LACINGLa"cing, n.
1. The act of securing, fastening, or tightening, with a lace or laces.
2. A lace; specifically (Mach.), a thong of thin leather for uniting the ends of belts.
3. A rope or line passing through eyelet holes in the edge of a sail or an awning to attach it to a yard, gaff, etc.
4. (Bridge Building)
Defn: A system of bracing bars, not crossing each other in the middle, connecting the channel bars of a compound strut. Waddell.
LACINIA La*cin"i*a, n.; pl. L. Laciniæ. Etym: [L., the lappet or flap of a garment.]
1. (Bot.) (a) One of the narrow, jagged, irregular pieces or divisions which form a sort of fringe on the borders of the petals of some flowers. (b) A narrow, slender portion of the edge of a monophyllous calyx, or of any irregularly incised leaf.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The posterior, inner process of the stipes on the maxillæ of insects.
LACINIATE; LACINIATEDLa*cin"i*ate, La*cin"i*a"ted, a. Etym: [See Lacinia.]
1. Fringed; having a fringed border.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Cut into deep, narrow, irregular lobes; slashed.
LACINIOLATELa*cin"i*o*late, a. Etym: [See Lacinia.] (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of, or abounding in, very minute laciniæ.
LACINULALa*cin"u*la, n.; pl. Lacinulæ, E. Lacinulas. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A diminutive lacinia.
LACK Lack, n. Etym: [OE. lak; cf. D. lak slander, laken to blame, OHG. lahan, AS. leán.]
1. Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack ofsufficient food.She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood. Chaucer.Let his lack of years be no impediment. Shak.
LACKLack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacking.]
1. To blame; to find fault with. [Obs.] Love them and lakke them not. Piers Plowman.
2. To be without or destitute of; to want; to need. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i. 5.
LACKLack, v. i.
1. To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc. What hour now I think it lacks of twelve. Shak. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty. Gen. xvii. 28.
2. To be in want. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger. Ps. xxxiv. 10.
LACKLack, interj. Etym: [Cf. Alack.]
Defn: Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov. Eng.] Cowper.
LACKADAISICALLack`a*dai"si*cal, a. Etym: [From Lackadaisy, interj.]
Defn: Affectedly pensive; languidly sentimental.— Lack`a*dai"si*cal*ly, adv.
LACKADAISYLack"a*dai`sy, interj. Etym: [From Lackaday, interj.]
Defn: An expression of languor.
LACKADAISYLack"a*dai`sy, a.
Defn: Lackadaisical.
LACKADAYLack"a*day`, interj. Etym: [Abbreviated from alackaday.]
Defn: Alack the day; alas; — an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or surprise.
LACKBRAINLack"brain`, n.
Defn: One who is deficient in understanding; a witless person. Shak.
LACKERLack"er, n.
Defn: One who lacks or is in want.
LACKERLack"er, n. & v.
Defn: See Lacquer.
LACKEY Lack"ey, n.; pl. Lackeys. Etym: [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E.lick, v.]
Defn: An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower. Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey. Shak. Lackey caterpillar (Zoöl.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; — so called from its party- colored markings. The common European species (C. neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species (C. Americana and C. sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar,under Tent. — Lackey moth (Zoöl.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.
LACKEYLack"ey, v. t.
Defn: To attend as a lackey; to wait upon.A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.
LACKEYLack"ey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lackeyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lackeying.]
Defn: To act or serve as lackey; to pay servile attendance.
LACKLUSTER; LACKLUSTRELack"lus`ter, Lack"lus`tre, n.
Defn: A want of luster.— a.
Defn: Wanting luster or brightness. "Lackluster eye." Shak.
LACMUSLac"mus, n.
Defn: See Litmus.
LACONIANLa*co"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Laconia, a division of ancient Greece; Spartan. — n.
Defn: An inhabitant of Laconia; esp., a Spartan.
LACONIC; LACONICAL La*con"ic, La*con"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. Laconicus Laconian, Gr. laconique.]
1. Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; brusque; epigrammatic. In this sense laconic is the usual form. I grow laconic even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard long. Pope. His sense was strong and his style laconic. Welwood.
2. Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence, stern or severe; cruel; unflinching. His head had now felt the razor, his back the rod; all that laconical discipline pleased him well. Bp. Hall.
Syn. — Short; brief; concise; succinct; sententious; pointed; pithy. — Laconic, Concise. Concise means without irrelevant or superfluous matter; it is the opposite of diffuse. Laconic means concise with the additional quality of pithiness, sometimes of brusqueness.
LACONICLa*con"ic, n.
Defn: Laconism. [Obs.] Addison.
LACONICALLa*con"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Laconic, a.
LACONICALLYLa*con"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a laconic manner.
LACONICISMLa*con"I*cism, n.
Defn: Same as Laconism. Pope.
LACONISMLac"o*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. laconisme.]
1. A vigorous, brief manner of expression; laconic style.
2. An instance of laconic style or expression.
LACONIZELac"o*nize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laconized; p. pr. & vb. n.Laconizing.] Etym: [Gr. Laconic.]
Defn: To imitate the manner of the Laconians, especially in brief, pithy speech, or in frugality and austerity.
LACQUER Lac"quer, n. Etym: [F. lacre a sort of sealing wax, Pg. lacte, fr. laca lac. See Lac the resin.] [Written also lacker.]
Defn: A varnish, consisting of a solution of shell-lac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge, saffron, or the like; — used for varnishing metals, papier-maché, and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made.
LACQUERLac"quer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacquered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacquering.]
Defn: To cover with lacquer. "Lacquer'd chair." Pope.
