K'ri, krē,n.a marginal reading in the Hebrew Bible, proposed in substitution for a k'thibh, or reading in the text. The word signifiesread, and was originally a marginal direction. [Heb.]
Kriegspiel, krēg′spēl,n.the 'war-game' played with metal blocks on a map, to train officers in military manœuvres. [Ger.krieg, war,spiel, game.]
Kris. Same asCreese.
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, krōōp′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, krī-om′e-tėr,n.a thermometer for measuring very low temperatures. [Gr.kryos, cold,metron, a measure.]
Ksar(Milt.), a former spelling ofCzar.
Kshatriya, kshat′ri-ya,n.the second or military caste among the Brahmanic Hindus.
K'thibh, kthēv,n.a textual reading in the Hebrew Scriptures:—opp. toK'ri. The word signifieswritten, and was originally a marginal note calling attention to the textual form in distinction from the k'ri. [Heb.]
Kudos, kū′dos,n.credit, fame, generally used jocularly. [Gr.]
Kudu. Same asKoodoo.
Kufic. Same asCufic.
Kuklux, kū′kluks, orKuklux 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 asKoumiss.
Kümmel, küm′el,n.a liqueur flavoured with cumin and caraway seeds. [Ger.]
Kurd, kōōrd,n.an inhabitant ofKurdistan, a region on the east of the upper course of the Tigris.
Kursaal, kōōr′säl,n.the reception-room of a German spa. [Ger., lit. 'cure-saloon.']
Kvass, kvas,n.rye-beer. [Russ.kvasŭ.]
Kyanise, kī′an-īz,v.t.to preserve from dry-rot by injecting corrosive sublimate into the pores of the wood. [From John H.Kyan(1774-1830).]
Kyanite, kī′a-nīt,n.Same asCyanite.
Kye, Ky, kī,n.pl.Scotch form of the plural ofcow. [SeeKine.]
Kylix, kī′liks,n.a broad and shallow Greek drinking-vase.
Kyllosis, kil-lō′sis,n.club-foot.
Kyloe, kī′lō,n.one of the cattle of the Hebrides.
Kymograph, kī′mō-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-ē,n.theKyrie 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, kīth,v.t.(Scot.) to make known.—v.i.to show one's self, to appear. [A.S.cyðan, to make known. SeeUncouth.]
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, butL=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′gėr,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 ofleger, a camp.]
Labarum.
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 Basquelabaria, a standard.]
Labdanum. SeeLadanum.
Labefaction, lab-e-fak′shun,n.a weakening decay—alsoLabefactā′tion.—v.t.Lab′efy, to impair. [L.labefacĕre, to shake.]
Label, lā′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.lā′belling;pa.t.andpa.p.lā′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. oflabium, a lip.]
Labial, lā′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.Lā′bialise.—adv.Lā′bially.—n.pl.Labiā′tæ, a natural order of gamopetalous plants, the mint family having four-cornered stems and opposite branches.—adjs.Lā′biate,-d(bot.), having two unequal divisions, as in the monopetalous corolla of the mints.—adj.andn.Labioden′tal, of a sound pronounced both by the lips and teeth: a letter representing such (f,v.).—n.Lā′bium, a lip or lip-like part:—pl.Lā′bia. [Fr.,—L.labium,labrum, a lip.]
Labis, lā′bis,n.the cochlear or eucharistic spoon. [Late Gr. fromlambanein, 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.laborāre—labor, work.]
Labour, lā′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.Labō′rious, full of labour: toilsome: wearisome: devoted to labour: industrious.—adv.Labō′riously.—n.Labō′riousness.—adj.Lā′boured, bearing marks of labour or effort in the execution.—ns.Lā′bourer, one who labours: one who does work requiring little skill;Lā′bourist, one who contends for the interests of workmen.—adjs.Lā′bour-sav′ing, intended to supersede or lessen the labour of men;Lā′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-dōr-īt,n.one of the group of the Feldspars, and a very important rock-forming mineral. [Labrador.]
Labret, lā′bret,n.a piece of bone, shell, &c. inserted into the lip by savages for ornament.—adj.Lā′brose, having thick lips.—n.Lā′brum,a lip or lip-like part:—pl.Lā′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 tolaura, a passage.]
Lac, lak,n.the term used in India for 100,000 rupees, the nominal value of which is £10,000.—AlsoLakh. [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 fromStick′-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, lās,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 asNeedleorPoint laceandPilloworBobbin 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′-barktree, 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(seeLattice-leaf);Lace′-man, one who deals in lace;Lace′-mend′er, one who repairs lace;Lace′-pā′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.Lā′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 atHonitonin 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′ėr-āt,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.Lacerā′tion, act of lacerating: the rent made by tearing.—adj.Lac′erative, tearing: having power to tear. [L.lacerāre,-ātum, to tear—lacer, torn.]
