1. A fault in speaking or in composition, which consists in too frequent use of the letter l, or in doubling it erroneously.
2. A defect in pronunciation of the letter l when doubled, which consists in giving it a sound as if followed by y, similar to that of the letters lli in billion.
3. The use of the sound of l for that of r in pronunciation; lallation; as, Amelican for American.
LAMBDOIDLamb"doid, a. Etym: [Gr. la`mbda the letter lambda (e"i^dos shape.]
Defn: Shaped like the Greek letter lambda (as, the lambdoid suture between the occipital and parietal bones of the skull.
LAMBDOIDALLamb*doid"al, a.
Defn: Same as Lambdoid.
LAMBENT Lam"bent, a. Etym: [L. lambens, -enlis, p. pr. of lambere to lick; akin to lap. See Lap to drink by licking.]
1. Playing on the surface; touching lightly; gliding over. "A lambent flame." Dryden. "A lambent style." Beaconsfield.
2. Twinkling or gleaming; fickering. "The lambent purity of the stars." W. Irving.
LAMBERT PINELam"bert pine`. Etym: [So called from Lambert, an English botanist.](Bot.)
Defn: The gigantic sugar pine of California and Oregon (PinusLambertiana). It has the leaves in fives, and cones a foot long. Thetimber is soft, and like that of the white pine of the EasternStates.
LAMBKILLLamb"kill`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small American ericaceous shrub (Kalmia angustifolia); — called also calfkill, sheepkill, sheep laurel, etc. It is supposed to poison sheep and other animals that eat it at times when the snow is deep and they cannot find other food.
LAMBKINLamb"kin, n.
Defn: A small lamb.
LAMBLIKELamb"like, a.
Defn: Like a lamb; gentle; meek; inoffensive.
LAMBOYSLam"boys, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. lambeau. Cf. Label.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: Same as Base, n., 19.
LAMBREQUINLam"bre*quin, n. Etym: [F. Cf. Lamboys, Label.]
1. A kind of pendent scarf or covering attached to the helmet, to protect it from wet or heat.
2. A leather flap hanging from a cuirass. Wilhelm.
3. A piece of ornament drapery or short decorative hanging, pendent from a shelf or from the casing above a window, hiding the curtain fixtures, or the like.
LAMBSKINLamb"skin`, n.
1. The skin of a lamb; especially, a skin dressed with the wool on, and used as a mat. Also used adjectively.
2. A kind of woolen.
LAMBSKINNETLamb"skin`net", n.
Defn: See Lansquenet.
LAMB'S-QUARTERSLamb's-quar"ters, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several plants of the Goosefoot family, sometimes used as pot herbs, as Chenopodium album and Atriplex patulsa.
LAMDOIDALLam*doid"al, a.
Defn: Lambdoid. [R.]
LAME Lame, a. [Compar. Lamer; superl. Lamest.] Etym: [OE. lame, AS. lama; akin to D. lam, G. lahm,OHG., Dan., & Sw. lam, Icel. lami, Russ. lomate to break, lomota rheumatism.]
1. (a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle. (b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of one leg." Arbuthnot. "Lame in both his feet." 2 Sam. ix. 13. "He fell, and became lame." 2 Sam. iv. 4.
2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. "A lame endeavor." Barrow. O, most lame and impotent conclusion! Shak. Lame duck (stock Exchange), a person who can not fulfill his contracts. [Cant]
LAMELame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Laming.]
Defn: To make lame.If you happen to let child fall and lame it. Swift.
LAMELLam"el, n.
Defn: See Lamella.
LAMELLA La*mel"la, n.; pl. L. Lamellæ, E. Lamellas. Etym: [L. lamella, dim. of lamina plate, leaf, layer: cf. F. lamelle. Cf. Lamina, Omelet.]
Defn: a thin plate or scale of anything, as a thin scale growing from the petals of certain flowers; or one of the thin plates or scales of which certain shells are composed.
LAMELLAR; LAMELLARLYLam"el*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lamellaire.]
Defn: Flat and thin; lamelliform; composed of lamellæ.— Lam"el*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In thin plates or scales.
LAMELLARYLam"el*la*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to lamella or to lamellæ; lamellar.
LAMELLATE; LAMELLATEDLam"el*late, Lam"el*la`ted, a. Etym: [See Lamella.]