LACQUERERLac"quer*er, n.
Defn: One who lacquers, especially one who makes a business of lacquering.
LACQUERINGLac"quer*ing, n.
Defn: The act or business of putting on lacquer; also, the coat of lacquer put on.
LACRIMOSOLa`cri*mo"so, a. Etym: [It. See Lachrymose.] (Mus.)
Defn: Plaintive; — a term applied to a mournful or pathetic movement or style. Moore.
LACROSSELa*crosse", n. Etym: [F. la crosse, lit., the crosier, hooked stick.Cf. Crosier.]
Defn: A game of ball, originating among the North American Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled racket, called a "crosse". The ball is not handled but caught with the crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the field.
LACRYMALLac"ry*mal, n. & a.
Defn: See Lachrymatory, n., and Lachrymal, a.
LACRYMARY; LACRYTORY; LACRYMOSELac"ry*ma*ry, Lac"ry*to*ry, Lac"ry*mose.
Defn: See Lachrymary, Lachrymatory, Lachrymose.
LACTAGELac"tage, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. laitage. SeeLacteal.]
Defn: The produce of animals yielding milk; milk and that which is made from it.
LACTAMLac"tam, n. Etym: [Lactone + amido.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of anhydrides of an amido type, analogous to the lactones, as oxindol.
LACTAMICLac*tam"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an amido acid related to lactic acid, and called also amido-propionic acid.
LACTAMIDELac*tam"ide, n. Etym: [Lactic + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An acid amide derived from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.
LACTANT Lac"tant, a. Etym: [L. lactans, p. pr. of lactare to suck, fr. lac, lactis, milk.]
Defn: Suckling; giving suck.
LACTARENELac"ta*rene, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk.]
Defn: A preparation of casein from milk, used in printing calico.
LACTARY Lac"ta*ry, a. Etym: [l. lactarius, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactaire.]
Defn: Milky; full of white juice like milk. [Obs.] "Lactary or milky plants." Sir T. Browne.
LACTARYLac"ta*ry, n.
Defn: a dairyhouse. [R.]
LACTATELac"tate, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of lactic acid.
LACTATIONLac*ta"tion, n.
Defn: A giving suck; the secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland.
LACTEALLac"te*al, a. Etym: [L. lacteus milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk. Cf.Galaxy, Lettuce.]
1. Pertaining to, or resembling, milk; milky; as, the lacteal fluid.
2. (Anat. & Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, chyle; as, the lacteal vessels.
LACTEALLac"te*al, n. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic duct; a chyliferous vessel.
LACTEALLYLac"te*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Milkily; in the manner of milk.
LACTEANLac"te*an, a. Etym: [See Lacteal.]
1. Milky; consisting of, or resembling, milk. "This lactean whiteness." Moxon.
2. (Anat. & Physiol.)
Defn: Lacteal; conveying chyle.
LACTEOUSLac"te*ous, a. Etym: [See Lacteal.]
1. Milky; resembling milk. "The lacteous circle." Sir T. Browne.
2. Lacteal; conveying chyle; as, lacteous vessels.
LACTEOUSLYLac"te*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lacteous manner; after the manner of milk.
LACTESCENCELac*tes"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lactescence.]
1. The state or quality of producing milk, or milklike juice; resemblance to milk; a milky color. This lactescence does commonly ensue when . . . fair water is suddenly poured upon the solution. Boyle.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The latex of certain plants. See Latex.
LACTESCENTLac*tes"cent, a. Etym: [L. lactescens, p. pr. of lactescere to turnto milk, incho. fr. lactere to be milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf.F. lactescent.]
1. Having a milky look; becoming milky. [Obs.]
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Producing milk or a milklike juice or fluid, as the milkweed.See Latex.
LACTICLac"tic, a. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactique. SeeLacteal, and cf. Galactic.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey; as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc. Lactic acid (Physiol. Chem.), a sirupy, colorless fluid, soluble in water, with an intensely sour taste and strong acid reaction. There are at least three isomeric modifications all having the formula C3H6O3. Sarcolactic or paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle tissue, while ordinary lactic acid results from fermentation. The two acids are alike in having the same constitution (expressed by the name ethylidene lactic acid), but the latter is optically inactive, while sarcolactic acid rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The third acid, ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid in the juice of flesh, and is optically inactive. — Lactic ferment, an organized ferment (Bacterium lacticum or lactis), which produces lactic fermentation, decomposing the sugar of milk into carbonic and lactic acids, the latter, of which renders the milk sour, and precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so- called spontaneous coagulation of milk. — Lactic fermentation. See under Fermentation.
LACTIDELac"tide, n. Etym: [Lactic + anhydride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline substance, obtained from also, by extension, any similar substance.
LACTIFEROUS Lac*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [l. lac, lactis, milk + -ferous: cf. F. lactifère.]
Defn: Bearing or containing milk or a milky fluid; as, the lactiferous vessels, cells, or tissue of various vascular plants.
LACTIFIC; LACTIFICAL Lac*tif"ic, Lac*tif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + facere to make.]
Defn: Producing or yielding milk.
LACTIFUGELac"ti*fuge, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + fugare to expel.](Med.)
Defn: A medicine to check the secretion of milk, or to dispel a supposed accumulation of milk in any part of the body.
LACTIMLac"tim, n. Etym: [Lactic + imido.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of anhydrides resembling the lactams, but of an imido type; as, isatine is a lactim. Cf. Lactam.
LACTIMIDELac*tim"ide, n. Etym: [Lactic + imide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline substance obtained as an anhydride of alanine, and regarded as an imido derivative of lactic acid.
