Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) (part 4 of 5)

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) (part 4 of 5)

JURASSIC, j[=oo]-ras'sik, adj. (geol.) one of the three divisions of the Mesozoic rocks, including the Lias and Oolites, and so called from its well-developed strata in the Jura Mountains.

JURAT, j[=oo]'rat, n. the official memorandum at the end of an affidavit, showing the time when and the person before whom it was sworn.

JURAT, j[=oo]'rat, n. a sworn officer, as a magistrate.

JURANT, j[=oo]'rant, adj. taking an oath.--n. one who takes an oath.--adj. JU'RATORY, pertaining to an oath.

JURIDICAL, j[=oo]-rid'ik-al, adj. relating to the distribution of justice: pertaining to a judge: used in courts of law.--adv. JURID'ICALLY. [L. juridicus--jus, juris, law, dicere[typo: dic[)e]re], to declare.]

JURISCONSULT, j[=oo]-ris-kon'sult, n. one who is consulted on the law: a lawyer who gives opinions on cases put to him: a jurist. [L. jus, juris, law, consultus--consultere, to consult.]

JURISDICTION, j[=oo]-ris-dik'shun, n. the distribution of justice: legal authority: extent of power: district over which any authority extends.--adjs. JURISDIC'TIONAL, JURISDIC'TIVE. [Fr.,--L. jurisdictio.]

JURISPRUDENCE, j[=oo]-ris-pr[=oo]'dens, n. the science or knowledge of law.--adj. JURISPRU'DENT, learned in law.--n. one who is learned in law.--adj. JURISPRUDEN'TIAL.--MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE, forensic medicine (see FORENSIC). [Fr.--L., jurisprudentia--jus, juris, law, prudentia, knowledge.]

JURIST, j[=oo]'rist, n. one who is versed in the science of law, esp. Roman or civil law: a civilian.--adjs. JURIST'IC, -AL.--adv. JURIST'ICALLY. [Fr. juriste.]

JURY, j[=oo]'ri, n. a body of not less than twelve men, selected and sworn, as prescribed by law, to declare the truth on evidence before them: a committee for deciding prizes at a public exhibition.--ns. JU'ROR, one who serves on a jury--also JU'RYMAN; JU'RY-BOX, the place in which the jury sit during a trial.--JURY OF MATRONS, a jury of 'discreet' women impanelled to try a question of pregnancy, as where a widow alleges herself to be with child by her late husband, or a woman sentenced to death, to stay execution, pleads that she is with child. [Fr. juré, sworn--jurer--L. jur[=a]re, to swear.]

JURYMAST, j[=oo]'ri-mäst, n. a temporary mast raised instead of one lost.--adj. JU'RY-RIGGED, rigged in a temporary way.--n. JU'RY-RUDD'ER, a temporary rudder for one lost. [Not injury-mast, but O. Fr. ajurie, aid--L. adjut[=a]re, to aid.]

JUS, jus, n. law right.--JUS CIVILE, the civil law; JUS DIVINUM, the divine right of kings; JUS GENTIUM, law of nations; JUS MARITI, the right of a husband; JUS NATURALE, the law of nature, the common sense of justice; JUS PRIMÆ NOCTIS, the alleged right of a feudal superior to deflower a young bride.

JUSSIVE, jus'iv, adj. expressing command.--n. a grammatical form or construction expressing commands.

JUST, just, n. a tilt. Same as JOUST.

JUST, just, adv. lawful: upright: exact: regular: true: righteous.--adv. precisely, almost exactly, very lately, (coll.) quite, barely.--adv. JUST'LY, in a just manner: equitably: uprightly: accurately: by right.--n. JUST'NESS, equity: propriety: exactness. [Fr.,--L. justus--jus, law.]

JUSTICE, jus'tis, n. quality of being just: integrity: impartiality: desert: retribution: a judge: a magistrate.--ns. JUS'TICESHIP, office or dignity of a justice or judge; JUSTIC'IARY, JUSTIC'IAR, an administrator of justice: a chief-justice.--JUSTICE OF THE PEACE (abb. J.P.), an inferior magistrate; JUSTICES' JUSTICE, a term sarcastically applied to the kind of justice sometimes administered by the unpaid and amateur magistracy of England.--LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE, the chief judge of the King's (or Queen's) Bench Division of the High Court of Justice; LORD JUSTICE-CLERK, the Scottish judge ranking next to the Lord-Justice-general, presiding over the Outer House or Second Division of the Court of Session, vice-president of the High Court of Justiciary; LORD JUSTICE-GENERAL, the highest judge in Scotland, called also the Lord President of the Court of Session.--HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY, the supreme criminal court of justice in Scotland. [Fr.,--L. justitia.]

JUSTIFY, jus'ti-f[=i], v.t. to make just: to prove or show to be just or right: to vindicate: to absolve:--pr.p. jus'tifying; pa.p. jus'tified.--adj. JUSTIF[=I]'ABLE, that may be justified or defended.--n. JUSTIF[=I]'ABLENESS.--adv. JUSTIF[=I]'ABLY.--n. JUSTIFIC[=A]'TION, vindication: absolution: a plea of sufficient reason for.--adjs. JUS'TIFIC[=A]TIVE, JUS'TIFIC[=A]TORY, having power to justify.--n. JUS'TIFIER, one who defends, or vindicates: he who pardons and absolves from guilt and punishment.--JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH, the doctrine that men are justified by faith in Christ. [Fr.,--L. justific[=a]re--justus, just, fac[)e]re, to make.]

JUSTLE, jus'l, v.t. Same as JOSTLE.

JUT, jut, v.i. to project:--pr.p. jut'ting; pa.p. jut'ted.--adv. JUT'TINGLY, projectingly.--n. JUT'-WIN'DOW, a projecting window. [A form of jet.]

JUTE, j[=oo]t, n. the fibre of an Indian plant resembling hemp, used in the manufacture of coarse bags, mats, &c. [Orissa jhot, Sans. jhat.]

JUTTY, jut'i, n. a projecting part of a building: a pier, a jetty.--v.t. and v.i. (Shak.) to jut. [Jut.]

JUVENAL, j[=oo]'ve-nal, n. (Shak.) a youth. [L.]

JUVENESCENT, j[=oo]-ven-es'ent, adj. becoming young.--n. JUVENESC'ENCE. [L. juvenesc[)e]re, to grow young.]

JUVENILE, j[=oo]'ve-n[=i]l, or -nil, adj. young: pertaining or suited to youth: puerile.--n. a young person: a book written for such: an actor who plays youthful parts.--ns. JU'VENILENESS, JUVENIL'ITY. [Fr.,--L. juvenilis--juvenis, young.]

JUXTAPOSITION, juks-ta-p[=o]-zish'un, n. a placing or being placed near: contiguity.--v.t. JUXTAPOSE', to place side by side. [L. juxta, near, and position.]

JYMOLD, j[=i]'mold, adj. (Shak.). Same as GIMMAL.

* * * * *

K the eleventh letter in our alphabet, its sound that of the sharp guttural mute, formed by raising the tongue to the back of the palate: (chem.) the symbol for potassium: (math.) generally a constant coefficient: also a unit vector perpendicular to i and j: as a medieval numeral, 250.

KAABA, kä'bä, or k[=a]'a-bä, n. Same as CAABA (q.v.).

KABALA, kab'a-la, n. Same as CABALA.

KABYLE, ka-b[=i]l', n. one of a branch of the great Berber race of North Africa: a dialect of Berber spoken by many of the Kabyles. [Fr.,--Ar. Qab[=a]il, pl. of qab[=i]la, a tribe.]

KADDISH, kad'ish, n. a Jewish form of thanksgiving and prayer, used at funerals, &c. [Heb.]

KADI, k[=a]'di, n. Same as CADI.

KAE, k[=a], n. (Scot.) a jackdaw.--Also KA.

KAFFIYEH, kaf'i-ye, n. a small shawl worn about the head in Syria.

KAFILA, kaf'i-la, n. a camel train, caravan.

KAFIR, kaf'ir, n. one of a native race of SE. Africa.--KAFIR BREAD, the pith of a South African plant; KAFIR CORN, Indian millet. [Ar., unbeliever.]

KAFTAN. Same as CAFTAN.

KAGO, kag'[=o], n. a Japanese basket with palanquin slung from a pole and carried by men.

KAIAK. Same as KAYAK.

KAIF, k[=i]f, n. undisturbed quiescence. [Ar.]

KAIL, k[=a]l, n. a ninepin. [Cf. Dut. and Ger. kegel.]

KAIL. See KALE.

KAIMAKAM, k[=i]-ma-kam', n. a lieutenant-colonel in the Turkish army: the administrator of a subdivision of a vilayet.

KAIN, k[=a]n, n. in old Scots law, rent paid in kind, e.g. in poultry, to a landlord.

KAINITE, k[=i]'n[=i]t, n. a hydrated compound of the chlorides and sulphates of magnesium and potassium, used as a fertiliser. [Gr. kainos, new.]

KAINOZOIC. Same as CAINOZOIC.

KAISER, k[=i]'z[.e]r, n. an emperor, esp. of Germany and Austria.--n. KAI'SERSHIP. [Ger.,--L. Cæsar.]

KAKA, kä'ka, n. a New Zealand parrot.--n. KA'KAPO, a nocturnal flightless New Zealand parrot.

KAKEMONO, kak-e-m[=o]'n[=o], n. a Japanese wall-picture or decoration, painted on silk, gauze, or paper, and mounted on cylindrical rods.

KAKI, kä'k[=e], n. the persimmon of Japan, or Chinese date.

KAKISTOCRACY, kak-is-tok'r[=a]-si, n. government by the worst men in the state. [Gr. kakistos, superl. of kakos, bad, kratia, rule.]

KAKODYL. See CACODYL.

KALA, kä'la, n. time: destiny.--KÂLA CHAKRA, the wheel of time. [Sans.]

KALAMDAN, kal'am-dan, n. a Persian writing-case, with compartments for ink, reed-pens, knife, &c.

KALAMKARI, kal-am-kar'i, n. a method of colouring and decorating by several dyeings or printings, also a chintz so treated. [Pers.]

KALE, KAIL, k[=a]l, n. a cabbage with open curled leaves, cabbage generally: broth of which kale is a chief ingredient.--ns. KAIL'YARD, a kitchen-garden; KALE'-RUNT, a cabbage-stem.--KAILYARD-SCHOOL, a group of writers of stories of humble Scotch country life--S. R. Crockett, Ian Maclaren, &c. [Cole.]

KALEIDOPHONE, ka-l[=i]'do-f[=o]n, n. an instrument consisting of a rod or thin plate with a knob at the end, for showing the curves corresponding with the musical notes produced by the vibrations. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, eidos, form, ph[=o]n[=e], sound.]

KALEIDOSCOPE, ka-l[=i]'do-sk[=o]p, n. an optical toy in which we see an endless variety of beautiful colours and forms.--adj. KALEIDOSCOP'IC. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, eidos, form, skopein, to see.]

KALENDAR, KALENDS=CALENDAR, CALENDS.

KALEVALA, kal-e-vä'lä, n. the great Finnish epic, written in eight-syllabled trochaic verse (from which Longfellow's Hiawatha is imitated), taken down from the lips of the peasantry and pieced together by Dr. Lönnrot of Helsingfors in 1835, in extended form (22,793 verses) in 1849. [Finnish, kaleva, a hero, -la, denoting place.]

KALI, kal'i, or k[=a]'l[=i], n. the prickly saltwort or glasswort.--adj. KALIG'ENOUS, producing alkalies.--n. K[=A]'LIUM, potassium.

KALI, kä'l[=e], n. a carpet with long nap, also the large carpet covering the centre of a Persian room.

KALI, kä'l[=e], n. a Hindu goddess, wife of Siva, the dark goddess of destruction--called also Durga.

KALIF, k[=a]'lif, n. Same as CALIF.

KALIYUGA, kal-i-y[=oo]'ga, n. in Hindu mythology, the present age of the world, the fourth, characterised by universal degeneracy.

KALMIA, kal'mi-ä, n. a genus of North American evergreen shrubs, including the American mountain laurel. [From Peter Kalm, pupil of Linnæus.]

KALMUCK, kal'muk, n. a member of a Mongolian race.--Also CAL'MUCK. [Russ.]

KALOLOGY, kal-ol'o-ji, n. the science of beauty in itself considered. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, logia, discourse.]

KALONG, ka-long', n. a general name of the large fruit-bats, flying foxes, &c.

KALOTYPE. Same as CALOTYPE.

KALPA, kal'pa, n. a day of Brahma, a period of 4320 million years.--Also CAL'PA. [Sans., 'formation.']

KALPIS, kal'pis, n. a three-handled water-vase. [Gr.]

KALSOMINE, an incorrect form of calcimine, which see under CALCIUM.

KALYPTRA, ka-lip'tra, n. a thin veil worn by Greek women over the hair.

KAM, käm, adj. (Shak.) crooked.

KAMA, kä'ma, n. the god of love in the Purânas: impure desire.--Also CAMA, KA'MADEVA.

KAMERA, kam'[.e]-ra, n. a room. See CAMERA.

KAMES, k[=a]mz, n.pl. (geol.) banks and ridges of gravel, sand, &c., associated with the glacial deposits of Scotland--the same as åsar (q.v.) and eskar.

KAMI, kä'mi, n. a Japanese term for a lord, for any of the national gods, demi-gods, or deified heroes, or any of their supposed descendants, as the mikados and the imperial family. [Japanese, 'superior.']

KAMICHI, kam'i-chi, n. the horned screamer.

KAMILA, KAMELA, ka-m[=e]'la, n. an East Indian orange dye-stuff yielded by a common Madras tree of the spurge family.

KAMIS, KAMEES, ka-m[=e]s', n. the long loose sleeved shirt worn by men in Mohammedan countries.

KAMPONG, kam-pong', n. an enclosed space. [Malay.]

KAMPTULICON, kamp-t[=u]'li-kon, n. a ground cork and caoutchouc floorcloth. [Gr. kamptein, to bend.]

KAMSIN. See KHAMSIN.

KANA, kä'na, n. Japanese writing, as distinguished from Japanese written in Chinese characters.

KANAKA, ka-nak'a, n. a Hawaiian or Sandwich Islander: one of the native labourers brought from the Pacific islands, on engagement for a certain fixed number of years, to Australia, &c. [Hawaiian, 'a man.']

KANEH, kä'ne, n. a Hebrew measure of 6 cubits length.--Also C[=A]'NEH.

KANG, kang, n. a large Chinese water-jar: an oven-like brick structure in northern China, for sleeping on at night, a fire being lighted underneath.

KANGAROO, kang-gar-[=oo]', n. a large marsupial mammal of Australia, with very long hind-legs and great power of leaping.--n. KANGAROO'-GRASS, a valuable Australian fodder grass.

KANS, kanz, n. a common Indian grass, allied to the sugar-cane.

KANTEN, kan'ten, n. a gelatinous substance extracted from seaweeds, used for soups and for sizing. [Jap.]

KANTIAN, kan'shi-an, adj. pertaining to the doctrines of, or belonging to, the great German philosopher, Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).--ns. KAN'TIANISM, KANT'ISM, the doctrines or philosophy of Kant; KANT'IST, a disciple or follower of Kant.

KANTIKOY, CANTICOY, kan'ti-koi, n. a religious dance among American Indians, a dancing-match.--v.i. to dance as an act of worship.

KANUCK, ka-nuk', n. (U.S.) a Canadian.--Also CANUCK'. [Ind.]

KAOLIN, kä'o-lin, n. same as CHINA CLAY. [From the mountain Kao-ling ('high ridge') in China.]

KAPELLMEISTER, kä-pel'm[=i]s-ter, n. the director of an orchestra or choir, esp. the band of a ruling prince in Germany. [Ger. kapelle, chapel, orchestra, meister, master.]

KAPNOGRAPHY, kap-nog'ra-fi, n. the art of producing decorative designs on a smoked surface with a fine point, shading by successive deposits of carbon from a flame, fixed by varnish.--adj. KAPNOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. kapnos, smoke, graphia--graphein, to write.]

KAPOK, ka-pok', n. a cottony or silky fibre covering the seeds of a species of silk-cotton tree, used for stuffing pillows, &c.

KARAITE, k[=a]'rä-[=i]t, n. one of a stricter sect of Jews who cling to the literal interpretation of Scripture as against oral tradition. [Heb. kara[=i]m, readers.]

KARMA, kär'mä, n. the Buddhist conception of the quality of actions, including both merit and demerit, determining the future condition of all sentient beings by a sort of virtue inherent in the nature of things--by the blind and unconscious but inevitable concatenation of cause and effect: the theory of inevitable consequence generally: the result of the actions of a life.--adj. KAR'MIC. [Sans. karma, work.]

KARMATHIAN, kär-m[=a]'thi-an, n. a member of a pantheistic socialistic Mohammedan sect which arose in Turkey about the close of the 9th century. [Karmat, its founder.]

KAROB, kar'ob, n. among goldsmiths, the twenty-fourth part of a grain.

KARROO, ka-r[=oo]', n. a generic name given to the high barren plains of Cape Colony.--Also KAROO'. [Hottentot, karusa, hard.]

KASSU, kas'[=oo], n. a kind of catechu made from the fruit of the betel-nut palm.

KAT, kat, n. the chief ancient Egyptian unit of weight, 1/50 lb. avoirdupois.

KATABOLISM, kat-ab'ol-izm, n. (biol.) the discharging or disruptive process to which protoplasm is constantly subject--the opposite of Anabolism, the up-building, constructive process.--Also CATAB'OLISM. [Gr. katabol[=e], kataballein, to throw down.]

KATAKANA, kat-a-kä'na, n. one of the two styles of writing the syllabary of 48 letters in use among the Japanese (the other being Hiragana), used chiefly for proper names and foreign words.

KATYDID, k[=a]-ti-did', n. an American insect akin to the grasshopper. [Imit. of its note.]

KAURI-PINE, kow'ri-p[=i]n, n. a splendid forest-tree of New Zealand, yielding the well-known KAU'RI-GUM, a resin used in making varnish.

KAVA, kä'va, n. Piper methysticum, also the narcotic drink prepared from it.--Also A'VA.

KAVASS, ka-vas', n. an armed man attendant on a person of distinction in Turkey.--Also CAVASS'. [Turk. qawas.]

KAW. Same as CAW.

KAY. Same as CAY.

KAYAK, ka'yak, n. a canoe used in Greenland, made of seal-skins stretched on a frame.

KEA, k[=e]'ä, n. a New Zealand parrot that kills sheep.

KEB, keb, v.i. (Scot.) to cast a lamb prematurely.--n. a ewe which has cast its lamb: a sheep louse or tick.

KEBBIE, keb'i, n. (Scot.) a cudgel.

KEBBOCK, keb'uk. n. (Scot.) a cheese.--Also KEBB'UCK. [Gael. cabag, a cheese.]

KEBLAH. See KIBLAH.

KECK, kek, v.i. to retch, feel loathing.--n. a retching.

KECK, KECKSY. See KEX.

KECKLE, kek'l, v.t. to preserve or protect by binding with old rope or chains, as a cable:--pr.p. keck'ling; pa.p. keck'led.--n. KECK'LING, rope, chains, &c. used to keckle cables or hawsers.

KEDGE, kej, n. a small anchor for keeping a ship steady, and for warping the ship.--v.t. to move by means of a kedge, to warp.--n. KEDG'ER, a kedge. [Scand.; cf. Sw. prov. keka, to drive slowly.]

KEDGE, kej, adj. (prov.) brisk, lively: pot-bellied.--Also KEDG'Y, KIDGE.

KEDJEREE, kej'e-r[=e], n. a mess of rice, cooked with butter and the dholl pea, flavoured with spice, shred onion, &c., common all over India, and often served at Anglo-Indian breakfast-tables. [Hind. khichr[=i].]

KEECH, k[=e]ch, n. (Shak.) a lump of fat. [Cake.]

KEEK, k[=e]k, v.i. (Scot.) to peep.--n. a peep.--ns. KEEK'ER, an inspector of mining; KEEK'ING-GLASS, a mirror. [M. E. kyken; cf. Dut. kijken, Ger. kucken.]

KEEL, k[=e]l, n. the part of a ship extending along the bottom from stem to stern, and supporting the whole frame: a low flat-bottomed boat: a Tyne coal-barge: a ship generally: (bot.) the lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower.--v.t. or v.i. to plough with a keel, to navigate: to turn keel upwards.--n. KEEL'AGE, dues for a keel or ship in port.--adj. KEELED (bot.) keel-shaped: having a prominence on the back.--ns. KEEL'ER, KEEL'MAN, one who works on a barge.--v.t. KEEL'HAUL, to punish by hauling under the keel of a ship by ropes from the one side to the other: to treat a subordinate in a galling manner. [A.S. ceól, a ship; Ger. and Dut. kiel; prob. confused with Ice. kiölr, a keel.]

KEEL, k[=e]l, v.t. (Shak.) to cool. [A.S. célan, to chill.]

KEEL, k[=e]l, n. (Scot.) red chalk, ruddle.--v.t. to mark with ruddle. [Prob. Gael. cil, ruddle.]

KEELIE, k[=e]'li, n. (Scot.) the kestrel: a street Arab or young rough. [Imit.]

KEELING, k[=e]'ling, n. (Scot.) a codfish.

KEELIVINE, k[=e]'li-v[=i]n, n. (Scot.) a lead pencil.--Also KEE'LYVINE. [See keel, ruddle; ety. dub.]

KEELSON, KELSON, kel'sun, n. an inner keel placed right over the outer keel of a ship, and securely fastened thereto. [Sw. kölsvin, Norw. kjölsvill, the latter syllable=Ger. schwelle, Eng. sill.]

KEEN, k[=e]n, adj. eager: sharp, having a fine edge: piercing: acute of mind: penetrating: intense.--adv. KEEN'LY.--n. KEEN'NESS. [A.S. céne; Ger. kühn, bold; Ice. kænn, wise. Cog. with ken and can.]

KEEN, k[=e]n, n. a lamentation over the dead.--v.i. to wail over the dead.--n. KEEN'ER, a professional mourner. [Ir. caoine.]

KEEP, k[=e]p, v.t. to have the care of: to guard: to maintain: to manage: to have in one's service: to hold for one's own use or enjoyment: to remain in: to adhere to: to practise: not to lose: to maintain hold upon: to restrain from departure: to preserve in a certain state: to maintain: to fulfill.--v.i. to remain in any position or state: to remain fresh: to last or endure: to continue: to adhere: to have rooms at college (Cambridge):---pr.p. keep'ing; pa.t. and pa.p. kept.--n. that which keeps or protects: subsistence: food: the innermost and strongest part of a castle, the donjon: a stronghold.--ns. KEEP'ER, an attendant, manager, owner: a gamekeeper: socket, guard-ring; KEEP'ERSHIP, office of a keeper; KEEP'ING, care: custody: charge: (Shak.) maintenance, support: just proportion, harmony: (paint.) due proportion of light and shade; KEEP'ING-ROOM, a sitting-room, parlour; KEEP'SAKE, something given to be kept for the sake of the giver--the name used often to be applied to the annuals or sumptuous gift-books so much in vogue about 1830.--KEEP AN ACT, to hold an academical disputation; KEEP AN EYE ON, KEEP COMPANY, CHAPEL, COUNSEL, DISTANCE, HOURS, HOUSE, THE PEACE, &c. (see the nouns); KEEP A TERM (see TERM); KEEP AT IT, to persist in anything; KEEP BACK, to withhold: keep down, to repress (see also DARK); KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER, to maintain life; KEEP DOWN, to restrain; KEEP FROM, to abstain from: to remain away from; KEEP GOING IN a thing, to keep one supplied with it; KEEP IN, to prevent from escaping: to confine a pupil in the schoolroom after school hours: to conceal: to restrain; KEEP IN WITH, to maintain the confidence or friendship of some one; KEEP OFF, to hinder from approaching or making an attack; KEEP ONE'S COUNTENANCE, to preserve a calm appearance, hiding one's emotions; KEEP ONE'S HAND IN, to retain one's skill by means of constant practice; KEEP THE BREATH TO COOL ONE'S PORRIDGE, to confine attention to one's own affairs; KEEP THE POWDER DRY, to keep one's energies ready for action; KEEP TO, to stick closely to: to confine one's self to; KEEP UNDER, to hold down in restraint; KEEP UP, to retain one's strength or spirit: to support, prevent from falling: to continue, to prevent from ceasing: to maintain in good condition. [A.S. cépan, orig. to traffic, hence to store up, keep--ceáp, price.]

KEEVE, k[=e]v, n. a large tub. [A.S. cýfe, vat.]

KEG, keg, n. a small cask or barrel. [Ice. kaggi.]

KEIR, k[=e]r, n. a bleaching-vat.

KELK, kelk, v.t. (prov.) to beat.--n. a blow.

KELL, kel, n. (prov.) a film, network.

KELP, kelp, n. the calcined ashes of seaweed, once used in making glass.--Also KILP. [Ety. unknown.]

KELPIE, KELPY, kel'pi, n. (Scot.) a malignant water-sprite haunting fords in the form of a horse.

KELSON. Same as KEELSON.

KELT, kelt, n. a salmon that has just spawned.

KELT, kelt, n. (Scot.) cloth made of black and white wool mixed and not dyed.--adj. KEL'TER, made of such.

KELT, KELTIC. Same as CELT, CELTIC.

KELTIE, KELTY, kel'ti, n. (Scot.) a bumper imposed as a penalty on one who does not drink fair.

KEMB, kem, v.t. to comb. [A.S. cemban, to comb.]

KEMP, kemp, n. the coarse rough hairs of wool: (pl.) knotty hair which will not felt.

KEMP, kemp, n. (arch.) a champion: (Scot.) a contest in work, &c.--v.i. to strive for mastery.--ns. KEM'PER, KEM'PERY-MAN, a champion, a knight-errant. [A.S. cempa, a warrior. Cf. champion.]

KEN, ken, v.t. to know: (arch.) to see and recognise at a distance.--n. range of knowledge or sight.--n. KEN'NING (Bacon), range of vision: (Scot.) a small portion.--adj. KEN'SPECKLE (Scot.), conspicuous--also KEN'SPECK. [Ice. kenna, orig. to cause to know. Cf. can and know.]

KEN, ken, n. (slang) a house. [Perh. Pers. kh[=a]n, a caravansary; not conn. with kennel.]

KENDAL-GREEN, ken'dal-gr[=e]n, n. green cloth for foresters made at Kendal in Westmorland.

KENNEL, ken'el, n. a house for dogs: a pack of hounds: the hole of a fox, &c.: a haunt.--v.t. to keep in a kennel.--v.i. to live in a kennel:--pr.p. kenn'elling; pa.p. kenn'elled. [Norm. Fr. kenil (Fr. chenil)--L. can[=i]le--canis, a dog.]

KENNEL, ken'el, n. the water-course of a street: a gutter. [A form of canal.]

KENNEL-COAL. Same as CANNEL-COAL.

KENNICK, ken'ik, n. the jargon of tramping tinkers.

KENOSIS, ken-[=o]'sis, n. the self-limitation on the part of the Logos in the act of incarnation, his emptying of himself, or his laying aside not only his divine attributes, but even his divine self-consciousness, only to be fully recovered at the ascension.--adj. KENOT'IC.--n. KENOT'ICIST. [Gr., from the phrase in Phil. ii. 6, 7, 'who, being in the form of God ... emptied himself ([Greek: heauton ekenôse]), taking the form of a servant.']

KENT, kent, n. (Scot.) a pole, pike.--v.i. to propel a boat by a pole. [Prob. a variant of the verb cant.]

KENTISH, kent'ish, adj. pertaining to Kent.--ns. KENT'ISH-FIRE, rounds of noisy applause at political meetings--from the anti-Catholic demonstrations in Kent, 1828-29; KENT'ISH-RAG, a rough fossiliferous limestone found in Kent.

KENTLEDGE, kent'lej, n. pig-iron laid in a ship's hold for ballast.--Also KINT'LEDGE.

KEP, kep, v.t. (Scot.) to catch. [Keep.]

KEPHALIC. Same as CEPHALIC.

KEPI, kep'i, n. a flat-topped forage-cap with a straight peak. [Fr. képi.]

KEPLERIAN, kep-l[=e]'ri-an, adj. pertaining to the great German astronomer, Johann Kepler (1571-1630).--For KEPLER'S LAWS, see LAW.

KEPT, pa.t. and pa.p. of keep.

KERAMIC. Same as CERAMIC.

KERASINE, ker'a-sin, adj. like or made of horn.--ns. KERAT[=I]'ASIS, a morbid condition characterised by warty or horny growths; KER'ATIN, a nitrogenous compound, the essential ingredient of horny tissue, as of horns, nails, &c. [Gr. keras, a horn.]

KERATITIS, ker-a-t[=i]'tis, n. inflammation of the cornea, either acute or chronic.--n. KERATAL'GIA, pain in the cornea.

KERBSTONE, k[.e]rb'st[=o]n, n. a form of curbstone.

KERCHIEF, k[.e]r'chif, n. any loose cloth used in dress: (orig.) a square piece of cloth worn by women to cover the head.--v.t. to cover or dress with a kerchief.--adjs. KER'CHIEFED, KER'CHIEFT. [M. E. couerchef--O. Fr. covrechef (Fr. couvrechef)--covrir, to cover, chef, the head.]

KERF, kerf, n. the groove made by a saw: wool cut off at once by a wool-shearing machine: a single layer of hay, turf, &c., cut.

KERION, k[=e]'ri-on, n. a suppurative inflammation of the hair-follicles of the scalp. [Gr.]

KERITE, k[=e]'r[=i]t, n. a kind of artificial vulcanite of india-rubber and animal or vegetable oil. [Gr. k[=e]ros, wax.]

KERMES, k[.e]r'm[=e]z, n. a dye-stuff which consists of the bodies of the females of a species of coccus. [Pers.]

KERMESS, k[.e]r'mes, n. a wake or fair in the Low Countries. [Dut. kermis--kerk, church, mis, mass.]

KERN. See QUERN.

KERN, k[.e]rn n. (Scot.) the last sheaf of the harvest: a harvest-home--also KIRN.--n. KERN'-B[=A]'BY, an image decorated with blades of corn, &c., carried before reapers at their harvest-home. [A variant of corn.]

KERN, KERNE, k[.e]rn, n. an Irish foot-soldier: a boor.--adj. KERN'ISH, clownish. [Ir. ceatharnach.]

KERN, k[.e]rn, v.i. to granulate.

KERN, k[.e]rn, n. (print.) that part of a type which overhangs the stem or shank.