Defn: Composed of, or furnished with, thin plates or scales. SeeIllust. of Antennæ.
LAMELLIBRANCHLa*mel"li*branch, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Lamellibranchia. Also used adjectively.
LAMELLIBRANCHIA; LAMELLIBRANCHIATA La*mel`li*bran"chi*a, La*mel`li*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See lamella, and Branchia, Branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of Mollusca including all those that have bivalve shells, as the clams, oysters, mussels, etc.
Note: They usually have two (rarely but one) flat, lamelliform gills on each side of the body. They have an imperfectly developed head, concealed within the shell, whence they are called Acephala. Called also Conchifera, and Pelecypoda. See Bivalve.
LAMELLIBRANCHIATELam`el*li*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having lamellar gills; belonging to the Lamellibranchia.— n.
Defn: One of the Lamellibranchia.
LAMELLICORN La*mel"li*corn, a. Etym: [Lamella + L. cornu a horn: cf. F. lamellicorne. See Lamella.] (Zoöl.) (a) Having antennæ terminating in a group of flat lamellæ; — said of certain coleopterous insects. (b) Terminating in a group of flat lamellæ; — said of antennæ. — n.
Defn: A lamellicorn insect.
LAMELLICORNIALa*mel`li*cor"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lamellicorn.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of lamellicorn, plant-eating beetles; — called alsoLamellicornes.
LAMELLIFEROUSLam`el*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Lamella + -ferous: cf. F. lamellifère.]
Defn: Bearing, or composed of, lamellæ, or thin layers, plates, or scales; foliated.
LAMELLIFORMLa*mel"li*form, a. Etym: [Lamella + -form : cf. F. lamelliforme.]
Defn: Thin and flat; scalelike; lamellar.
LAMELLIROSTRAL Lam`el*li*ros"tral, a. Etym: [Lamella + rostral : cf. F. lamellirostre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a lamellate bill, as ducks and geese.
LAMELLIROSTRESLa*mel`li*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lamella, and Rostrum.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds embracing the Anseres and flamingoes, in which the bill is lamellate.
LAMELLOSELam"el*lose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lamelleux.]
Defn: Composed of, or having, lamellæ; lamelliform.
LAMELYLame"ly, adv. Etym: [See Lame.]
Defn: An a lame, crippled, disabled, or imperfect manner; as, to walk lamely; a figure lamely drawn.
LAMENESSLame"ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being lame; as, the lameness of an excuse or an argument.
LAMENT La*ment", v. i. Etym: [F. lamenter, L. lamentari, fr. lamentum a lament.]
Defn: To express or feel sorrow; to weep or wail; to mourn.Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. 2 Chron. xxxv. 25.Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. John xvi. 20.
LAMENTLa*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lamented; p. pr. & vb. n. Lamenting.]
Defn: To mourn for; to bemoan; to bewail.One laughed at follies, one lamented crimes. Dryden.
Syn.— To deplore; mourn; bewail. See Deplore.
LAMENTLa*ment", n. Etym: [L. lamentum. Cf. Lament, v.]
1. Grief or sorrow expressed in complaints or cries; lamentation; a wailing; a moaning; a weeping. Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Milton.
2. An elegy or mournful ballad, or the like.
LAMENTABLELam"en*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. lamentabilis : cf. F. lamentable.]
1. Mourning; sorrowful; expressing grief; as, a lamentable countenance. "Lamentable eye." Spenser.
2. Fitted to awaken lament; to be lamented; sorrowful; pitiable; as, a lamentable misfortune, or error. "Lamentable helplessness." Burke.
3. Miserable; pitiful; paltry; — in a contemptuous or Bp.Stillingfleet.— Lam"en*ta*ble*ness, n.— Lam"en*ta*bly, adv.
LAMENTATIONLam`en*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. lamentation, L. lamentatio.]
1. The act of bewailing; audible expression of sorrow; wailing; moaning. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping Matt. ii. 18.
2. pl. (Script.)
Defn: A book of the Old Testament attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, and taking its name from the nature of its contents.
LAMENTEDLa*ment"ed, a.
Defn: Mourned for; bewailed.This humble praise,lamented shade ! receive. Pope.
LAMENTERLa*ment"er (, n.
Defn: One who laments.
LAMENTINLa*men"tin, n.
Defn: See Lamantin.