LACTINLac"tin, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactine. Cf.Galactin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: See Lactose.
LACTOABUMINLac`to*a*bu"min, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. albumin.](Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The albumin present on milk, apparently identical with ordinary serum albumin. It is distinct from the casein of milk.
LACTOBUTYROMETER Lac`to*bu`ty*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. butyrometer.]
Defn: An instrument for determining the amount of butter fat contained in a given sample of milk.
LACTODENSIMETER Lac`to*den*sim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. densimeter.]
Defn: A form of hydrometer, specially graduated, for finding the density of milk, and thus discovering whether it has been mixed with water or some of the cream has been removed.
LACTOMETER Lac*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk + meter: cf. F. lactomètre. Cf. Galactometer.]
Defn: An instrument for estimating the purity or richness of milk, as a measuring glass, a specific gravity bulb, or other apparatus.
LACTONELac"tone, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of organic compounds, regarded as anhydrides of certain hydroxy acids. In general, they are colorless liquids, having a weak aromatic odor. They are so called because the typical lactone is derived from lactic acid.
LACTONICLac*ton"ic, a. Etym: [From Lactone.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, lactone.
LACTONICLac*ton"ic, a. Etym: [From Lactose.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the oxidation of milk sugar (lactose).
LACTOPROTEINLac`to*pro"te*in, n. Etym: [L.lac, lactis,milk + E. protein.](Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A peculiar albuminous body considered a normal constituent of milk.
LACTORYLac"to*ry, a.
Defn: Lactiferous. [Obs.] "Lactory or milky plants." Sir T. Browne.
LACTOSCOPELac"to*scope, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis + scope.]
Defn: An instrument for estimating the amount of cream contained in milk by ascertaining its relative opacity.
LACTOSELac"tose`, n.
1. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Sugar of milk or milk sugar; a crystalline sugar present in milk, and separable from the whey by evaporation and crystallization. It has a slightly sweet taste, is dextrorotary, and is much less soluble in water than either cane sugar or glucose. Formerly called lactin.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: See Galactose.
LACTUCALac*tu"ca, n. Etym: [L., lettuce. See Lettuce.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of composite herbs, several of which are cultivated foe salad; lettuce.
LACTUCARIUMLac`tu*ca"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. lactuca lettuce.]
Defn: The inspissated juice of the common lettuce, sometimes used as a substitute for opium.
LACTUCICLac*tu"cic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the juice of the Lactuca virosa; — said of certain acids.
LACTUCINLac*tu"cin, n. Etym: [From Lactuca: cf. F. lactucine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline substance, having a bitter taste and a neutral reaction, and forming one of the essential ingredients of lactucarium.
LACTUCONELac*tu"cone, n. Etym: [From Lactuca.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, tasteless substance, found in the milky sap of species of Lactuca, and constituting an essential ingredient of lactucarium.
LACTURAMICLac`tu*ram"ic (, a. Etym: [Lactic + urea + amic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic amido acid, which is regarded as a derivative of lactic acid and urea.
LACTYLLac"tyl, n. Etym: [Lactic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: An organic residue or radical derived from lactic acid.
LACUNA La*cu"na, n.; pl. L. Lacunæ; E. Lacunas. Etym: [L., ditch, pit, lake, orig., anything hollow. See Lagoon.]
1. A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a gap or vacancy; a hiatus.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A small opening; a small depression or cavity; a space, as a vacant space between the cells of plants, or one of the spaces left among the tissues of the lower animals, which serve in place of vessels for the circulation of the body fluids, or the cavity or sac, usually of very small size, in a mucous membrane.
LACUNAL; LACUNARLa*cu"nal, La*cu"nar, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having, lacunæ; as, a lacunar circulation.
LACUNAR La*cu"nar, n.; pl. E. Lacunars, L. Lacunaria. Etym: [L.] (Arch.) (a) The ceiling or under surface of any part, especially when it consists of compartments, sunk or hollowed without spaces or bands between the panels. Gwilt (b) One of the sunken panels in such a ceiling.
LACUNELa*cune", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A lacuna. [R.] Landor.
LACUNOSE; LACUNOUS Lac"u*nose`, La*cu"nous, a. Etym: [L. lacunosus full of holes or hollows; cf. F. lacuneux. See Lacuna.] (Biol.)
Defn: Furrowed or pitted; having shallow cavities or lacunæ; as, a lacunose leaf.
LACUSTRAL; LACUSTRINE La*cus"tral, La*cus"trine, a. Etym: [L. lacus lake: cf. F. lacustral, lacustre.]
Defn: Found in, or pertaining to, lakes or ponds, or growing in them; as, lacustrine flowers. Lacustrine deposits (Geol.), the deposits which have been accumulated in fresh-water areas. — Lacustrine dwellings. See Lake dwellings, under Lake.
LACWORKLac"work`, n.
Defn: Ornamentation by means of lacquer painted or carved, or simply colored, sprinkled with gold or the like; — said especially of Oriental work of this kind.
LADLad, obs. p. p.
Defn: of Lead, to guide Chaucer.
LADLad, n. Etym: [OE. ladde, of Celtic origin; cf. W. , Ir. lath. (. Cf.Lass.]
1. A boy; a youth; a stripling. "Cupid is a knavish lad." Shak. There is a lad here, which hath fire barley loaves and two small fishes. John vi. 9.
2. A companion; a comrade; a mate. Lad's love. (Bot.) See Boy's love, under Boy.
LADANUMLad"a*num, n. Etym: [L. ladanum, ledanum, Fr. (ladan, laden. Cf.Laudanum.]
