast held periodically by certain sects of Christians in imitation of the love-feasts celebrated by the early Christians in connection with the Lord's-supper; Love′-feat, the gallant act of a lover; Love′-in-ī′dleness, the heart's-ease; Love′-juice, a concoction used to excite love; Love′-knot, an intricate knot, used as a token of love.—adj. Love′less, without love, tenderness, or kindness.—ns. Love′-lett′er, a letter of courtship; Love′-lies-bleed′ing, a species of the plant Amaranthus; Love′liness; Love′lock, a lock of hair hanging at the ear, worn by men of fashion in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.—adj. Love′lorn, forsaken by one's love.—n. Love′lornness.—adj. Love′ly, exciting love or admiration: amiable: pleasing: delightful.—adv. beautifully, delightfully.—ns. Love′-match, a marriage for love, not money; Love′-mong′ėr, one who deals in affairs of love; Love′-pō′tion, a philtre; Lov′er, one who loves, esp. one in love with person of the opposite sex, in the singular almost exclusively of the man: one who is fond of anything: (B.) a friend.—adjs. Lov′ered (Shak.), having a lover; Lov′erly, like a lover.—n. Love′-shaft, a dart of love from Cupid's bow.—adjs. Love′-sick, languishing with amorous desire; Love′some, lovely.—ns. Love′-suit (Shak.), courtship; Love′-tō′ken, a gift in evidence of love.—adj. Lov′ing, having love or kindness: affectionate: fond: expressing love.—ns. Lov′ing-cup (see under Cup); Lov′ing-kind′ness, kindness full of love: tender regard: mercy: favour.—adv. Lov′ingly.—n. Lov′ingness.—For love or money, in some way or another; In love, enamoured; Make love to, to try to gain the affections of; Play for love, to play without stakes; There's no love lost between them, they have no regard for each other. [A.S. lufu, love; Ger. liebe; cf. L. libet, lubet.]

Lovelace, luv′lās, n. a well-mannered libertine. [From Lovelace, the hero of Clarissa Harlowe.]

Lover, an obsolete form of louvre.

Low, lō, v.i. to make the loud noise of oxen: to bellow.—n. the bellow of oxen.—n. Low′ing, the bellowing of cattle. [A.S. hlówan; Dut. loeijen; imit.]

Low, lō, adj. (comp. Low′er; superl. Low′est) lying in an inferior place or position: not high: deep: shallow: small: moderate: cheap: dejected: mean: plain: in poor circumstances: humble.—adv. not aloft: cheaply: meanly: in subjection, poverty, or disgrace: in times near our own: not loudly: (astron.) near the equator.—adj. Low′-born, of mean birth.—ns. Low′-church, a party within the Church of England minimising sacerdotal claims, ecclesiastical constitutions, ordinances, and forms, holding evangelical views of theology:—opp. to High-church; Low′-church′ism; Low′-church′man.—v.t. Low′er, to bring low: to depress: to degrade: to diminish.—v.i. to fall: to sink: to grow less.—adjs. Low′er-case (print.), kept in a lower case, denoting small letters as distinguished from capitals; Low′er-class, pertaining to persons of the humbler ranks.—n. Low′ering, the act of bringing low or reducing.—adj. letting down: sinking: degrading.—adj. Low′ermost, lowest.—ns. Low′land, land low with respect to higher land; Low′lander, a native of lowlands; Low′-life, humble life; Low′lihead, Low′lihood, a lowly or humble state; Low′liness.—adjs. Low′-lived, vulgar: shabby; Low′ly, of a low or humble mind: not high: meek: modest; Low′-mind′ed, moved by base or gross motives: vulgar; Low′-necked, cut low in the neck and away from the shoulders, décolleté.—n. Low′ness.—adjs. Low′-press′ure, employing or exerting a low degree of pressure (viz. less than 50 lb. to the sq. inch), said of steam and steam-engines; Low′-spir′ited, having the spirits low or cast down: not lively: sad.—n. Low′-spir′itedness.—adj. Low′-thought′ed, having the thoughts directed to low pursuits.—n. Low′-wa′ter, the lowest point of the tide at ebb.—Low Latin, a term often applied loosely to the Latin spoken and written after the fall of the Roman Empire, as well as during the Middle Ages; Low Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, so called in contrast to the great festival whose octave it ends; Low wines, the weak spirit produced from the first distillation of substances containing alcohol.—Lie low, to keep quiet or hidden. [Ice. lágr, Dut. laag, low; allied to A.S. licgan, to lie.]