LAMENTINGLa*ment"ing, n.
Defn: Lamentation.Lamentings heard i' the air. Shak.
LAMENTINGLYLa*ment"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lamenting manner.
LAMESLames, n. pl. Etym: [F. lame a thin plate, L. lamina.] (Armor)
Defn: Small steel plates combined together so as to slide one upon the form a piece of armor.
LAMETTALa*met"ta, n. Etym: [Cf. It. lametta, dim of lama a thin plate.]
Defn: Foil or wire made of gold, silver, or brass. De Colange.
LAMIALa"mi*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A monster capable of assuming a woman's form, who was said to devour human beings or suck their blood; a vampire; a sorceress; a with.
LAMINALam"i*na, n.; pl. L. Lamella.
1. A thin plate or scale; a laying over another; — said of thin plates or platelike substances, as of bone or minerals.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The blade of a leaf; the broad, expanded portion of a petal or sepal of a flower. Gray.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A thin plate or scale; specif., one of the thin, flat processes composing the vane of a feather.
LAMINABILITYLam`i*na*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being laminable.
LAMINABLELam"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being split into laminæ or thin plates, as mica; capable of being extended under pressure into a thin plate or strip. When a body can be readily extended in all directions under the hammer, it is said to be malleable; and when into fillets under the rolling press, it is said to be laminable. Ure.
LAMINAR; LAMINALLam"i*nar, Lam"i*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. laminaire. See Lamina]
Defn: In, or consisting of, thin plates or layers; having the form of a thin plate or lamina.
LAMINARIALam`i*na"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Lamina.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of great seaweeds with long and broad fronds; kelp, or devil's apron. The fronds commonly grow in clusters, and are sometimes from thirty to fifty feet in length. See Illust. of Kelp.
LAMINARIANLam`i*na"ri*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to seaweeds of the genus Laminaria, or to that zone of the sea (from two to ten fathoms in depth) where the seaweeds of this genus grow.
LAMINARITELam"i*na*rite, n. Etym: [See Lamina.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A broad-leafed fossil alga.
LAMINARYLam"i*na*ry, a.
Defn: Laminar.
LAMINATELam"i*nate, a. Etym: [See Lamina.]
Defn: Consisting of, or covered with, laminæ, or thin plates, scales, or layers, one over another; laminated.
LAMINATELam"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laminated; p. pr. & vb. n.Laminating.] Etym: [See Lamina.]
1. To cause to separate into thin plates or layers; to divide into thin plates.
2. To form, as metal, into a thin plate, as by rolling.
LAMINATELam"i*nate, v. i.
Defn: To separate into laminæ.
LAMINATEDLam"i*na`ted, a.
Defn: Laminate. Laminated arch (Arch.), a timber arch made of layers of bent planks secured by treenails.
LAMINATINGLam"i*na`ting, a.
Defn: Forming, or separating into, scales or thin layers.
LAMINATIONLam`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: The process of laminating, or the state of being laminated.
LAMINIFEROUSLam`i*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Lamina + -ferous.]
Defn: Having a structure consisting of laminæ, or thin layers.
LAMINIPLANTARLam`i*ni*plan"tar, a. Etym: [Lamina + L. planta sole of the foot.](Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the tarsus covered behind with a horny sheath continuous on both sides, as in most singing birds, except the larks.
LAMINITISLam`i*ni"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Lamina, and -itis.] (Far.)
Defn: Inflammation of the laminæ or fleshy plates along the coffin bone of a horse; founder. Youatt.
LAMISHLam"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat lame. Wood.
LAMMLamm, v. t.
Defn: See Lam.
LAMMAS Lam"mas, n. Etym: [AS. hlammesse, hlafmæsse, loaf mass, bread feast, or feast of first fruits; hlaf loaf + mæsse mass. See Loaf, and Mass religious service.]
Defn: The first day of August; — called also Lammas day, andLammastide.
LAMMERGEIR; LAMMERGEIER Lam"mer*geir, Lam"mer*gei`er, n. Etym: [G. lämmergeier; lamm, pl. lämmer, lamb + geier vulture.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large vulture (Gypaëtus barbatus), which inhabits the mountains of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. When full- grown it is nine or ten feet in extent of wings. It is brownish black above, with the under parts and neck rusty yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides of the head and beard black. It feeds partly on carrion and partly on small animals, which it kills. It has the habit of carrying tortoises and marrow bones to a great height, and dropping them on stones to obtain the contents, and is therefore called bonebreaker and ossifrage. It is supposed to be the ossifrage of the Bible. Called also bearded vulture and bearded eagle. [Written also lammergeyer.]