Defn: A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]
LADDELad"de, obs. imp.
Defn: of Lead, to guide. Chaucer.
LADDERLad"der, n. Etym: [OE. laddre, AS. hl, hl; akin to OFries. hladder,OHG.leitara, G. leiter, and from the root of E. lean, v. (Lean, v.i., and cf. Climax.]
1. A frame usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened cross strips or rounds forming steps. Some the engines play, And some, more bold, mount ladders to the fire. Dryden.
2. That which resembles a ladder in form or use; hence, that by means of which one attains to eminence. Lowliness is young ambition's ladder. Shak. Fish ladder. See under Fish. — Ladder beetle (Zoöl.), an American leaf beetle (Chrysomela scalaris). The elytra are silvery white, striped and spotted with green; the under wings are rose-colored. It feeds upon the linden tree. — Ladder handle, an iron rail at the side of a vertical fixed ladder, to grasp with the hand in climbing. — Ladder shell (Zoöl.), a spiral marine shell of the genus Scalaria. See Scalaria.
LADDIELad"die, n.
Defn: A lad; a male sweetheart. [Scot.]
LADE Lade, v. t. [imp. Laded; p. p. Laded, Laded (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lading.] Etym: [AS. hladan to heap, load, draw (water); akin to D. & G. laden to load, OHG. hladan, ladan, Icel. hla, Sw. ladda, Dan. lade, Goth. afhlapan. Cf. Load, Ladle, Lathe for turning, Last a load.]
1. To load; to put a burden or freight on or in; — generally followed by that which receives the load, as the direct object. And they laded their asses with the corn. Gen. xlii. 26.
2. To throw in out. with a ladle or dipper; to dip; as, to lade water out of a tub, or into a cistern. And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way. Shak.
3. (Plate Glass Manuf.)
Defn: To transfer (the molten glass) from the pot to the forming table.
LADELade, v. i. Etym: [See Lade, v. t.]
1. To draw water. [Obs.]
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To admit water by leakage, as a ship, etc.
LADE Lade, n. Etym: [Prov. E., a ditch or drain. Cf. Lode, Lead to conduct.]
1. The mouth of a river. [Obs.] Bp. Gibson.
2. A passage for water; a ditch or drain. [Prov. Eng.]
LADEMANLade"man, n.
Defn: One who leads a pack horse; a miller's servant. [Obs. or Local]
LADENLad"en, p. & a.
Defn: Loaded; freighted; burdened; as, a laden vessel; a laden heart.Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. Is. i. 4.A ship laden with gold. Shak.
LADIEDLa"died, a.
Defn: Ladylike; not rough; gentle. [Obs.] "Stroked with a ladied land." Feltham.
LADIES' EARDROPSLa"dies' ear`drops`. (Bot.)
Defn: The small-flowered Fuchsia (F. coccinea), and other closely related species.
LADIFYLa"di*fy, v. t. Etym: [Lady + -fy.]
Defn: To make a lady of; to make ladylike. [Obs.] Massinger.
LADINLa*din", n. Etym: [From L. Latinus Latin. See Latin]
Defn: A Romansch dialect spoken in some parts of Switzerland and theTyrol.
LADINGLad"ing, n.
1. The act of loading.
2. That which lades or constitutes a load or cargo; freight; burden; as, the lading of a ship. Bill of lading. See under Bill.
LADINOLa*di"no, n.; pl. Ladinos. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: One of the half-breed descendants of whites and Indians; a mestizo; — so called throughout Central America. They are usually of a yellowish orange tinge. Am. Cyc.
LADKINLad"kin, n.
Defn: A little lad. [R.] Dr. H. More.
LADLE La"dle, n. Etym: [AS.hlædel, fr. hladan to load, drain. See Lade, v. t.]
1. A cuplike spoon, often of large size, with a long handle, used in lading or dipping. When the materials of glass have been kept long in fusion, the mixture casts up the superfluous salt, which the workmen take off with ladles. Boyle.
2. (Founding)
Defn: A vessel to carry liquid metal from the furnace to the mold.
3. The float of a mill wheel; — called also ladle board.
4. (Gun.) (a) An instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon. (b) A ring, with a handle or handles fitted to it, for carrying shot. Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a South African tree (Cassine Colpoon), used for carving.
LADLELa"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ladled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ladling.]
Defn: To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.
LADLEFULLa"dle*ful, n.; pl. Ladlefuls (.
Defn: A quantity sufficient to fill a ladle.
LADRONELa*drone", n. Etym: [Sp. ladron, L. latro servant, robber, Gr. (
Defn: A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.
LADYLa"dy, n.; pl. Ladies. Etym: [OE. ladi, læfdi, AS. hl, hl; AS. hlafloaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. SeeLoaf, and cf. Lord.]
1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.).
2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; — a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady. Shak.
3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart. The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor from his lady's eyes. Waller.
4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right.
5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; — the feminine correlative of gentleman.
6. A wife; — not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.
7. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; — so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates. Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies. — Lady altar, an altar in a lady chapel. Shipley. — Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. — Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. — Lady crab (Zoöl.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States. — Lady fern. (Bot.) See Female fern, under Female, and Illust. of Fern. — Lady in waiting, a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen. — Lady Mass, a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. Shipley. Lady of the manor, a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord. Lady's maid, a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. Thackeray. — Our Lady, the Virgin Mary.
LADYLa"dy, a.
Defn: Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike. "Some lady trifles."Shak.