Lacerta, la-sėr′ta,n.a genus of saurian reptiles, the name properly restricted to slender, active lizards.—n.andadj.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′ēz,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, theos unguis, or nail-bone, in man.—adj.Lach′rymary, containing tears.—n.Lach′rymātory, 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(properlylacrima), a tear; Gr.dakru, Eng.tear.]
Lacing, lās′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, theknee of the head, orlace-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, lā-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′iāte,-d, cut into narrow lobes, fringed;Lacin′iform, fringe-like;Lacin′iolāte, finely fringed. [L., a flap.]
Lack, lak,v.t.andv.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-dā′zi-kal,adj.affectedly pensive, sentimental.—interj.Lack′adaisy=Lack-a-day. [Alack-a-day. SeeAlack.]
Lack-a-day, lak-a-dā′,interj.SeeAlack-a-day.
Lacker. SeeLacquer.
Lackey, lak′i,n.a menial attendant: a footman or footboy.—v.t.andv.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 asLitmus(q.v.).
Laconic,-al, la-kon′ik, -al,adj.expressing in few words after the manner of theLaconians,Lacedæmonians, orSpartans: concise: pithy.—adv.Lacon′ically.—ns.Lac′onism,Lacon′icism, a concise style: a short, pithy phrase. [L.,—Gr.]
Lacquer,Lacker, lak′ėr,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 theCrosse, 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′tāte, a salt of lactic acid, and a base;Lactā′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—alsoLac′tine;Lactuca(lak-tū′ka),a genus of herbs of the aster family, with milky juice.—adj.Lactucic(lak-tū′sik).—Lactic acid, an acid obtained from milk. [L.lacteus, milky—lac,lactis, milk; Gr.gala,galaktos, milk.]
Lacuna, la-kū′na,n.a gap or hiatus:—pl.Lacū′næ.—n.Lacū′nar, a sunken panel or coffer in a ceiling or a soffit: a ceiling containing such.—adjs.Lacū′nose, furrowed: pitted;Lacū′nous. [L.lacuna, anything hollow—lacus, a lake.]
Lacustrine, la-kus′trin,adj.pertaining to lakes.—AlsoLacus′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 tolead, the original meaning thus being 'oneledin the train of a lord.']
Ladanum, lad′a-num,n.a resinous exudation from the leaves of a shrub growing round the Mediterranean.—AlsoLab′danum. [L.,—Gr.lēdanon—Pers.lādan. SeeLaudanum.]
Ladder, lad′ėr,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.hlǽder; Ger.leiter.]
Lade, lād,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-dēn′,n.a Romance tongue spoken in the Engadine valley in Switzerland and the upper Inn valley in Tyrol. [L.Latinus, Latin.]
Ladino, la-dē′nō,n.the old Castilian tongue: the Spanish jargon of some Turkish Jews: a Central American of mixed white and Indian blood.
Ladle, lād′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-drōn′,n.a robber. [Sp.,—L.latro.]
Lady, lā′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(lā′diz).—ns.Lā′dybird, a genus of little beetles, usually brilliant red or yellow—alsoLā′dybug,Lā′dycow;Lā′dy-chap′el, a chapel dedicated to 'Our Lady,' the Virgin Mary, usually behind the high altar, at the extremity of the apse;Lā′dyday, the 25th March, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin;Lā′dyfern, one of the prettiest varieties of British ferns, common in moist woods, with bipinnate fronds sometimes two feet long;Lā′dy-fly(same asLadybird);Lā′dyhood, condition, character of a lady.—adj.Lā′dyish, having the airs of a fine lady.—ns.Lā′dyism, affectation of the airs of a fine lady;Lā′dy-kill′er, a man who fancies his fascinations irresistible to women: a general lover.—adj.Lā′dy-like, like a lady in manners: refined: soft, delicate.—ns.Lādy-love, a lady or woman loved: a sweetheart;Lādy's-bed′straw, the plantGalium verum;Lā′dy's-bow′er, the only British species of clematis—alsoTraveller's joy;Lā′dy's-fing′er, a name for many plants: a piece of confectionery;Lā′dyship, the title of a lady;Lā′dy's-maid, a female attendant on a lady, esp. in matters relating to the toilet;Lādy's-man′tle, a genus of herbaceous plants having small, yellowish-green flowers;Lā′dy's-slipp′er, a genus of orchidaceous plants, remarkable for the large inflated lip of the corolla;Lā′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,dǽgee, a kneader, or=hláfweardige(i.e. loaf-keeper, seeward), and thus a contr. fem. ofLord.]
Lætare, lē-tā′rē,n.the fourth Sunday in Lent, named from the first word in the service for the festival. [L.lætāre, 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-jē′na,n.a wine-vase, amphora: the terminal part of the cochlea in birds and reptiles:—pl.Lagē′næ. [L.]