KERNEL, k[.e]r'nel, n. anything in a husk or shell: the substance in the shell of a nut: the seed of a pulpy fruit: the important part of anything.--adj. KER'NELLY, full of, or resembling, kernels. [A.S. cyrnel--corn, grain, and dim. suffix -el; Ger. kern, a grain.]

KEROSENE, ker'o-s[=e]n, n. an oil obtained from bituminous coal, used for lamps, &c. [Gr. k[=e]ros, wax.]

KERSEY, k[.e]r'zi, n. a coarse woollen cloth. [Perh. from Kersey in Suffolk.]

KERSEYMERE, k[.e]r'zi-m[=e]r or k[.e]r-zi-m[.e]r', n. twilled cloth of the finest wools. [A corr. of cassimere, cashmere.]

KERVE, k[.e]rv, v.t. (Spens.) a form of carve.

KESAR, k[=e]'zar, n. Same as KAISER.

KESTREL, kes'trel, n. a small species of falcon. [O. Fr. quercerelle--L. querquedula.]

KET, ket, n. (Scot.) carrion. [Ice. kjöt.]

KET, ket, n. matted wool. [Scot.]

KETCH, kech, n. a small two-masted vessel, generally used as a yacht or a bomb-vessel. [Corr. from Turk. qaíq, a boat, whence Fr. caïque.]

KETCHUP, kech'up, n. a sauce for flavouring soups, meats, &c., flavoured with mushrooms, tomatoes, &c.--Also CATCH'UP, CAT'SUP. [East Ind. kitjap.]

KETTLE, ket'l, n. a vessel of metal, for heating or boiling liquids: a cavity like a kettle in rock, sand, &c.: (Shak.) kettle-drum.--ns. KETT'LE-DRUM, a musical instrument now used chiefly in orchestras and in cavalry bands, consisting of a hollow brass hemisphere with a parchment head, sounded by soft-headed elastic drumsticks: a tea-party; KETT'LE-DRUM'MER; KETT'LE-HOLD'ER, a little mat, &c., for holding a kettle when hot.--n.pl. KETT'LE-PINS, skittle-pins.--A KETTLE OF FISH, or A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH, a task of great difficulty, an awkward mess--most probably in this sense connected with kiddle. [A.S. cetel; Ger. kessel, Goth. katils; all perh. from L. catillus, dim. of catinus, a deep cooking-vessel.]

KEX, keks, n. the dry stalk of the hemlock or other umbelliferous plants.--Also KECKS, KECK'SY (prop. adj.), and KECK.

KEY, k[=e], n. an instrument for shutting or opening a lock: that by which something is screwed or turned: the middle stone of an arch: a piece of wood let into another piece crosswise to prevent warping: (mus.) one of the small levers in musical instruments for producing notes: the fundamental note of a piece of music: that which explains a mystery: a book containing answers to exercises, &c.--ns. KEY'BOARD, the keys or levers in a piano or organ arranged along a flat board; KEY'-B[=U]'GLE, a bugle with keys, having a compass of two octaves including semitones.--adjs. KEY'-COLD (Shak.), cold as a key, lifeless; KEYED, furnished with keys, as a musical instrument: set to a particular key, as a tune.--ns. KEY'HOLE, the hole in which a key of a door, &c., is inserted; KEY'NOTE, the key or fundamental note of a piece of music; any central principle or controlling thought; KEY'-PIN, the pivot on which a pipe-key turns: a pin serving as fulcrum for a key of an organ, &c.; KEY'-PLATE, the escutcheon around a keyhole; KEY'RING, a ring for holding a bunch of keys; KEY'-SEAT, a groove for receiving a key, to prevent one piece of machinery from turning on another; KEY'STONE, the stone at the apex of an arch: the chief element in any system.--HAVE THE KEY OF THE STREET (coll.), to be locked out: to be homeless; POWER OF THE KEYS, the power to loose and bind, to administer ecclesiastical discipline--a special authority conferred by Christ on Peter (Matt. xvi. 19), or Peter in conjunction with the other apostles, and claimed by the popes as the alleged successors to St Peter. Others explain it as belonging only to the apostles themselves, as descending to the bishops and clergy of the Christian Church, or as belonging to all Christ's disciples alike. [A.S. cæg, a key.]

KEY, k[=e], n. (Dryden). Same as QUAY.

KEY, k[=e], n. a low island near the coast.--Also CAY.

KEYS, k[=e]z, n.pl. a contraction of HOUSE OF KEYS, a house of 24 representatives constituting the lower branch of the Legislature (Court of Tynwald) of the Isle of Man, self-elective down to 1866. [Manx kiare-as-feed, four-and-twenty.]

KHAKI, kä'ki, adj. dust-coloured.--n. a light drab cloth used for some East Indian and other uniforms.

KHALIF. See CALIF.

KHAMSIN, kam'sin, n. a hot south-west wind in Egypt, blowing for about fifty days from about the middle of March. [Ar.]

KHAN, kan, n. an Eastern inn, a caravansary. [Turk.,--Pers. kh[=a]na, a house, a tent.]

KHAN, kan, n. in North Asia, a prince or chief: in Persia, a governor.--n. KHAN'ATE, the dominion or jurisdiction of a khan. [Pers. kh[=a]n, lord or prince, a Tartar word.]

KHEDIVE, ked-[=e]v', n. the title since 1867 of the viceroy or ruler of Egypt.--n. KHEDI'VIATE, the office of the khedive, or his territory. [Fr.,--Pers. khad[=i]w, prince.]

KHEL, kel, n. in Afghanistan, a clan or family connection--a sociological group between the tribe and the family.

KHITMUTGAR, kit'mut-gar, n. a table-servant, under-butler. [Hind.]

KHUTBAH, kut'ba, n. a Mohammedan prayer and sermon delivered in the mosques on Fridays.--Also KHOT'BAH.

KIAUGH, ky[=o]h, n. (Scot.) care, trouble.

KIBBLE, kib'l, n. the bucket of a draw-well.--n. KIBB'LE-CHAIN, the chain for drawing up a bucket.

KIBE, k[=i]b, n. a chilblain. [W. cibwst, from cib, a cup, gwst, a disease.]

KIBITKA, ki-bit'ka, n. a Russian wagon. [Russ.]

KIBLAH, kib'la, n. the point toward which Mohammedans turn in prayer.--Also KEB'LAH.

KICK, kik, v.t. to hit with the foot.--v.i. to thrust out the foot with violence: to show opposition or resistance: (of a gun) to recoil violently (see also BULLET): (print.) to work a press by impact of the foot on a treadle.--n. a blow with the foot: the turn of kicking the ball at football, the person who kicks or kicks off: the recoil of a gun: (slang) fashion.--adj. KICK'ABLE.--ns. KICK'ER, one who kicks, esp. a horse; KICK'-OFF, the first kick in a game of football; KICK'-UP, a disturbance.--KICK OVER THE TRACES, to throw off control; KICK, or STRIKE, THE BEAM, to rise, as the lighter scale of a balance, so as to strike against the beam--hence to be of little weight or importance; KICK THE BUCKET (see BUCKET); KICK UP A DUST or ROW, to create a disturbance.--DROP KICK, a kick made as the ball, dropped from the hand, rebounds from the ground; PLACE KICK, a kick made when the ball is lying on the ground. [M. E. kiken--W. cicio, to kick, Gael. ceig.]

KICKSHAWS, kik'shawz, n. something uncommon or fantastical that has no name: (cook.) a fantastical dish. [Corr. of Fr. quelque chose, something.]

KICKSY-WICKSY, kik'si-wik'si, adj. flickering, uncertain.--n. (Shak.) a wife.

KID, kid, n. a young goat: (slang) a child, esp. a boy: (pl.) gloves of kid leather.--adj. made of kid leather or imitation kid leather.--v.t. and v.i. to bring forth a goat:--pr.p. kid'ding; pa.p. kid'ded.--ns. KID'-FOX (Shak.), a young fox; KID'LING, a young kid. [Dan. kid; cf. Ice. kidh; Ger. kitze, a young goat.]

KID, kid, n. a small tub.--Also KIT.

KID, kid, n. a fagot, a bundle of sticks. [Prob. W. cidys, fagots.]

KID, kid, v.t. and v.i. (slang) to hoax--also KID'DY.--n. a deception. [Perh. conn. with kid, a child.]

KIDDER, kid'er, n. a forestaller, huckster.

KIDDERMINSTER, kid'[.e]r-min-st[.e]r, n. a kind of carpet (two-ply or ingrain carpet), from the town.

KIDDLE, kid'l, n. a stake-fence set in a stream for catching fish.--Also KID'EL, KETT'LE. [O. Fr. quidel; prob. Bret. kidel.]

KIDNAP, kid'nap, v.t. to steal, as a human being:--pr.p. kid'napping; pa.t. and pa.p. kid'napped.--n. KID'NAPPER. [Vulgar kid (old thieves' cant, kinchin--Ger. kindchen), a child, and vulgar nab, to steal.]

KIDNEY, kid'ni, n. one of two flattened glands, on each side of the loins, which secrete the urine: temperament, humour, disposition--hence, sort or kind, as in 'of the same kidney,' &c.--ns. KID'NEY-BEAN, a kind of bean shaped like a kidney; KID'NEY-POT[=A]'TO, one of various kidney-shaped varieties of the common potato; KID'NEY-VETCH, a genus of leguminous plants, the only British species being called Lady's Fingers; KID'NEY-WORT, a plant of the genus Saxifrage. [M. E. kidnere--Ice. kviðr, the womb, the belly, Ice. nýra (Ger. niere, a kidney).]

KIE-KIE, k[=i]'k[=i], n. a New Zealand high-climbing shrub.

KIESELGUHR, k[=e]'zl-g[=u]r, n. the mineral remains of a species of algæ, used in the manufacture of dynamite. [Ger.,--kiesel, flint, guhr, fermentation.]

KIKUMON, kik'[=oo]-mon, n. a badge or crest of the imperial family of Japan, consisting of an open chrysanthemum flower.

KILDERKIN, kil'd[.e]r-kin, n. a small barrel: a liquid measure of 18 gallons. [Old Dut. kindeken, kinneken (Scot. kinken), dim. of Dut. kind, a child.]

KILERG, kil'erg, n. a thousand ergs.

KILEY, k[=i]'le, n. a boomerang.--Also KY'LEY.

KILL, kil, v.t. to put to death, to slay: to nullify or neutralise, to weaken or dilute, to render inactive: to reject, discard: to fascinate, overcome.--n. the act of killing, as game.--ns. KILL'-COURT'ESY (Shak.), a discourteous, boorish person; KILL'-CROP, a changeling; KILL'ER, one who kills, a slaughterer or butcher: a club for killing fish: a ferocious delphinid which sometimes attacks the whale.--p.adj. KILL'ING, depriving of life: destructive: deadly, irresistible: completely fascinating.--n. and adj. KILL'JOY, a mar-sport, austere.--KILL BY INCHES, by gradual means, as by torture; KILL OFF, to exterminate; KILL TIME, to consume spare time, as with amusements, &c.; KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, to effect one thing by the way, or by the same means with which another thing is done; KILL UP (Shak.), to exterminate.--KILLING TIMES, the days of the persecution of the Covenanters.--DO A THING TO KILL, in an irresistible manner. [M. E. killen or cullen--Ice. kolla, to hit on the head--kollr, the head; not a doublet of quell.]

KILLADAR, kil'a-dar, n. the commandant of a fort or garrison. [Hind.]

KILLAS, kil'as, n. clay slate, in Cornwall.

KILLDEE, kil'd[=e], n. the largest variety of North American ring-plover. [Imit.]

KILLOCK, kil'ok, n. a small anchor, the fluke of such.

KILLOGIE, ki-l[=o]'gi, n. (Scot.) the furnace of a kiln.

KILLUT, kil'ut, n. in India, a robe of honour given: any ceremonial present.--Also KELL'AUT.

KILMARNOCK, kil-mar'nok, n. a kind of closely woven broad bonnet, having a peak of the same material at the top, originally made at Kilmarnock.--KILMARNOCK COWL, a kind of nightcap.

KILN, kil, n. a large oven in which corn, bricks, hops, &c. are dried: bricks placed for burning.--v.t. KILN'-DRY, to dry in a kiln.--n. KILN'-HOLE, the mouth of a kiln. [A.S. cyln (Ice. kylna, a drying-house for corn)--L. culina, a kitchen.]

KILOGRAMME, kil'o-gram, n. a French measure of weight, equal to 1000 grammes, or 2-1/5 lb. avoirdupois. [Gr. chilioi, 1000, gramma, a weight.]

KILOLITRE, kil'o-l[=e]-tr, n. 1000 litres.

KILOMETRE, kil'o-m[=e]-tr, n. a French measure, being 1000 metres, or nearly 5/8 of a mile. [Fr.,--Gr. chilioi, 1000, metron, a measure.]

KILT, kilt, n. a kind of short petticoat or plaited skirt, forming part of the Highland dress.--v.t. (Scot.) to truss up.--adj. KILT'ED, dressed in a kilt.--n. KILT'IE, one wearing a kilt, a soldier in a Highland regiment. [Northern Eng. kilt, to tuck up, from Dan. kilte, to tuck up: cf. Ice. kilting, a skirt.]

KILT, kilt, (Spens.) pa.p. of kill.

KILTER, kil't[.e]r, n. order, proper condition--in phrase, 'out of kilter.'--Also KEL'TER.

KIMBO, kim'bo, n. Same as AKIMBO.

KIMONO, ki-m[=o]'n[=o], n. a loose robe, fastening with a sash, the principal outer garment in Japan.

KIN, kin, n. persons of the same family: relatives: relationship: affinity.--adj. related.--adj. KIN'LESS, without relations.--NEXT OF KIN, the relatives (lineal or collateral) of a deceased person, among whom his personal property is distributed if he dies intestate; Of kin, of the same kin. [A.S. cynn; Ice. kyn, Goth. kuni, family, race; cog. with L. genus, Gr. genos.]

KINCHIN, kin'chin, n. a child in thieves' slang.--n. KIN'CHIN-MORT, a child, generally a girl.--KINCHIN LAY, the robbing of children. [Cf. kidnap.]

KINCOB, kin'kob, n. a rich silk-stuff made in India.

KIND, k[=i]nd, n. those of kin, a race: sort or species, a particular variety: nature: style, method of action, character: produce, as distinguished from money.--adj. having the feelings natural for those of the same family: disposed to do good to others: benevolent.--adj. KIND'-HEART'ED.--n. KIND'-HEART'EDNESS.--adj. KIND'LESS (Shak.), destitute of kindness, unnatural.--n. KIND'NESS.--adj. KIND'-SPOK'EN, spoken kindly: given to speaking kindly.--KIND OF (coll.), somewhat, to some extent--used adverbially with adjectives and even verbs.--DO ONE'S KIND (Shak.), to act according to one's nature; IN A KIND, in a way, to some extent; IN KIND, payment in goods instead of money. [A.S. cynde--cynn, kin.]

KIND, kind, v.t. (Spens.) to beget. [From kin.]

KINDERGARTEN, kin'd[.e]r-gär'tn, n. an infant school on Froebel's principle (1826), in which object-lessons and games figure largely.--n. KINDERGART'NER, a teacher in a kindergarten. [Ger. kinder, children, garten, garden.]

KINDLE, kin'dl, v.t. to set fire to: to light: to inflame, as the passions: to provoke: to excite to action.--v.i. to take fire: to begin to be excited: to be roused.--ns. KIN'DLER; KIN'DLING, the act of causing to burn: the materials for commencing a fire. [Ice. kyndyll, a torch--L. candela, candle.]

KINDLE, kin'dl, v.t. (Shak.) to bring forth (young). [M. E. kindlen--kinde, kind.]

KINDLY, k[=i]nd'li, adj. natural: benevolent: (orig.) belonging to the kind or race.--n. KIND'LINESS.--adv. KIND'LY.--adj. KIND'LY-N[=A]'TURED.--KINDLY TENANT (Scot.), a tenant of the same stock as his landlord, or who held his lands in succession, from father to son, for several generations.

KINDRED, kin'dred, n. relationship by blood, less properly, by marriage: relatives: (pl., B.) families.--adj. related: congenial. [M. E. kinrede--A.S. cynn, kin, and the suffix -ræden, expressing mode or state.]

KINE, k[=i]n, n.pl. (B.) cows. [M. E. ky-en, a doubled plural of A.S. cú, a cow, the plural of which is cý; cf. Scotch kye.]

KINEMATICS, kin-e-mat'iks, n. the science which treats of motion without reference to force.--adjs. KINEMAT'IC, -AL. [Gr. kin[=e]ma, -atos, motion--kinein, to move.]

KINEMATOGRAPH, kin-e-mat'o-graf, n. an arrangement by which a numerous series of photographs, taken at rapid intervals, and representing some moving scene, is shown on a screen at the same rapid rate at which they were taken, giving a moving representation of the original scene--less correct but more common form, CINEMAT'OGRAPH (sin-). [Gr. kin[=e]ma, kin[=e]matos, motion, graphein, to write.]

KINESIPATHY, kin-[=e]-sip'a-thi, n. a mode of treating disease by muscular movements, movement-cure---also KINESITHER'APY.--adjs. KINESIAT'RIC, KINESIPATH'IC.--n. KINESIP'ATHIST.

KINETICS, ki-net'iks, n. the science which treats of the action of force in producing or changing motion.--adjs. KINET'IC, -AL.--ns. KINET'OGRAPH, a device by which a series of photographs of a moving object can be thrown on a screen so as to imitate the motion of the original; KINET'OSCOPE, an instrument for illustrating the production of kinematic curves by the combination of circular movements of different radii. [Gr. kin[=e]tikos--kinein, to move.]

KING, king, n. the chief ruler of a nation: a monarch: a playing-card having the picture of a king: the most important piece in chess: a crowned man in draughts: one who is pre-eminent among his fellows:--fem. QUEEN.--v.t. to play king.--ns. KING'-AT-ARMS, or KING'-OF-ARMS, a chief officer of the Heralds' Colleges, whose designations are, for England, Norroy, Clarencieux, and Garter; for Scotland, Lyon; and for Ireland, Ulster; KING'-BIRD, an American tyrant fly-catcher; KING'CRAB, the chief or largest of the crab genus, most common in the Molucca Islands; KING'CRAFT, the art of governing, mostly in a bad sense; KING'CUP, the buttercup or upright meadow crowfoot; KING'DOM, the state or attributes of a king: the territory of a king: government: a region: one of the three grand divisions of Natural History, as the animal, vegetable, or mineral.--adj. KING'DOMED (Shak.), endowed with kingly power, proud.--ns. KING'FISHER, a bird with very brilliant plumage, feeding on fish, the halcyon; KING'HOOD, kingship: kingliness.--adj. KING'LESS.--ns. KING'LET, KING'LING, a little or petty king: the golden-crested wren.--ns. KING'LIHOOD, KING'LINESS.--adj. KING'-LIKE.--adj. KING'LY, belonging or suitable to a king: royal: noble--also adv.--ns. KING'-MAK'ER, one who has the creating of kings in his power; KING'POST, a perpendicular beam in the frame of a roof rising from the tie-beam to the ridge; KING'S'-CUSH'ION, a seat formed by two people's hands; KING'S'-[=E]'VIL, a scrofulous disease or evil formerly supposed to be healed by the touch of the king; KING'SHIP, the state, office, or dignity of a king; KING'S'-HOOD, the second stomach of a ruminant, sometimes humorously for the human stomach; KING'S'-SPEAR, a plant of the genus Asphodel; KING'S'-YELL'OW, arsenic trisulphide or orpiment; KING'-VUL'TURE, a large tropical brilliantly-coloured American vulture; KING'WOOD, a beautiful Brazilian wood--also Violet-wood.--KING CHARLES SPANIEL (see SPANIEL); KING LOG, a do-nothing king, as opp. to KING STORK, one who devours his frog-subjects--from Æsop's fable; KING MOB, the vulgar multitude; KING OF BEASTS, the lion; KING OF METALS, gold; KING OF TERRORS, death; KING OF THE FOREST, the oak; KING'S BENCH, the bench or seat of the king: one of the high courts of law, so called because the king used to sit there, called Queen's Bench during a queen's reign; KING'S COUNSEL an honorary rank of barristers; KING'S EVIDENCE, a criminal allowed to become a witness against an accomplice.--KINGDOM COME (slang), the state after death.--THREE KINGS OF COLOGNE, the three Wise Men of the East, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. [A.S. cyning--cyn, a tribe, with suffix -kin; cog. with kin.]

KINIC, kin'ik, adj. pertaining to cinchona, cinchonic.

KINK, kingk, n. a twist in a string, rope, &c.--also KINK'LE.--v.i. and v.t. to twist.--adj. KINK'Y, full of kinks: woolly: crotchety. [Scand.; Sw. and Norw. kink.]

KINK, kingk, v.i. to cough loudly, gasp for breath.--n. a convulsive cough or gasp.--n. KINK'COUGH, whooping-cough, chincough (q.v.).

KINKAJOU, kin'ka-j[=oo], n. a South American quadruped allied to the raccoon.

KINO, k[=e]'no, n. an astringent vegetable exudation resembling catechu. [East Indian.]

KINSFOLK, kinz'f[=o]k, n. folk or people kindred or related to one another.--ns. KIN'SHIP, relationship; KINS'MAN, a man of the same kin or race with another:--fem. KINS'WOMAN.

KIOSK, ki-osk', n. an Eastern garden pavilion: a small shop like a sentry-box for the sale of papers, &c. [Turk.,--Pers. kushk.]

KIP, kip, v.i. (Scot.) to play truant.

KIP, kip, n. the skin of a young animal.--n. KIP'SKIN, leather made from the skin of young cattle, intermediate between calf-skin and cow-hide.

KIP, kip, n. a level or slight incline at the end of an underground way, on which the tubs of coal stand till hoisted up the shaft.

KIP, kip, n. a house of ill-fame.--Also KIP'SHOP.

KIPE, k[=i]p, n. (prov.) an osier basket for catching pike.

KIPPAGE, kip'[=a]j, n. (Scot.) a fit of temper, a rage.

KIPPER, kip'[.e]r, n. a male salmon after the spawning season: a salmon split open, seasoned, and dried.--v.t. to cure or preserve, as a salmon or haddock. [Dut. kippen, to seize; Norw. kippa.]

KIRBEH, kir'be, n. a skin for holding water. [Ar.]

KIRIMON, k[=e]'ri-mon, n. one of the two imperial crests of Japan, bearing three leaves and three flowers of paulownia.

KIRK, k[.e]rk, n. in Scotland, a church--sometimes 'the Kirk' means the Established Church specially.--ns. KIRK'IN, the first attendance of a pair after marriage, of a magistrate after election; KIRK'-SESS'ION, the lowest court in Presbyterian churches, being the governing body of a particular congregation; KIRK'TON (Scot.), the village in which the parish church stands; KIRK'YARD, a graveyard.--AULD KIRK, the Established Church in Scotland--by association of ideas, (coll.) the whisky bottle, whisky. [A Northern Eng. form of church.]

KIRSCHWASSER, k[=e]rsh'väs-ser, n. a liqueur made from the wild cherry. [Ger., 'cherry water.']

KIRTLE, k[.e]r'tl, n. a sort of gown or outer petticoat: a mantle.--adj. KIR'TLED. [A.S. cyrtel; Dan. kiortel; Ice. kyrtill: perh. conn. with skirt and shirt.]

KISMET, kis'met, n. fate, destiny. [Turk. qismet.]

KISS, kis, v.t. to press one's lips to in affection or reverence: to treat with fondness: to touch gently: to collide (of two billiard-balls).--v.i. to salute with the lips.--n. a salute with the lips.--ns. KISS'-CURL, a small curl at the side of the forehead; KISS'ER; KISS'ING-COM'FIT, a perfumed comfit for sweetening the breath; KISS'ING-CRUST, that part of the upper crust of the loaf which, while baking, overhangs the edge and touches another.--n.pl. KISS'ING-STRINGS, cap or bonnet strings tied under the chin.--n. KISS'-ME, the wild form of Viola tricolor, the pansy: a short veil: a small bonnet--also KISS'-ME-QUICK.--KISS HANDS, to kiss the sovereign's hands on a minister's acceptance of office; KISS OF PEACE, a kiss of greeting exchanged between the members of the early Church, a shadow of which survives in the kissing of the pax at high mass; KISS THE BOOK, to kiss a copy of the New Testament, in England, after taking a legal oath; KISS THE DUST, to be felled to the ground, to be slain or vanquished; KISS THE GUNNER'S DAUGHTER, to get a flogging, tied to the breech of a cannon; KISS THE ROD, to submit to punishment. [A.S. cyssan, to kiss--coss, a kiss; Ger. küssen, Dan. kys; allied to choose and gust.]

KIST, kist, n. (Scot.) a chest.--KIST O' WHISTLES, an organ. [A.S. cist.]

KISTVAEN, kist'v[=a]-en, n. a burial-chamber made of flat stones, and shaped like a chest. [W. cist, chest, maen, stone.]

KIT, kit, n. a small wooden tub: the outfit of necessaries of a soldier, sailor, or mechanic. [Old Dut. kitte, a hooped beer-can.]

KIT, kit, a small pocket violin. [Contracted from A.S. cytere--L. cythara, a guitar.]

KIT, kit, n. a contraction of kitten.--n. KIT'-CAT, a game played with sticks and a small piece of wood called a cat.

KIT, kit, n. a family, in phrase 'the whole kit.' [Kith.]

KITCAT, kit'kat, n. the name of a Whig London literary club, which existed from 1700 to about 1720, meeting for some time in the house of a pastry-cook named Christopher Katt: a portrait 36 by 28 inches in size, so called from the portraits of the Kitcat Club painted by Sir G. Kneller.

KITCHEN, kich'en, n. a room where food is cooked: a utensil with a stove for dressing food, &c.: anything eaten as a relish with bread, potatoes, &c.--v.t. (Shak.) to regale in the cook-room: to serve as relish to food, to make palatable, to use sparingly, as one would a relish--to make it last.--ns. KITCH'ENDOM, the domain of the kitchen; KITCH'ENER, a person employed in the kitchen: a cooking-stove; KITCH'EN-FEE, the fat which falls from meat in roasting; KITCH'EN-GAR'DEN, a garden where vegetables are cultivated for the kitchen; KITCH'EN-KNAVE, a scullion; KITCH'EN-MAID, a maid or servant whose work is in the kitchen; KITCH'EN-MID'DEN (Dan. kjökkenmödding), a prehistoric rubbish-heap in Denmark, the north of Scotland, &c.; KITCH'EN-PHYS'IC, substantial fare (Milt.); KITCH'EN-RANGE, a kitchen grate with oven, boiler, &c. attached, for cooking; KITCH'EN-STUFF, material used in kitchens: kitchen refuse, esp. fat from pots, &c.; KITCH'EN-WENCH, a kitchen-maid. [A.S. cicen; Ger. küche, Fr. cuisine, all from L. coquina--coqu[)e]re, to cook.]

KITE, k[=i]t, n. a rapacious bird of the hawk kind: a rapacious person: a light frame covered with paper for flying in the air, attached to a long cord, by means of which it is steered: a light and lofty sail: an accommodation bill, esp. a mere paper credit.--n. KITE'-FLY'ING, the dealing in fictitious accommodation paper to raise money. [A.S. cýta; cf. W. cud, Bret. kidel, a hawk.]

KITE, k[=i]t, n. (Scot.) the belly.--Also KYTE. [A.S. cwith, the womb.]

KITH, kith, n. kindred, acquaintance, obsolete except in the phrase KITH AND KIN, acquaintances and relatives. [A.S. cúð--cunnan, to know.]

KITTEN, kit'n, n. a young cat.--v.i. to bring forth young cats.--n. (Scot.) KIT'LING.--adj. KITT'ENISH, frolicsome.--v.i. KITT'LE (Scot.), to bring forth kittens. [M. E. kitoun, dim. of cat.]

KITTIWAKE, kit'i-w[=a]k, n. a species of gull with long wings and rudimentary hind-toe. [Imit.]

KITTLE, kit'l, adj. (Scot.) ticklish, intractable.--v.t. (Scot.) to tickle.--adj. KITT'LY, easily tickled, sensitive.--n. KITT'LY-BEND'ERS (Amer.), running on thin bending ice.

KIWI, k[=e]'wi, n. a bird of the genus Apteryx found in New Zealand.

KLANG, klang, n. (mus.) a complex tone, composed of fundamental and harmonics, as opposed to a simple tone. [Ger.]

KLEPHT, kleft, n. a Greek or Albanian brigand. [Gr., from kleptein, to steal.]

KLEPTOMANIA, klep-to-m[=a]'ni-a, n. a mania for stealing: a morbid impulse to secrete things.--n. KLEPTOM[=A]'NIAC. [Gr. kleptein to steal, mania, madness.]

KLICK. Same as CLICK.

KLIPDAS, klip'das, n. the rock badger.

KLIPSPRINGER, klip'spring-[.e]r, n. a small South African antelope.

KLOOF, kl[=oo]f, n. a mountain cleft. [S. African Dutch.]

KNACK, nak, n. a petty contrivance: a toy: a nice trick: dexterity, adroitness.--n. KNACK'INESS.--adjs. KNACK'ISH, KNACK'Y, cunning, crafty. [Orig. imit.; cf. Gael. cnac, Dut. knak, a crack, Ger. knacken, to crack.]

KNACKER, nak'[.e]r, n. anything that knocks: (pl.) castanets or clappers, bones.

KNACKER, nak'[.e]r, n. a dealer in old horses and dog's-meat: (prov.) a collier's horse. [From Ice. knakkr, a saddle.]

KNAG, nag, n. a knot in wood: a peg.--n. KNAG'GINESS, state of being knaggy.--adj. KNAG'GY, knotty: rugged. [From a root found in Ir. and Gael. cnag, a knob; cf. Dan. knag, Ger. knagge.]

KNAP, nap, v.t. to snap or break with a snapping noise: to break in pieces with blows, as stones: to bite off, nibble:--pr.p. knap'ping; pa.p. knapped.--ns. KNAP'BOTTLE, the bladder-campion; KNAP'PER, one who breaks stones, esp. one who breaks up flint-flakes for gun-flints; KNAP'PING-HAMM'ER (Scot.), a hammer for breaking stones.--v.i. KNAP'PLE, to nibble. [Dut. knappen, to crack or crush.]

KNAP, nap, n. (Bacon) a protuberance, a hillock.--n. KNAP'WEED, a general name for plants of the genus Centaurea of the composite family--star-thistle, bachelor's buttons. [Conn. with knob, knop.]

KNAPSACK, nap'sak, n. a provision-sack: a case for necessaries borne by soldiers and travellers. [Dut. knappen, to crack, eat, zak, a sack.]