LADYBIRDLa"dy*bird`, n. Etym: [Equiv. to, bird of Our Lady.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of small beetles of the genus Coccinella and allied genera (family Coccinellidæ); — called also ladybug, ladyclock, lady cow, lady fly, and lady beetle. Coccinella seplempunctata in one of the common European species. See Coccinella.
Note: The ladybirds are usually more or less hemispherical in form, with a smooth, polished surface, and often colored red, brown, or black, with small spots of brighter colors. Both the larvæ and the adult beetles of most species feed on aphids, and for this reason they are very beneficial to agriculture and horticulture.
LADYBUGLa"dy*bug`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Ladybird.
LADYCLOCKLa"dy*clock`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ladyrird.
LADY DAYLa"dy` day
Defn: The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25. SeeAnnunciation.
LADY DAYLa"dy` Day` (da).
Defn: The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25. SeeAnnunciation.
LADYFISH La"dy*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large, handsome oceanic fish (Albula vulpes), found both in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; — called also bonefish, grubber, French mullet, and macabé. (b) A labroid fish (Harpe rufa) of Florida and the West Indies.
LADYHOODLa"dy*hood, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being a lady; the personality of a lady.
LADY-KILLERLa"dy-kill`er, n.
Defn: A gallant who captivates the hearts of women. "A renowned dandy and lady-killer." Blackw. Mag.
LADY-KILLINGLa"dy-kill`ing, n.
Defn: The art or practice of captivating the hearts of women. Better for the sake of womankind that this dangerous dog should leave off lady-killing. Thackeray.
LADYKINLa"dy*kin, n. Etym: [Lady + -kin.]
Defn: A little lady; — applied by the writers of Queen Elizabeth's time, in the abbreviated form Lakin, to the Virgin Mary.
Note: The diminutive does not refer to size, but is equivalent to "dear." Brewer.
LADYLIKELa"dy*like`, a.
1. Like a lady in appearance or manners; well-bred. She was ladylike, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days. Hawthorne.
2. Becoming or suitable to a lady; as, ladylike manners. "With fingers ladylike." Warner.
3. Delicate; tender; feeble; effeminate. Too ladylike a long fatigue to bear. Dryden.
LADYLIKENESSLa"dy*like`ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being ladylike.
LADYLOVELa"dy*love`, n.
Defn: A sweetheart or mistress.
LADY'S BEDSTRAWLa"dy's bed"straw`, (Bot.)
Defn: The common bedstraw (Galium verum); also, a slender-leaved EastIndian shrub (Pharnaceum Mollugo), with white flowers in umbels.
LADY'S BOWERLa"dy's bow"er. (Bot.)
Defn: A climbing plant with fragrant blossoms (Clematis vitalba).
Note: This term is sometimes applied to other plants of the same genus.
LADY'S CLOTHLa"dy's cloth`
Defn: A kind of broadcloth of light weight, used for women's dresses, cloaks, etc.
LADY'S COMBLa"dy's comb", (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Scandix Pecten-Veneris), its clusters of long slender fruits remotely resembling a comb.
LADY'S CUSHIONLa"dy's cush"ion, (Bot.)
Defn: An herb growing in dense tufts; the thrift (Armeria vulgaris).
LADY'S FINGERLa"dy's fin"ger,
1. pl. (Bot.)
Defn: The kidney vetch.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: A variety of small cake of about the dimensions of a finger.
3. A long, slender variety of the potato.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the branchiæ of the lobster.
LADY'S GARTERSLa"dy's gar"ters. (Bot.)
Defn: Ribbon grass.
LADY'S HAIRLa"dy's hair". (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Briza (B. media); a variety of quaking grass.
LADYSHIPLa"dy*ship, n.
Defn: The rank or position of a lady; — given as a title (precededby her or your.)Your ladyship shall observe their gravity. B. Jonson.
LADY'S LACESLa"dy's la"ces. (Bot.)
Defn: A slender climbing plant; dodder.
LADY'S LOOKING-GLASSLa"dy's look"ing-glass`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Venus's looking-glass, under Venus.
LADY'S MANTLELa"dy's man"tle. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of rosaceous herbs (Alchemilla), esp. the European A. vulgaris, which has leaves with rounded and finely serrated lobes.
LADY'S SEAL La"dy's seal".(Bot.) (a) The European Solomon's seal (Polygonatum verticillatum). (b) The black bryony (Tamus communis).
LADY'S SLIPPERLa"dy's slip"per. (Bot.)
Defn: Any orchidaceous plant of the genus Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina).
LADY'S SMOCKLa"dy's smock". (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Cardamine (C. pratensis); cuckoo flower.
LADY'S THIMBLELa"dy's thim"ble. (Bot.)
Defn: The harebell.
LADY'S THUMBLa"dy's thumb". (Bot.)
Defn: An annual weed (Polygonum Persicaria), having a lanceolate leaf with a dark spot in the middle.
LADY'S TRACES; LADIES' TRESSES; LADIES TRESSESLa"dy's tra"ces, La"dies' tress"es. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several species of the orchidaceous genus Spiranthes, in which the white flowers are set in spirals about a slender axis and remotely resemble braided hair.
LAELAPSLæ"laps, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ( (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of huge, carnivorous, dinosaurian reptiles from the Cretaceous formation of the United States. They had very large hind legs and tail, and are supposed to have been bipedal. Some of the species were about eighteen feet high.
LAEMMERGEYERLaem"mer*gey`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lammergeir.
LAEMODIPODLæ*mod"i*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Læmodipoda.
LAEMODIPODALæ`mo*dip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of amphipod Crustacea, in which the abdomen is small or rudimentary and the legs are often reduced to five pairs. The whale louse, or Cyamus, and Caprella are examples.