LAMNUNGUIA Lam*nun"gui*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. lamina a scale + unguis a nail.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Hyracoidea.
LAMPLamp, n.Etym: [OE. (with excrescent p), fr. F. lame, L. lamina. SeeLamina.]
Defn: A thin plate or lamina. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LAMPLamp, n. Etym: [F. lampe, L. lampas, -adis, fr. Gr. Lampad, Lantern.]
1. A light-producing vessel, instrument or apparatus; especially, a vessel with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable liquid, for the purpose of producing artificial light.
2. Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. cxix. 105. Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared. Cowper.
3. (Elec.)
Defn: A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity. See Incandescent lamp, under Incandescent. Æolipile lamp, a hollow ball of copper containing alcohol which is converted into vapor by a lamp beneath, so as to make a powerful blowpipe flame when the vapor is ignited. Weale. — Arc lamp (Elec.), a form of lamp in which the voltaic arc is used as the source of light. — Dëbereiner's lamp, an apparatus for the instantaneous production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; — named after the German chemist Döbereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp. — Flameless lamp, an aphlogistic lamp. — Lamp burner, the part of a lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. Knight. — Lamp fount, a reservoir for oil, in a lamp. — Lamp jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4 (l) & (n). — Lamp shade, a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for softening or obstructing the light of a lamp. — Lamp shell (Zoöl.), any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique lamp. See Terebratula. — Safety lamp, a miner's lamp in which the flame is surrounded by fine wire gauze, preventing the kindling of dangerous explosive gases; — called also, from Sir Humphry Davy the inventor, Davy lamp. — To smell of the lamp, to bear marks of great study and labor, as a literary composition.
LAMPADLam"pad, n. Etym: [Gr. Lamp.]
Defn: A lamp or candlestick. [R.]By him who 'mid the golden lampads went. Trench.
LAMPADISTLam"pa*dist, n. Etym: [Gr. Lamp.] (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: One who gained the prize in the lampadrome.
LAMPADROMELam"pa*drome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A race run by young men with lighted torches in their hands. He who reached the goal first, with his torch unextinguished, gained the prize.
LAMPASLam"pas, n. Etym: [F. lampas.]
Defn: An inflammation and swelling of the soft parts of the roof of the mouth immediately behind the fore teeth in the horse; — called also lampers.
LAMPATELam"pate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lampate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed salt of lampic acid. [Obs.]
LAMPBLACKLamp"black`, n. Etym: [Lamp + black.]
Defn: The fine impalpable soot obtained from the smoke of carbonaceous substances which have been only partly burnt, as in the flame of a smoking lamp. It consists of finely divided carbon, with sometimes a very small proportion of various impurities. It is used as an ingredient of printers' ink, and various black pigments and cements.
LAMPER EELLam"per eel`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lamprey.
LAMPERNLam"pern, n. Etym: [See Lamprey.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The river lamprey (Ammocoetes, or Lampetra, fluviatilis).
Note: The name is also applied to other river lampreys.
LAMPERSLam"pers, n.
Defn: See Lampas.
LAMPICLam"pic, a. Etym: [F. lampique, fr. lampe lamp. See Lamp.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or produced by, a lamp; — formerly said of a supposed acid.
LAMPINGLamp"ing, a.
Defn: Shining; brilliant. [Obs.] "Lamping eyes." Spenser.
LAMPLESSLamp"less, a.
Defn: Being without a lamp, or without light; hence, being withoutappreciation; dull.Your ladies' eyes are lampless to that virtue. Beau. & Fl.
LAMPLIGHTLamp"light`, n.
Defn: Light from a lamp.This world's artificial lamplights. Owen Meredith.
LAMPLIGHTERLamp"light`er, n.
1. One who, or that which, lights a lamp; esp., a person who lights street lamps.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The calico bass.
LAMPOON Lam*poon", n. Etym: [F. lampon a drinking song, fr. lampons let us drink, — the burden of such a song, fr. lamper to guzzle, to drink much and greedily; of German origin, and akin to E. lap to drink. Prob. so called because drinking songs often contain personal slander or satire.]