KNAPSKULL, nap'skul, n. a helmet. [From knap (n.) and skull.]

KNAR, när, n. a knot on a tree.--n. KNARL=GNARL.--adj. KNARRED, gnarled, knotty.

KNAVE, n[=a]v, n. a false, deceitful fellow: a villain: a card bearing the picture of a servant or soldier: (Shak.) a boy.--ns. KNAVE'-BAIRN, a male child; KNAV'ERY, dishonesty; KNAVE'SHIP (Scot.), a certain quantity of grain, the due of the miller.--adj. KNAV'ISH, fraudulent: villainous.--adv. KNAV'ISHLY.--n. KNAV'ISHNESS. [A.S. cnafa, cnapa, a boy, a youth; Ger. knabe, knappe.]

KNEAD, n[=e]d, v.t. to work and press together into a mass, as flour into dough: to operate upon in massage: to mix.--ns. KNEAD'ER; KNEAD'ING-TROUGH, a trough for kneading. [A.S. cnedan; Ice. knoða, Ger. kneten, to knead.]

KNEE, n[=e], n. the joint between the thigh and shin bones: a piece of timber or metal like a bent knee: (Shak.) a genuflection.--v.t. (Shak.) to kneel to, to go over on one's knees.--n.pl. KNEE'-BREECH'ES, breeches extending to just below the knee, as in court-dress.--n. KNEE'-CAP, the bone above the protuberance of the knee: a cap or strong covering for the knees, used chiefly for horses, to save their knees in case of a fall.--n.pl. KNEE'-CORDS, knee-breeches of corduroy.--adjs. KNEE'-CROOK'ING, obsequious: fawning; KNEED, having knees: (bot.) having angular joints like the knee; KNEE'-DEEP, rising to the knees: sunk to the knees; KNEE'-HIGH, rising or reaching to the knees.--ns. KNEE'-HOLL'Y, butcher's broom: KNEE'-JOINT, a joint with two pieces at an angle, so as to be very tight when pressed into a straight line; KNEE'-PAN, a flat, round bone on the front of the knee-joint; KNEE'-PIECE, or -RAFT'ER, an angular piece of timber strengthening a joint where two roof-timbers meet: any defensive appliance covering the knee; KNEE'-STOP, -SWELL, a lever worked by the performer's knee, for regulating the wind-supply of a reed-organ, &c.; KNEE'-TIM'BER, timber bent into a shape suitable for a knee in shipbuilding, &c.; KNEE'-TRIB'UTE (Milt.), the homage of kneeling.--GIVE, or OFFER, A KNEE, to act as second or bottle-holder in a fight, the principal resting on the second's knee during the pauses between the rounds. [A.S. cneów, cneó; Ger. knie, L. genu, Gr. gonu.]

KNEEL, n[=e]l, v.i. to bend the knee: to rest or fall on the knee:--pa.t. and pa.p. kneeled, knelt.--n. KNEEL'ER, one who kneels. [Knee.]

KNELL, nel, n. the stroke of a bell: the sound of a bell at a death or funeral.--v.i. to sound as a bell: toll.--v.t. to summon as by a tolling bell. [A.S. cnyllan, to beat noisily; Dut. and Ger. knallen.]

KNELT, nelt, pa.t. and pa.p. of kneel.

KNEW, n[=u], pa.t. of know.

KNICKERBOCKERS, nik-[.e]r-bok'[.e]rz, n.pl. loose breeches gathered in at the knee.--Also KNICK'ERS. [From the wide-breeched Dutchmen in 'Knickerbocker's' (Washington Irving's) humorous History of New York, whence Knickerbocker has come to mean the descendant of one of the original Dutch settlers of New York.]

KNICK-KNACK, nik'-nak, n. a trifle or toy.--n. KNICK'-KNACK'ERY, knick-knacks collectively. [A doubling of knack.]

KNIFE, n[=i]f, n. an instrument for cutting: a sword or dagger:--pl. KNIVES (n[=i]vz).--v.t. to stab with a knife: (Amer.) to try to destroy a political candidate's chances by a treacherous attack.--ns. KNIFE'-AND-FORK', a trencherman; KNIFE'-BOARD, a board on which knives are cleaned: (coll.) the seat running along the top of an omnibus; KNIFE'-BOY, a boy employed in cleaning knives; KNIFE'-EDGE (mech.), a sharp piece of steel like a knife's edge serving as the axis of a balance, &c.; KNIFE'-GRIND'ER, one who grinds or sharpens knives; KNIFE'-MON'EY, a knife-shaped bronze currency formerly used in China; KNIFE'-REST, a glass or metal utensil on which to rest a carving-knife or fork; KNIFE'-TRAY, a tray for holding knives.--WAR TO THE KNIFE, mortal combat. [A.S. cníf: Ger. kneif, knife, kneifen, to nip.]

KNIGHT, n[=i]t, n. one of gentle birth and bred to arms, admitted in feudal times to a certain honourable military rank: (Shak.) an attendant: a champion: the rank, with the title 'Sir,' next below baronets: a piece used in the game of chess.--v.t. to create a knight.--ns. KNIGHT'AGE, the collective body of knights; KNIGHT'-BACH'ELOR, one who has been knighted merely, not made a member of any titular order; KNIGHT'-BANN'ERET, a knight who carried a banner, and who was superior in rank to the knight-bachelor; KNIGHT'-ERR'ANT, a knight who travelled in search of adventures; KNIGHT'-ERR'ANTRY; KNIGHT'HOOD, the character or privilege of a knight: the order or fraternity of knights; KNIGHT'HOOD-ERR'ANT (Tenn.), the body of knights-errant.--adj. KNIGHT'LESS (Spens.), unbecoming a knight.--n. KNIGHT'LINESS, the bearing or duties of a knight.--adj. and adv. KNIGHT'LY.--ns. KNIGHT'-MAR'SHAL, formerly an officer of the royal household; KNIGHT'-SERV'ICE, tenure by a knight on condition of military service.--KNIGHT OF INDUSTRY, a footpad, thief, or sharper; KNIGHT OF THE CARPET, a civil knight, as opposed to a military, so called because created kneeling on a carpet, not the field; KNIGHT OF THE PESTLE, an apothecary; KNIGHT OF THE POST, one familiar with the whipping-post or pillory; KNIGHT OF THE ROAD, a highwayman; KNIGHT OF THE SHIRE, a member of parliament for a county; KNIGHT'S FEE, the amount of land with which a knight was invested on his creation; KNIGHTS OF LABOUR, in the United States, a national labour organisation; KNIGHTS OF MALTA (see Hospitaller); KNIGHTS OF ST CRISPIN, shoemakers; KNIGHTS OF THE RAINBOW, flunkeys from their liveries; KNIGHTS OF THE SHEARS, tailors; KNIGHTS OF THE SPIGOT, tapsters, publicans; KNIGHTS OF THE STICK, compositors; KNIGHTS OF THE WHIP, coachmen; KNIGHTS TEMPLARS (see TEMPLAR). [A.S. cniht Ger. and Dut. knecht, Dan. knegt.]

KNIT, nit, v.t. to form into a knot: to tie together: to unite into network by needles: to unite closely, to draw together: to contract.--v.i. to interweave with needles: to grow together:--pr.p. knit'ting; pa.t. and pa.p. knit'ted or knit.--n. (Shak.) a style of knitting.--ns. KNIT'TER; KNIT'TING, the work of a knitter: union, junction: the network formed by knitting; KNIT'TING-MACHINE', a machine for knitting; KNIT'TING-NEED'LE, a long needle or wire used for knitting thread into stockings, &c. [A.S. cnyttan--cnotta, a knot.]

KNITCH, nich, n. (prov.) a faggot.

KNITTLE, nit'l, n. (naut.) a small line made of two or three yarns twisted with the fingers: (pl.) the halves of two yarns in a rope, twisted for pointing.

KNIVES, pl. of knife.

KNOB, nob, n. a hard protuberance: a hard swelling: a round ball.--adj. KNOBBED, containing or set with knobs.--n. KNOB'BINESS.--adj. KNOB'BY, full of knobs: knotty.--n. KNOB'STICK (slang), a synonym for a blackleg or scab in trades-union slang. [Knop.]

KNOBKERRIE, nob'ker-i, n. a round-headed stick used as a club and a missile by the Kafirs.

KNOCK, nok, v.i. to strike with something hard or heavy: to drive or be driven against: to strike for admittance: to rap.--v.t. to strike: to drive against.--n. a sudden stroke: a rap.--adj. KNOCK'-DOWN, such as to overthrow.--ns. KNOCK'ER, the hammer suspended to a door for making a knock: a goblin inhabiting a mine who points out the presence of ore by knocks; KNOCK'ING, a beating on a door: a rap.--adj. KNOCK'-KNEED, having knees that knock or touch in walking.--KNOCK ABOUT (slang), to saunter, loaf about; KNOCK DOWN, to fell with a blow: assign to a bidder with a tap of the auctioneer's hammer; KNOCK INTO A COCKED HAT (see COCK); KNOCK OFF, to desist, cease: to accomplish hastily; KNOCK ON THE HEAD, to bring to a sudden stop; KNOCK OUT, to beat in a boxing match, to overcome generally: to lose the scent--of hounds in fox-hunting; KNOCK-OUT AUCTION, an auction where the bidders are largely swindling confederates; KNOCK TOGETHER, to get together or construct hastily; KNOCK UNDER, to give in, yield; KNOCK UP, to rouse by knocking: weary out, or be worn out: to construct hastily: (U.S.) to get with child. [A.S. cnucian, cnocian; imit. like knack; cf. Gael. cnac, cnag, &c.]

KNOLL, n[=o]l, n. a round hillock: the top of a hill. [A.S. cnol; Ger. knollen, a knob, lump.]

KNOLL, n[=o]l. Same as KNELL.

KNOP, nop, n. (B.) a knob, a bud. [A.S. cnoep; Dut. knop, Ger. knopf.]

KNOSP, nosp, n. the unopened bud of a flower: an architectural ornament resembling such. [Ger. knospe.]

KNOT, not, n. a wading-bird much resembling a snipe, sometimes said, but without evidence, to be named from King Cnut or Canute.

KNOT, not, n. a bunch of threads or the like entangled or twisted: an interlacement of parts of a cord, &c., by twisting the ends about each other, and then drawing tight the loops thus formed: a piece of ribbon, lace, &c., folded or tied upon itself in some particular form, as shoulder-knot, breast-knot, &c.: anything like a knot in form: a bond of union: a difficulty: the gist of a matter: a cluster: the part of a tree where a branch shoots out: an epaulet: (naut.) a division of the knot-marked log-line: a nautical mile.--v.t. to tie in a knot: to unite closely.--v.i. to form knots or joints: to knit knots for a fringe:--pr.p. knot'ting; pa.t. and pa.p. knot'ted.--n. KNOT'-GRASS, a common weed or grass, so called from the numerous joints or knots of its stem.--adjs. KNOT'LESS, without knots; KNOT'TED, full of, or having, knots: having intersecting lines or figures.--n. KNOT'TINESS.--adj. KNOT'TY, containing knots: hard, rugged: difficult: intricate.--n. KNOT'WORK, ornamental work made with knots.--BOWLINE KNOT (see BOW); GRANNY KNOT (see GRANNY); PORTERS' KNOT, a pad for supporting burdens on the head; SQUARE KNOT, a knot used in tying reef-points so that the ends come out alongside the standing parts; SURGEONS' KNOT, a square or reef knot used in tying a ligature round a cut artery; TRUE LOVERS' KNOT, a kind of double knot with two bows and two ends, an emblem of interwoven affections.--CUT THE KNOT, to solve a problem slap-dash (cf. GORDIAN). [A.S. cnotta; Ger. knoten, Dan. knude, L. nodus.]

KNOUT, nowt, n. a whip formerly used as an instrument of punishment in Russia: punishment inflicted by the knout. [Russ. knute.]

KNOW, n[=o], v.t. to be informed of: to be assured of: to be acquainted with: to recognise: (B.) to approve: to have sexual commerce with.--v.i. to possess knowledge:--pr.p. kn[=o]w'ing; pa.t. knew (n[=u]); pa.p. known (n[=o]n).--n. (Shak.) knowledge.--adj. KNOW'ABLE, capable of being known, discovered, or understood.--ns. KNOW'ABLENESS; KNOW'-ALL, one who thinks he knows everything; KNOW'ER.--adj. KNOW'ING, intelligent: skilful: cunning.--adv. KNOW'INGLY.--ns. KNOW'INGNESS, the quality of being knowing or intelligent: shrewdness; KNOW'-NOTH'ING, one who is quite ignorant: a member of the native American party (1854-56).--adj. completely ignorant.--KNOW A MOVE OR TWO, to be forearmed against trickery by a knowledge of the tricks; KNOW ON WHICH SIDE ONE'S BREAD IS BUTTERED, to be fully alive to one's own interest; KNOW THE ROPES, to understand the detail of any matter, as a sailor does his rigging; KNOW WHAT'S O'CLOCK, KNOW WHAT'S WHAT, to be thoroughly acquainted with something: to be wide awake. [A.S. cnáwan; Ice. kná, L. nosc[)e]re for gnoscere, Gr. gign[=o]skein.]

KNOWLEDGE, nol'ej, n. assured belief: that which is known: information, instruction: enlightenment, learning: practical skill.--adj. KNOWL'EDGEABLE (coll.), possessing knowledge: intelligent.--n. KNOWL'EDGE-BOX (slang), the head.--TO ONE'S KNOWLEDGE, so far as one knows. [M. E. knowleche, where -leche is the Northern form of the suffix in wed-lock, being A.S. lác, gift, sport.]

KNUB, nub, n. a knob, a small lump: the waste or refuse of silk-cocoons.--Also KNUBS.

KNUCKLE, nuk'l, n. projecting joint of the fingers; (cook.) the knee-joint of a calf or pig.--v.i. to bend the fingers: to touch the forehead as a mark of respect: to yield.--v.t. (rare) to touch with the knuckle.--ns. KNUCK'LE-BONES, a game (called also Dibs); KNUCK'LE-BOW, the curved part of a sword-guard that covers the fingers; KNUCK'LE-DUST'ER, a kind of modern cestus, devised as a protection against garrotters; KNUCK'LE-JOINT, a joint where the forked end of a connecting-rod is joined by a bolt to another piece of the machinery.--KNUCKLE DOWN, to apply one's self with vigour to a task: to submit--in this sense, also KNUCKLE UNDER. [M. E. knokil; cf. Dut. knokkel; prob. Celt., W. cnwc.]

KNURL, n[.e]rl, n. (Burns) a humpback.

KNURL. Same as GNARL, KNARL.

KNURR, KNUR, nur, n. a knot in wood: a wooden ball.--KNUR AND SPELL, a game played with a ball (knur), trap (spell), and tripstick, in vogue chiefly in the north of England. [Old Dut. knorre.]

KOA, k[=o]'a, n. a forest-tree of the Sandwich Islands.

KOALA, k[=o]-ä'lä, n. an Australian marsupial, called also 'Native Bear.'

KOB, kob, n. an African water-antelope.

KOBALT, n. Same as COBALT.

KOBANG, k[=o]'bang, n. an oblong gold coin, rounded at the corners, once current in Japan.--Also K[=O]'BAN.

KOBOLD, k[=o]'bold, n. in German folklore, a spirit of the mines. [Akin to goblin.]

KODAK, k[=o]'dak, n. a small portable photographic camera with a continuous roll of sensitised film, on which successive instantaneous negatives are made.--v.t. to take an instantaneous picture of. [The trademark name of the Eastman Kodak Company.]

KOFF, kof, n. a small Dutch sailing-vessel.

KOFTGAR, koft'gär, n. one who inlays steel with gold.--n. KOFT'GARI, such work--sometimes KOFT'WORK. [Hind.]

KOHELETH, k[=o]-hel'eth, n. the Preacher, supposed to be applied to Solomon in Eccles. i. 12.

KOHL, k[=o]l, n. a fine powder of antimony used in the East for staining the eyes. [Ar.]

KOHLRABI, k[=o]l'r[=a]-bi, n. the turnip-cabbage. [Ger.,--It. cavolo rapa, cole-turnip.]

KOKRA, kok'ra, n. an Indian wood used for making flutes, &c.--Also Cocus-wood.

KOLA, k[=o]'lä, n. an African tree whose nuts or seeds have stimulant properties: a name given to an aerated non-alcoholic beverage.

KOLINSKY, ko-lin'ski, n. the Siberian polecat or mink.

KONISCOPE, kon'i-sk[=o]p, n. an instrument for indicating the quantity of dust in the atmosphere. [Gr. konis, dust, skopein, to look.]

KONISTRA, k[=o]-nis'tra, n. the orchestra or dancing-place in the ancient Greek theatre, a circular area between the stage and the auditorium.

KOODOO, k[=oo]'d[=oo], n. an African antelope with long spiral horns.

KOORBASH, k[=oo]r'bash, n. a whip of hippopotamus or rhinoceros hide, used in Egypt and elsewhere.--Also KOURBASH. [Ar. kurb[=a]j.]

KOORD, k[=oo]rd, n. Same as KURD.

KOPECK, k[=o]'pek, n. Same as COPECK.

KOPJE, kop'ye, n. a flat-topped hill. [Dut. kop, a top.]

KORAN, k[=o]'rän, n. the Mohammedan Scriptures: Alcoran.--adj. KORAN'IC. [Ar. qur[=a]n, reading.]

KOSHER, k[=o]'sh[.e]r, adj. pure, clean, according to the Jewish ordinances--as of meat killed and prepared by Jews. [Heb., from y[=a]shar, to be right.]

KOSMOS. Same as COSMOS.

KOTO, k[=o]'t[=o], n. a Japanese musical instrument consisting of an oblong box over which thirteen silk strings are stretched.

KOTOW, k[=o]-tow', n. the Chinese ceremony of prostration.--v.i. to perform that ceremony, to abase one's self.--Also KOWTOW'. [Chin.]

KOTYLISKOS, kot-i-lis'kos, n. a small Greek toilet-vase with a small foot.

KOUMISS, k[=oo]'mis, n. a Kalmuck intoxicating beverage made from the soured and fermented milk of mares--supposed to be good for pulmonary phthisis. [Russ.,--Tartar.]

KRAAL, kräl, n. a Hottentot village or hut [Dut. kraal--Port. curral--L. curr[)e]re.]

KRAKEN, krä'ken, n. a fabled sea-animal of enormous size. [Scand.]

KRANG, krang, n. the carcass of a whale after the blubber has been removed.--Also KRENG. [Dut.]

KRASIS, kr[=a]'sis, n. the act of adding a little water to the wine used for the Eucharist.--Also called Mixture. [Gr.]

KREATIN. Same as CREATIN.

KREESE. Same as CREESE.

KREMLIN, krem'lin, n. a citadel, specially that of Moscow. [Russ. kremli.]

KREOSOTE, kr[=e]'o-s[=o]t, n. Same as CREOSOTE.

KREUTZER, kroit'z[.e]r, n. a small copper coin of Austria, 100 to the florin or gulden--formerly also in South Germany. [Ger. kreuzer--kreuz, a cross, because formerly stamped with a cross.]

K'RI, kr[=e], n. a marginal reading in the Hebrew Bible, proposed in substitution for a k'thibh, or reading in the text. The word signifies read, and was originally a marginal direction. [Heb.]

KRIEGSPIEL, kr[=e]g'sp[=e]l, n. the 'war-game' played with metal blocks on a map, to train officers in military manoeuvres. [Ger. krieg, war, spiel, game.]

KRIS. Same as CREESE.

KRISHNA, krish'na, n. a deity in later Hindu mythology.

KRUMMHORN, krum'horn, n. a medieval clarinet-like instrument: a reed-stop in the organ. [Ger. krumm.]

KRUPSIS, kr[=oo]p'sis, n. (theol.) the doctrine that Christ, during His state of humiliation, continued to possess in a veiled way the divine attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, &c. [Gr., kryptein, to conceal.]

KRYOMETER, kr[=i]-om'e-t[.e]r, n. a thermometer for measuring very low temperatures. [Gr. kryos, cold, metron, a measure.]

KSAR (Milt.), a former spelling of Czar.

KSHATRIYA, kshat'ri-ya, n. the second or military caste among the Brahmanic Hindus.

K'THIBH, kth[=e]v, n. a textual reading in the Hebrew Scriptures:--opp. to K'ri. The word signifies written, and was originally a marginal note calling attention to the textual form in distinction from the k'ri. [Heb.]

KUDOS, k[=u]'dos, n. credit, fame, generally used jocularly. [Gr.]

KUDU. Same as KOODOO.

KUFIC. Same as CUFIC.

KUKLUX, k[=u]'kluks, or KUKLUX KLAN, a secret organisation in several Southern states after the Civil War of 1861-65, to oppose Northern influence in the South, and to prevent the negroes from enjoying their rights as freemen--crushed by United States forces in 1869. [Gr. kuklos, a circle.]

KUMISS. Same as KOUMISS.

KÜMMEL, küm'el, n. a liqueur flavoured with cumin and caraway seeds. [Ger.]

KURD, k[=oo]rd, n. an inhabitant of Kurdistan, a region on the east of the upper course of the Tigris.

KURSAAL, k[=oo]r'säl, n. the reception-room of a German spa. [Ger., lit. 'cure-saloon.']

KVASS, kvas, n. rye-beer. [Russ. kvas[)u].]

KYANISE, k[=i]'an-[=i]z, v.t. to preserve from dry-rot by injecting corrosive sublimate into the pores of the wood. [From John H. Kyan (1774-1830).]

KYANITE, k[=i]'a-n[=i]t, n. Same as CYANITE.

KYE, Ky, k[=i], n.pl. Scotch form of the plural of cow. [See KINE.]

KYLIX, k[=i]'liks, n. a broad and shallow Greek drinking-vase.

KYLLOSIS, kil-l[=o]'sis, n. club-foot.

KYLOE, k[=i]'l[=o], n. one of the cattle of the Hebrides.

KYMOGRAPH, k[=i]'m[=o]-graf, n. an instrument for measuring the pressure of fluids, esp. of blood in a blood-vessel.--adj. KYMOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. kyma, a wave, graphein, to write.]

KYRIE, kir'i-[=e], n. the Kyrie eleïson='Lord have mercy,' including both the words and the music to which they are sung: one of the responses to the commandments in the Anglican ante-communion service.--KYRIE ELEÏSON, a form of prayer which occurs in all the ancient Greek liturgies, and retained in the R.C. mass, following immediately after the introit. [Voc. case of Gr. kyrios, lord.]

KYRIOLOGIC, -al, kir-i-o-loj'ik, -al, adj. denoting objects by alphabetical characters or conventional signs. [Gr. kyrios, literal, proper, logos, discourse.]

KYTHE, k[=i]th, v.t. (Scot.) to make known.--v.i. to show one's self, to appear. [A.S. cyðan, to make known. See UNCOUTH.]

* * * * *

L the twelfth letter in our alphabet, usually termed a liquid, but more correctly designated as a front palatal: (chem.) the symbol for lithium: in Roman numerals, for 50, but [=L]=50,000.

LA, lä, interj. lo! see! behold! ah! indeed!--n. (mus.) in solmisation, the syllable used for the sixth tone of the scale. [A.S. lá.]

LAAGER, lä'g[.e]r, n. in South African campaigning, a camp made by a ring of ox-wagons set close together, the spaces beneath being filled up with the baggage of the company.--v.t. to arrange in such a defensive enclosure. [Dut., a variant of leger, a camp.]

LABARUM, lab'a-rum, n. a Roman military standard adopted as the imperial standard after Constantine's conversion. It bore the Greek letters XP (Chr), joined in a monogram, to signify the name of Christ: a similar ecclesiastical banner borne in processions: any moral standard or guide. [Late Gr. labaron, origin unknown. Some make bold to derive from Basque labaria, a standard.]

LABDANUM. See LADANUM.

LABEFACTION, lab-e-fak'shun, n. a weakening decay--also LABEFACT[=A]'TION.--v.t. LAB'EFY, to impair. [L. labefac[)e]re, to shake.]

LABEL, l[=a]'bel, n. a small slip of writing affixed to anything to denote its contents, ownership, &c.: (law) a paper annexed to a will, as a codicil: (her.) a fillet with pendants: (archit.) the dripstone over a Gothic window or doorway arch.--v.t. to affix a label to: to describe by or on a label:--pr.p. l[=a]'belling; pa.t. and pa.p. l[=a]'belled. [O. Fr. label (Fr. lambeau); perh. from Old High Ger. lappa (Ger. lappen).]

LABELLUM, la-bel'um, n. the lower petal of a flower, esp. an orchis. [L., dim. of labium, a lip.]

LABIAL, l[=a]'bi-al, adj. pertaining to the lips: formed by the lips.--n. a sound formed by the lips: a letter representing a sound formed either by both the lips, or by the upper lip and under teeth--p, b, m, f, v.--v.t. L[=A]'BIALISE.--adv. L[=A]'BIALLY.--n.pl. LABI[=A]'TÆ, a natural order of gamopetalous plants, the mint family having four-cornered stems and opposite branches.--adjs. L[=A]'BIATE, -D (bot.), having two unequal divisions, as in the monopetalous corolla of the mints.--adj. and n. LABIODEN'TAL, of a sound pronounced both by the lips and teeth: a letter representing such (f, v.).--n. L[=A]'BIUM, a lip or lip-like part:--pl. L[=A]'BIA. [Fr.,--L. labium, labrum, a lip.]

LABIS, l[=a]'bis, n. the cochlear or eucharistic spoon. [Late Gr. from lambanein, to take.]

LABORATORY, lab'or-a-tor-i, n. a chemist's workroom: a place where scientific experiments are systematically carried on: a place for the manufacture of arms and war material: a place where anything is prepared for use. [L. labor[=a]re--labor, work.]

LABOUR, l[=a]'bur, n. toil or exertion, esp. when fatiguing: work: pains: duties: a task requiring hard work: the pangs of childbirth.--v.i. to undergo labour: to work: to take pains: to be oppressed: to move slowly: to be in travail: (naut.) to pitch and roll heavily.--adj. LAB[=O]'RIOUS, full of labour: toilsome: wearisome: devoted to labour: industrious.--adv. LAB[=O]'RIOUSLY.--n. LAB[=O]'RIOUSNESS.--adj. L[=A]'BOURED, bearing marks of labour or effort in the execution.--ns. L[=A]'BOURER, one who labours: one who does work requiring little skill; L[=A]'BOURIST, one who contends for the interests of workmen.--adjs. L[=A]'BOUR-SAV'ING, intended to supersede or lessen the labour of men; L[=A]'BOURSOME (Shak.), made with labour and diligence.--LABOUR DAY, a legal holiday in some parts of the United States, as in New York (the first Monday in September); LABOUR MARKET, the supply of unemployed labour in relation to the demand for it; LABOUR OF LOVE, work undertaken merely as an act of friendliness, and without hope of emolument; LABOUR WITH, to take pains to convince.--HARD LABOUR, compulsory work imposed on certain criminals in addition to imprisonment. [O. Fr. labour, labeur--L. labor.]

LABRADORITE, lab'ra-d[=o]r-[=i]t, n. one of the group of the Feldspars, and a very important rock-forming mineral. [Labrador.]

LABRET, l[=a]'bret, n. a piece of bone, shell, &c. inserted into the lip by savages for ornament.--adj. L[=A]'BROSE, having thick lips.--n. L[=a]'brum, a lip or lip-like part:--pl. L[=A]'BRA. [L. labrum, labium, a lip.]

LABURNUM, la-bur'num, n. a small tree with large pendulous racemes of beautiful yellow flowers, a native of the Alps. [L.]

LABYRINTH, lab'i-rinth, n. a place full of inextricable windings: (orig.) a building consisting of halls connected by intricate passages: an arrangement of tortuous passages in which it is difficult to find the way out: an inexplicable difficulty, a perplexity: (anat.) the cavities of the internal ear.--adjs. LABYRINTH'AL, LABYRINTH'IAN, LABYRINTH'INE, pertaining to or like a labyrinth: winding: intricate: perplexing; LABYRINTH'IFORM, having the form of a labyrinth: intricate.--n. LABYRINTH'ODON, a race of extinct gigantic amphibians found in the Permian, Carboniferous, and Triassic strata, so called from the mazy pattern exhibited on a transverse section of the teeth of some genera. [Fr. labyrinthe--L. labyrinthus--Gr. labyrinthos; akin to laura, a passage.]

LAC, lak, n. the term used in India for 100,000 rupees, the nominal value of which is £10,000.--Also LAKH. [Hind. lak--Sans. laksha, 100,000, a mark.]

LAC, lak, n. a dark-red transparent resin produced on the twigs of trees in the East by the lac insect, used in dyeing.--adj. LACCIC (lak'sik).--ns. LACCINE (lak'sin), a brittle, translucent, yellow substance, obtained from shell-lac; LAC'-DYE, LAC'-LAKE, scarlet colouring matters obtained from STICK'-LAC, the twigs, with attached resin, enclosed insects, and ova; SEED'-LAC, the granular portion remaining after removing the resin, triturating with water, and drying; SHELL'-LAC, SHEL'LAC, thin plates of resin prepared by melting the seed-lac in cotton-cloth bags, straining, and allowing it to drop on to sticks or leaves. [Pers. lak--Sans. lákshá, the lac insect--rañj, to dye.]

LACE, l[=a]s, n. a plaited string for fastening: an ornamental fabric of linen, cotton, silk, or gold and silver threads, made by looping, knotting, plaiting, or twisting the thread into definite patterns, of contrasted open and close structure; three distinct varieties are made, two by handiwork, known respectively as Needle or Point lace and Pillow or Bobbin Lace, and one by machinery.--v.t. to fasten with a lace: to adorn with lace: to streak: to mark with the lash: to intermix, as coffee with brandy, &c.: to intertwine.--v.i. to be fastened with a lace.--ns. LACE'-BARK TREE, a lofty West Indies tree, the inner bark like coarse lace; LACE'-BOOT, a boot fastened by a lace.--p.adj. LACED, fastened or adorned with lace.--ns. LACE'-FRAME, a machine used in lace-making; LACE'-LEAF (see LATTICE-LEAF); LACE'-MAN, one who deals in lace; LACE'-MEND'ER, one who repairs lace; LACE'-P[=A]'PER, paper stamped or cut by hand with an open-work pattern like lace; LACE'-PILL'OW, a cushion on which many various kinds of lace are made, held on the knees.--adj. L[=A]'CY, like lace.--ALENÇON LACE, a very fine point-lace, the most important made in France; APPLIQUÉ LACE, lace having sprigs or flowers sewed on net; BALLOON-NET LACE, a form of woven lace in which the freeing threads are peculiarly twisted about the warps; BRUSSELS LACE, an extremely fine lace with sprigs applied on a net ground; DUCHESSE LACE, a Belgian pillow-lace having beautiful designs with cord outlines, often in relief; GUIPURE LACE, any lace without a net ground, the pattern being held together by bars or brides; HONITON LACE, a lace made at Honiton in Devonshire, remarkable for the beauty of its figures and sprigs; IMITATION LACE, any lace made by machinery; MECHLIN LACE, a lace with bobbin ground and designs outlined by thread or flat cord; SPANISH LACE, needle-point lace brought from Spanish convents since their dissolution--but probably of Flemish origin: cut and drawn work made in convents in Spain, of patterns usually confined to simple sprigs and flowers: a modern black-silk lace with large flower-patterns, mostly of Flemish make: a modern needle-point lace with large square designs; TAMBOUR LACE, a modern kind of lace made with needle-embroidery on machine-made net; TORCHON LACE, peasants' bobbin laces of loose texture and geometrical designs, much imitated by machinery; VALENCIENNES LACE, a fine bobbin lace having the design made with the ground and of the same thread. [O. Fr. las, a noose--L. laqueus, a noose.]