LAEMODIPODOUSLæ`mo*dip"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Læmodipoda.
LAETERE SUNDAYLæ*te"re Sun"day
Defn: . The fourth Sunday of Lent; — so named from the Latin word Lætare (rejoice), the first word in the antiphone of the introit sung that day in the Roman Catholic service.
LAEVIGATELæv"i*gate, a. Etym: [See Levigate.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having a smooth surface, as if polished.
LAEVO-Læ"vo-
Defn: . A prefix. See Levo.
LAEVOROTATORYLæ"vo*ro"ta*to*ry, a.
Defn: Same as Levorotatory. Cf. Dextrorotatory.
LAEVULOSELæv"u*lose`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Levulose.
LAFAYETTE La`fa`yette", n. (Zoöl.) (a) The dollar fish. (b) A market fish, the goody, or spot (Liostomus xanthurus), of the southern coast of the United States.
LAFTLaft, obs. p. p.
Defn: of Leave. Chaucer.
LAFTELaf"te, obs. imp.
Defn: of Leave. Chaucer.
LAGLag, a. Etym: [Of Celtic origin: cf. Gael. & Ir. lagweak, feeble,faint, W. llag, llac, slack, loose, remiss, sluggish; prob. akin toE. lax, languid.]
1. Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy. [Obs.] Came too lag to see him buried. Shak.
2. Last; long-delayed; — obsolete, except in the phrase lag end. "The lag end of my life." Shak.
3. Last made; hence, made of refuse; inferior. [Obs.] "Lag souls." Dryden.
LAGLag, n.
1. One who lags; that which comes in last. [Obs.] "The lag of all the flock." Pope.
2. The fag-end; the rump; hence, the lowest class. The common lag of people. Shak.
3. The amount of retardation of anything, as of a valve in a steam engine, in opening or closing.
4. A stave of a cask, drum, etc.; especially (Mach.), one of the narrow boards or staves forming the covering of a cylindrical object, as a boiler, or the cylinder of a carding machine or a steam engine.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Graylag. Lag of the tide, the interval by which the time of high water falls behind the mean time, in the first and third quarters of the moon; — opposed to priming of the tide, or the acceleration of the time of high water, in the second and fourth quarters; depending on the relative positions of the sun and moon. — Lag screw, an iron bolt with a square head, a sharp-edged thread, and a sharp point, adapted for screwing into wood; a screw for fastening lags.
LAGLag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Lagging.]
Defn: To walk or more slowly; to stay or fall behind; to linger or loiter. "I shall not lag behind." Milton.
Syn.— To loiter; linger; saunter; delay; be tardy.
LAGLag, v. t.
1. To cause to lag; to slacken. [Obs.] "To lag his flight." Heywood.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: To cover, as the cylinder of a steam engine, with lags. SeeLag, n., 4.
LAGLag, n.
Defn: One transported for a crime. [Slang, Eng.]
LAGLag, v. t.
Defn: To transport for crime. [Slang, Eng.]She lags us if we poach. De Quincey.
LAGANLa"gan, n. & v.
Defn: See Ligan.
LAGARTOLa*gar"to, n. Etym: [See Alligator.]
Defn: An alligator. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
LAGENALa*ge"na, n.; pl. L. Lagenæ, E. Lagenas. Etym: [L., a flask; cf. Gr.(Anat.)
Defn: The terminal part of the cochlea in birds and most reptiles; an appendage of the sacculus, corresponding to the cochlea, in fishes and amphibians.
LAGENIANLa*ge"ni*an, a. Etym: [See Lagena.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, Lagena, a genus of Foraminifera having a straight, chambered shell.
LAGENIFORMLa*ge"ni*form, a. Etym: [See Lagena, and -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a bottle or flask; flag-shaped.
LAGERLa"ger, n.
Defn: Lager beer.
LAGER BEER La"ger beer`. Etym: [G. lager bed, storehouse + bier beer. See Lair, and Beer.]
Defn: Originally a German beer, but now also made in immense quantities in the United States; — so called from its being laid up or stored for some months before use.
LAGER WINELa"ger wine`
Defn: . Wine which has been kept for some time in the cellar.Simmonds.
LAGGARDLag"gard, a. Etym: [Lag + -ard.]
Defn: Slow; sluggish; backward.
LAGGARDLag"gard, n.
Defn: One who lags; a loiterer.
LAGGERLag"ger, n.
Defn: A laggard.
LAGGINGLag"ging, n.
1. (Mach.)
Defn: The clothing (esp., an outer, wooden covering), as of a steam cylinder, applied to prevent the radiation of heat; a covering of lags; — called also deading and cleading.
2. Lags, collectively; narrow planks extending from one rib to another in the centering of arches.
LAGGINGLYLag"ging*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lagging manner; loiteringly.
LAGLYLag"ly, adv.
Defn: Laggingly. [Prov. Eng.]
LAGNIAPPE; LAGNAPPELa*gniappe, La*gnappe", n. [Etym. uncertain.]
Defn: In Louisiana, a trifling present given to customers by tradesmen; a gratuity.
Lagniappe . . .is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure.Mark Twain.
LAGOMORPHLag"o*morph, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Lagomorpha.
LAGOMORPHALag`o*mor"pha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of rodents, including the hares. They have four incisors in the upper jaw. Called also Duplicidentata.
LAGOON La*goon", n. Etym: [It. or Sp. laguna, L. lacuna ditch, pool, pond,lacus lake. See Lake, and cf. Lacuna.] [Written also lagune.]