Defn: A personal satire in writing; usually, malicious and abusive censure written only to reproach and distress. Like her who missed her name in a lampoon, And grieved to find herself decayed so soon. Dryden.
LAMPOONLam*poon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lampooned; p. pr. & vb. n.Lampooning.]
Defn: To subject to abusive ridicule expressed in writing; to make the subject of a lampoon. Ribald poets had lampooned him. Macaulay.
Syn.— To libel; defame; satirize; lash.
LAMPOONERLam*poon"er, n.
Defn: The writer of a lampoon. "Libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers." Tatler.
LAMPOONRYLam*poon"ry, n.
Defn: The act of lampooning; a lampoon, or lampoons.
LAMP-POSTLamp"-post`, n.
Defn: A post (generally a pillar of iron) supporting a lamp or lantern for lighting a street, park, etc.
LAMPRELLam"prel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lamprey.
LAMPREY Lam"prey, n. ; pl. Lampreys. Etym: [OE. lampreie, F. lamproie, LL. lampreda, lampetra, from L. lambere to lick + petra rock, stone. The lampreys are so called because they attach themselves with their circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are also called rocksuckers. See Lap to drink, Petrify.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An eel-like marsipobranch of the genus Petromyzon, and allied genera. The lampreys have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but set with numerous minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth on the palate (see Illust. of Cyclostomi). There are seven small branchial openings on each side. [Written also lamper eel, lamprel, and lampron.]
Note: The common or sea lamprey of America and Europe (Petromyzon marinus), which in spring ascends rivers to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is sold as a market fish in some localities. The smaller river lampreys mostly belong to the genus Ammocoeles, or Lampetra, as A. fluviatilis, of Europe, and A. æpypterus of America. All lampreys attach themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of the suckerlike mouth.
LAMPRONLam"pron, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. lampreon. See Lamprey.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lamprey.
LAMPYRINELam*py"rine, n. Etym: [See Lampyris.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the genus Lampyris, or family Lampyridæ. SeeLampyris.
LAMPYRISLam*py"ris, n. Etym: [L., glowworm, Gr. ( (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of coleopterous insects, including the glowworms.
LANARKITELan"ark*ite, n. Etym: [From Lanarkshire, a county in Scotland.](Min.)
Defn: A mineral consisting of sulphate of lead, occurring either massive or in long slender prisms, of a greenish white or gray color.
LANARY La"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. lanaria, fr. lanarius belonging to wool, lana wool.]
Defn: A place for storing wool.
LANATE; LANATEDLa"nate, La"na*ted,Etym: [L. lanatus, fr. lana wool, down.]
Defn: Wooly; covered with fine long hair, or hairlike filaments.
LANCASHIRE BOILERLa"ca*shire boil"er
Defn: . A steam boiler having two flues which contain the furnaces and extend through the boiler from end to end.
LANCASTERIANLan`cas*te"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the monitorial system of instruction followed by Joseph Lancaster, of England, in which advanced pupils in a school teach pupils below them.
LANCELance, n. Etym: [OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea; cf. Gr. Launch.]
1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen. A braver soldier never couched lance. Shak.
2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
3. (Founding)
Defn: A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.
5. (Pyrotech.)
Defn: One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure. Free lance, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority. — Lance bucket (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. — Lance corporal, same as Lancepesade. — Lance knight, a lansquenet. B. Jonson. — Lance snake (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance. — Stink-fire lance (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a composition which burns with a suffocating odor; — used in the counter operations of miners. To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest.
LANCELance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanced (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lancing.]
1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon. Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced Her back. Dryden.
2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess.
3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch.
LANCE FISHLance" fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes, especiallyAmmodytes tobianus of the English coast; — called also sand lance.
LANCEGAY; LANCEGAYELance"gay`, Lance"gaye`, n. Etym: [OF. lancegaie, corrupted from thesame source as E. assagai, under the influence of F. lance lance. SeeAssagai.]
Defn: A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II. Nares. In his hand a launcegay, A long sword by his side. Chaucer.
LANCELETLance"let, n. Etym: [Lance + -let.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fishlike animal (Amphioxus lanceolatus), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus, Leptocardia.
LANCELYLance"ly, a.