LACERATE, las'[.e]r-[=a]t, v.t. to tear: to rend: to wound: to afflict.--adjs. LAC'ERABLE, that may be lacerated; LAC'ERANT, harrowing; LAC'ERATE, -D, rent, torn: (bot.) having the edges cut into irregular segments.--n. LACER[=A]'TION, act of lacerating: the rent made by tearing.--adj. LAC'ERATIVE, tearing: having power to tear. [L. lacer[=a]re, -[=a]tum, to tear--lacer, torn.]

LACERTA, la-s[.e]r'ta, n. a genus of saurian reptiles, the name properly restricted to slender, active lizards.--n. and adj. LACER'TIAN, an animal belonging to the genus Lacerta.--n. LACERTIL'IA, an order of reptiles, including the lizards proper, &c.--adjs. LACERTIL'IAN; LACERTIL'IOID; LACER'TINE. [L.]

LACHES, läsh'[=e]z, n. (law) negligence or undue delay, such as to disentitle a person to a certain remedy, any negligence. [O. Fr. lachesse.]

LACHESIS, lak'e-sis, n. the one of the three Fates who assigned to each mortal his destiny--she spun the thread of life from the distaff held by Clotho. [Gr.]

LACHRYMAL, LACRYMAL, lak'ri-mal, adj. of or pertaining to tears, secreting tears, as in 'lachrymal duct,' the nasal duct, conveying tears from the eye to the nose.--n. one of the bones of the face, the os unguis, or nail-bone, in man.--adj. LACH'RYMARY, containing tears.--n. LACH'RYM[=A]TORY, a small slender glass vessel found in ancient sepulchres, apparently filled with the tears of mourners.--adj. LACH'RYMOSE, LAC'RYMOSE, shedding tears, or given to do so: lugubrious, mournful.--adv. LACH'RYMOSELY.--LACHRYMA CHRISTI, a wine of a sweet but piquant taste, produced from grapes grown on Mount Vesuvius, the best light red. [L. lacryma (properly lacrima), a tear; Gr. dakru, Eng. tear.]

LACING, l[=a]s'ing, n. a fastening with a lace or cord through eyelet-holes: a cord used in fastening: in bookbinding, the cords by which the boards of a book are fastened to the back: in shipbuilding, the knee of the head, or lace-piece, a piece of compass or knee timber secured to the back of the figure-head: in mining, lagging, or cross-pieces of timber or iron placed to prevent ore from falling into a passage.

LACINIA, l[=a]-sin'i-a, n. a long incision in a leaf, &c.--also a narrow lobe resulting from such: in entomology, the apex of the maxilla.--adjs. LACIN'I[=A]TE, -D, cut into narrow lobes, fringed; LACIN'IFORM, fringe-like; LACIN'IOL[=A]TE, finely fringed. [L., a flap.]

LACK, lak, v.t. and v.i. to want: to be in want: to be destitute of: to miss.--n. want: destitution.--ns. LACK'-ALL, one who is destitute; LACK'-BRAIN (Shak.), a fool.--adjs. LACK'-LIN'EN (Shak.), wanting linen; LACK'-LUS'TRE, wanting brightness.--n. a want of brightness. [From an old Low Ger. root found in Dut. lak, blemish; cf. Ice. lakr, defective.]

LACKADAISICAL, lak-a-d[=a]'zi-kal, adj. affectedly pensive, sentimental.--interj. LACK'ADAISY=LACK-A-DAY. [Alack-a-day. See ALACK.]

LACK-A-DAY, lak-a-d[=a]', interj. See ALACK-A-DAY.

LACKER. See LACQUER.

LACKEY, lak'i, n. a menial attendant: a footman or footboy.--v.t. and v.i. to pay servile attendance: to act as a footman. [O. Fr. laquay (Fr. laquais)--Sp. lacayo, a lackey; perh. Ar. luka`, servile.]

LACMUS, lak'mus, n. the same as LITMUS (q.v.).

LACONIC, -AL, la-kon'ik, -al, adj. expressing in few words after the manner of the Laconians, Lacedæmonians, or Spartans: concise: pithy.--adv. LACON'ICALLY.--ns. LAC'ONISM, LACON'ICISM, a concise style: a short, pithy phrase. [L.,--Gr.]

LACQUER, LACKER, lak'[.e]r, n. a varnish made of lac and alcohol.--v.t. to cover with lacquer: to varnish.--ns. LAC'QUERER, one who varnishes or covers with lacquer; LAC'QUERING, the act of varnishing with lacquer: a coat of lacquer varnish. [Fr. lacre--Port. lacre, laca--Pers. lac, lac.]

LACROSSE, la-kros', n. a Canadian game of ball, played by two sets of eleven, the ball driven through the opponents' goal by means of the CROSSE, a bent stick, 5-6 ft. long, with a shallow net at one end. [Fr.]

LACTEAL, lak'te-al, adj. pertaining to or resembling milk: conveying chyle.--n. one of the absorbent vessels of the intestines which convey the chyle to the thoracic ducts.--ns. LAC'TARENE, LAC'TARINE, a preparation of the caseine of milk, used by calico-printers; LAC'T[=A]TE, a salt of lactic acid, and a base; LACT[=A]'TION, the act of giving milk: the period of suckling.--adj. LAC'TEOUS, milky, milk-like.--n. LACTESC'ENCE.--adjs. LACTESC'ENT, turning to milk: producing milk or white juice: milky; LAC'TIC, pertaining to milk; LACTIF'EROUS, LACTIF'IC, producing milk or white juice.--ns. LAC'TIFUGE, a medicine which checks the flow of milk; LAC'TOCRITE, an apparatus for testing the quantity of fatty substance in a sample of milk; LACTOM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the quality of milk; LAC'TOSCOPE, an instrument for testing the purity or richness of milk by its degree of translucency; LAC'TOSE, a kind of sugar, only moderately sweet, obtained from milk by evaporating whey--also LAC'TINE; LACTUCA (lak-t[=u]'ka), a genus of herbs of the aster family, with milky juice.--adj. LACTUCIC (lak-t[=u]'sik).--LACTIC ACID, an acid obtained from milk. [L. lacteus, milky--lac, lactis, milk; Gr. gala, galaktos, milk.]

LACUNA, la-k[=u]'na, n. a gap or hiatus:--pl. LAC[=U]'NÆ.--n. LAC[=U]'NAR, a sunken panel or coffer in a ceiling or a soffit: a ceiling containing such.--adjs. LAC[=U]'NOSE, furrowed: pitted; LAC[=U]'NOUS. [L. lacuna, anything hollow--lacus, a lake.]

LACUSTRINE, la-kus'trin, adj. pertaining to lakes.--Also LACUS'TRAL, LACUS'TRIAN. [From L. lacus, a lake.]

LAD, lad, n. a boy: a youth: (Scot.) a lover:--fem. LASS.--n. LAD'DIE, a little lad: a boy.--LAD'S LOVE, a provincial name of the southernwood. [M. E. ladde--Ir. lath, a youth, champion (W. llawd). Mr H. Bradley suggests that M. E. ladde, a servant, coincides with the adjectival form of the past participle of the verb to lead, the original meaning thus being 'one led in the train of a lord.']

LADANUM, lad'a-num, n. a resinous exudation from the leaves of a shrub growing round the Mediterranean.--Also LAB'DANUM. [L.,--Gr. l[=e]danon--Pers. l[=a]dan. See LAUDANUM.]

LADDER, lad'[.e]r, n. a frame made with steps placed between two upright pieces, by which one may ascend a building, &c.: anything by which one ascends: a gradual rise. [A.S. hl['æ]der; Ger. leiter.]

LADE, l[=a]d, v.t. to burden: to throw in or out, as a fluid, with a ladle or dipper.--n. (Scot.) a load: a water-course: the mouth of a river.--n. LAD'ING, the act of loading: that which is loaded: cargo: freight. [A.S. hladan, pt. hlód, hladen, to load, to draw out water; Dut. laden; Ger. be-laden.]

LADIN, la-d[=e]n', n. a Romance tongue spoken in the Engadine valley in Switzerland and the upper Inn valley in Tyrol. [L. Latinus, Latin.]

LADINO, la-d[=e]'n[=o], n. the old Castilian tongue: the Spanish jargon of some Turkish Jews: a Central American of mixed white and Indian blood.

LADLE, l[=a]d'l, n. a large spoon for lifting out liquid from a vessel: the float-board of a mill-wheel: an instrument for drawing the charge from a cannon.--v.t. to lift with a ladle.--ns. LAD'LEFUL, the quantity in a ladle:--pl. LAD'LEFULS.--LADLE FURNACE, a small gas furnace heated by a Bunsen burner, for melting metals, &c. [A.S. hlædel--hladan, to lade.]

LADRONE, la-dr[=o]n', n. a robber. [Sp.,--L. latro.]

LADY, l[=a]'di, n. the mistress of a house: a wife: a title of the wives of knights, and all degrees above them, and of the daughters of earls and all higher ranks: a title of complaisance to any woman of refined manners:--pl. LADIES (l[=a]'diz).--ns. L[=A]'DYBIRD, a genus of little beetles, usually brilliant red or yellow--also L[=A]'DYBUG, L[=A]'DYCOW; L[=A]'DY-CHAP'EL, a chapel dedicated to 'Our Lady,' the Virgin Mary, usually behind the high altar, at the extremity of the apse; L[=A]'DYDAY, the 25th March, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin; L[=A]'DYFERN, one of the prettiest varieties of British ferns, common in moist woods, with bipinnate fronds sometimes two feet long; L[=A]'DY-FLY (same as LADYBIRD); L[=A]'DYHOOD, condition, character of a lady.--adj. L[=A]'DYISH, having the airs of a fine lady.--ns. L[=A]'DYISM, affectation of the airs of a fine lady; L[=A]'DY-KILL'ER, a man who fancies his fascinations irresistible to women: a general lover.--adj. L[=A]'DY-LIKE, like a lady in manners: refined: soft, delicate.--ns. L[=A]DY-LOVE, a lady or woman loved: a sweetheart; L[=A]DY'S-BED'STRAW, the plant Galium verum; L[=A]'DY'S-BOW'ER, the only British species of clematis--also Traveller's joy; L[=A]'DY'S-FING'ER, a name for many plants: a piece of confectionery; L[=A]'DYSHIP, the title of a lady; L[=A]'DY'S-MAID, a female attendant on a lady, esp. in matters relating to the toilet; L[=A]DY'S-MAN'TLE, a genus of herbaceous plants having small, yellowish-green flowers; L[=A]'DY'S-SLIPP'ER, a genus of orchidaceous plants, remarkable for the large inflated lip of the corolla; L[=A]'DY'S-SMOCK, the Bitter Cress, a meadow-plant, with whitish, blush-coloured flowers.--LADIES' COMPANION, a small bag used for carrying women's work; LADIES' MAN, one fond of women's society.--MY LADYSHIP, YOUR LADYSHIP, a form of expression used in speaking to, or of, one who has the rank of a lady. [A.S. hláf-dige--hláf, a loaf, d['æ]gee, a kneader, or=hláfweardige (i.e. loaf-keeper, see ward), and thus a contr. fem. of Lord.]

LÆTARE, l[=e]-t[=a]'r[=e], n. the fourth Sunday in Lent, named from the first word in the service for the festival. [L. læt[=a]re, to rejoice--lætus, joyful.]

LAG, lag, adj. slack: sluggish: coming behind.--n. he who, or that which, comes behind: the fag-end: (slang) an old convict.--v.i. to move or walk slowly: to loiter.--v.t. (slang) to commit to justice:--pr.p. lag'ging; pa.p. lagged.--adj. LAG'-BELL'IED, having a drooping belly.--n. LAG'-END (Shak.), the last or long-delayed end.--adj. LAG'GARD, lagging: slow: backward.--ns. LAG'GARD, LAG'GER, one who lags behind: a loiterer: an idler.--adv. LAG'GINGLY, in a lagging manner. [Celt., as W. llag, loose, Gael. lag, feeble; cf. L. laxus, loose.]

LAGENA, la-j[=e]'na, n. a wine-vase, amphora: the terminal part of the cochlea in birds and reptiles:--pl. LAG[=E]'NÆ. [L.]

LAGER-BEER, lä'ger-b[=e]r, n. a kind of light beer very much used in Germany.--Also LA'GER. [Ger. lagerbier--lager, a store-house, bier, beer.]

LAGGEN, lag'en, n. (Burns) the angle between the side and bottom of a wooden dish.

LAGOMYS, l[=a]-g[=o]'mis, n. a genus of rodents, much resembling hares or rabbits. [Gr. lag[=o]s, a hare, mys, a mouse.]

LAGOON, LAGUNE, la-g[=oo]n', n. a shallow pond into which the sea flows. [It. laguna--L. lacuna.]

LAGOPHTHALMIA, lag-of-thal'mi-a, n. inability to close the eye.--adj. LAGOPHTHAL'MIC.

LAGOPUS, la-g[=o]'pus, n. a genus of grouse, the ptarmigans.--adj. LAGOP'ODOUS, having furry feet.--n. LAGOS'TOMA, hare-lip.--adj. LAG[=O]'TIC, rabbit-eared.

LAGRIMOSO, lag-ri-m[=o]'s[=o], adj. (mus.) plaintive. [It.]

LAGTHING, läg'ting, n. the upper house of the Norwegian parliament. [Norw. lag, law, thing, parliament.]

LAIC, LAICAL, LAICISE. See LAY, adj.

LAID, l[=a]d, adj. put down, prostrate: pressed down.--LAID PAPER, such as shows in its fabric the marks of the close parallel wires on which the paper-pulp was laid in the process of its manufacture:--opp. to Wove-paper, that laid on woven flannels or on felts. [Pa.t. and pa.p. of LAY.]

LAIDLY, l[=a]d'li, adj. (prov.) loathly.

LAIN, pa.p. of LIE, to rest.

LAIR, l[=a]r, n. a lying-place, esp. the den or retreat of a wild beast: (Scot.) the ground for one grave in a burying-place. [A.S. leger, a couch--licgan, to lie down; Dut. leger, Ger. lager.]

LAIR, l[=a]r, v.i. (Scot.) to sink in mud.--n. mire, a bog, a quagmire. [Ice. leir, mud.]

LAIRD, l[=a]rd, n. (Scot.) a landed proprietor, a landlord.--n. LAIRD'SHIP, an estate. [Lord.]

LAISSEZ-FAIRE, l[=a]s'[=a]-f[=a]r', n. a letting alone, a general principle of non-interference with the free action of the individual: the let-alone principle in government, business, &c.--Also LAISS'ER-FAIRE'. [Fr. laisser--L. lax[=a]re, to relax, faire--L. fac[)e]re, to do.]

LAITY, l[=a]-'i-ti, n. the people as distinct from the clergy. [See LAY, adj.]

LAKE, l[=a]k, n. a pigment or colour formed by precipitating animal or vegetable colouring matters from their solutions, chiefly with alumina or oxide of tin. [Fr. laque. See LAC (2).]

LAKE, l[=a]k, n. a large body of water within land.--ns. LAKE'-B[=A]'SIN, the whole area drained by a lake; LAKE'-LAW'YER (U.S.), the bowfin: burbot; LAKE'LET, a little lake; L[=A]'KER, L[=A]'KIST, one of the Lake school of poetry.--adj. L[=A]'KY, pertaining to a lake or lakes.--LAKE DISTRICT, the name applied to the picturesque and mountainous region within the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, and a small portion of Lancashire, containing as many as sixteen lakes or meres; LAKE DWELLINGS, settlements in prehistoric times, built on piles driven into a lake; LAKE SCHOOL OF POETRY, a name applied to the group of illustrious poets who made the Lake District--Wordsworthshire--their home about the beginning of the 19th century. [A.S. lac--L. lacus.]

LAKH, n. See LAC, term used for 100,000.

LAKIN, l[=a]'kin, n. (Shak.) a corruption of ladykin, dim. of lady.

LAKSHMI, laksh'm[=e], n. in Hindu mythology, the name of the consort of the god Vishnu (q.v.), considered as his female or creative energy.

LALLAN, lal'an, n. the Scotch dialect. [Lowland.]

LALLATION, la-l[=a]'shon, n. lambdacism (q.v.).

LAM, lam, v.t. to beat. [Ice. lemja, to beat.]

LAMA, n. an animal. [See LLAMA.]

LAMA, lä'ma, n. a Buddhist priest in Tibet.--ns. LÄ'MAISM, the religion prevailing in Tibet and Mongolia, being Buddhism corrupted by Sivaism, and by Shamanism or spirit-worship; LÄ'MAIST; LÄ'MASERY, a Tibetan monastery. [Tib.]

LAMANTIN, la-man'tin, n. the manatee. [Fr.]

LAMARCKISM, la-mär'kizm, n. the theory of the French naturalist, J. B. P. A. de Monet de Lamarck (1744-1829), that species have developed by the efforts of organisms to adapt themselves to new conditions--also LAMARCK'IANISM.---adj. LAMARCK'IAN.

LAMB, lam, n. the young of a sheep: the flesh of the young sheep: one innocent and gentle as a lamb: the Saviour of the world.--v.i. to bring forth young, as sheep.--ns. LAMB'-ALE, a feast at the time of lamb-shearing; LAMB'KIN, LAMB'LING, LAMB'IE (Scot.), a little lamb.--adj. LAMB'-LIKE, like a lamb: gentle.--ns. LAMB'SKIN, the skin of a lamb dressed with the wool on, for mats, &c.: the skin of a lamb dressed for gloves: a kind of woollen cloth resembling this; LAMB'S'-LETT'UCE (same as CORN-SALAD); LAMB'S'-WOOL, fine wool: a wholesome old English beverage composed of ale and the pulp of roasted apples, with sugar and spices.--THE LAMB, LAMB OF GOD, the Saviour, typified by the paschal lamb. [A.S. lamb; Ger. lamm, Dut. lam.]

LAMBATIVE, lam'ba-tiv, adj. to be taken by licking.--n. a medicine of such a kind.

LAMBDA, lam'da, n. the Greek letter corresponding to Roman l.--n. LAMB'DACISM, a too frequent use of words containing l: a defective pronunciation of r, making it like l.--adjs. LAMB'DOID, -AL, shaped like the Greek capital [GREEK: L]--applied in anatomy to the suture between the occipital and the two parietal bones of the skull. [Gr.,--Heb. lamedh.]

LAMBENT, lam'bent, adj. moving about as if touching lightly: gliding over: flickering.--n. LAM'BENCY, the quality of being lambent: that which is lambent. [L. lambens--lamb[)e]re, to lick.]

LAMBOYS, lam'boiz, n.pl. kilted flexible steel-plates worn skirt-like from the waist. [O. Fr.]

LAMBREQUIN, lam'bre-kin, n. a strip of cloth, leather, &c., hanging from a window, doorway, or mantelpiece, as a drapery: an ornamental covering, as of cloth, attached to a helmet. [Fr.]

LAME, l[=a]m, adj. disabled in the limbs: hobbling: unsatisfactory: imperfect.--v.t. to make lame: to cripple: to render imperfect.--n. LAME'-DUCK (slang), a bankrupt.--adv. LAME'LY.--n. LAME'NESS.--adj. LAM'ISH, a little lame: hobbling. [A.S. lama, lame; Dut. lam, Ger. lahm.]

LAMELLA, lä-mel'a, n. a thin plate or scale:--pl. LAMELL'Æ.--adjs. LAM'ELLAR, LAM'ELLATE.--n.pl. LAMELLIBRANCHI[=A]'TA, a class of shell-fishes or molluscs in which the shell consists of two limy plates, lying one on each side of the body.--adjs. LAMELLIBRANCH'IATE; LAMELL'ICORN.--n.pl. LAMELLICOR'NES, a very numerous family of beetles--the cockchafer, &c.--adjs. LAMELLIF'EROUS, producing lamellæ; LAMELL'IFORM, lamellar in form; LAMELLIROS'TRAL, having a lamellose bill; LAM'ELLOSE, full of lamellæ, lamellated in structure. [L.]

LAMENT, la-ment', v.i. to utter grief in outcries: to wail: to mourn.--v.t. to mourn for: to deplore.--n. sorrow expressed in cries: an elegy or mournful ballad.--adj. LAM'ENTABLE, deserving or expressing sorrow: sad: pitiful, despicable.--adv. LAM'ENTABLY.--n. LAMENT[=A]'TION, act of lamenting: audible expression of grief: wailing: (pl., B.) a book of Jeremiah.--p.adj. LAMENT'ED, bewailed: mourned.--adv. LAMENT'INGLY, with lamentation. [Fr. lamenter--L. lament[=a]ri.]

LAMETER, LAMITER, l[=a]'met-[.e]r, n. a cripple.

LAMETTA, la-met'a, n. foil of gold, silver, &c. [It.]

LAMIA, l[=a]'mi-a, n. in Greek and Roman mythology, a female phantom, a serpent witch who charmed children and youths in order to suck their blood.

LAMIGER, lam'i-j[.e]r, n. (prov.) a cripple.

LAMINA, lam'i-na, n. a thin plate: a thin layer or coat lying over another:--pl. LAM'INÆ.--adjs. LAM'INABLE; LAM'INAR, LAM'INARY, in laminæ or thin plates: consisting of, or resembling, thin plates.--n. LAMIN[=A]'RIA, a genus of dark-spored seaweeds, with large expanded leathery-stalked fronds.--adjs. LAM'IN[=A]TE, -D, in laminæ or thin plates: consisting of scales or layers, over one another.--ns. LAMIN[=A]'TION, the arrangement of stratified rocks in thin laminæ or layers.--adjs. LAMINIF'EROUS, consisting of laminæ or layers; LAM'INIFORM, laminar.--n. LAMIN[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the laminæ of a horse's hoof. [L. lamina, a thin plate, a leaf.]

LAMMAS, lam'as, n. the feast of first-fruits on 1st August.--n. LAMM'AS-TIDE, Lammas-day, 1st August. [A.S. hláf-mæsse and hlammæsse--hláf, loaf, mæsse, feast.]

LAMMER, lam'[.e]r, n. (Scot.) amber. [Fr. l'ambre.]

LAMMERGEIER, lam'm[.e]r-g[=i]-[.e]r, n. the great bearded vulture of the mountains of southern Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. [Ger. lämmergeier--lämmer, lambs, geier, vulture.]

LAMMY, lam'i, n. a thick quilted outside jumper worn in cold weather by sailors.--Also LAMM'IE.

LAMP, lamp, n. a vessel for burning oil with a wick, and so giving light: a light of any kind.--v.i. (Spens.) to shine.--ns. LAMP'AD (rare), a lamp or candlestick, a torch; LAMP'ADARY, in the Greek Church, one who looks after the lamps and carries a lighted taper before the patriarch; LAMPADED'ROMY, an ancient Greek torch-race in honour of Prometheus, &c.; LAMP'ADIST, one who ran in a torch-race; LAMPAD'OMANCY, the art of divining by the flame of a lamp or torch; LAMP'BLACK, the black substance formed by the smoke of a lamp: the soot or amorphous carbon obtained by burning bodies rich in that element, such as resin, petroleum, and tar, or some of the cheap oily products obtained from it; LAMP'-BURN'ER, that part of a lamp in which the wick is held; LAMP'-CHIM'NEY, LAMP'-GLASS, a glass funnel placed round the flame of a lamp; LAMP'-FLY (Browning), a firefly.--adj. LAMP'IC, pertaining to, or derived from, a lamp or flame.--ns. LAMP'ION, a kind of small lamp; LAMP'-LIGHT, the light shed by a lamp or lamps; LAMP'-LIGHT'ER, a person employed to light street-lamps: that by which a lamp is lighted, as a spill or torch; LAMP'-POST, the pillar supporting a street-lamp; LAMP'-SHELL, a terebratuloid or related brachiopod having a shell like an antique lamp.--SMELL OF THE LAMP, to show signs of great elaboration or study. [Fr. lampe--Gr. lampas, -ados--lampein, to shine.]

LAMP, lamp, v.i. (Scot.) to run wild, to scamper: to go jauntily.

LAMPAS, lam'pas, n. a material of silk and wool used in upholstery. [Fr.]

LAMPASS, lam'pas, n. (Shak.) a swelling of the roof of the mouth in horses. [Fr. lampas.]

LAMPERN, lam'p[.e]rn, n. a river lamprey.

LAMPOON, lam-p[=oo]n', n. a personal satire in writing: low censure.--v.t. to assail with personal satire: to satirise:--pr.p. lamp[=oo]n'ing; pa.p. lamp[=oo]ned'.--ns. LAMPOON'ER, one who writes a lampoon; LAMPOON'RY, practice of lampooning: written personal abuse or satire. [O. Fr. lampon, orig. a drinking-song, with the refrain lampons=let us drink--lamper (or lapper, to lap), to drink.]

LAMPREY, lam'pre, n. a genus of cartilaginous fishes resembling the eel, so called from their attaching themselves to rocks or stones by their mouths. [O. Fr. lamproie--Low L. lampreda, lampetra--L. lamb[)e]re, to lick, petra, rock.]

LANA, lä'na, n. the tough, close-grained wood of a Guiana tree.

LANATE, -D, l[=a]'n[=a]t, -ed, adjs. woolly: (bot.) covered with a substance resembling wool.--n. L[=A]'NARY, a wool-store. [L. lanatus--lana, wool.]

LANCASTERIAN, lang-kas-t[=e]'ri-an, adj. pertaining to Joseph Lancaster (1778-1838), or the method of teaching younger pupils by those more advanced (monitors) in primary schools.

LANCASTRIAN, lang-kas'tri-an, adj. pertaining to the dukes or the royal house of Lancaster.--n. an adherent of the house of Lancaster, as against the Yorkists, in the Wars of the Roses (1455-85).

LANCE, lans, n. (Spens.) balance, poise. [L. lanx, lancis, a dish or scale.]

LANCE, lans, n. a long shaft of wood, with a spear-head, and bearing a small flag: the bearer of a lance.--v.t. to pierce with a lance: to open with a lancet.--ns. LANCE'-COR'PORAL, a private soldier doing the duties of a corporal; LANCE'LET (see AMPHIOXUS); LAN'CER, a light cavalry soldier armed with a lance: (pl.) a popular set of quadrilles, first in England about 1820: the music for such; LANCE'-WOOD, a wood valuable for its strength and elasticity, brought chiefly from Jamaica, Guiana, &c.--adjs. LANCIF'EROUS, bearing a lance; LAN'CIFORM, lance-shaped. [Fr.,--L. lancea; Gr. longch[=e], a lance.]

LANCEGAY, lans'g[=a], n. (obs.) a kind of spear. [O. Fr.,--lance, a lance, zagaye, a pike. See ASSAGAI.]

LANCEOLATE, -D, lan'se-o-l[=a]t, -ed, adjs. (bot.) having the form of a lance-head: tapering toward both ends--also LAN'CEOLAR.--adv. LAN'CEOLATELY. [L. lanceolatus--lanceola, dim. of lancea.]

LANCET, lan'set, n. a surgical instrument used for opening veins, abscesses, &c.: a high and narrow window, terminating in an arch acutely pointed, often double or triple, common in the first half of the 13th century. [O. Fr. lancette, dim. of lance.]

LANCH. Same as LAUNCH.

LANCINATE, lan'sin-[=a]t, v.t. to lacerate.--n. LANCIN[=A]'TION, sharp, shooting pain. [L. lancin[=a]re, -[=a]tum, to tear.]