Lager-beer, lä′ger-bēr,n.a kind of light beer very much used in Germany.—AlsoLa′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, lā-gō′mis,n.a genus of rodents, much resembling hares or rabbits. [Gr.lagōs, a hare,mys, a mouse.]
Lagoon,Lagune, la-gōōn′,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-gō′pus,n.a genus of grouse, the ptarmigans.—adj.Lagop′odous, having furry feet.—n.Lagos′toma, hare-lip.—adj.Lagō′tic, rabbit-eared.
Lagrimoso, lag-ri-mō′sō,adj.(mus.) plaintive. [It.]
Lagthing, läg′ting,n.the upper house of the Norwegian parliament. [Norw.lag, law,thing, parliament.]
Laic,Laical,Laicise. SeeLay,adj.
Laid, lād,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. toWove-paper, that laid on woven flannels or on felts. [Pa.t. and pa.p. ofLay.]
Laidly, lād′li,adj.(prov.) loathly.
Lain,pa.p.ofLie, to rest.
Lair, lār,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, lār,v.i.(Scot.) to sink in mud.—n.mire, a bog, a quagmire. [Ice.leir, mud.]
Laird, lārd,n.(Scot.) a landed proprietor, a landlord.—n.Laird′ship, an estate. [Lord.]
Laissez-faire, lās′ā-fār′,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.—AlsoLaiss′er-faire′. [Fr.laisser—L.laxāre, to relax,faire—L.facĕre, to do.]
Laity, lā-′i-ti,n.the people as distinct from the clergy. [SeeLay,adj.]
Lake, lāk,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. SeeLac(2).]
Lake, lāk,n.a large body of water within land.—ns.Lake′-bā′sin, the whole area drained by a lake;Lake′-law′yer(U.S.), the bowfin: burbot;Lake′let, a little lake;Lā′ker,Lā′kist, one of the Lake school of poetry.—adj.Lā′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.SeeLac, term used for 100,000.
Lakin, lā′kin,n.(Shak.) a corruption ofladykin, dim. oflady.
Lakshmi, laksh′mē,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-lā′shon,n.lambdacism (q.v.).
Lam, lam,v.t.to beat. [Ice.lemja, to beat.]
Lama,n.an animal. [SeeLlama.]
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 deLamarck(1744-1829), that species have developed by the efforts of organisms to adapt themselves to new conditions—alsoLamarck′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 asCorn-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 Romanl.—n.Lamb′dacism, a too frequent use of words containingl: a defective pronunciation ofr, making it likel.—adjs.Lamb′doid,-al, shaped like the Greek capitalΛ—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—lambĕre, 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, lām,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.Lamellibranchiā′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.Lamentā′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.lamentāri.]
Lameter,Lamiter, lā′met-ėr,n.a cripple.
Lametta, la-met′a,n.foil of gold, silver, &c. [It.]
Lamia, lā′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-jėr,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.Laminā′ria, a genus of dark-spored seaweeds, with large expanded leathery-stalked fronds.—adjs.Lam′ināte,-d, in laminæ or thin plates: consisting of scales or layers, over one another.—ns.Laminā′tion, the arrangement of stratified rocks in thin laminæ or layers.—adjs.Laminif′erous, consisting of laminæ or layers;Lam′iniform, laminar.—n.Laminī′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-mæsseandhlammæsse—hláf, loaf,mæsse, feast.]
Lammer, lam′ėr,n.(Scot.) amber. [Fr.l'ambre.]
Lammergeier, lam′mėr-gī-ėr,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.—AlsoLamm′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′pėrn,n.a river lamprey.
Lampoon, lam-pōōn′,n.a personal satire in writing: low censure.—v.t.to assail with personal satire: to satirise:—pr.p.lampōōn′ing;pa.p.lampōōned′.—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 refrainlampons=let us drink—lamper(orlapper, 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.lambĕre, to lick,petra, rock.]
Lana, lä′na,n.the tough, close-grained wood of a Guiana tree.
Lanate,-d, lā′nāt, -ed,adjs.woolly: (bot.) covered with a substance resembling wool.—n.Lā′nary, a wool-store. [L.lanatus—lana, wool.]
Lancasterian, lang-kas-tē′ri-an,adj.pertaining to JosephLancaster(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 ofLancaster.—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(seeAmphioxus);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.longchē, a lance.]
Lancegay, lans′gā,n.(obs.) a kind of spear. [O. Fr.,—lance, a lance,zagaye, a pike. SeeAssagai.]
Lanceolate,-d, lan′se-o-lāt, -ed,adjs.(bot.) having the form of a lance-head: tapering toward both ends—alsoLan′ceolar.—adv.Lan′ceolately. [L.lanceolatus—lanceola, dim. oflancea.]