Defn: Like a lance. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.
LANCEOLAR Lan"ce*o*lar, a. Etym: [L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea lance: cf. F. lancéolaire.] (Bot.)
Defn: Lanceolate.
LANCEOLATE; LANCEOLATED Lan"ce*o*late, Lan"ce*o*la`ted a. Etym: [L. lanceolatus: cf. F. lancéol. See Lanceolar.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf.
LANCEPESADELance`pe*sade", n. Etym: [F. lancepessade, lanspessade, anspessade,It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, alight horseman, bodyguard.]
Defn: An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties of a corporal; — called also lance corporal.
LANCERLan"cer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lancier.]
1. One who lances; one who carries a lance; especially, a member of a mounted body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service of some nations. Wilhelm.
2. A lancet. [Obs.]
3. pl. (Dancing)
Defn: A set of quadrilles of a certain arrangement. [Written also lanciers.]
LANCETLan"cet, n. Etym: [F. lancette, dim. of lance lance. See Lance.]
1. A surgical instrument of various forms, commonly sharp-pointed and two-edged, used in venesection, and in opening abscesses, etc.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: An iron bar used for tapping a melting furnace. Knight. Lancet arch (Arch.), a pointed arch, of which the width, or span, is narrow compared with the height. — Lancet architecture, a name given to a style of architecture, in which lancet arches are common; — peculiar to England and 13th century. — Lancet fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A large, voracious, deep-sea fish (Alepidosaurus ferox), having long, sharp, lancetlike teeth. (b) The doctor, or surgeon fish.
LANCEWOODLance"wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tough, elastic wood, often used for the shafts of gigs, archery bows, fishing rods, and the like. Also, the tree which produces this wood, Duguetia Quitarensis (a native of Guiana and Cuba), and several other trees of the same family (Anonaseæ). Australian lancewood, a myrtaceous tree (Backhousia Australis).
LANCHLanch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanched; p. pr. & vb. n. Lanching. SeeLanching. See Launch, Lance.]
Defn: To throw, as a lance; to let fly; to launch.See Whose arm can lanch the surer bolt. Dryden & Lee.
LANCIFEROUSLan*cif"er*ous, a Etym: [Lance + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing a lance.
LANCIFORMLan"ci*form, a Etym: [Lance + -form: cf. F. lanciforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a lance.
LANCINATELan"ci*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lancinated; p. pr. & vb. n.Lancinating.] Etym: [L. lancinatus, p. p. of lancinare to fear.]
Defn: To tear; to lacerate; to pierce or stab. De Quincey.
LANCINATINGLan"ci*na`ting, a.
Defn: Piercing; seeming to pierce or stab; as, lancinating pains (i.e., severe, darting pains).
LANCINATIONLan`ci*na"tion, n.
Defn: A tearing; laceration. "Lancinations of the spirit." Jer.Taylor.
LANDLand, n.
Defn: Urine. See Lant. [Obs.]
LANDLand, n. Etym: [AS. land, lond; akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., Dan., andGoth. land. ]
1. The solid part of the surface of the earth; — opposed to water as constituting a part of such surface, especially to oceans and seas; as, to sight land after a long voyage. They turn their heads to sea, their sterns to land. Dryden.
2. Any portion, large or small, of the surface of the earth, considered by itself, or as belonging to an individual or a people, as a country, estate, farm, or tract. Go view the land, even Jericho. Josh. ii. 1. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.
Note: In the expressions "to be, or dwell, upon land," "to go, or fare, on land," as used by Chaucer, land denotes the country as distinguished from the town. A poor parson dwelling upon land [i.e., in the country]. Chaucer.
3. Ground, in respect to its nature or quality; soil; as, wet land; good or bad land.
4. The inhabitants of a nation or people. These answers, in the silent night received, The kind himself divulged, the land believed. Dryden.
5. The mainland, in distinction from islands.
6. The ground or floor. [Obs.] Herself upon the land she did prostrate. Spenser.
7. (Agric.)
Defn: The ground left unplowed between furrows; any one of several portions into which a field is divided for convenience in plowing.
8. (Law)
Defn: Any ground, soil, or earth whatsoever, as meadows, pastures, woods, etc., and everything annexed to it, whether by nature, as trees, water, etc., or by the hand of man, as buildings, fences, etc.; real estate. Kent. Bouvier. Burrill.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: The lap of the strakes in a clinker-built boat; the lap of plates in an iron vessel; — called also landing. Knight.