LAND, land, n. earth, the solid portion of the surface of the globe: a country: a district: soil: real estate: a nation or people: (Scot.) a group of dwellings or tenements under one roof and having a common entry.--v.t. to set on land or on shore.--v.i. to come on land or on shore.--ns. LAND'-[=A]'GENT, a person employed by the owner of an estate to let farms, collect rents, &c.; LAND'-BREEZE, a breeze setting from the land towards the sea; LAND'-CRAB, a family of crabs which live much or chiefly on land.--v.t. LAND'DAMN (Shak.), to banish from the land.--adj. LAND'ED, possessing land or estates: consisting in land or real estate.--ns. LAND'ER, one who lands; LAND'FALL, a landslip: an approach to land after a voyage, also the land so approached; LAND'-FISH (Shak.), a fish on land, any one acting contrary to his usual character; LAND'-FLOOD, a flooding or overflowing of land by water: inundation; LAND'FORCE, a military force serving on land, as distinguished from a naval force; LAND'-GRAB'BER, one who acquires land by harsh and grasping means: one who is eager to occupy land from which others have been evicted; LAND'-GRAB'BING, the act of the land-grabber; LAND'-HERD, a herd of animals which feed on land; LAND'-HOLD'ER, a holder or proprietor of land; LAND'-HUNG'ER, greed for the acquisition of land; LAND'ING, act of going on land from a vessel: a place for getting on shore: the level part of a staircase between the flights of steps.--adj. relating to the unloading of a vessel's cargo.--ns. LAND'ING-NET, a kind of scoop-net for landing a fish that has been caught; LAND'ING-PLACE, a place for landing, as from a vessel; LAND'ING-STAGE, a platform for landing passengers or goods carried by water, often rising and falling with the tide; LAND'-JOB'BER, a speculator in land; LAND'-JOB'BING; LAND'LADY, a woman who has property in land or houses: the mistress of an inn or lodging-house.--adj. LAND'LESS (Shak.), without land or property.--v.t. LAND'LOCK, to enclose by land.---adj. LAND'-LOCKED, almost shut in by land, protected by surrounding masses of land from the force of wind and waves.--ns. LAND'LORD, the owner of land or houses: the master of an inn or lodging-house; LAND'LORDISM, the authority or united action of the landholding class; LAND'-LUBB'ER, a landsman (a term used by sailors); LAND'MARK, anything serving to mark the boundaries of land: any object on land that serves as a guide to seamen: any distinguishing characteristic; LAND'-MEAS'URE, a system of square measure used in the measurement of land; LAND'-MEAS'URING, the art of estimating the superficial content of portions of land; LAND'-OWN'ER, one who owns land; LAND'-OWN'ERSHIP.--adj. LAND'-OWN'ING.--ns. LAND'-P[=I]'LOT, (Milt.), a guide on land; LAND'-P[=I]'RATE, a highway robber: a fellow who makes a practice of swindling sailors in port; LAND'RAIL, the crake or corncrake, so named from its cry; LAND'-RAK'ER (Shak.), a vagabond; LAND'-REEVE, the assistant to the land-steward of a great estate; LAND'-ROLL, a clod-crusher; LAND'-SCRIP (U.S.), negotiable government certificate entitling to possession of certain public land by individuals or corporate bodies; LAND'-SHARK, a land-grabber: one who plunders sailors on shore; LAND'SKIP (same as LANDSCAPE); LAND'SLIDE, LAND'SLIP, a portion of land that falls down, generally from the side of a hill, usually due to the undermining effect of water; LANDS'MAN, LAND'MAN, one who lives or serves on land: one inexperienced in seafaring; LAND'-SPRING, water lying near the surface, easily drawn upon by shallow wells; LAND'-STEW'ARD, a person who manages a landed estate; LAND'-SURVEY'ING (see SURVEYING); LAND'-TAX, a tax upon land; LAND'-TURN, a land-breeze; LAND'-WAIT'ER, a custom-house officer who attends on the landing of goods from ships.--adv. LAND'WARD, toward the land.--adj. lying toward the land, away from the sea-coast: situated in or forming part of the country, as opposed to the town: rural.--n. LAND'WIND, a wind blowing off the land.--LAND LEAGUE, an association founded in Ireland by Michael Davitt in 1879, and organised by C. S. Parnell, to procure reduction and rearrangement of rents, and to promote the substitution of peasant-proprietors for landlords--condemned as an illegal conspiracy in 1881; LANDED INTEREST, the combined interest of the land-holding class in a community.--MAKE THE LAND, to discover the land as the ship approaches it; SET THE LAND, to observe by the compass how the shore bears from the ship. [A.S. land; Dut., Ger. land.]

LANDAMMAN, lan'dam-man, n. the president of the Swiss Diet: the head official in some Swiss cantons.

LANDAU, lan'daw, n. a coach or carriage with a top which may be opened and thrown back. [Ger. landauer, from Landau.]

LANDE, land, n. an uncultivated healthy plain, esp. a sandy track along the sea-shore in south-western France. [Fr.]

LANDGRAVE, land'gr[=a]v, n. a German graf, count, or earl:--fem. LANDGRAVINE (land'gra-v[=e]n).--n. LANDGR[=A]'VI[=A]TE, the territory of a landgrave. [Dut. landgraaf--land, land, graaf, count.]

LAND-LOUPER, land'-lowp'[.e]r, n. a vagabond or vagrant.--Also LAND'-LOP'ER. [Dut. landloopen--land, land, loopen, to ramble; cf. Ger. landläufer.]

LANDSCAPE, land'-sk[=a]p, n. the appearance of that portion of land which the eye can at once view; the aspect of a country, or a picture representing it.--ns. LAND'SCAPE-GAR'DENING, the art of laying out grounds and so disposing water, buildings, trees, and other plants as to produce the effect of a picturesque landscape; LAND'SCAPE-PAINT'ER, one who practises this form of art; LAND'SCAPE-PAINT'ING, the art of representing natural scenery by painting. [Dut. landschap, from land and -schap, a suffix=-ship.]

LANDSTHING, läns'ting, n. the upper house of the Danish Rigsdag or parliament. [Dan., land, land, thing, parliament.]

LANDSTURM, lant'st[=oo]rm, n. in Germany and Switzerland, a general levy in time of national emergency--in the former including all males between seventeen and forty-five: the force so called out. [Ger., land, land, sturm, alarm.]

LANDTAG, lant'tahh, n. the legislative assembly of one of the states forming the modern German empire, as Saxony, Bavaria, &c.: the provincial assembly of Bohemia or Moravia. [Ger., land, country, tag, diet, day.]

LANDWEHR, länt'v[=a]r, n. a military force in Germany and Austria forming an army reserve. [Ger., land, land, wehr, defence.]

LANE, l[=a]n, n. an open space between corn-fields, hedges, &c.: a narrow passage or road: a narrow street: a fixed route kept by a line of vessels across the ocean.--A BLIND LANE, a cul-de-sac. [A.S. lane; Scot, loan, lonnin.]

LANE, l[=a]n, a Scotch form of lone, alone,

LANG, a Scotch form of long.--n. LANG'SYNE, time long past.--THINK LANG, to weary.

LANGAHA, lan-gä'hä, n. a Madagascar wood-snake, with a flexible scaly extension on the snout.

LANGET, lang'get, n. a strong lace used in women's dress in Holland.

LANGSHAN, lang'shan, n. a small black Chinese hen.

LANGSPIEL, lang'sp[=e]l, n. a Shetland form of harp.

LANGUAGE, lang'gw[=a]j, n. that which is spoken by the tongue: human speech: speech peculiar to a nation: style or expression peculiar to an individual: diction: any manner of expressing thought.--v.t. to express in language.--adjs. LANG'UAGED, skilled in language; LANG'UAGELESS (Shak.), speechless, silent; LANG'UED (her.), furnished with a tongue.--DEAD LANGUAGE, one no longer spoken, as opp. to LIVING LANGUAGE, one still spoken; FLASH LANGUAGE (see FLASH). [Fr. langage--langue--L. lingua (old form dingua), the tongue, akin to L. ling[=e]re, Gr. leichein.]

LANGUE D'OC, long dok, n. collective name for the Romance dialects spoken in the Middle Ages from the Alps to the Pyrenees--the tongue of the troubadours, often used as synonymous with Provençal, one of its chief branches. The name itself survived in the province LANGUEDOC, giving name to a class of wines.--LANGUE D'OUI (long dw[=e]), also LANGUE D'OIL, the Romance dialect of northern France, the language of the trouvères, the dominant factor in the formation of modern French. [O. Fr. langue--L. lingua, tongue; de, of; Prov. oc, yes--L. hoc, this; O. Fr. oui, oïl, yes--L. hoc illud, this (is) that, yes.]

LANGUETTE, lang'get, n. a 16th-century hood worn by women: the tongue of a reed of a harmonium or reed-organ: a key of a wind-instrument. [Fr.]

LANGUID, lang'gwid, adj. slack or feeble: flagging: exhausted: sluggish: spiritless.--adj. LANGUESC'ENT, growing languid.--adv. LANG'UIDLY.--n. LANG'UIDNESS. [Fr.,--L. languidus--langu[=e]re, to be weak.]

LANGUISH, lang'gwish, v.i. to become languid or enfeebled: to lose strength and animation: to pine: to become dull, as of trade.--n. (Shak.) languishment.--adjs. LANG'UISHED, sunken in languor; LANG'UISHING, expressive of languor, or merely sentimental emotion.--adv. LANG'UISHINGLY.--n. LANG'UISHMENT, the act or state of languishing: tenderness of look. [Fr. languir, languiss-,--L. languesc[)e]re--langu[=e]re, to be faint.]

LANGUOR, lang'gwur, n. state of being languid or faint: dullness: listlessness: softness.--adj. LANG'UOROUS, full of languor: tedious: melancholy.--v.t. LANG'URE (Spens.), to languish.

LANIARD. Same as LANYARD.

LANIARY, l[=a]'ni-a-ri, n. a place of slaughter: shambles.--adj. fitted for lacerating or tearing. [L. laniarium--lanius, a butcher.]

LANIFEROUS, lan-if'[.e]r-us, adj. wool-bearing.--Also LANIG'EROUS. [L. lanifer, laniger--lana, wool, ferre, ger[)e]re, to bear.]

LANK, langk, adj. languid or drooping: soft or loose: thin: shrunken: straight and flat.--v.i. (Shak.) to become lank.--adv. LANK'LY.--n. LANK'NESS.--adj. LANK'Y, lank and tall. [A.S. hlanc; Dut. slank, Ger. schlank, slender.]

LANNER, lan'[.e]r, n. a kind of falcon.--n. LANN'ARET, the male bird. [Fr. lanier--L. laniarius.]

LANOLIN, lan'[=o]-lin, n. an unctuous substance, a mixture of the ethers of cholesterin with fatty acids, used as a basis for ointments, extracted from wool. [L. lana, wool, oleum, oil.]

LANSQUENET, lans'ke-net, n. a 16th-17th cent. mercenary pikeman: a game at cards. [Fr.,--Ger. landsknecht--land, country, knecht, a soldier.]

LANT, lant, n. stale urine, used in wool-scouring.

LANTERLOO, lant'[.e]r-l[=oo], n. a game at cards, commonly Loo. [Dut. lanterlu.]

LANTERN, lant'[.e]rn, n. a case for holding or carrying a light, the light chamber of a lighthouse: an ornamental structure surmounting a dome to give light and to crown the fabric: the upper square cage which illuminates a corridor or gallery--obs. form, LANT'HORN, from the use of horn for the sides of lanterns.--v.t. to furnish with a lantern.--n. LANT'ERN-FLY, any insect of family Fulgoridæ, supposed to emit a strong light in the dark.--adj. LANT'ERN-JAWED, thin-faced.--n.pl. LANT'ERN-JAWS, thin long jaws.--LANTERN OF THE DEAD, a tower having a small lighted chamber at the top, once common in French cemeteries; LANTERN WHEEL, a kind of cog-wheel, in which a circle of bars or spindles between two heads engages with the cogs of a spur-wheel.--CHINESE LANTERN, a collapsible paper lantern, generally decorated with flowers; DARK LANTERN, a lantern having an opaque slide, capable of being partly or wholly shut at pleasure; MAGIC LANTERN, an optical instrument by means of which magnified images of small pictures are thrown upon a wall or screen. [Fr. lanterne--L. lanterna--Gr. lampt[=e]r--lampein, to give light.]

LANTHANUM, lan'tha-num, n. a metal discovered in 1839 in cerite, a hydrated silicate of cerium.--Also LAN'TH[=A]NIUM. [Gr. lanthanein, to conceal.]

LANUGINOUS, la-n[=u]'jin-us, adj. downy: covered with fine soft hair.--n. LAN[=U]'GO. [Fr.,--L. lanuginosus--lanugo, down, lana, wool.]

LANX, lanks, n. a platter or dish for serving meat at a Roman table:--pl. LAN'CES. [L.]

LANYARD, LANIARD, lan'yard, n. a short rope used on board ship for fastening or stretching, or for convenience in handling articles. [Fr. lanière, perh. from L. lanarius, made of wool--lana, wool.]

LAOCOÖN, l[=a]-ok'-o-on, n. a famous antique group in marble in the Vatican, representing the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons being crushed in the folds of two enormous serpents.

LAODICEAN, l[=a]-od-i-s[=e]'an, adj. lukewarm in religion, like the Christians of Laodicea (Rev. iii. 14-16).--n. LAODIC[=E]'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. lamb[)e]re, 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 LAPID[=A]'RIAN, LAP'IDARIST, LAP'IDIST.--v.t. LAP'IDATE (rare), to pelt with stones.--n. LAPID[=A]'TION, punishment by stoning.--adj. LAPID'EOUS, stony.--n. LAPIDESC'ENCE.--adj. LAPIDESC'ENT, becoming stone: petrifying.--adj. LAPIDIF'IC.--n. LAPIDIFIC[=A]'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; L[=A]'PIS, a kind of calico-printing with indigo, the resists acting as methods for other dyes, as madder or quercitron; L[=A]'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'[.e]r-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-p[=u]'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 (l[=a]'r[=e]z). [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'b[=o]rd (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. LARD[=A]'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'[.e]r, 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, l[=a]r, 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'-[=A]'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--larg[=i]ri, to give freely--largus.]

LARGO, lär'g[=o], 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-[.e]r, 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, l[=a]'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'v[=e]).--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, l[=a]r'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. LARYNG[=I]'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, l[=a]'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-t[=u]d, n. faintness: weakness: weariness: languor. [Fr.,--L. lassitudo--lassus, faint.]

LASSO, las'[=o], 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'[=o]ing; pa.p. lass'[=o]ed. [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. l['æ]stan, 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'[.e]r-i, n. (Spens.) a red colour.

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

LATAKIA, lat-a-k[=e]'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, l[=a]t, 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.--lat[=e]re.]

LATEEN, la-t[=e]n', adj. applied to a triangular sail, common in the Mediterranean, the Lake of Geneva, &c. [Fr.,--L. Latinus, Latin.]

LATENT, l[=a]'tent, adj. hid: concealed: not visible or apparent: dormant, undeveloped.--ns. L[=A]'TENCE, L[=A]'TENCY.--adv. L[=A]'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 lat[=e]re, to lie hid; Gr. lanthanein, to be hidden.]

LATERAL, lat'[.e]r-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. LATERIF[=O]'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, lat[)e]ris, a side.]

LATERAN, lat'[.e]r-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 oecumenical: also an important synod against the Monothelites in 649.

LATERICEOUS, lat-[.e]r-ish'us, adj. of brick, or brick-coloured.--Also LATERIT'IOUS. [L. latericius--later, lateris, a brick.]

LATERITE, lat'[.e]r-[=i]t, n. an argillaceous sandstone of a reddish or brick colour found in India, esp. in Ceylon. [L. later, lateris, a brick.]

LATESCENT, l[=a]-tes'ent, adj. becoming hidden.--n. LATESC'ENCE. [L. latesc[)e]re--lat[=e]re, to lie hid.]

LATEST, l[=a]t'est, adj. superl. of late.

LATEX, l[=a]'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 (lä_th_z).--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, l[=a]th, 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, lä_th_, n. a part or division of a county, now existing only in Kent, and consisting of four or five hundreds. [A.S. l['æ]th, a district.]

LATHER, la_th_'[.e]r, 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, l[=a]-tib'[=u]-lum, n. a hiding-place, burrow:--pl. LATIB'ULA.--v.i. LATIB'ULISE, to hibernate. [L.]

LATICLAVE, lat'i-kl[=a]v, 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't[=a]t, adj. broad-ribbed.

LATIDENTATE, lat-i-den't[=a]t, adj. broad-toothed.

LATIFOLIATE, lat-i-f[=o]'li-[=a]t, adj. broad-leafed.--Also LATIF[=O]'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. L[=A]'TIAN.--n. LAT'INER, one who knows Latin: (obs.) an interpreter.--v.t. LAT'IN[=I]SE, 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'[=a]t, adj. broad-winged.

LATIROSTRAL, lat-i-ros'tral, adj. broad-billed.--Also LATIROS'TRATE.

LATISSIMUS, l[=a]-tis'i-mus, n. the broadest muscle which lies upon the back.

LATITUDE, lat'i-t[=u]d, 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; LATITUDIN[=A]'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. LATITUDIN[=A]'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, l[=a]-tr[=i]'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--lav[=a]re, to wash.]

LATROBE, la-tr[=o]b', 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-r[=o]-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 oecumenical 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'[.e]r, 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. LAUD[=A]'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. laud[=a]re--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 lav[=a]re 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-[=a]t, 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; LAURE[=A]'TION, act of laureating or conferring a degree; P[=O]'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 LAURUST[=I]'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. lav[=a]re, to wash.]

LAVE, l[=a]v, v.t. and v.i. to wash: to bathe.--ns. L[=A]'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; L[=A]'VAGE, a washing out; LAV[=A]'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; L[=A]'VER, a large vessel for laving or washing. [Fr. laver--L. lav[=a]re, -[=a]tum; Gr. louein, to wash.]

LAVE, l[=a]v, n. (Scot.) what is left, the remainder. [A.S. láf; Ice. leif. See LEAVE.]

LAVE, l[=a]v, v.t. to lade or throw out (as water from a boat). [A.S. lafian, pour out water; Ger. laben, refresh. Conn. with L. lav[=a]re, to wash, dub.]

LAVENDER, lav'en-d[.e]r, 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. lav[=a]re, to wash.]

LAVER. See LAVE (1).

LAVER, l[=a]v'[.e]r, n. the fronds of certain marine plants, sometimes used as food. [L. laver.]

LAVEROCK, lav'[.e]r-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'-ST[=A]'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. l[=o]g.]

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; LAX[=A]'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, l[=a], 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, l[=a], n. a song: a lyric or narrative poem. [O. Fr. lai, from Celt.; cf. Gael. laoidh, a hymn.]

LAY, l[=a], LAIC, -AL, l[=a]'ik, -al, adjs. pertaining to the people: not clerical: unprofessional: (cards) not trumps.--v.t. L[=A]'ICISE, to deprive of a clerical character.--ns. L[=A]'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'-IMPR[=O]'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, l[=a]'-d[=a], n. one of a number of days allowed a charter-party for shipping or unshipping cargo.

LAYER, l[=a]'[.e]r, n. a stratum--better LAIR (q.v.). See LAY.

LAYETTE, l[=a]-yet', n. a baby's complete outfit: a tray for carrying powder in powder-mills. [Fr.]

LAY-FIGURE, l[=a]'-fig'[=u]r, 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, l[=a]'zar, n. one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential disease like Lazarus, the beggar.--ns. L[=A]'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. L[=A]'ZAR-LIKE, like a lazar: full of sores: leprous. [Fr. lazare--L.,--Gr. Lazaros, in the parable in Luke xvi.--Heb. El`[=a]z[=a]r, 'he whom God helps.']

LAZARETTO, laz-a-ret'[=o], 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-r[=o]'ni, n. Same as LAZZARONI.

LAZULI, laz'[=u]-l[=i]. See LAPIS-LAZULI, under LAPIDARY.

LAZULITE, laz'[=u]-l[=i]t, n. a mineral of a light, indigo-blue colour, occurring in quartz and in clay-slate.

LAZY, l[=a]'zi, adj. disinclined to exertion: averse to labour: sluggish: tedious.--v.i. LAZE, to be lazy.--adv. L[=A]'ZILY.--ns. L[=A]'ZINESS, state or quality of being lazy; L[=A]'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; L[=A]'ZYBONES (coll.), a lazy person, an idler; L[=A]'ZY-JACK, a jack constructed of compound levers pivoted together; L[=A]'ZY-PIN'ION (see IDLE-WHEEL).--n.pl. L[=A]'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-r[=o]'ni, n. name given to the lowest classes in Naples, idle beggars, with no fixed habitation or regular occupation:--sing. LAZZARONE. [It.]

LEA, l[=e], 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 Water_loo_.]

LEACH, l[=e]ch, 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, l[=e]ch, n. Same as LEECH.

LEAD, l[=e]d, 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-M[=O]'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. l['æ]dan, 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, l[=e]f, 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 (l[=e]vz).--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, l[=e]g, 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, l[=e]g, 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. lig[=a]re, to bind.]

LEAGUER, l[=e]g'[.e]r, n. a camp, esp. of a besieging army: siege or besiegement. [Dut. leger, a lair.]

LEAK, l[=e]k, 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, l[=e]l, 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, l[=e]m, n. (obs.) a gleam of light, a glow.--v.i. to shine. [A.S. leóma.]

LEAN, l[=e]n, 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 hl['æ]nan; Dut. leunen.]

LEAN, l[=e]n, 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. hl['æ]ne; Low Ger. leen; according to Skeat, from hl['æ]nan, to lean (above).]

LEAP, l[=e]p, 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, l[=e]p, n. a basket: a wicker net. [A.S. leáp.]

LEAR, l[=e]r, v.t. (Spens.) to learn.--n. that which is learned, a lesson: (Scot.) learning.

LEARN, l[.e]rn, 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. l['æ]ran (Ger. lehren), to teach.]

LEASE, l[=e]s, 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. lax[=a]re, to loose, laxus, loose.]

LEASE, l[=e]z, v.i. (prov.) to glean.--n. LEAS'ING, gleaning. [A.S. lesan, to gather.]

LEASE, l[=e]s, n. in weaving, the plane in which the warp-threads cross: this system of crossing.

LEASH, l[=e]sh, 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, l[=e]z'ing, n. falsehood, lies: lying. [A.S. lásung--leás, false, loose; Goth. laus, Ice. los.]

LEASOWE, l[=e]'s[=o], n. a pasture.--v.t. to feed or pasture. [A.S. l['æ]s, a meadow.]

LEAST, l[=e]st, 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, l[=e]st, conj. (Spens.). Same as LEST.

LEAT, LEET, l[=e]t, n. (prov.) a trench for bringing water to a mill-wheel.

LEATHER, leth'[.e]r, 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, l[=e]v, n. permission: liberty granted: formal parting of friends: farewell. [A.S. leáf, permission, cog. with leóf, dear. See LIEF.]

LEAVE, l[=e]v, 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. l['æ]fan, to leave a heritage (láf), lifian, to be remaining.]

LEAVE, l[=e]v, v.t. (Spens.) to levy, to raise.

LEAVE, l[=e]v, 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--lev[=a]re, to raise--levis, light.]

LEAVES, l[=e]vz, pl. of leaf.

LEAVINGS, l[=e]v'ingz, n.pl. things left: relics: refuse.--n. LEAV'ING-SHOP, an unlicensed pawnshop.

LEAVY, l[=e]v'i, adj. (Shak.). Same as LEAFY.

LECHER, lech'[.e]r, 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't[.e]rn, 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--leg[)e]re, lectum, to read.]

LECTUAL, lek't[=u]-al, adj. confining to the bed.

LECTURE, lek't[=u]r, 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. l['æ]den, 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'[.e]r, 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, l[=e]'dum, n. a genus of ericaceous plants. [Gr. l[=e]don, ladanum.]

LEE, l[=e], 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, l[=e], n. (Spens.) a river: also the same as LEA.

LEECH, l[=e]ch, n. the edge of a sail at the sides. [Ice. lík, a leech-line; Dan. lig; Sw. lik, a bolt-rope.]

LEECH, l[=e]ch, n. a blood-sucking worm: a physician.--v.t. to apply leeches to.--ns. LEECH'CRAFT, LEECH'DOM. [A.S. l['æ]ce, one who heals; cf. Goth. leikeis.]

LEEF, l[=e]f, adj. an obsolete form of lief.

LEEFANG, l[=e]'fang, n. a rope through the clew of a jib, holding it amidships while lacing on the bonnet.

LEEK, l[=e]k, 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, l[=e]r, 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, l[=e]z, n.pl. sediment or dregs that settle at the bottom of liquor. [Fr. lie--Low L. lia.]

LEESE, l[=e]z, v.t. (Spens.) to lose. [A.S. leósan, to lose.]

LEET, l[=e]t, 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, l[=e]t, 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. l['æ]th.]

LEETLE, l[=e]'tl, a vulgarism for little.

LEEZE, l[=e]z (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'-[=I]'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--leg[=a]re, to leave by will.]

LEGAL, l[=e]'gal, adj. pertaining to, or according to, law: lawful: created by law: (theol.) according to the Mosaic law or dispensation.--n. L[=E]'GALIS[=A]TION.--v.t. L[=E]'GALISE, to make legal or lawful: to authorise: to sanction.--ns. L[=E]'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; L[=E]'GALIST; LEGAL'ITY.--adv. L[=E]'GALLY.--LEGAL TENDER, that which can be lawfully used in paying a debt. [Fr.,--L. legalis--lex, legis, law.]

LEGATE, leg'[=a]t, 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'at[=i]ne, of or relating to a legate.--n. LEG[=A]'TION, the person or persons sent as legates or ambassadors: the official abode of a legation. [Fr. légat, It. legato--L. legatus--leg[=a]re, to send with a commission.]

LEGATEE. See LEGACY.

LEGATO, l[=a]-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. lig[=a]re, to tie.]

LEGEND, lej'end, or l[=e]'-, 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--leg[)e]re, to read.]

LEGER, lej'[.e]r, 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. l[)e]vis, light.]

LEGERDEMAIN, lej-[.e]r-d[=e]-m[=a]n', 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--leg[)e]re, to read.]

LEGION, l[=e]'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. L[=E]'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--leg[)e]re, to levy.]

LEGISLATE, lej'is-l[=a]t, v.i. to bring forward, propose, or make laws.--n. LEGISL[=A]'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. LEGISLAT[=O]'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, l[=e]'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-m[=a]t, 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; LEGITIM[=A]'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. legitim[=a]re. -[=a]tum--L. legitimus, lawful--lex, law.]

LEGUME, leg'[=u]m, 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 LEG[=U]'MEN:--pl. LEG[=U]'MENS, LEG[=U]'MINA.--adj. LEG[=U]'MINAR.--n. LEG[=U]'MINE, a nitrogenous proteid substance in the seeds of most leguminous plants, corresponding with the casein of milk.--adj. LEG[=U]'MINOUS, pertaining to pulse: bearing legumes. [Fr.,--L. legumen--leg[)e]re, to gather.]

LEIBNITZIAN, l[=i]b-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'[.e]r, n. (Shak.) a resident ambassador.--Also LEIDG'ER. [See LEDGER.]

LEIOTRICHOUS, l[=i]-ot'ri-kus, adj. of the smooth-haired races. [Gr. leios, smooth, thrix, trichos, hair.]

LEIPOA, l[=i]-p[=o]'a, n. a genus of Australian mound-birds.

LEISTER, l[=e]s't[.e]r, n. (Scot.) a salmon-spear. [Cf. Ice. ljóstr; Dan. lyster, a salmon-spear.]

LEISURE, l[=e]'zh[=oo]r, 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. lic[=e]re, to be permitted.]

LEMAN, l[=e]'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. l[=e]mma--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'k[=a]t, 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. l[=e]mniskos.]

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. l[=i]m[=u]n.]

LEMUR, l[=e]'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'[=u]-r[=e]z, 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. l['æ]nan--l['æ]n, 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, l[=e]'ni-ent, adj. softening: mild: merciful.--n. (med.) that which softens: an emollient.--ns. L[=E]'NIENCE, L[=E]'NIENCY.--adv. L[=E]'NIENTLY.--v.t. L[=E]'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 len[=i]re, to soften--lenis, soft.]

LENO, l[=e]'n[=o], n. a thin linen like muslin.

LENOCINIUM, l[=e]-n[=o]-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'[=u]-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-t[=i]'g[=o], 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, l[=e]'[=o], n. the Lion, the 5th sign of the zodiac.

LEONINE, l[=e]'o-n[=i]n, adj. of or like a lion.

LEONINE, l[=e]'o-n[=i]n, 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--le[=o]n, lion, pardos, pard.]

LEPER, lep'[.e]r, 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't[.e]r-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-s[=i]'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-r[=i]n, adj. pertaining to or resembling the hare. [L. leporinus--lepus, lep[)o]ris, the hare.]

LEPPED, lep'd, pa.t. (Spens.) leaped.

LEPRECHAUN, LEPRECHAWN, lep'r[=e]-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, kephal[=e], 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't[=o]-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, l[=e]r, 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, l[=e]z'-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--læd[)e]re, to hurt, majestas, majesty.]

LESION, l[=e]'zhun, n. a hurt: (med.) an injury or wound. [Fr.,--L. læsion-em--læd[)e]re, 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. l['æ]ssa, less, l['æ]s (adv.); comparative form from a root lasinn, feeble, found also in Goth. lasiws, weak, Ice. las, weakness, not conn. with little.]

LESSEE, les-s[=e]', 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'[.e]r, 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--leg[)e]re, 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. l['æ]tan, 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, l[=e]'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. l[=e]thargia, drowsy forgetfulness--l[=e]th[=e], forgetfulness.]

LETHE, l[=e]'th[=e], n. one of the rivers of hell causing forgetfulness of the past to all who drank of it: oblivion.--adj. LETH[=E]'AN, of Lethe: oblivious. [Gr.,--l[=e]th[=o], old form of lanthanein, to forget.]

LETTER, let'[.e]r, 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-P[=A]'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, l[=u]-s[=e]'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, l[=u]'sin, n. a product of the decomposition of albuminous materials occurring in many of the juices of the animal body. [Gr. leukos, white.]

LEUCISCUS, l[=u]-sis'kus, n. a genus of fresh-water fishes of the Cyprinoid family, including the roach, dace, chub, minnow, &c. [Gr. leukos, white.]

LEUCITE, l[=u]'s[=i]t, n. a whitish mineral occurring only in volcanic rocks.--adj. LEUCIT'IC. [Gr. leukos, white.]

LEUCOCYTE, l[=u]'k[=o]-s[=i]t, n. a white corpuscle of the blood or lymph (see PHAGOCYTE).--adj. LEUCOCYT'IC.--ns. LEUCOCYTOG'ENESIS, the production of leucocytes; LEUCOCYT[=O]'SIS, the presence of an excessive number of white corpuscles in the blood.

LEUCOCYTHÆMIA. See LEUCÆMIA.

LEUCOL, l[=u]'kol, n. an organic base obtained by the distillation of coal-tar. [Gr. leukos, white.]

LEUCOMA, l[=u]-k[=o]'ma, n. a white opacity of the cornea, the result of acute inflammation. [Gr. leukos, white.]

LEUCOMAINE, l[=u]'k[=o]-m[=a]n, n. an alkaloid found in living animal tissue:--opp. to Ptomaine (q.v.).

LEUCORRHOEA, l[=u]-k[=o]-r[=e]'a, n. an abnormal mucous or muco-purulent discharge from the vagina, the whites. [Gr. leukos, white, hroia--hrein, to flow.]

LEUCOSIS, l[=u]-k[=o]'sis, n. whiteness of skin, pallor.--ns. LEUCISM (l[=u]'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 L[=E]'VANT, eastern.--n. LEVANT'ER, a strong easterly wind in the Levant.--adj. LEVANT'INE, belonging to the Levant. [Fr. levant--L. lev[=a]re, 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. lev[=a]re, to raise.]

LEVATOR, le-v[=a]'tor, n. that which raises (of a muscle):--opp. to Depressor. [L. lev[=a]re, to raise.]

LEVEE, lev'[=a], lev'[=e], le-v[=e]', 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-v[=e]', 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, l[=e]'v[.e]r, 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. L[=E]'VERAGE, the mechanical power gained by the use of the lever: advantage gained for any purpose; L[=E]'VER-WATCH, a watch having a vibrating lever in the mechanism of the escapement. [Fr. levier--lever--L. lev[=a]re, to raise.]

LEVER, l[=e]'v[.e]r, adv. an obsolete comp. of lief.

LEVERET, lev'[.e]r-et, n. a hare in its first year. [O. Fr. levret (Fr. lièvre)--L. lepus, lep[)o]ris, a hare.]