1. A shallow sound, channel, pond, or lake, especially one into which the sea flows; as, the lagoons of Venice.
2. A lake in a coral island, often occupying a large portion of its area, and usually communicating with the sea. See Atoll. Lagoon island, a coral island consisting of a narrow reef encircling a lagoon.
LAGOPHTHALMIA; LAGOPHTHALMOSLag`oph*thal"mi*a, Lag`oph*thal"mos, n. Etym: [NL. lagophtalmia, fr.Gr. lagw`s hare + 'ofqalmo`s eye; — so called from the notion that ahare sleeps with his eyes open.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which the eye stands wide open, giving a peculiar staring appearance.
LAGOPOUSLa*go"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a dense covering of long hair, like the foot of a hare.
LAGTHINGLag"thing, n. [Norw. lagting, lagthing; lag company, society (akin toE. law, lay) + ting, thing, parliament. See Thing.]
Defn: See Legislatature, below.
LAGUNELa*gune", n.
Defn: See Lagoon.
LAIC; LAICALLa"ic, La"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. laicus: cf. F. laïque. See Lay laic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a layman or the laity. "Laical literature."Lowell.An unprincipled, unedified, and laic rabble. Milton.
LAICLa"ic, n.
Defn: A layman. Bp. Morton.
LAICALITYLa"ic*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being laic; the state or condition of a layman.
LAICALLYLa"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: As a layman; after the manner of a layman; as, to treat a matter laically.
LAIDLaid, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Lay. Laid paper, paper marked with parallel lines or water marks, as if ribbed, from parallel wires in the mold. It is called blue laid, cream laid, etc., according to its color.
LAIDLYLaid"ly, a.
Defn: Ugly; loathsome. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]This laidly and loathsome worm. W. Howitt.
LAINLain, p. p.
Defn: of Lie, v. i.
LAINERELain"ere, n.
Defn: See Lanier. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LAIR Lair, n. Etym: [OE. leir, AS. leger; akin to D. leger, G. lager couch, lair, OHG. laga, Goth. ligrs, and to E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate, and cf. Layer, Leaguer.]
1. A place in which to lie or rest; especially, the bed or couch of a wild beast.
2. A burying place. [Scot.] Jamieson.
3. A pasture; sometimes, food. [Obs.] Spenser.
LAIRDLaird, n. Etym: [See Lord.]
Defn: A lord; a landholder, esp. one who holds land directly of the crown. [Scot.]
LAIRDSHIPLaird"ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a laird; an estate; landed property. [Scot.]Ramsay.
LAISMLa"ism, n.
Defn: See Lamaism. [R.]
LAISSEZ FAIRELais`sez" faire". Etym: [F., let alone.]
Defn: Noninterference; — an axiom of some political economists, deprecating interference of government by attempts to foster or regulate commerce, manufactures, etc., by bounty or by restriction; as, the doctrine of laissez faire; the laissez faire system government.
LAITYLa"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Lay, a.]
1. The people, as distinguished from the clergy; the body of the people not in orders. A rising up of the laity against the sacerdotal caste. Macaulay.
2. The state of a layman. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
3. Those who are not of a certain profession, as law or medicine, in distinction from those belonging to it.
LAKAOLa*ka"o, n.
Defn: Sap green. [China]
LAKELake, n. Etym: [F. laque, fr. Per. See Lac.]
Defn: A pigment formed by combining some coloring matter, usually by precipitation, with a metallic oxide or earth, esp. with aluminium hydrate; as, madder lake; Florentine lake; yellow lake, etc.
LAKELake, n. Etym: [Cf. G. laken.]
Defn: A kind of fine white linen, formerly in use. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LAKE Lake, v. i. Etym: [AS. lacan, læcan, to spring, jump, lac play, sport, or fr. Icel. leika to play, sport; both akin to Goth. laikan to dance. sq. root120. Cf. Knowledge.]
Defn: To play; to sport. [Prov. Eng.]
LAKE Lake, n. Etym: [AS. lac, L. lacus; akin to AS. lagu lake, sea, Icel. lögr; OIr. loch; cf. Gr. Loch, Lough.]
Defn: A large body of water contained in a depression of the earth's surface, and supplied from the drainage of a more or less extended area.
Note: Lakes are for the most part of fresh water; the salt lakes, like the Great Salt Lake of Utah, have usually no outlet to the ocean. Lake dwellers (Ethnol.), people of a prehistoric race, or races, which inhabited different parts of Europe. Their dwellings were built on piles in lakes, a short distance from the shore. Their relics are common in the lakes of Switzerland. — Lake dwellings (Archæol.), dwellings built over a lake, sometimes on piles, and sometimes on rude foundations kept in place by piles; specifically, such dwellings of prehistoric times. Lake dwellings are still used by many savage tribes. Called also lacustrine dwellings. See Crannog. — Lake fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of dipterous flies of the genus Chironomus. In form they resemble mosquitoes, but they do not bite. The larvæ live in lakes. — Lake herring (Zoöl.), the cisco (Coregonus Artedii). — Lake poets, Lake school, a collective name originally applied in contempt, but now in honor, to Southey, Coleridge, and Wordsworth, who lived in the lake country of Cumberland, England, Lamb and a few others were classed with these by hostile critics. Called also lakers and lakists. — Lake sturgeon (Zoöl.), a sturgeon (Acipenser rubicundus), of moderate size, found in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It is used as food. — Lake trout (Zoöl.), any one of several species of trout and salmon; in Europe, esp. Salmo fario; in the United States, esp. Salvelinus namaycush of the Great Lakes, and of various lakes in New York, Eastern Maine, and Canada. A large variety of brook trout (S. fontinalis), inhabiting many lakes in New England, is also called lake trout. See Namaycush. — Lake whitefish. (Zoöl.) See Whitefish. — Lake whiting (Zoöl.), an American whitefish (Coregonus Labradoricus), found in many lakes in the Northern United States and Canada. It is more slender than the common whitefish.