10. In any surface prepared with indentations, perforations, or grooves, that part of the surface which is not so treated, as the level part of a millstone between the furrows, or the surface of the bore of a rifled gun between the grooves. Land agent, a person employed to sell or let land, to collect rents, and to attend to other money matters connected with land. — Land boat, a vehicle on wheels propelled by sails. — Land blink, a peculiar atmospheric brightness seen from sea over distant snow-covered land in arctic regions. See Ice blink. — Land breeze. See under Breeze. — Land chain. See Gunter's chain. — Land crab (Zoöl.), any one of various species of crabs which live much on the land, and resort to the water chiefly for the purpose of breeding. They are abundant in the West Indies and South America. Some of them grow to a large size. — Land fish a fish on land; a person quite out of place.Shak. — Land force, a military force serving on land, as distinguished from a naval force. — Land, ho! (Naut.), a sailor's cry in announcing sight of land. — Land ice, a field of ice adhering to the coast, in distinction from a floe. — Land leech (Zoöl.), any one of several species of blood-sucking leeches, which, in moist, tropical regions, live on land, and are often troublesome to man and beast. — Land measure, the system of measurement used in determining the area of land; also, a table of areas used in such measurement. — Land, or House, of bondage, in Bible history, Egypt; by extension, a place or condition of special oppression. — Land o' cakes, Scotland. — Land of Nod, sleep. — Land of promise, in Bible history, Canaan: by extension, a better country or condition of which one has expectation. — Land of steady habits, a nickname sometimes given to the State of Connecticut. — Land office, a government office in which the entries upon, and sales of, public land are registered, and other business respecting the public lands is transacted. [U.S.] — Land pike. (Zoöl.) (a) The gray pike, or sauger. (b) The Menobranchus. — Land service, military service as distinguished from naval service. — Land rail. (Zoöl) (a) The crake or corncrake of Europe. See Crake. (b) An Australian rail (Hypotænidia Phillipensis); — called also pectoral rail. — Land scrip, a certificate that the purchase money for a certain portion of the public land has been paid to the officer entitled to receive it. [U.S.] — Land shark, a swindler of sailors on shore. [Sailors' Cant] — Land side (a) That side of anything in or on the sea, as of an island or ship, which is turned toward the land. (b) The side of a plow which is opposite to the moldboard and which presses against the unplowed land. — Land snail (Zoöl.), any snail which lives on land, as distinguished from the aquatic snails are Pulmonifera, and belong to the Geophila; but the operculated land snails of warm countries are Dioecia, and belong to the Tænioglossa. See Geophila, and Helix. — Land spout, a descent of cloud and water in a conical form during the occurrence of a tornado and heavy rainfall on land. — Land steward, a person who acts for another in the management of land, collection of rents, etc. — Land tortoise, Land turtle (Zoöl.), any tortoise that habitually lives on dry land, as the box tortoise. See Tortoise. — Land warrant, a certificate from the Land Office, authorizing a person to assume ownership of a public land. [U.S.] — Land wind. Same as Land breeze (above). — To make land (Naut.), to sight land. To set the land, to see by the compass how the land bears from the ship. — To shut in the land, to hide the land, as when fog, or an intervening island, obstructs the view.
LANDLand, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Landed; p. pr. & vb. n. Landing.]
1. To set or put on shore from a ship or other water craft; to disembark; to debark. I 'll undertake top land them on our coast. Shak.
2. To catch and bring to shore; to capture; as, to land a fish.
3. To set down after conveying; to cause to fall, alight, or reach; to bring to the end of a course; as, he landed the quoit near the stake; to be thrown from a horse and landed in the mud; to land one in difficulties or mistakes.
LANDLand, v. i.
Defn: To go on shore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to come to the end of a course.
LANDAMMAN Lan"dam*man, n. Etym: [G. Landamman; land land, country + amimann bailiff. See Land, and Ambassador.]
1. A chief magistrate in some of the Swiss cantons.
2. The president of the diet of the Helvetic republic.
LANDAULan"dau, n. Etym: [From the town Ladau in Germany; cf. F. landau. SeeLand, Island.]