Low, low, n. (Scot.) a flame.—v.i. to blaze.—n. Low′-bell, a bell used in fowling by night, in connection with a light, to frighten birds into a net. [Ice. logi; cf. Dan. lue, Ger. lohe.]

Lower, low′ėr, v.i. to appear gloomy, as the clouds: to threaten a storm: to frown.—adjs. Lou′ry, Low′ery, cloudy; Low′ering, looking sullen: appearing dark and threatening.—adv. Low′eringly. [M. E. louren, from M. E. lure, lere, the cheek, allied to A.S. hleór, and thus a variant of leer.]

Lown, lown, n. a variant of loon.

Lown, lown, adj. (Scot.) sheltered, tranquil.

Loxia, lok′si-a, n. wryneck. [Gr.]

Loxodromic, lok-so-drom′ik, adj. pertaining to certain lines on the surface of a sphere which cut all meridians at the same angle, and indicate the course held by ships in rhumb sailing.—Loxodromic curve, line, or spiral, the course of a ship oblique to the equator and cutting all the meridians at the same angle, sailing constantly toward the same point of the compass.—Loxodromics, the art of such oblique sailing. [Gr. loxos, oblique, dromos, a course.]

Loyal, loi′al, adj. faithful to one's sovereign: obedient: true to a lover.—n. Loy′alist, a loyal adherent of his sovereign, esp. in English history, a partisan of the Stuarts: in the American war, one that sided with the British troops.—adv. Loy′ally.—n. Loy′alty. [Fr.,—L. legalis—lex, legis, law.]

Lozenge, loz′enj, n. an oblique-angled parallelogram or a rhombus: a small cake of flavoured sugar, originally lozenge or diamond shaped: (her.) the rhomb-shaped figure in which the arms of maids, widows, and deceased persons are borne.—adjs. Loz′enged, formed in the shape of a lozenge; Loz′enge-shaped, shaped like a lozenge or rhomb; Loz′engy (her.), divided into lozenge-shaped compartments. [O. Fr. losange, flattery, whence its use for an epitaph, square slab, window-pane.]

Lubber, lub′ėr, Lubbard, lub′ard, n. an awkward, clumsy fellow: a lazy, sturdy fellow.—adj. Lubb′ard, lubberly.—adj. and adv. Lubb′erly.—n. Lubb′er's-hole (naut.), a hole between the head of the lower mast and the edge of the top through which 'lubbers' may climb, instead of going round the futtock shroud. [W. llob, a dolt, llabbi, a stripling.]

Lubricate, lū′bri-kāt, v.t. to make smooth or slippery: to supply with oil to overcome friction.—adjs. Lū′bric, -al, Lū′bricous, slippery: lewd.—ns. Lū′bricant; Lubricā′tion.—adj. Lū′bricative.—ns. Lū′bricator; Lubricity (lū-bris′i-ti), slipperiness: smoothness: instability: lewdness; Lubrifac′tion. [L. lubricāre, -ātum—lubricus, slippery.]

Lucarne, lū′kärn, n. a dormer-window, esp. in a church spire. [Fr.,—L. lucerna, a lamp.]

Luce, lūs, n. a fresh-water fish, the pike. [O. Fr. lus—Low L. lucius.]

Lucent, lū′sent, adj. shining: bright.—n. Lū′cency, brightness.—adj. Lucer′nal, pertaining to a lamp. [L. lucens—lucēre, to shine—lux, lucis, light.]

Lucerne, lū′sėrn, n. a species of Medick, a valuable forage-plant. [Fr. luzerne.]

Lucid, lū′sid, adj. shining: transparent: easily understood: intellectually bright: not darkened with madness.—ns. Lucid′ity, Lū′cidness.—adv. Lū′cidly.—ns. Luc′ifer, the planet Venus when it appears as the morning-star: Satan: a match of wood tipped with a combustible substance ignited by friction.—adjs. Lucifē′rian, Lucif′erous, of or pertaining to Lucifer: bearing light: affording means of discovery; Lucif′ugal, Lucif′ugous, shunning light.—n. Lucim′eter, an instrument for measuring the intensity and duration of sunshine in promoting evaporation. [L.,—lux, lucis, light.]

Lucigen, lū′si-jen, n. one of the most powerful artificial lamps, and specially adapted for lighting large spaces, whether open or covered. [L. lux, lucis, light, and root of gignĕre, to beget.]

Lucina, lū′sī-na, n. a name applied both to Diana and to Juno—to the latter as the especial divinity that presides over childbirth. [L.,—lux, light.]