LEVIABLE, lev'i-a-bl, adj. able to be levied or assessed.

LEVIATHAN, le-v[=i]'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. livy[=a]th[=a]n--l[=a]v[=a]h, to cleave.]

LEVIGATE, lev'i-g[=a]t, 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. LEVIG[=A]'TION. [L. l[=e]vig[=a]re, -[=a]tum--l[=e]vis, smooth; Gr. leios, akin to level.]

LEVIGATE, lev'i-g[=a]t, v.t. to lighten, belittle. [L. l[)e]vig[=a]re, -[=a]tum--l[)e]vis, light.]

LEVIN, lev'n, n. (Spens.) lightning.--Also LEV'EN.

LEVIRATE, lev'i-r[=a]t, n. marriage between a man and a childless brother's widow--an obligation amongst the ancient Hebrews.--adj. LEVIRAT'ICAL.--n. LEVIR[=A]'TION. [L. levir, a brother-in-law.]

LEVITATION, lev-i-t[=a]'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, l[=e]'v[=i]t, 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--l[)e]vis, light.]

LEVOGYRATE (LÆV-), l[=e]-v[=o]-j[=i]'r[=a]t, adj. causing to turn toward the left hand.--n. LEVOGYR[=A]'TION.--adj. LEVOGY'ROUS.

LEVULOSE, lev'[=u]-l[=o]s, 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. lev[=a]re, to raise.]

LEW, l[=u], adj. tepid, lukewarm. [Cf. Ger. lau.]

LEWD, l[=u]d, or l[=oo]d, 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. l['æ]wede, ignorant, belonging to the laity, the pa.p. of the verb l['æ]wan, to weaken.]

LEWIS, l[=u]'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, l[=e], n. Same as LEA.

LEYDEN JAR, l[=i]'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'z[=o]-l[=i]t, n. an igneous rock, consisting of a granular aggregate of olivine, pyroxene, enstatite, and picotite. [From Lake Lherz.]

LI, l[=e], 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, l[=i]'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.; L[=I]'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. lig[=a]re, to bind.]

LIAISON, l[=e]-[=a]-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--lig[=a]re, 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. lig[=a]re, to bind.]

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

LIAR, l[=i]'ar, n. one who lies. [Lie.]

LIARD, l[=i]'ard, adj. gray, dapple-gray--(Scot.) L[=I]'ART, LY'ART. [M. E. liard--O. Fr. liard, liart.]

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

LIAS, l[=i]'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, l[=i]-b[=a]'shun, n. the pouring forth wine or other liquid in honour of a deity: the liquid poured.--adj. L[=I]'BANT, sipping.--v.t. L[=I]'BATE (rare), to make a libation to.--adj. L[=I]'BATORY, pertaining to libation. [L. libation-em--lib[=a]re, -[=a]tum; Gr. leibein, to pour.]

LIBBARD, lib'bard, n. (Spens.) a leopard.

LIBECCIO, li-bech'[=o], n. the south-west wind. [It.]

LIBEL, l[=i]'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. l[=i]'belling; pa.t. and pa.p. l[=i]'belled.--ns. L[=I]'BELLANT, one who brings a libel; L[=I]'BELLER; L[=I]'BELLING, defaming.--adj. L[=I]'BELLOUS, containing a libel: defamatory.--adv. L[=I]'BELLOUSLY. [L. libellus, dim. of liber, a book.]

LIBER, l[=i]'ber, n. the bast or inner bark of exogenous plants: a book. [L.]

LIBERAL, lib'[.e]r-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. LIBERALIS[=A]'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'ER[=A]TE, to set free: to release from restraint, confinement, or bondage.--ns. LIBER[=A]'TION; LIBER[=A]'TIONIST, one who is in favour of church disestablishment; LIB'ER[=A]TOR, one who liberates or frees.--adj. LIB'ER[=A]TORY, 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'[.e]r-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. LIBERT[=A]'RIAN, one who believes in free-will as opposed to necessity; LIBERT[=A]'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, l[=i]'bra, n. the balance, the seventh sign of the zodiac. [L.]

LIBRARY, l[=i]'brar-i, n. a building or room containing a collection of books: a collection of books.--ns. LIBR[=A]'RIAN, the keeper of a library; LIBR[=A]'RIANSHIP. [L. librarium--liber, a book.]

LIBRATE, l[=i]'br[=a]t, v.t. to poise: to balance.--v.i. to move slightly: to be poised.--n. LIBR[=A]'TION, balancing: a state of equipoise: a slight swinging motion.--adj. L[=I]'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. libr[=a]re, -[=a]tum--libra, balance.]

LIBRETTO, li-bret'[=o], 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, l[=i]s, pl. of louse.

LICENSE, LICENCE, l[=i]'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. L[=I]'CENSE, to grant license to: to authorise or permit.--adj. L[=I]'CENSABLE.--ns. LICENSEE', one to whom license is granted; L[=I]'CENSER, one who grants license or permission: one authorised to license; L[=I]'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, l[=i]'ken, lich'en, n. one of an order of cellular flowerless plants: an eruption on the skin.--adjs. L[=I]'CHENED, covered with lichens; LICHEN'IC, pertaining to lichens; L[=I]'CHENIFORM.--ns. L[=I]'CHENINE, a starch-like substance, found in Iceland moss and other lichens; L[=I]'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. L[=I]'CHENOUS, abounding in, or pertaining to, lichens. [L.,--Gr. leich[=e]n--leichein, to lick.]

LICHGATE, lich'g[=a]t, 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. ling[)e]re, Gr. leichein.]

LICKERISH, lik'[.e]r-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, l[=i], 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, l[=i], 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.) l[=i]'en.--n. manner of lying: relative position: an animal's lair: (golf) position of the ball for striking.--ns. L[=I]'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, l[=e]'big, n. a nutritious extract of beef first prepared by the great German chemist, Baron von Liebig (1803-1873).

LIED, l[=e]t, n. a German ballad, secular or sacred, fitted for singing and often set to music. [Ger.; cf. A.S. leóth, a song.]

LIEF, l[=e]f, 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, l[=e]j, 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), l[=i]dan, to depart.]

LIEN, l[=i]'en, or l[=e]'en, n. (law) a right in one to retain the property of another to pay a claim. [Fr., tie, band--L. ligamen--lig[=a]re, to bind.]

LIEN, l[=i]'en (B.), pa.p. of lie, to lie down.

LIENTERY, l[=i]'en-ter-i, n. a form of diarrhoea, 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, l[=u], 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, l[=i]f, 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 (l[=i]vz).--interj. used as an oath, abbreviated from God's life.--adj. LIFE'-AND-DEATH', critical: desperate.--ns. LIFE'-ANN[=U]'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'-T[=A]'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. LIG[=A]'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--lig[=a]re, to bind.]

LIGAN, l[=i]'gan, n. goods sunk at sea, with a float attached for recovery. [L. ligamen, a band.]

LIGGER, lig'[.e]r, 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, l[=i]t, 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, l[=i]t, 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. l[)e]vis.]

LIGHT, l[=i]t, 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, l[=i]t'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, l[=i]n'[=a]j, n. (Spens.) lineage.

LIGN-ALOES, l[=i]n-al'[=o]z, LIGNALOES, lig-nal'[=o]z, 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. LIGNIFIC[=A]'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'nif[=i]ed.--n. LIG'N[=I]NE, pure woody fibre.--adj. LIGNIPER'DOUS, destructive of wood.--n. LIG'N[=I]TE, 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-V[=I]'TÆ, popular name of a South American tree with very hard wood. [L. lignum, wood.]

LIGULE, lig'[=u]l, 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, l[=i]'g[=u]r, or lig'[=u]r, n. (B.) a precious stone.--n. LIG'URITE, a variety of sphene or titanite. [Gr.]

LIKE, l[=i]k, 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, l[=i]k, 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, l[=i]'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-l[=e]'r[=o], n. the famous ballad in mockery of the Irish Catholics, which 'sung James II. out of three kingdoms.'--Also LILLIBURL[=E]'RO. [From the refrain.]

LILLIPUTIAN, lil-i-p[=u]'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. LILI[=A]'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, l[=i]-m[=a]'shi-us, adj. like a slug.--adjs. LIM'ACOID (also n.); LIMAC'IFORM.--n. L[=i]'max, a slug.

LIMATION, l[=i]-m[=a]'shun, n. the act of filing or polishing.--n. L[=I]'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'b[.e]r, 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'b[.e]r, adj. pliant, flexible.--n. LIM'BERNESS, flexibleness, pliancy. [See limp (adj.).]

LIMBO, lim'b[=o], 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, l[=i]m, 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, l[=i]m, 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, l[=i]m'-hownd, n. (Spens.) a boar-hound.

LIME-TREE, l[=i]m'-tr[=e], 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; LIMIT[=A]'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. LIMIT[=A]'TION, the act of limiting, bounding, or restraining: the state of being limited, bounded, or restrained: restriction.--adjs. LIMIT[=A]'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'[.e]r, 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. illumin[=a]re.]

LIMONITE, l[=i]'m[=o]-n[=i]t, n. an iron ore--also Brown hematite and Brown iron ore.--adj. LIMONIT'IC. [Gr. leim[=o]n, a meadow.]

LIMOSIS, l[=i]-m[=o]'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-gr[=e]n, n. the colour of cloth made formerly at Lincoln: the cloth itself.

LINCTURE, lingk't[=u]r, n. medicine to be sucked up.--Also LINC'TUS. [L. ling[)e]re, linctum, to lick.]

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

LINE, l[=i]n, 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, l[=i]n, 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'E[=A]GE, 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'E[=A]TE, -D, marked longitudinally with depressed lines.--ns. LINE'[=A]TION (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'g[.e]r, 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-r[=e]', 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'g[=o], 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'h[=a], n. a donkey-stable.--Also LIN'NY.

LINIMENT, lin'i-ment, n. a kind of thin ointment. [L. linimentum--lin[)e]re, to besmear.]

LINING, l[=i]'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'-M[=O]'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-n[=e]'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-[=o]'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'[=o]-t[=i]p, 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's[=e]d, 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'hw[=i]t=LINNET.

LION, l[=i]'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. L[=I]'ONESS.--ns. L[=I]'ONCEL, L[=I]'ONCELLE (her.), a small lion used as a bearing; L[=I]'ONEL, L[=I]'ONET, a young lion; L[=I]'ON-HEART, one with great courage.--adj. L[=I]ON-HEART'ED.--n. L[=I]'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. L[=I]'ONISE, to treat as a lion or object of interest.--n. L[=I]'ONISM.--adj. L[=I]'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. le[=o]n; 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'-DEV[=O]'TION, prayer of the lips without devotion in the heart; LIP'-HOM'AGE, insincere homage; LIP'-L[=A]'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. lamb[)e]re, Eng. lap.]

LIPÆMIA, li-p[=e]'mi-a, n. excessive fat in the blood.

LIPHÆMIA, li-f[=e]'mi-a, n. deficiency or poverty of blood.

LIPOGRAM, l[=i]'p[=o]-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-p[=o]'ma, n. a tumour formed of fatty tissue--also LIP'AROCELE.--n. LIPOMAT[=O]'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-t[=u]d, 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'w[=a]t, v.t. to melt: to separate one metal from another which is less fusible, by applying sufficient heat.--adj. LIQ'UABLE.--n. LIQU[=A]'TION. [L. liqu[=a]re, -[=a]tum--liqu[=e]re, to be fluid.]

LIQUEFY, lik'we-f[=i], v.t. to make liquid: to dissolve.--v.i. to become liquid:--pa.t. and pa.p. liq'uef[=i]ed.--adj. LIQUEF[=A]'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. liquefac[)e]re--liqu[=e]re, to be fluid or liquid, fac[)e]re, to make.]

LIQUEUR, li-k[.e]r', 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. LIQUID[=A]'TION, the clearing up of the money affairs, esp. the adjustment of the affairs of a bankrupt estate; LIQUID[=A]T'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--liqu[=e]re, 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--liqu[=e]re.]

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, l[=e]'ra, n. an Italian coin, worth a franc, and divisible into 100 centesimi:--pl. LIRE (l[=e]'r[=a]). [It.]

LIRIODENDRON, lir-i-[=o]-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, l[=e]s, 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, l[=e]s, 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't[.e]r, n. a form of plough for throwing up ridges.--n. LIST'ING.

LISTERISM, lis't[.e]r-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'[.e]r-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'[.e]r-ar-i, adj. belonging to letters or learning: skilled in learning.--n. LIT'ERACY, state of being literate:--opp. to Illiteracy.--adj. LIT'ER[=A]TE, 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. LITER[=A]'T[=I], men of letters, the learned (sing. forms, LITER[=A]'TUS, LITERÄ'TO).--adv. LITER[=A]'TIM, letter for letter: without the change of a letter.--n. LITER[=A]'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'[.e]r-a-t[=u]r, 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, l[=i]th, 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, l[=i]th, v.i. (obs.) to listen. [Ice. hlydha, to listen--hljódh, hearing.]

LITHEMIA, LITHÆMIA, li-th[=e]'mi-a, n. an excess of uric acid in the blood.--adj. LITH[=E]'MIC.

LITHER, l[=i]th'[.e]r, 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-th[=i]'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; LITHIFIC[=A]'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-kr[=o]-mat'ik, adj. pertaining to painting in oils on stone.--n.pl. LITHOCHROMAT'ICS, this art. [Gr. lithos, stone, chr[=o]ma, colour.]

LITHOCLAST, lith'o-klast, n. an instrument for crushing bladder-stones. [Gr. lithos, stone, kl[=a]n, to crush.]

LITHODOME, lith'[=o]-d[=o]m, n. a shellfish living in a hole in a rock.--adj. LITHOD'OMOUS.

LITHOFRACTEUR, lith-[=o]-frak't[.e]r, 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'[=o]-l[=a]b, 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-f[=a]n, 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'[=o]-f[=i]l, n. a fossil leaf.

LITHOPHYTE, lith'o-f[=i]t, 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, tom[=e], a cutting--temnein, to cut.]

LITHOTRITY, lith'[=o]-tr[=i]-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'[=o]-t[=i]-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-g[=a]t, 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. LITIG[=A]'TION; LIT'IG[=A]TOR, one who litigates; LITIGIOS'ITY, LITIG'IOUSNESS.--adj. LITIG'IOUS, inclined to engage in lawsuits: subject to contention.--adv. LITIG'IOUSLY. [L. litig[=a]re, -[=a]tum--lis, litis, a strife, ag[)e]re, 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'[=o]-t[=e]z, n. (rhet.) an affirmation made indirectly by the negation of its contrary, as 'a citizen of no mean city'='of an illustrious city.' [Gr. litot[=e]s, simplicity--litos, plain.]

LITRAMETER, lit-ram'e-t[.e]r, 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, l[=e]'t[.e]r, n. (her.) a hatchment consisting of a black belt, charged with the arms of the deceased. [Fr.; prob. orig. listre=liste, border.]

LITRE, l[=e]'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'[.e]r, 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-[.e]r-a-t[.e]r', 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, lit[)o]ris, shore.]

LITURATE, lit'[=u]-r[=a]t, 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-t[=u]'us, n. an augur's staff with recurved top: a spiral of similar form.--adjs. LIT'U[=A]TE, 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, l[=i]v, adj. having life: alive, not dead: active: containing fire: burning: vivid.--LIVED (l[=i]vd), 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'-L[=E]'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, l[=i]v'li-hood, n. means of living: support--(obs.) LIVE'LIHED. [A.S. líf. life, lád, a way.]

LIVELY, l[=i]v'li, adj. showing life: vigorous, active: sprightly: spirited: vivid.--adv. vivaciously, vigorously.--adv. L[=I]VE'LILY.--n. L[=I]VE'LINESS.

LIVER, liv'[.e]r, 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'[.e]r-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-ST[=A]'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. liber[=a]re, to free.]

LIVES, l[=i]vz, n. plural of life.

LIVID, liv'id, adj. black and blue: of a lead colour: discoloured.--ns. LIVID'ITY, LIV'IDNESS. [Fr.,--L. lividus--liv[=e]re, 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, l[=e]-vr[=a]-zon', n. a number of a book published in parts. [Fr.]

LIVRE, l[=e]'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-[=a]'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 l[=a]'ma, n. a South American ruminant of the camel family, used for transport in the Andes.

LLANO, lä'n[=o], or lyä'n[=o], n. one of the vast steppes or plains in the northern part of South America:--pl. LLA'NOS.--n. LLANERO (lya-n[=a]'r[=o]), 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, l[=o], interj. look! see! behold! [A.S. lá; imit.]

LOACH, LOCHE, l[=o]ch, n. a small river-fish.--Also Beardie. [Fr. loche, Sp. loja.]

LOAD, l[=o]d, 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, l[=o]f, n. a regularly shaped mass of bread: a mass of sugar: any lump:--pl. LOAVES (l[=o]vz).--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, l[=o]f, v.i. to loiter, pass time idly.--n. LOAF'ER.--adj. LOAF'ERISH. [Prob. directly Ger. läufer, a runner, laufen, to run about.]

LOAM, l[=o]m, 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, l[=o]n, n. a lane: an open space for passage left between fields of corn: a place for milking cows.--Also LOAN'ING. [Lane.]

LOAN, l[=o]n, 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'-SOC[=I]'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. l['æ]n; Ice. lán, Dan. laan, cf. Ger. lehen, a fief.]

LOATH, LOTH, l[=o]th, adj. disliking: reluctant, unwilling.--adv. LOATH'LY.--n. LOATH'NESS. [A.S. láð, hateful--líðan, to travel; Ger. leiden, suffer.]

LOATHE, l[=o]th, 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, l[=o]b, 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'[=A]TE, LOBED, LOB'OSE; LOBE'-FOOT'ED, L[=O]'BIPED, having lobate feet, as a coot, grebe, or phalarope.--ns. LOBE'LET, LOB'ULE, a small lobe.--adjs. LOB'ULAR, LOB'UL[=A]TED.--ns. LOB'ULUS, any small lobe or lobe-like structure:--pl. LOB'UL[=I]; L[=O]'BUS, a lobe:--pl. L[=O]'B[=I].--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-[=e]'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'st[.e]r, 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, l[=o]'kal, adj. of or belonging to a place: confined to a spot or district.--ns. LOCALE (l[=o]-käl'), a locality: the scene of some event; LOCALIS[=A]'TION.--v.t. L[=O]'CALISE, to assign to a place: to refer a sensation in perception to some part of the body.--ns. L[=O]'CALISM, the state of being local: affection for a place: provincialism; LOCAL'ITY, existence in a place: position: district.--adv. L[=O]'CALLY.--v.t. LOC[=A]TE', to place: to set in a particular position: to designate the place of.--n. LOC[=A]'TION, act of locating or placing: situation: (law) a leasing on rent.--adj. L[=O]'C[=A]TIVE (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'b[.e]r 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, l[=o]'ki-a, n.pl. the evacuations from the womb after childbirth.--adj. L[=O]'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, l[=o]-k[=o]-f[=o]'k[=o], 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, l[=o]-ko-m[=o]'tiv, adj. moving from place to place: capable of, or assisting in, locomotion.--n. a locomotive machine: a railway engine.--ns. LOCOM[=O]'TION; LOCOMOTIV'ITY; LOCOM[=O]'TOR.--adj. LOCOM[=O]'TORY.--LOCOMOTOR ATAXY (see ATAXIA). [L. locus, a place, mov[=e]re, motum, to move.]

LOCORESTIVE, l[=o]-k[=o]-res'tiv, adj. staying in one place.

LOCULUS, lok'[=u]-lus, n. (bot., anat., zool.) a small compartment or cell: in ancient catacombs, a small recess for holding an urn:--pl. LOC'UL[=I].--n. LOC'ULAMENT (bot.), loculus.--adjs. LOC'ULAR, LOC'UL[=A]TE, LOC'ULOSE, LOC'ULOUS. [Dim. of L. locus, a place.]

LOCUM-TENENS, l[=o]'kum-t[=e]n'enz, n. a deputy or substitute.--n. L[=O]'CUM-T[=E]N'ENCY, the holding by a temporary substitute of a post. [L. locus, a place, ten[=e]re, to hold.]

LOCUS, l[=o]'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 (l[=o]'s[=i]), 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, l[=o]'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, l[=o]'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; L[=O]'CUST-BEAN, the sweet pod of the carob-tree.

LOCUTION, l[=o]-k[=u]'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, l[=o]d, 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. loub[=a], an arbour.]

LOESS, l[.e]s, or l[=o]'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. l[=o]gh.]

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.]

LOGAOEDIC, log-a-[=e]'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, aoid[=e], 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. logik[=e], 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. logist[=e]s, a calculator--logizesthai, to compute.]

LOGODÆDALY, log-o-d[=e]'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-f[.e]r, 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'[=o]-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, mach[=e], fight.]

LOGOMANIA, log-o-m[=a]'ni-a, n. disease of the faculty of language. [Gr. logos, speech, and mania.]

LOGOMETER, l[=o]-gom'e-t[.e]r, 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't[.e]r, 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, l[=o]'ki, n. an evil giant-god in Norse mythology.

LOLIGO, l[=o]-l[=i]'go, n. the typical genus of Loliginidæ, embracing the common European squid. [L.]

LOLIUM, l[=o]'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, l[=o]'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, l[=o]'ment, n. (bot.) an indehiscent legume, with constrictions or transverse articulations between the seeds--also LOMEN'TUM.--adj. LOMENT[=A]'CEOUS.

LONDONER, lun'dun-[.e]r, 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, l[=o]n, LONELY, l[=o]n'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'-AG[=O]', 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 (-j[=e]'-), 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'-ST[=A]'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, l[=oo], n. a game at cards.--v.t. to beat in the game of loo:--pr.p. l[=oo]'ing; pa.p. l[=oo]ed.--n. LOO'-T[=A]'BLE, a table for loo. [Formerly lanterloo--Dut. lanterlu. Cf. Dut. lanterfant, an idler.]

LOOBY, l[=oo]b'i, n. a clumsy, clownish fellow.--adv. LOOB'ILY. [From root of lob.]

LOOF, l[=oo]f, 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, l[=oo]f, n. (Scot) the palm of the hand. [Ice. lófi.]

LOOFA. See LUFFA.

LOOK, l[=oo]k, 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, l[=oo]m, 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, l[=oo]m, 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. lumin[=a]re.]

LOON, l[=oo]n, n. a low fellow: a rascal: (Scot.) a lad. [Old Dut. loen, a stupid fellow, lome, slow.]

LOON, l[=oo]n, 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, l[=oo]p, 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, l[=oo]p, LOOPHOLE, l[=oo]p'h[=o]l, 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, l[=oo]rd, n. (Spens.) a lout. [Fr. lourd, heavy.]

LOOS, l[=oo]s, n. (Spens.) praise. [L. laus, praise.]

LOOSE, l[=oo]s, 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: diarrhoea.--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, l[=oo]s, 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, l[=oo]s'str[=i]f, n. the popular name for a plant of the natural order Lythraceæ (q.v.).

LOOT, l[=oo]t, n. act of plundering, esp. in a conquered city: plunder.--v.t. or v.i. to plunder, ransack. [Hindi l[=u]t--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, l[=o]p, v.i. to leap: to run with a long stride.

LOPHOBRANCH, l[=o]'f[=o]-brangk, adj. having tufted gills.--Also LOPHOBRAN'CHIATE. [Gr. lophos, a crest, brachia, gills.]

LOQUACIOUS, lo-kw[=a]'shus, adj. talkative.--adv. LOQU[=A]'CIOUSLY.--ns. LOQU[=A]'CIOUSNESS, LOQUAC'ITY, talkativeness. [L. loquax, -acis--loqui, to speak.]

LOQUAT, l[=o]'kwat, n. an esteemed Chinese and Japanese fruit, yellowish, flavouring tarts. [Chinese.]

LORATE, l[=o]r'[=a]t, 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-L[=A]'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-d[=o]'sis, n. abnormal curvature of the spinal column, the convexity towards the front.

LORE, l[=o]r, n. that which is learned: doctrine: learning.--n. LOR'ING (Spens.), learning. [A.S. lár.]

LORE, l[=o]r, 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, l[=o]-ret', n. a showy strumpet. [Fr.]

LORGNETTE, l[=o]r-nyet', n. an opera-glass.--n. LOR'GNON, an eye-glass with a handle. [Fr.]

LORICA, lo-r[=i]'ka, n. in ancient Rome, a cuirass made of thongs--also LOR'IC (Browning).--v.t. LOR'IC[=A]TE, to furnish with a coat-of-mail: to plate or coat over.--adj. covered with defensive armour: imbricated.--n. LORIC[=A]'TION, a coating or crusting over, as with plates of mail. [L.,--lorum, a thong.]

LORIKEET, lor-i-k[=e]t', n. a small parrot, a kind of lory.

LORIMER, lor'i-m[.e]r, n. a maker of horse-furniture.--Also LOR'INER. [Fr. lormier--L. lorum, a thong.]

LORIOT, l[=o]'ri-ut, n. the oriole. [Fr. le, the, oriol--L. aureolus, dim. of aureus, golden--aurum, gold.]

LORIS, l[=o]'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, l[=o]'ri, n. a common name for the members of a family of Australian parrots. [Malay.]

LOSE, l[=oo]z, 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, l[=o]'zel, n. a sorry, worthless fellow: a scamp.--adj. slothful: wasteful--n. L[=O]'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, l[=o]'ta, n. a Hindu small brass or copper pot.

LOTE. See LOTUS.

LOTH, l[=o]th, adj. Same as LOATHFUL, LOATHLY.

LOTHARIO, l[=o]-th[=a]'ri-[=o], n. a libertine, rake. [From Lothario, in Rowe's play, The Fair Penitent.]

LOTION, l[=o]'shun, n. a liquid preparation for healing or cleansing any diseased or bruised part. [Fr.,--L.,--lav[=a]re lotum, to wash.]

LOTTERY, lot'[.e]r-i, n. a distribution of prizes by lot or chance: a game of chance.

LOTTO, lot'[=o], n. a game played with numbered discs and cards.--Also LOT'O. [It.]

LOTUS, l[=o]'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, L[=O]'TOS.--ns.pl. LOT[=O]'PHAGI, L[=O]'TUS-EAT'ERS, a people who ate the fruit of the lotus, among whom Ulysses lived for a time.--ns. L[=O]'TUS-EAT'ER, an eater of the lotus: one given up to sloth; L[=O]'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, l[=oo]'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'd[.e]r, 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, l[=oo]p, 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 (l[=i]s).--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, l[=oo]'v[.e]r, 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'[=a]j, 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'-F[=A]'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-[=I]'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'[.E]R, one who deals in affairs of love; LOVE'-P[=O]'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'-T[=O]'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'l[=a]s, n. a well-mannered libertine. [From Lovelace, the hero of Clarissa Harlowe.]

LOVER, an obsolete form of louvre.

LOW, l[=o], 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, l[=o], 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'[.e]r, 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'[.e]r, 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, l[=u]'bri-k[=a]t, v.t. to make smooth or slippery: to supply with oil to overcome friction.--adjs. L[=U]'BRIC, -AL, L[=U]'BRICOUS, slippery: lewd.--ns. L[=U]'BRICANT; LUBRIC[=A]'TION.--adj. L[=U]'BRICATIVE.--ns. L[=U]'BRICATOR; LUBRICITY (l[=u]-bris'i-ti), slipperiness: smoothness: instability: lewdness; LUBRIFAC'TION. [L. lubric[=a]re, -[=a]tum--lubricus, slippery.]

LUCARNE, l[=u]'kärn, n. a dormer-window, esp. in a church spire. [Fr.,--L. lucerna, a lamp.]

LUCE, l[=u]s, n. a fresh-water fish, the pike. [O. Fr. lus--Low L. lucius.]

LUCENT, l[=u]'sent, adj. shining: bright.--n. L[=U]'CENCY, brightness.--adj. LUCER'NAL, pertaining to a lamp. [L. lucens--luc[=e]re, to shine--lux, lucis, light.]

LUCERNE, l[=u]'s[.e]rn, n. a species of Medick, a valuable forage-plant. [Fr. luzerne.]

LUCID, l[=u]'sid, adj. shining: transparent: easily understood: intellectually bright: not darkened with madness.--ns. LUCID'ITY, L[=U]'CIDNESS.--adv. L[=U]'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. LUCIF[=E]'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, l[=u]'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 gign[)e]re, to beget.]

LUCINA, l[=u]'s[=i]-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.]

LUCK, luk, n. fortune, good or bad: chance: lot: good fortune.--adv. LUCK'ILY.--n. LUCK'INESS.--adj. LUCK'LESS, without good luck: unhappy.--adv. LUCK'LESSLY.--ns. LUCK'LESSNESS; LUCK'-PENN'Y, a trifle returned for luck by a seller to a buyer: a coin carried for luck.--adj. LUCK'Y, having good luck: auspicious.--n. LUCK'Y-BAG, a receptacle for lost property on board a man-of-war.--BE DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK, to be unfortunate. [From a Low Ger. root, seen in Dut. luk; cf. Ger. glück, prosperity.]

LUCKY, LUCKIE, luk'i, n. (Scot.) an elderly woman.

LUCKY, luk'i, n. (slang) departure.--CUT ONE'S LUCKY, to bolt.

LUCRE, l[=u]'k[.e]r, n. gain (esp. sordid gain): profit: advantage.--adj. L[=U]'CRATIVE, bringing lucre or gain: profitable.--adv. L[=U]'CRATIVELY. [Fr.,--L. lucrum, gain.]

LUCTATION, luk-t[=a]'shun, n. struggle. [L.,--luct[=a]ri.]

LUCUBRATE, l[=u]'k[=u]-br[=a]t, v.i. to study by lamplight or at night.--n. LUCUBR[=A]'TION, a product of close study or thought, any composition produced in retirement.--adj. L[=U]'CUBR[=A]TORY, composed by candle-light. [L. lucubr[=a]re, -[=a]tum--lux.]

LUCULENT, l[=u]'k[=u]-lent, adj. lucid: clear: transparent: evident.--adv. L[=U]'CULENTLY. [L. luculentus--lux.]

LUCUMO, l[=u]'k[=u]-m[=o], n. an appellation of the Etruscan princes and priests. [L.]

LUD, n. a minced form of lord.

LUDICROUS, l[=u]'di-krus, adj. that serves for sport: adapted to excite laughter: laughable: comic.--adv. L[=U]'DICROUSLY.--n. L[=U]'DICROUSNESS. [L. ludicrus--lud[)e]re, to play.]

LUE, l[=u], v.t. to sift.

LUES, l[=u]'[=e]z, n. a plague.--adj. LUET'IC. [L.]