LAKE-DWELLERLake"-dwell`er, n.
Defn: See Lake dwellers, under Lake.
LAKELETLake"let, n.
Defn: A little lake. Southey.
LAKER Lak"er, n. One that is connected with a lake or lakes, as in habitation, toil, etc.: (a) One of the poets of the Lake school. See Lake poets, under Lake, n. (b) (Zoöl.) A fish living in, or taken from, a lake, esp. the namaycush. (c) A lake steamer or canal boat.
The bridge tender . . . thought the Cowies "a little mite" longerthan that laker.The Century.
LAKEWEEDLake"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The water pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper), an aquatic plant ofEurope and North America.
LAKHLakh, n.
Defn: Same as Lac, one hundred thousand.
LAKINLa"kin, n.
Defn: See Ladykin.
LAKKELak"ke, n. & v.
Defn: See Lack. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LAKYLak"y, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a lake. Sir W. Scott.
LAKYLak"y, a. Etym: [From Lake the pigment.]
Defn: Transparent; — said of blood rendered transparent by the action of some solvent agent on the red blood corpuscles.
LALLATION Lal*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. lallare to sing lalla, or lullaby: cf. F. lallation.]
Defn: An imperfect enunciation of the letter r, in which it sounds like l.
LALOLa"lo, n.
Defn: The powdered leaves of the baobab tree, used by the Africans to mix in their soup, as the southern negroes use powdered sassafras. Cf. Couscous.
LAMLam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lamming.] Etym:[Icel. lemja to beat, or lama to bruise, both fr. lami, lama, lame.See Lame.]
Defn: To beat soundly; to thrash. [Obs. or Low] Beau. & Fl.
LAMALa"ma, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Llama.
LAMA La"ma, n. Etym: [Thibet. blama (pronounced lä''ma) a chief, a high priest.]
Defn: In Thibet, Mongolia, etc., a priest or monk of the belief called Lamaism. The Grand Lama, or Dalai Lama Etym: [lit., Ocean Lama], the supreme pontiff in the lamaistic hierarchy. See Lamaism.
LAMAICLa"ma*ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Lamaism.
LAMAISMLa"ma*ism, n.
Defn: A modified form of Buddhism which prevails in Thibet, Mongolia, and some adjacent parts of Asia; — so called from the name of its priests. See 2d Lama.
LAMAIST; LAMAITELa"ma*ist, La"ma*ite n.
Defn: One who believes in Lamaism.
LAMAISTICLa`ma*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Lamaism.
LAMANTIN La*man"tin, n. Etym: [F. lamantin, lamentin, prob. from the name of the animal in the Antilles. Cf. Manater.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The manatee. [Written also lamentin, and lamantine.]
LAMARCKIANLa*marck"i*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or involved in, the doctrines of Lamarckianism.
LAMARCKIANISMLa*marck"i*an*ism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Lamarckism.
LAMARCKISM La"marck"ism, n. Etym: [From Lamarck, a distinguished French naturalist.] (Biol.)
Defn: The theory that structural variations, characteristic of species and genera, are produced in animals and plants by the direct influence of physical environments, and esp., in the case of animals, by effort, or by use or disuse of certain organs.
LAMASERYLa"ma*ser*y, n. Etym: [See 2d Lama.]
Defn: A mo
LAMBLamb, n. Etym: [AS. lamb; akin to D. & Dan. lam, G. & Sw. lamm, OS.,Goth., & Icel. lamb.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The young of the sheep.
2. Any person who is as innocent or gentle as a lamb.
3. A simple, unsophisticated person; in the cant of the Stock Exchange, one who ignorantly speculates and is victimized. Lamb of God, The Lamb (Script.), the Jesus Christ, in allusion to the paschal lamb. The twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev. xxi. 14. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John i. 29. — Lamb's lettuce (Bot.), an annual plant with small obovate leaves (Valerianella olitoria), often used as a salad; corn salad. [Written also lamb lettuce.] — Lamb's tongue, a carpenter's plane with a deep narrow bit, for making curved grooves. Knight. — Lamb's wool. (a) The wool of a lamb. (b) Ale mixed with the pulp of roasted apples; — probably from the resemblance of the pulp of roasted apples to lamb's wool. [Obs.] Goldsmith.
LAMBLamb, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lambed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lambing.]
Defn: To bring forth a lamb or lambs, as sheep.
LAMBALELamb"ale`, n.
Defn: A feast at the time of shearing lambs.
LAMBASTELam*baste", v. t. Etym: [Lam + baste to beat.]
Defn: To beat severely. [Low] Nares.
LAMBATIVELam"ba*tive, a. Etym: [L. lambere to lick. See Lambent.]
Defn: Taken by licking with the tongue. "Sirups and lambative medicines." Sir T. Browne.
LAMBATIVELam"ba*tive, n.
Defn: A medicine taken by licking with the tongue; a lincture.Wiseman.
LAMBDALamb"da, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. The name of the Greek letter
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The point of junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures of the skull. Lambda moth (Zoöl.), a moth so called from a mark on its wings, resembling the Greek letter lambda (
LAMBDACISM Lamb"da*cism, n. Etym: [L. lambdacismus, Gr. la`mbda the letter lambda (