LUFF, luf, n. the windward side of a ship: the act of sailing a ship close to the wind: the loof.--v.t. to turn a ship towards the wind. [M. E. lof, a paddle; cf. Scot. loof, Dut. loef.]

LUFFA, luf'a, n. a genus of climbing herbs of the gourd family, whose seeds are contained in a fibrous network removed entire by soaking, &c., and used as a flesh-brush.--Also LOOF'A, &c. [Ar.]

LUG, lug, v.t. to pull along: to drag: to pull with difficulty:--pr.p. lug'ging; pa.t. and pa.p. lugged.--ns. LUG'GAGE, the trunks and other baggage of a traveller; LUG'GAGE-VAN, a wagon for baggage; LUG'GER, a small vessel with two or three masts, a running bowsprit, and long or lug sails; LUG'SAIL, LUG, a square sail bent upon a yard that hangs obliquely to the mast.--LUG IN, to introduce without any apparent connection. [Scand., Sw. lugga, to pull by the hair--lugg, the forelock; from a base luk, to pull, present in Scot. lug, the ear.]

LUG, lug, n. (Spens.) a perch or rod of land.

LUG, lug, n. (Scot.) the ear.--adj. LUGGED, having ears.--n. LUG'GIE, a small vessel with ears.

LUGUBRIOUS, l[=u]-g[=u]'bri-us, adj. mournful: dismal.--adv. LUG[=U]'BRIOUSLY. [L. lugubris--lug[=e]re, to mourn.]

LUGWORM, lug'wurm, n. a sluggish worm found in the sand on the sea-shore, much used for bait by fishermen.--Also Lobworm.

LUKEWARM, l[=u]k'wawrm, adj. partially or moderately warm: indifferent--also LUKE.--adv. LUKE'WARMLY.--ns. LUKE'WARMNESS, LUKE'WARMTH. [M. E. leuk, luke, an extension of lew, cog. with the A.S. hleó, the source of lee; prob. confused with A.S. wlæc, wlacu, tepid; cf. Dut. leuk, Ger. lau.]

LULL, lul, v.t. to soothe: to compose: to quiet.--v.i. to become calm: to subside.--n. a season of calm.--n. LULL'ABY, a song to lull children to sleep, a cradle-song.--v.t. to lull to sleep. [Scand., as in Sw. lulla; imit. like Ger. lallen, Gr. lalein.]

LUM, lum, n. (Scot.) a chimney. [W. llumon.]

LUMBAGO, lum-b[=a]'g[=o], n. a rheumatic affection of the muscles or fibrous tissues in the lumbar region.--adjs. LUMBAG'INOUS; LUM'BAR, LUM'BAL, pertaining to, or near, the loins. [L.,--lumbus, loin.]

LUMBER, lum'b[.e]r, n. anything cumbersome or useless: timber sawed or split for use.--v.t. to fill with lumber: to heap together in confusion.--n. LUM'BERER, one employed in felling timber and bringing it from the forest.--adj. LUM'BERING, filling with lumber: putting in confusion.--n. LUM'BER-ROOM, a room for holding things not in use. [Fr. Lombard--Ger. Langbart; the lumber-room being orig. the Lombard-room or place where the Lombards, the medieval bankers and pawnbrokers, stored their pledges.]

LUMBER, lum'b[.e]r, v.i. to move heavily. [Scand.; prov. Sw. lomra, to resound, Ice. hljómr, a sound.]

LUMBRICAL, lum'brik-al, adj. (anat.) worm-like.--adj. LUMBRIC'IFORM. [L. lumbricus, a worm.]

LUMINARY, l[=u]'min-ar-i, n. any body which gives light, esp. one of the heavenly bodies: one who illustrates any subject or instructs mankind.--adj. L[=U]'MINANT, emitting light.--n. an illuminating agent.--n. LUMIN[=A]'TION, a lighting up.--v.t. L[=U]'MINE (Spens.), to illumine.--adjs. LUMINIF'EROUS, transmitting light; L[=U]'MINOUS, giving light: shining: illuminated: clear: lucid.--adv. L[=U]'MINOUSLY.--ns. L[=U]'MINOUSNESS, LUMINOS'ITY.--LUMINOUS PAINT, a phosphorescent powder, such as sulphide or oxysulphide of calcium, ground up with a colourless varnish or other medium, and used as a paint. [L. lumen, luminis, light--luc[=e]re, to shine.]

LUMMY, lum'i, adj. (slang) knowing, cute.

LUMP, lump, n. a small shapeless mass: a protuberance: swelling: the whole together: the gross.--v.t. to throw into a confused mass: to take in the gross.--ns. LUMP'ER, a labourer employed in the lading or unlading of ships: (prov.) a militiaman; LUMP'FISH, a clumsy sea-fish with a short, deep, and thick body and head, and a ridge on its back, also called LUMP'SUCKER, from the power of its sucker.--adjs. LUMP'ING, in a lump: heavy: bulky; LUMP'ISH, like a lump: heavy: gross: dull.--adv. LUMP'ISHLY.--ns. LUMP'ISHNESS; LUMP'-SUG'AR, loaf-sugar in small pieces.--adj. LUMP'Y, full of lumps.--IN THE LUMP, in gross. [Scand., Norw. lump, a block; Dut. lomp.]

LUNAR, l[=u]'nar, adj. belonging to the moon: measured by the revolutions of the moon: caused by the moon: like the moon--also L[=U]'NARY.--ns. L[=U]'NACY, a kind of madness formerly supposed to be affected by the moon: insanity; LUN[=A]'RIAN, L[=U]'NARIST, a student of lunar phenomena; L[=U]'NARY, the moonwort fern.--adjs. L[=U]'N[=A]TE, -D, formed like a half-moon: crescent-shaped; L[=U]'NATIC, affected with lunacy.--n. a person so affected: a madman (De lunatico inquirendo, the title of the writ or commission for inquiry into the mental state of an alleged lunatic).--n. LUN[=A]'TION, the time between two revolutions of the moon: a lunar month.--adjs. L[=U]'NIFORM, moon-shaped; L[=U]'NISOLAR, resulting from the united action of the sun and moon: compounded of the revolution of the sun and the moon.--n. L[=U]'NULA, a crescent-like appearance, esp. the whitish area at the base of the nails.--adjs. L[=U]'NULATE, -D (bot.), shaped like a small crescent.--ns. L[=U]'NULE, L[=U]'NULET, anything in form like a small crescent; L[=U]'NULITE, a small circular fossil coral.--LUNAR CAUSTIC, fused crystals of nitrate of silver, applied to ulcers, &c.; LUNAR CYCLE=METONIC CYCLE (q.v.); LUNAR MONTH (see MONTH); LUNAR OBSERVATION, an observation of the moon's distance from a star for the purpose of finding the longitude; LUNAR RAINBOW (see RAINBOW, under RAIN); LUNAR THEORY, a term employed to denote the a priori deduction of the moon's motions from the principles of gravitation; LUNAR YEAR (see YEAR). [L. lunaris--luna, the moon--luc[=e]re, to shine.]

LUNCH, lunsh, n. a slight repast between breakfast and dinner--also LUNCH'EON.--v.i. to take lunch.--n. LUNCH'EON-BAR, a counter at a restaurant where luncheons are served. [Lunch, a contr. of luncheon, itself extended from lunch, a lump.]

LUNE, l[=u]n, n. anything in the shape of a half-moon: (Shak.) a fit of lunacy.--n. LUNETTE', a little moon: (fort.) a detached bastion: a hole in a concave ceiling to admit light: a watch-glass flattened more than usual in the centre: in the R.C. Church, a moon-shaped case of crystal used for receiving the consecrated host. [Fr. lune--L. luna.]

LUNG, lung, n. one of the organs of breathing--from its spongy texture.--adjs. LUNGED; LUNG'-GROWN, having an adhesion of the lung to the pleura.--n. LUNG'WORT, an herb with purple flowers and spotted leaves: a lichen on tree-trunks, used as a remedy for pulmonary diseases. [A.S. lunge, pl. lungan, the lungs; cog. with light (adj.).]

LUNGE, lunj, n. a sudden thrust in fencing.--v.i. to give such.--v.t. to cause to plunge. [Fr. allonger, to lengthen--L. ad, to, longus, long.]

LUNIFORM, LUNISOLAR, LUNULATE. See LUNAR.

LUNT, lunt, n. a light, blaze.--v.i. (Scot.) to burn, to smoke. [Dut. lont, a match; cf. Ger. lunte.]

LUPINE, l[=u]'p[=i]n, adj. like a wolf: wolfish.--n. a genus of leguminous plants.--adj. LUPAN[=A]'RIAN, bawdy.--n. LUPERC[=A]'LIA, a festival among the ancient Romans, held on the 15th of February, in honour of Lupercus (Pan), god of fertility and patron of shepherds--(Shak.) L[=U]'PERCAL. [L. lupinus--lupus, a wolf, lupa, a whore.]

LUPPA, lup'a, n. cloth having so much gold and silver thread as to look as if made entirely of metal.

LUPULUS, l[=u]'pu-lus, n. the common hop.--n. L[=U]'PULIN, the peculiar bitter aromatic principle of the hop.

LUPUS, l[=u]'pus, n. a chronic tuberculosis of the skin, often affecting the nose. [L. lupus, a wolf.]

LURCH, lurch, n. an ancient card-game: in cribbage, the position of the party who has gained every point before the other makes one.--v.t. to overreach: (arch.) to steal.--LEAVE IN THE LURCH, to leave in a difficult situation without help. [O. Fr. lourche.]

LURCH, lurch, v.i. to evade by stooping, to lurk: to roll or pitch suddenly to one side (as a ship).--n. a sudden roll of a ship.--n. LURCH'ER, a name applied to any dog with a distinct cross of greyhound: one who lies in wait: a glutton. [Lurk.]

LURDAN, lur'dan, adj. (arch.) stupid.--n. a stupid person.--Also LUR'DANE, LUR'DEN. [O. Fr. lourdein, dull--lourd, heavy.]

LURE, l[=u]r, n. any enticement: bait: decoy: (Shak.) a stuffed bird used in falconry for training the hawk.--v.t. to entice: decoy. [O. Fr. loerre (Fr. leurre)--Mid. High Ger. luoder (Ger. luder), bait.]

LURE, l[=u]r, n. a trumpet with long curved tube, used for calling cattle, &c. [Ice. lúdhr.]

LURID, l[=u]'rid, adj. ghastly pale, wan: ghastly and sensational: gloomy.--adv. L[=U]'RIDLY. [L. luridus.]

LURK, lurk, v.i. to lie in wait: to be concealed.--n. a swindle.--n. LURK'ER.--adj. LURK'ING, lying hid: keeping out of sight.--n. LURK'ING-PLACE, a hiding-place. [Scand., Sw. prov. luska.]

LURRY, lur'i, n. (Milt.) confusion.

LUSCIOUS, lush'us, adj. sweet in a great degree: delightful: fulsome, as flattery.--adv. LUSC'IOUSLY.--n. LUSC'IOUSNESS. [Old form lushious, from lusty.]

LUSH, lush, adj. rich and juicy, of grass. [A contr. of lushious, old form of luscious.]

LUSH, lush, v.t. to swill.--n. plentiful liquor.--adj. LUSH'Y, tipsy.

LUSIAD, l[=u]'si-ad, n. a Portuguese epic by Camoens, celebrating the chief events in the history of Portugal.--adj. LUSIT[=A]'NIAN, Portuguese. [Port. Os Lusiadas, the Lusitanians.]

LUSK, lusk, adj. (obs.) lazy.--v.i. to lie about lazily.--adj. LUSK'ISH (obs.).--n. LUSK'ISHNESS (Spens.).

LUST, lust, n. longing desire: eagerness to possess: carnal appetite: (B.) any violent or depraved desire.--v.i. to desire eagerly (with after, for): to have carnal desire: to have depraved desires.--adjs. LUST'-BREATHED (Shak.), animated by lust; LUST'-D[=I]'ETED (Shak.), pampered by lust.--n. LUST'ER.--adj. LUST'FUL, having lust: inciting to lust: sensual.--adv. LUST'FULLY.--n. LUST'FULNESS.--adj. LUST'IC (Shak.), lusty, healthy, vigorous.--ns. LUST'IHEAD, LUST'IHOOD, LUST'INESS.--adv. LUST'ILY.--adj. LUST'LESS (Spens.), listless, feeble.--n. LUST'WORT, the sundew.--adj. LUST'Y, vigorous: healthful: stout: bulky: (Milt.) lustful. [A.S. lust, pleasure.]

LUSTRE, lus't[.e]r, n. brightness, gloss, splendour: (fig.) renown: a candlestick ornamented with pendants of cut-glass: the characteristic appearance of a bright metallic surface, or of air within glass under water as seen under certain angles of total reflection: a dress material having a highly finished surface: a glaze applied to porcelain.--adjs. LUS'TRELESS, destitute of lustre; LUS'TROUS, bright: shining: luminous.--adv. LUS'TROUSLY. [Fr.,--Low L. lustrum, a window--L. luc[=e]re, to shine.]

LUSTRE, lus't[.e]r, LUSTRUM, lus'trum, n. a period of five years: (orig.) the solemn offering for the purification of the Roman people made by one of the censors at the conclusion of the census, taken every five years.--adj. LUS'TRAL, relating to or used in lustration: of or pertaining to a lustre.--n. LUSTR[=A]'TION, a purification by sacrifice: act of purifying.--adj. LUS'TRICAL, pertaining to purification by lustration. [L. lustrum--lu[)e]re, to wash, to purify.]

LUSTRING, lus'tring, n. a glossy silk cloth.--Also LUS'TRINE, LUTE'STRING. [Fr. lustrine--It. lustrino.]

LUSTY. See LUST.

LUTE, l[=u]t, n. a medieval stringed instrument of music like the guitar.--v.i. to play on the lute.--ns. LUT'ANIST, LUT'ER, LUT'IST, a player on a lute; LUTE'STRING, the string of a lute. [O. Fr. lut (Fr. luth); like Ger. laute, from Ar. al, the, `úd, wood, the lute.]

LUTE, l[=u]t, n. a composition used to exclude air, as round pipe-joints: a brickmaker's straight-edge scraper: a rubber packing-ring for a jar.--v.t. to close or coat with lute.--adjs. LUT[=A]'RIOUS, L[=U]'TEOUS, of or like mud.--n. LUT[=A]'TION.--adj. L[=U]'TOSE, miry. [L. lutum, from lu[)e]re, to wash.]

LUTEOLIN, l[=u]'t[=e]-[=o]-lin, n. the yellow colouring matter of weld or dyer's weed.--adjs. LUT[=E]'OLOUS, yellowish; L[=U]'TEOUS, golden-yellowish. [L. lutum, weld.]

LUTETIAN, l[=u]-t[=e]'shan, adj. Parisian. [L.]

LUTHERAN, l[=u]'th[.e]r-an, adj. pertaining to Luther, the great German Protestant reformer (1483-1546), or to his doctrines: a follower of Luther.--ns. LU'THERANISM, L[=U]'THERISM; L[=U]'THERIST.

LUXATE, luks'[=a]t, v.t. to put out of joint: to displace.--n. LUX[=A]'TION, a dislocation. [L. lux[=a]re, -[=a]tum--luxus--Gr. loxos, slanting.]

LUXURY, luk's[=u]-ri, n. free indulgence in rich diet or costly dress or equipage: anything delightful: a dainty: (Shak.) wantonness.--ns. LUX[=U]'RIANCE, LUX[=U]'RIANCY, LUXUR[=I]'ETY.--adj. LUX[=U]'RIANT, exuberant in growth: overabundant.--adv. LUX[=U]'RIANTLY.--v.i. LUX[=U]'RIATE, to be luxuriant: to grow exuberantly: to live luxuriously: to expatiate with delight.--n. LUXURI[=A]'TION, the act of luxuriating.--adj. LUX[=U]'RIOUS, given to luxury: administering to luxury: furnished with luxuries: softening by pleasure: (Milt.) luxuriant: (Shak.) lustful.--adv. LUX[=U]'RIOUSLY.--ns. LUX[=U]'RIOUSNESS; LUX'URIST, one given to luxury. [O. Fr. luxurie--L. luxuria, luxury--luxus, excess.]

LUZ, luz, n. a bone supposed by Rabbinical writers to be indestructible, probably the sacrum.

LUZULA, l[=u]'z[=u]-lä, n. a genus of plants of the rush family, having plain leaves, covered with thinly scattered, longish hairs. [Old It. luzziola, a firefly.]

LYAM, l[=i]'am, n. a leash.--Also LIME.

LYART. See LIARD.

LYCANTHROPY, l[=i]-kan'thro-pi, n. the power possessed by a person of changing himself into a wolf: a kind of madness, in which the patient fancies himself to be a wolf.--ns. LYCAN'THROPE, LYCAN'THROPIST, a wolf-man or were-wolf, one affected with lycanthropy.--adjs. LYCANTHROP'IC, LYCAN'THROPOUS. [Gr. lykos, a wolf, anthr[=o]pos, a man.]

LYCEUM, l[=i]-s[=e]'um, n. a place devoted to instruction by lectures: an association for literary improvement. [Orig. the name of a place in the immediate neighbourhood of Athens, consecrated to Apollo Lyceios, where Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, taught.]

LYCHGATE. Same as LICHGATE.

LYCHNIC, lik'nik, n. a part of the vespers of the Greek Church on the occasion of a vigil.--n. LYCHNAP'SIA, a series of seven prayers in the vespers of the Greek Church.--adj. LYCHNID'IATE, emitting light, phosphorescent.--ns. LYCH'NOBITE, one who works by night and sleeps by day; LYCH'NOMANCY, divination by means of lamps; LYCH'NOSCOPE, a small window-like opening in the south wall of a church. [Gr. lychnos, a light.]

LYCHNIS, lik'nis, n. a genus of erect ornamental herbs of the pink family--campions or wall-flowers. [L.]

LYCOPODIACEÆ, l[=i]-ko-p[=o]-di-[=a]'se-[=e], n.pl. a class of isoporous vascular cryptogams, having mostly a dichotomous form of branching--its typical genus LYCOP[=O]'DIUM.--n. LY'COPODE, a highly inflammable yellow powder made up of the spores of Lycopodium. [Gr. lykos, a wolf, pous, the foot.]

LYDDITE, lid'[=i]t, n. a powerful explosive made (at Lydd in Kent) from picrate of potash.

LYDIAN, lid'i-an, adj. pertaining to Lydia in Asia Minor: of an ancient Greek mode of music: (mus.) soft and slow: luxurious and effeminate.

LYE, l[=i], n. a short side-branch of railway.

LYE, l[=i], n. a solution leached from ashes: a solution of the fixed alkalies, potash and soda, in water. [A.S. leáh; Ger. lauge; allied to lav[=a]re, to wash.]

LYENCEPHALOUS, l[=i]-en-sef'a-lus, adj. having the corpus callosum absent or rudimentary.

LYING, l[=i]'ing, adj. addicted to telling lies.--n. the habit of telling lies.--adv. LY'INGLY.

LYING, l[=i]'ing, adj. being in a horizontal position.--n. LY'ING-IN, the confinement of women during child-bearing--also adj.

LYKE-WAKE, l[=i]k'-w[=a]k, n. Same as LICH-WAKE.

LYM, lim, n. (Shak.) a lime-hound.--Also LYM'-HOUND.

LYME-GRASS, l[=i]m'-gras, n. any one of various coarse grasses of genus Elymus.

LYMPH, limf, n. water: a colourless or faintly-yellowish fluid in animal bodies, of a rather saltish taste, and with an alkaline reaction.--n. LYMPHANG[=I]'TIS (see WEED, 3).--adj. LYMPHAT'IC, pertaining to lymph.--n. a vessel which conveys the lymph.--adjs. LYMPH'Y, LYMPH'OID. [L. lympha.]

LYMPHAD, lim'fad, n. (Scot.) a kind of sailing-vessel.

LYNCH, linsh, v.t. to judge and punish without the usual forms of law.--n. LYNCH'-LAW (Amer.), a kind of summary justice exercised by the people. [From Charles Lynch (1736-96) of Virginia.]

LYNX, lingks, n. a genus of Felidæ, with the body elevated at the haunches, long fur, a short tail, the ears tipped with tufts of hair.--adjs. LYNC[=E]'AN, LYNX'-EYED, sharp-sighted. [L.,--Gr.]

LYON COURT, l[=i]'un k[=o]rt, n. the court in Scotland with jurisdiction in questions of coat-armour and precedency--presided over by the LYON KING-OF-ARMS. [From the heraldic lion of Scotland.]

LYRE, l[=i]r, n. a musical instrument like the harp, anciently used as an accompaniment to poetry.--n. LY'RA, one of the northern constellations.--adjs. LY'RATE, -D (bot.), lyre-shaped.--ns. LYRE'BIRD, an Australian bird about the size of a pheasant, having the 16 tail-feathers of the male arranged in the form of a lyre; LYRIC (lir'-), a lyric poem: (obs.) a composer of lyric poetry.--adjs. LYRIC, -AL (lir'-), pertaining to the lyre: fitted to be sung to the lyre: written in stanzas: said of poetry which expresses the individual emotions of the poet: that composes lyrics.--ns. LYRICISM (lir'-), a lyrical expression or composition; LYR'ISM, the art of playing on the lyre; LYR'IST, a player on the lyre or harp. [Fr.,--L. lyra--Gr.]

LYSIMETER, l[=i]-sim'e-t[.e]r, n. an instrument for measuring the rate of percolation of rain through a soil.

LYSIS, l[=i]'sis, n. the gradual abatement of a disease, as distinguished from crisis: (archit.) a plinth or step above the cornice of the podium in an ancient temple. [Gr.]

LYSSA, lis'a, n. hydrophobia. [Gr.]

LYTERIAN, l[=i]-t[=e]'ri-an, adj. terminating a disease. [Gr.]

LYTHE, l[=i]th, adj. (Spens.) pliant, flexible. [Lithe.]

LYTTA, lit'a, n. a longitudinal vermiform cartilaginous or fibrous band on the under surface of the tongue in carnivores--the 'worm' of a dog's tongue. [Gr.]

* * * * *

M the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, belonging to the labio-nasal class of consonants. M=1000; [=M]=1,000,000.--M-ROOF, a roof formed by the junction of two common roofs, so that its end is like the letter M.

MA, mä, n. a childish contraction for mamma.

MA'AM, mäm, n. a colloquial contraction of madam--vulgarly MARM, MUM.

MAB, mab, n. the name of a female fairy: the queen of the fairies--hence any fairy. [W. mab, child.]

MAB, mab, v.t. and v.i. (prov.) to dress untidily.

MABINOGION, mab-i-n[=o]'ji-on, n. a collection of four Arthurian romances, embodied in the 12th century, embraced with seven other prose tales in the Red Book, or Hergest, a Welsh MS. of the 14th century--the whole published and translated by Lady Charlotte Guest in 1838. [W., 'children's tales.']

MAC, mak, a prefix in Scotch names, meaning son (of). [Gael. and Ir. mac, son; W. map, mab, also ap, ab.]

MACABERESQUE, ma-k[=a]-b[.e]r-esk', adj. pertaining to, or like, the Dance of Death. [Fr. La Danse Macabre, Low L. Machabæorum chorea, the dance of the Maccabees, prob. because the seven brothers whose martyrdom is recorded in the 7th chapter of the 2d Book of Maccabees played an important part in the earliest form of the 14th-cent. drama on the subject.]

MACADAMISE, mak-ad'am-[=i]z, v.t. to cover, as a road, with small broken stones, so as to form a smooth, hard surface.--ns. MACAD'AM, macadamised pavement; MACADAMIS[=A]'TION. [From John Loudon Macadam (1756-1836).]

MACAQUE, ma-kak', n. a monkey of genus Macacus, between baboons and the African mangabeys.

MACARISE, mak'a-r[=i]z, v.t. to bless, pronounce happy.--adj. MAC[=A]'RIAN, blessed.--n. MAC'ARISM, a beatitude. [Gr. makar, happy.]

MACARONI, mak-a-r[=o]'ni, n. a kind of paste or dough prepared from the glutinous granular flour of hard varieties of wheat, pressed out through a perforated vessel into long tubes, and then dried: a medley: something fanciful and extravagant: a fool: a fop:--pl. MACAR[=O]'NIS, MACAR[=O]'NIES.--n. MACARON'IC, a confused heap, a medley: a macaronic poem.--adjs. MACARON'IC, MACAR[=O]'NIAN, like a macaroni, trifling, affected: of a kind of burlesque verse, consisting of modern words Latinised, or Latin words modernised, intermixed with genuine Latin words. [Old It. maccaroni--maccare, to crush.]

MACAROON, mak-a-r[=oo]n', n. a sweet biscuit made chiefly of almonds and sugar. [Fr.,--It. maccaroni above.]

MACASSAR-OIL, ma-kas'ar-oil, n. an oil much used for the hair, imported from India and other Eastern countries. [From Macassar in Celebes.]

MACAW, ma-kaw', n. a genus of large and beautiful birds with a long tail, found in tropical America, closely allied to the parrots. [Brazil. macao.]

MACCABEAN, mak-a-b[=e]'an, adj. pertaining to Judas Maccabeus, or to the Maccabees, an ancient Jewish family who rescued Judea from the persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, about 166 B.C.--as related in two historical books of the Apocrypha.

MACE, m[=a]s, n. a staff used as a mark of authority: a light, flat-headed stick in use at billiards before the introduction of the bridge or cue-rest: formerly, a weapon of war, consisting of a staff headed with a heavy spiked ball of iron: a mallet used by a currier in dressing leather.--n. MACE'-BEAR'ER, one who carries the mace in a procession, or before men in authority--also MAC'ER. [O. Fr. mace (Fr. masse)--obs. L. matea, whence L. dim. mateola, a mallet.]

MACE, m[=a]s, n. a kind of spice: the second coat of the nutmeg. [O. Fr. macis--L. macer--Gr. maker.]

MACERATE, mas'[.e]r-[=a]t, v.t. to steep: to soften by steeping: to make lean: to mortify.--n. MACER[=A]'TION, act of softening by steeping: mortification of the flesh by fasting and other severe modes of living. [L. macer[=a]re, -[=a]tum, to steep.]

MACHETE, ma-ch[=a]'t[=a], n. a heavy knife or cutlass used by the Cubans, &c. [Sp.]

MACHIAVELLIAN, mak-i-a-v[=e]l'yan, adj. destitute of political morality, following expediency rather than right: cunning, crafty, perfidious.--n. one who imitates Machiavel--more correctly, Niccolo Machiavelli--of Florence (1469-1527): any cunning and unprincipled statesman.--n. MACHIAVELL'IANISM, the principles taught by Machiavel, or conduct regulated by them: cunning statesmanship.

MACHICOLATION, mach-i-ko-l[=a]'shun, n. (archit.) a projecting parapet or gallery with openings for pouring molten substances upon an attacking force below: the construction or use of such means of defence.--adj. MACHIC'OLATED. [Fr. mâchicoulis, from mâche, mash, coulis, a flowing--L. col[=a]re, to filter.]

MACHINATE, mak'i-n[=a]t, v.t. to contrive skilfully: to form a plot or scheme, esp. for doing harm.--ns. MACHIN[=A]'TION, act of machinating or contriving a scheme for carrying out some purpose, esp. an evil one: an artful design or plot: MACH'INATOR, one who machinates. [L. machin[=a]ri, -[=a]tus--mach[)i]na.]

MACHINE, ma-sh[=e]n', n. any artificial means or contrivance: any instrument for the conversion of motion: an engine: a coach or conveyance of any kind: one who can do only what he is told: a contrivance in the ancient Greek theatre for indicating a change of scene, by means of which a god might cross the stage or deliver a divine message--whence the expression Deus ex mach[)i]na for a sudden interposition of Providence: any literary contrivance for the development of a plot: supernatural agency in a poem.--v.t. to use machinery for, esp. to print or sew by such: to make by means of machinery.--ns. MACHINE'-GUN, a gun firing a great many shots one after the other, sometimes as many as 1000 per minute; MACHINE'-MAN, a man who manages the working of a machine, esp. in a printing-office; MACHIN'ERY, machines in general: the working parts of a machine: combined means for keeping anything in action, or for producing a desired result; MACHINE'-SHOP, a workshop where machines are made; MACHINE'-TOOL, an adjustable machine for doing work with cutting-tools, or one utilising minor tools, as a planing-, drilling-machine, &c.; MACHINE'-WORK, work done by a machine; MACHIN'IST, a constructor of machines: one well versed in machinery: one who works a machine. [Fr.,--L. mach[)i]na--Gr. m[=e]chan[=e], akin to m[=e]ch-os, contrivance.]

MACK'EREL, mak'[.e]r-el, n. a food fish, dark blue, with wavy cross-streaks above, and silvery below.--n. MACK'EREL-SKY, a sky with clouds broken into long, thin, white, parallel masses. [O. Fr. makerel (Fr. maquereau), prob. from L. macula, a spot.]

MACKINTOSH, mak'in-tosh, n. a waterproof overcoat. [From Charles Mackintosh (1766-1843), the inventor.]

MACKLE, mak'l, n. a spot or blemish in printing, by a double impression, wrinkling, &c.--v.t. to spot, blur.

MACLE, mak'l, n. a kind of twin crystal: a kind of cross-stone or hollow-spar, called also Chiastolite, having the axis and angles of its crystals coloured differently from the rest.--adj. MAC'LED, spotted. [Through Fr., from L. macula, spot.]

MACMILLANITE, mak-mil'an-[=i]t, n. an old name for a member of the Scottish sect of Cameronians or Reformed Presbyterians. [From John Macmillan, (1670-1753), the first ordained minister who associated himself with the 'suffering remnant.']

MACRAMÉ, mak-ra-m[=a]', n. a fringe or trimming of knotted thread--also knotted bar-work. [It.]

MACROBIOTIC, mak-r[=o]-bi-ot'ik, adj. long-lived.--ns. MACROBI[=O]'SIS, long life; MACR[=O]'BIOTE, one who lives long; MACROBIOT'ICS, the study of longevity.

MACROCEPHALOUS, mak-ro-sef'a-lus, adj. having a large or long head.--Also MACROCEPHAL'IC. [Gr. makros, long or great, kephal[=e], a head.]

MACROCOSM, mak'ro-kozm, n. the great world: the whole universe:--opp. to Microcosm.--adj. MACROCOS'MIC. [Gr. makros, long, kosmos, world.]

MACRODACTYL, mak-ro-dak'til, adj. having long toes.--n. a wading-bird having such:--pl. MACRODAC'TYL[=I], and -A. [Gr. makros, long, daktylos, finger.]

MACROLOGY, mak-rol'o-ji, n. much talk with little to say. [Gr. makros, long, logos, a word.]

MACRON, mak'ron, n. a straight line placed over a vowel to show that it is long:--opp. to Breve, the mark of a short vowel. [Gr., 'long.']

MACROPOD, mak'ro-pod, adj. having long feet.--n. a long-legged or long-footed animal: one of the spider-crabs.--adjs. MACROP'ODAL, MACROP'ODAN, MACROP[=O]'DIAN, MACROP'ODOUS (bot.). [Gr. makros, long, pous, podos, a foot.]

MACROPTEROUS, mak-rop'te-rus, adj. long-winged. [Gr. makros, long, pteron, a wing.]

MACROSCIAN, mak-ros'i-an, adj. casting a long shadow.--n. an inhabitant of the Arctic or Antarctic zones. [Gr. makros, long, skia, shadow.]

MACROSCOPIC, mak-ro-skop'ik, adj. visible to the naked eye:--opp. to Microscopic.--adv. MACROSCOP'ICALLY. [Gr. makros, long, skopein, to see.]

MACROSPORE, mak'ro-sp[=o]r, n. a more than usually large spore of a flowerless plant, as in club-mosses, &c.--n. MACROSPORAN'GIUM, a sporangium containing macrospores. [Gr. makros, long, spora, a seed.]

MACRUROUS, mak-r[=oo]'rus, adj. long-tailed.--Also MACRU'RAL. [Gr. makros, long, oura, tail.]

MACULA, mak'[=u]-la, n. a spot, as on the skin, or on the surface of the sun, moon, or planets:--pl. MACULÆ (mak'[=u]-l[=e]).--v.t. MAC'UL[=A]TE, to spot, to defile.--n. MACUL[=A]'TION, act of spotting, a spot.--adj. MACULOSE (mak'[=u]-l[=o]z), spotted. [L. macul[=a]re, -[=a]tum--macula, a spot.]

MAD, mad, adj. (comp. MAD'DER; superl. MAD'DEST) disordered in intellect: insane: proceeding from madness, rabid: troubled in mind: excited with any violent passion or appetite: furious with anger.--v.t. (Shak.) to drive mad.--adjs. MAD'BRAIN, MAD'BRAINED (Shak.), disordered in brain or mind: rash: hot-headed; MAD'-BRED (Shak.), bred in madness or heat of passion.--n. MAD'CAP, a person who acts madly: a wild, rash, hot-headed person.--adj. fond of wild and reckless action.--v.t. MAD'DEN, to make mad: to enrage.--v.i. to become mad: to act as one mad.--adj. MAD'DING, distracted, acting madly.--advs. MAD'DINGLY, MAD'LY.--ns. MAD'-DOC'TOR, a doctor who studies and treats the diseases of mad people; MAD'HOUSE, a house for mad persons: a lunatic asylum; MAD'LING, a mad person; MAD'MAN, a man who is mad: a maniac; MAD'NESS; MAD'WORT, a plant believed to cure canine madness.--GO MAD, to become demented; LIKE MAD, madly, furiously. [A.S. ge-m['æ]d; Old Sax. ge-méd, foolish, Ice. meidd-r, hurt.]

MADAM, mad'am, n. a courteous form of address to a lady, esp. an elderly or a married one: a woman of fashion:--pl. MAD'AMS, or MESDAMES (m[=a]-dam'). [Fr.,--ma, my, dame, lady--L. mea domina.]

MAD-APPLE, mad'-ap-l, n. the egg-plant.

MADAROSIS, mad-a-r[=o]'sis, n. loss of the hair, esp. of the eyelashes. [Gr.,--madaros, bald, madan, to fall off.]

MADDER, mad'[.e]r, n. a plant whose root affords a red dye.--ns. MADD'ER-LAKE, a colour mixed either with oil or water, made from madder; MADD'ER-WORT, any plant of the Rubiaceæ or madder family. [A.S. mæderu; Ice. maðra, Dut. meed.]

MADE, m[=a]d, pa.t. and pa.p. of make.--MADE CONTINUALLY (Pr. Bk.), established for ever; MADE DISH, a dish of meat, &c., recooked: an entrée; MADE UP, put together, finished: dressed for a part, disguised: perfect: artificial, invented.

MADEIRA, ma-d[=e]'ra, n. a rich wine of the sherry class produced in Madeira.

MADEMOISELLE, mad-mwa-zel', n. a courteous form of address to a young lady: Miss. [Fr., ma, my, and demoiselle.]

MADGE, maj, n. a leaden hammer.

MADGE, maj, n. the magpie.

MADIA, m[=a]'di-a, n. a genus of American herbs of the aster family, the tarweeds--a Chilian species yielding a valuable oil.

MADID, mad'id, adj. wet, dank. [L. madidus--mad[=e]re, to be wet; akin to Gr. madaein.]

MADONNA, MADONA, ma-don'a, n. a name given to the Virgin, esp. as seen in works of art: (Shak.) my lady.--adv. MADONN'A-WISE, after the fashion of the Madonna, esp. in the arrangement of a woman's hair. [It., lit. 'my lady'--L. mea domina.]

MADRAS, ma-dras', n. a large handkerchief of silk and cotton, usually in bright colours, worn on the head by West Indian negroes.

MADREPORE, mad're-p[=o]r, n. the common coral. [Fr.,--It., from madre, mother--L. mater, and -pora--Gr. p[=o]ros, a soft stone.]

MADRIGAL, mad'ri-gal, n. (mus.) a piece of music for the voice in five or six parts: a short poem expressing a graceful and tender thought.--adj. MADRIG[=A]'LIAN.--n. MAD'RIGALIST. [It., from mandra, a sheep-fold--L. mandra.]

MADROÑO, ma-dr[=o]'ny[=o], n. a handsome evergreen tree of North California.--Also MADR[=O]'ÑA.

MÆCENAS, m[=a]-s[=e]'nas, n. a Roman knight who befriended the poets Virgil and Horace: any rich patron of art or literature.

MAELSTROM, m[=a]l'strom, n. a celebrated whirlpool off the coast of Norway: any resistless overpowering influence for destruction. [Norw., 'grinding stream.']

MÆNAD, m[=e]'nad, n. a female follower of Bacchus, a woman beside herself with frenzy.--adj. MÆNAD'IC, bacchanalian: furious. [Gr. mainas, -ados, raving--mainesthai, to be mad.]

MAESTOSO, m[=a]-es-t[=o]'zo, adj. and adv. (mus.) with dignity or majesty. [It.]

MAESTRO, ma-es'tr[=o], n. a master, esp. an eminent musical composer or conductor. [It.]

MAFFLED, maf'ld, adj. (prov.) confused in the intellect.--n. MAFF'LING, a simpleton.

MAG, mag, n. a halfpenny.--Also MAIK, MAKE.

MAG, mag, v.i. (prov.) to chatter.--v.t. to tease.--n. chatter: the magpie: the long-tailed titmouse.

MAG, mag, v.t. (slang) to steal.--n. MAGS'MAN, a street swindler.

MAGAZINE, mag-a-z[=e]n', n. a storehouse: a place for military stores: the gunpowder-room in a ship: a pamphlet or small book published from time to time, containing compositions on various subjects.--ns. MAGAZINE'-GUN, or -R[=I]'FLE, a gun or rifle from which many shots can be fired one after another without reloading. [Fr. magasin--It. magazzino--Ar. makhzan, a storehouse.]

MAGDALEN, mag'da-len, n. a repentant prostitute.--Also MAG'DALENE. [From Mary Magdalene (Luke, viii. 2), confused with the woman of Luke vii. 37-50.]

MAGDEBURG HEMISPHERES, mag'de-b[=oo]rg hem'i-sf[=e]rz, n.pl. two hemispherical cups from within which, when placed together, the air can be removed by an air-pump to show the pressure of the air on the outside. [Invented at Magdeburg in Germany.]

MAGE, m[=a]j, n. a magician, enchanter (see MAGI).

MAGENTA, ma-jen'ta, n. a colour between pink and red. [From the battle of Magenta in North Italy, 1859.]

MAGGOT, mag'ut, n. a worm or grub: a whim.--adj. MAGG'OTY, full of maggots. [W. maceiad, akin to magiaid, worms, magu, to breed.]

MAGI, m[=a]'j[=i], n.pl. priests of the ancient Persians: the Wise Men of the East.--adj. M[=A]'GIAN, pertaining to the Magi.--n. one of the Magi.--ns. M[=A]'GIANISM, or M[=A]'GISM, the philosophy or doctrines of the Magi. [L.,--Gr. magos, orig. a title given to the wise men of Chaldea, astrologers and wizards.]

MAGIC, maj'ik, n. the pretended art of producing marvellous results by the aid of spirits, or of the secret forces of nature: enchantment: sorcery.--adjs. MAG'IC, -AL, pertaining to, used in, or done by magic: causing wonderful or startling results.--adv. MAG'ICALLY.--ns. MAGIC'IAN, one skilled in magic: a wizard: an enchanter; MAG'IC-LAN'TERN (see LANTERN).--MAGIC SQUARE, a square filled with rows of figures so arranged that the sums of all the rows will be the same, perpendicularly or horizontally--as 2, 7, 6; 9, 5, 1; 4, 3, 8, &c.; there are also MAGIC CIRCLES, CUBES, CYLINDERS, and SPHERES similarly arranged.--BLACK MAGIC, the black art, magic by means of union with evil spirits; NATURAL MAGIC, the art of working wonders by a superior knowledge of the powers of nature; WHITE MAGIC, magic without the aid of the devil. [O. Fr. magique--L.,--Gr. See MAGI.]

MAGILP, ma-gilp', n. a vehicle used by oil-painters, consisting of linseed-oil and mastic varnish--written also MEGILP'. [Prob. from a proper name.]

MAGISTERIAL, maj-is-t[=e]'ri-al, adj. pertaining or suitable to a master: in the manner of a master: of the rank of a magistrate: authoritative: proud: dignified.--n. MAGIS'TER, master.--adv. MAGIST[=E]'RIALLY.--ns. MAGIST[=E]'RIALNESS; MAGIST[=E]'RIUM, an authoritative statement; MAG'ISTERY, a term in alchemy for various preparations, esp. a precipitate of bismuth: any sovereign remedy: a mandate. [L. magisterius--magister, a master--mag, root of L. magnus, great.]

MAGISTRATE, maj'is-tr[=a]t, n. a person entrusted with the power of putting the laws in force: a justice of the peace.--n. MAG'ISTRACY, the office or dignity of a magistrate: the body of magistrates.--adj. MAG'ISTRAL, magisterial: specially prescribed or made up, as a medicine: effectual.--n. (fort.) the guiding line determining the other positions: a special preacher in Spanish cathedrals, &c.--n. MAGISTRAND', an arts student ready to proceed to graduation, at Aberdeen.--adj. MAGISTRAT'IC. [O. Fr.,--L. magistratus, magister.]

MAGMA, mag'ma, n. any soft doughy mass: the molten mass within the earth's crust: the residuum after expressing the juice from fruits. [Gr.]

MAGNA CHARTA, mag'na kär'ta, n. the Great Charter obtained from King John, 1215 A.D. [L.]

MAGNANERIE, man-yan'e-r[=e], n. a place for rearing silkworms. [Fr.]

MAGNANIMITY, mag-na-nim'i-ti, n. greatness of soul: elevation of dignity, of mind: that quality of mind which raises a person above all that is mean of unjust: generosity.--adj. MAGNAN'IMOUS, elevated in sentiment, noble: brave: unselfish.--adv. MAGNAN'IMOUSLY. [L. magnanimitas--magnus, great, animus, the mind.]

MAGNATE, mag'n[=a]t, n. a noble: a man of rank or wealth. [Fr. magnat, a title of Hungarian and Polish nobles--L. magnas, magnatis, a prince--magnus, great.]

MAGNES, mag'n[=e]z, n. (Spens.) the magnet. [L.]

MAGNESIUM, mag-n[=e]'shi-um, or -si-um, n. a metal of a bright, silver-white colour, which while burning gives a dazzling white light, and forms magnesia.--n. MAGN[=E]'SIA, a light white powder, got by burning magnesium, used as a medicine.--adj. MAGN[=E]'SIAN, belonging to, containing, or resembling magnesia.--n. MAG'NESITE, native magnesium carbonate.

MAGNET, mag'net, n. the lodestone, an iron ore which attracts iron, and, when hung so that it can move freely, points to the poles: a bar or piece of steel to which the properties of the lodestone have been imparted.--adjs. MAGNET'IC, -AL, pertaining to the magnet: having the properties of the magnet: attractive.--adv. MAGNET'ICALLY.--ns. MAGNETIC'IAN, MAG'NETIST, one versed in magnetism.--adj. MAGNETIS'ABLE.--n. MAGNETIS[=A]'TION.--v.t. MAG'NETISE, to render magnetic: to attract as if by a magnet.--v.i. to become magnetic.--ns. MAG'NETISER, one who, or that which, imparts magnetism; MAG'NETISM, the cause of the attractive power of the magnet: attraction: the science which treats of the properties of the magnet--(ANIMAL MAGNETISM, Mesmer's name for the phenomena of mesmerism; TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM, the magnetic properties possessed by the earth as a whole); MAG'NETIST, one skilled in magnetism.--adjs. MAG'NETO-ELEC'TRIC, -AL, pertaining to magneto-electricity.--ns. MAG'NETO-ELECTRIC'ITY, electricity produced by the action of magnets: the science which treats of electricity produced by magnetism; BAR'-MAG'NET, a magnet in the form of a bar.--MAGNETIC BATTERY, several magnets placed with their like poles together, so as to act with great force; MAGNETIC CURVES, the curves formed by iron-filings around the poles of a magnet; MAGNETIC EQUATOR, the line round the earth where the magnetic needle remains horizontal; MAGNETIC FIELD, the space over which magnetic force is felt; MAGNETIC FLUID, a hypothetical fluid assumed to explain the phenomena of magnetism; MAGNETIC MERIDIAN, the meridian lying in the direction in which the magnetic needle points; MAGNETIC NEEDLE, the light bar in the mariner's compass which, because it is magnetised, points always to the north; MAGNETIC NORTH, that point of the horizon which is indicated by the direction of the magnetic needle; MAGNETIC POLES, two nearly opposite points on the earth's surface, where the dip of the needle is 90°; MAGNETIC STORM, a disturbance in the magnetism of the earth or air, which causes the magnetic needle to move rapidly backwards and forwards.--ARTIFICIAL MAGNET, a magnet made by rubbing with other magnets; HORSE-SHOE MAGNET, a magnet bent like a horse-shoe; PERMANENT MAGNET, a magnet that keeps its magnetism after the force which magnetised it has been removed. [Through O. Fr., from L. magnes, a magnet--Gr. magn[=e]s=Magnesian stone, from Magn[=e]sia, in Lydia or Thessaly.]

MAGNIFICAT, mag-nif'i-kat, n. the song of the Virgin Mary, Luke, i. 46-55, beginning in the Vulgate with this word. [L. '(my soul) doth magnify,' 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. of magnific[=a]re.]

MAGNIFICENT, mag-nif'i-sent, adj. great in deeds or in appearance: grand: noble: pompous: displaying greatness of size or extent.--n. MAGNIF'ICENCE.--adv. MAGNIF'ICENTLY.--n. MAGNIF'ICO (Shak.), a title for a Venetian nobleman: a grandee.

MAGNIFY, mag'ni-f[=i], v.t. to make great or greater: to enlarge: to cause to appear greater: to exaggerate: to praise highly:--pa.p. mag'nified.--adjs. MAG'NIFIABLE, that may be magnified; MAGNIF'IC, -AL, great: splendid: noble.--adv. MAGNIF'ICALLY, in a magnificent manner.--ns. MAGNIFIC[=A]'TION, act of magnifying: increase of visual power in penetration as well as enlargement; MAG'NIFIER, one who, or that which, magnifies or enlarges: one who extols.--MAGNIFY ONE'S SELF, show great pride--AGAINST, oppose with pride; MAGNIFYING GLASS, in optics, a convex lens, objects seen through it having their apparent dimensions increased. [Fr.,--L. magnific[=a]re--magnus, great, fac[)e]re, to make.]

MAGNILOQUENT, mag-nil'o-kwent, adj. speaking in a grand or pompous style: bombastic.--n. MAGNIL'OQUENCE.--adv. MAGNIL'OQUENTLY. [L., from magnus, great, loqui, to speak.]

MAGNITUDE, mag'ni-t[=u]d, n. greatness: size: extent: importance. [L. magnitudo--magnus.]

MAGNOLIA, mag-n[=o]l'i-a, or -ya, n. a North American tree with beautiful foliage, and large, white or purplish, sweet-scented flowers. [From Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), a Montpellier botanist.]

MAGNUM, mag'num, n. a bottle holding two quarts: the quantity of wine filling such. [L.]

MAGOT, mag'ot, n. the Barbary ape, the only species of monkey existing in Europe: a small grotesque figure, crouching on the covers of vases; &c.

MAGPIE, mag'p[=i], n. a chattering bird, of a genus allied to the crow, with pied or coloured feathers: (slang) a halfpenny--(Shak.) MAG'OT-PIE, MAGG'OT-PIE. [Mag, a familiar contr. of Margaret (cf. Robin-Redbreast, Jenny Wren), pie, from L. pica, a magpie--ping[)e]re, pictum, to paint.]

MAGYAR, ma-jär', or mag'yär, n. one of the prevailing race in Hungary: the native speech of Hungary.

MAHABHARATA, ma-hä-bä'ra-tä, n. the name of one of the two great epic poems of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. [Sans.; prob. 'the great history of the descendants of Bharata.']

MAHADEVA, ma-ha-d[=a]'va, n. one of the names of the Hindu god Siva. [Sans. mah[=a], great, deva, god.]

MAHARAJAH, ma-ha-rä'jä, n. the title given to a great Indian prince:--fem. MAHARA'NI, MAHARA'NEE. [Sans. mah[=a], great, r[=a]ja, prince or king.]

MAHATMA, ma-hat'ma, n. one skilled in mysteries or religious secrets: an adept. [Sans., 'high-souled.']

MAHDI, mä'd[=e], n. the great leader of the faithful Mohammedans, who is to appear in the last days--one pretended Mahdi overthrew the Egyptian power in the Soudan in 1884-85.--ns. MAH'DISM; MAH'DIST.

MAHL-STICK, mäl'-stik, n. a tapering staff used by painters as a rest for the right hand.--Also MAL'STICK, MAUL'STICK. [Ger. mahlstock.]

MAHOGANY, ma-hog'a-ni, n. a tree of tropical America: its wood, which is of great value for making furniture.--n. MAHOG'ANY-TREE, same as mahogany: (hum.) the dinner-table. [Mahogoni, the native South American name.]

MAHOMEDAN, MAHOMETAN. See MOHAMMEDAN.

MAHOUN, MAHOUND, ma-hown', ma-hownd', or mä'-, n. an old form of the name of Mohammed: an evil spirit: the devil.

MAHOUT, ma-h[=oo]t', n. the keeper and driver of an elephant. [Hind. mah[=a]ut, mah[=a]wat.]

MAHRATTA, ma-rat'a, n. one of a once powerful race of Hindus in Western and Central India.

MAID, m[=a]d, n. an unmarried woman, esp. one young: a virgin: a female servant.--ns. MAID'-CHILD (B.), a female child; MAID'-M[=A]'RIAN, the May-queen; a character in the old Morris-dance, usually represented by a man in woman's clothes (Marian, relating to Mary or to the Virgin Mary).--adj. MAID'-PALE (Shak.), pale, like a sick girl.--n. MAID'SERVANT, a female servant.--MAID OF ALL WORK, a domestic who does general housework; OLD MAID, a woman left unmarried: a card game. [A.S. mægden--mægeð, a maid; cf. magu, son, m['æ]g, may.]

MAIDAN, m[=i]'dan, n. an esplanade or parade-ground near a town in Persia and India. [Pers.]

MAIDEN, m[=a]d'n, n. a maid: in Scotland, a machine like the guillotine, formerly used for beheading criminals.--adj. pertaining to a virgin or young woman: consisting of maidens: (fig.) unpolluted: fresh: new: unused: first: that has never been captured, said of a fortress.--ns. MAID'ENHAIR, a name given to a fern from the fine hair-like stalks of its fronds; MAID'ENHOOD, MAID'ENHEAD, the state of being a maid: virginity: purity: freshness; MAID'ENLINESS.--adjs. MAID'ENLY, maiden-like: becoming a maiden: gentle: modest; MAID'EN-MEEK (Tenn.), meek as a maiden; MAID'EN-TONGUED, gentle in voice like a girl; MAID'EN-WID'OWED, widowed while still a virgin.--n. MAID'HOOD (Shak.).--MAIDEN ASSIZE, an assize at which there are no criminal cases; MAIDEN BATTLE, a first contest; MAIDEN FORTRESS, a fortress that has never been captured; MAIDEN NAME, the family name of a married woman before her marriage; MAIDEN OVER, in cricket, an over in which no runs are made; MAIDEN SPEECH, the first public speech made by a person, esp. in Parliament; MAIDEN STAKES, in horse-racing, the money contended for in a race between horses that have never run before.

MAIEUTIC, m[=a]-[=u]'tik, adj. helping childbirth.--n. midwifery. [Gr.]

MAIGRE, m[=a]'g[.e]r, adj. made neither from flesh-meat nor from gravy: belonging to a fast-day or to a fast.--MAIGRE FOOD, food allowed to be eaten on fast-days. [Fr. maigre, lean--L. macer.]

MAIL, m[=a]l, n. defensive armour for the body formed of steel rings or network: armour generally.--v.t. to clothe in mail: (Scot.) to stain.--adjs. MAIL'-CLAD, clad with a coat of mail; MAILED, protected by mail. [Fr. maille--L. macula, a spot or a mesh.]

MAIL, m[=a]l, n. a bag for the conveyance of letters, &c.: the contents of such a bag: the person or the carriage by which the mail is conveyed.--v.t. to put into the mail: to send by mail.--adj. MAIL'ABLE, capable of being sent by mail.--ns. MAIL'-BAG, a bag in which letters are carried; MAIL'-BOAT, a boat which carries the public mails; MAIL'-CART, a cart in which mails are carried: a small cart, with long handles, for the amusement of children; MAIL'-CATCH'ER, an apparatus attached to a mail-carriage to catch up mail-bags while the train is in motion; MAIL'-COACH, -CAR, or -DRAG, the conveyance which carries the public mails; MAIL'-GUARD, an officer who guards the public mails; MAIL'ING-T[=A]'BLE, a table used in a post-office in sorting letters; MAIL'-TRAIN, a railway train which carries the public mails. [O. Fr. male, a trunk, a mail--Old High Ger. malaha, a sack; Gael. mala, a sack.]

MAIL, m[=a]l, n. an old French coin--half a denier: rent.--n. MAIL'ING, a farm. [See BLACKMAIL.]

MAIM, m[=a]m, n. a bruise: an injury: a lameness: the loss of any essential part.--v.t. to bruise: to disfigure: to injure: to lame or cripple: to render defective.--n. MAIM'EDNESS, the state of being maimed or injured. [O. Fr. mehaing, a bruise.]

MAIN, m[=a]n, n. might: strength. [A.S. mægen.]

MAIN, m[=a]n, adj. chief, principal: first in importance: leading.--n. the chief or principal part: the ocean or main sea: a continent or a larger island as compared with a smaller: a principal gas or water pipe in a street, or the largest conductor in a system of electric lights.--ns. MAIN'BOOM, the spar which extends the foot of a fore-and-aft mainsail; MAIN'DECK, the principal deck of a ship--so in MAIN'BRACE, the brace attached to the mainyard (see SPLICE); MAIN'LAND, the principal or larger land, as opposed to a smaller portion.--adv. MAIN'LY, chiefly, principally.--ns. MAIN'MAST, the principal mast of a ship, second from the prow; MAIN'SAIL, the principal sail generally attached to the mainmast; MAIN'SHEET, the sheet or rope attached to the lower corner of the mainsail; MAIN'SPRING, the spring which gives motion to any piece of machinery, esp. that of a watch or a clock; MAIN'STAY, the rope which stretches forward from the top of the mainmast: chief support; MAIN'TOP, a platform on the top of the mainmast; MAIN'TOPMAST, the mast next above the lower mainmast; MAIN'TOPSAIL, the sail above the mainsail, in square-rigged vessels; MAIN'YARD, the lower yard on the mainmast. [O. Fr. maine or magne, great--L. magnus, great.]

MAIN, m[=a]n, n. a hand at dice: a match at cockfighting: a banker's shovel for coin. [O. Fr. main--L. manus, hand.]

MAINOR, m[=a]'nor, n. act or fact, esp. of theft: that which is stolen.

MAINS, m[=a]nz, n. (Scot.) the principal or home farm.

MAINTAIN, men-t[=a]n', v.t. to keep in any state: to keep possession of: to preserve from capture or loss: to carry on: to keep up: to support: to make good: to support by argument: to affirm: to defend.--v.i. to affirm, as a position: to assert.--adj. MAINTAIN'ABLE, that can be supported or defended.--ns. MAINTAIN'ER, one who maintains; MAIN'TENANCE, the act of maintaining, supporting, or defending: continuance: the means of support: defence, protection: (law) an interference in a lawsuit, &c., in favour of one of the parties, by one who has no right or interest.--CAP OF MAINTENANCE, a cap of dignity borne by or before nobles and other persons of rank. [Fr. maintenir--L. manu ten[=e]re, to hold in the hand--manus, a hand, ten[=e]re, to hold.]

MAISTER, m[=a]s't[.e]r, n. an obsolete form of MASTER.--MAISTERY=MASTERY; MAISTRING=MASTERING; MAÎTRE=MASTER.

MAIZE, m[=a]z, n. a plant, and its fruit, called also Indian corn or wheat. [Sp.,--Haitian.]

MAJESTY, maj'es-ti, n. greatness: grandeur: dignity: elevation of manner or style: royal state: a title of kings and other sovereigns, esp. with possessive pronouns, as His or Her Majesty, &c.: a symbolic representation of the first person of the Trinity enthroned: the canopy of a hearse: (her.) an eagle crowned and sceptred.--adjs. MAJES'TIC, -AL, having or exhibiting majesty: stately: sublime.--adv. MAJES'TICALLY, in a majestic manner.--n. MAJES'TICALNESS, MAJES'TICNESS, majesty. [Fr. majesté--L. majestas--majus, comp. of magnus, great.]

MAJOLICA, ma-jol'i-ka, n. name applied to decorative enamelled pottery, esp. that of Italy from the 15th to the 17th cent.: a modern ware in imitation, used for vases, &c. [From Majorca, where first made.]

MAJOR, m[=a]'jur, adj. greater in number, quantity, or size: more important: (mus.) greater by a semitone.--n. a person of full age (21 years): an officer in rank between a captain and lieutenant-colonel.--v.i. to play the major, to talk big.--ns. MAJORAT (ma-zh[=o]-rä'), primogeniture; M[=A]'JORATE, M[=A]'JORSHIP, the office or rank of major: majority; M[=A]'JOR-D[=O]'MO, an official who has the general management in a large household: a general steward: a chief minister (Sp. mayor-domo, a house-steward--L. major, greater, domus, a house); M[=A]'JOR-GEN'ERAL, an officer in the army next in rank below a lieutenant-general; MAJOR'ITY, the greater number: the amount between the greater and the less number: full age (at 21): the office or rank of major.--MAJOR KEY (mus.), a key in which the semitones lie between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth; MAJOR PREMISE (logic), the principal or major statement in a syllogism; MAJOR SCALE (see MAJOR KEY).--GO OVER TO, or JOIN, THE MAJORITY, to die; THE MAJORITY, the GREAT MAJORITY, the dead. [L., comp. of magnus.]

MAJUSCULE, m[=a]-jus'k[=u]l, n. in paleography, a capital or uncial letter:--opp. to Minuscule. [L. majuscula (litera), a somewhat larger letter.]

MAKE, m[=a]k, v.t. to fashion, frame, or form: to produce: to bring about: to perform: to force: to render: to represent, or cause to appear to be: to turn: to occasion: to bring into any state or condition: to establish: to prepare: to obtain: to ascertain: to arrive in sight of: to reach: (B.) to be occupied with: to do.--v.i. to tend or move: to contribute: (B.) to feign or pretend:--pa.t. and pa.p. m[=a]de.--n. form or shape: structure, texture.--v.i. MAKE'-BELIEVE', to pretend, feign.--n. a mere pretence.--ns. MAKE'-PEACE (Shak.), a peace-maker; MAK'ER, one who makes: the Creator: a poet; MAKE'SHIFT, something done or used to serve a shift or turn: something used only for a time.--adj. having the character of a temporary resource.--ns. MAKE'-UP, the way anything is arranged: an actor's materials for personating a part: (print.) the arrangement of composed types into columns or pages, as in imposition; MAKE'-WEIGHT, that which is thrown into a scale to make up the weight: something of little value added to supply a deficiency; MAK'ING, the act of forming: structure: form.--MAKE ACCOUNT OF (see ACCOUNT); MAKE A FIGURE, to be conspicuous; MAKE AFTER, to follow or pursue; MAKE AMENDS, to render compensation or satisfaction; MAKE AS IF, to act as if, to pretend that; MAKE AT, to make a hostile movement against; MAKE AWAY, to put out of the way, to destroy; MAKE AWAY WITH, to squander; MAKE BELIEVE (see BELIEVE); MAKE BOLD (see BOLD); MAKE FOR, to move toward, to tend to the advantage of--so in B.; MAKE FREE WITH, to treat freely or without ceremony; MAKE GOOD, to maintain, to justify, to fulfil; MAKE HEAD AGAINST, to oppose successfully; MAKE LIGHT of (see LIGHT); MAKE LITTLE OF, to treat as insignificant; MAKE LOVE TO (see LOVE); MAKE MUCH OF, to treat with fondness, to cherish, to foster; MAKE NO DOUBT, to have no doubt, to be confident; MAKE OF, to understand by, to effect: to esteem; MAKE OFF WITH, to run away with; MAKE ONE'S WAY, to proceed: to succeed; MAKE OUT, to discover: to prove: to furnish: to succeed; MAKE OVER, to remake, reconstruct: to transfer; MAKE PACE, to increase the speed; MAKE SAIL, to increase the quantity of sail: to set sail; MAKE SURE, to be certain of; MAKE SURE OF, to consider as certain, to secure to one's self; MAKE THE MOST OF, to use to the best advantage; MAKE UP, to fabricate: to feign: to collect into one: to complete, supplement: to assume a particular form of features: to determine: to reckon: to make good: to repair: to harmonise, adjust; MAKE UP FOR, to compensate; MAKE UP TO, to approach: to become friendly. [A.S. macian; Ger. machen.]