Defn: A four-wheeled covered vehicle, the top of which is divided into two sections which can be let down, or thrown back, in such a manner as to make an open carriage. [Written also landaw.]
LANDAULETLan`dau*let", n. Etym: [Cf. F. landaulet, dim, of landau. SeeLandau.]
Defn: A small landau.
LANDDROST; LANDTROST Land"drost`, n.; pl. -drosten (#). Sometimes incorrectly Landtrost. [D., fr. land land + drost a kind of official; akin to G. truchsess.] In Cape Colony: (a) A chief magistrate in rural districts. He was replaced in 1827 by "resident magistrates." (b) The president of the Heemraad.
LANDEDLand"ed, a.
1. Having an estate in land. The House of Commons must consist, for the most part, of landed men. Addison.
2. Consisting in real estate or land; as, landed property; landed security.
LANDERLand"er, n.
1. One who lands, or makes a landing. "The lander in a lonely isle." Tennyson.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A person who waits at the mouth of the shaft to receive the kibble of ore.
LANDFALLLand"fall, n.
1. A sudden transference of property in land by the death of its owner.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Sighting or making land when at sea. A good landfall (Naut.), the sighting of land in conformity with the navigator's reckoning and expectation.
LANDFLOODLand"flood`, n.
Defn: An overflowing of land by river; an inundation; a freshet.Clarendon.
LANDGRAVELand"grave`, n. Etym: [G. landgraf; land land + graf earl, count; cf.D. landgraaf, F. landgrave.]
Defn: A German nobleman of a rank corresponding to that of an earl inEngland and of a count in France.
Note: The title was first adopted by some German counts in the twelfth century, to distinguish themselves from the inferior counts under their jurisdiction. Three of them were princes of the empire.
LANDGRAVIATELand*gra"vi*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. landgraviat.]
1. The territory held by a landgrave.
2. The office, jurisdiction, or authority of a landgrave.
LANDGRAVINELand"gra*vine, n. Etym: [G. landgräfin; cf. D. landgravin.]
Defn: The wife of a landgrave.
LANDHOLDERLand"hold`er, n.
Defn: A holder, owner, or proprietor of land.— Land"hold`ing, n. & a.
LANDINGLand"ing, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to or used for, setting, bringing, or going, on shore. Landing charges, charges or fees paid on goods unloaded from a vessel. — Landing net, a small, bag-shaped net, used in fishing to take the fish from the water after being hooked. — Landing stage, a floating platform attached at one end to a wharf in such a manner as to rise and fall with the tide, and thus facilitate passage between the wharf and a vessel lying beside the stage. — Landing waiter, a customhouse officer who oversees the landing of goods, etc., from vessels; a landwaiter.
LANDINGLand"ing, n.
1. A going or bringing on shore.
2. A place for landing, as from a ship, a carriage. etc.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The level part of a staircase, at the top of a flight of stairs, or connecting one flight with another. Landing place. me as Landing, n., 2 and 3.
LANDLADYLand"la`dy, n.; pl. Landladies. Etym: [Cf. Landlord.]
1. A woman having real estate which she leases to a tenant or tenants.
2. The mistress of an inn or lodging house.
LAND LEAGUELand League.
Defn: In Ireland, a combination of tenant farmers and other, organized, with Charles Stewart Parnell as president, in 1879 with a view to the reduction of farm rents and a reconstruction of the land laws. — Land"*lea`guer (#), n. — Land"*lea`guism (#), n.
The Land League, of which Machael Davitt was the founder, originated in Mayo in August, and at a Dublin in October the organization was extended to all Ireland, with Parnell as president. Encyc. Brit.
LANDLEAPERLand"leap`er, n.
Defn: See Landlouper.
LANDLESSLand"less, a.
Defn: Having no property in land.
LANDLOCKLand"lock`, v. t.
Defn: To inclose, or nearly inclose, as a harbor or a vessel, with land.
LANDLOCKEDLand"locked`, a.
1. Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, by land.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Confined to a fresh-water lake by reason of waterfalls or dams; — said of fishes that would naturally seek the sea, after spawning; as, the landlocked salmon.
LANDLOPERLand"lo`per, n.
Defn: Same as Landlouper.
LANDLORDLand"lord`, n. Etym: [See Land, and Lord.]
1. The lord of a manor, or of land; the owner of land or houses which he leases to a tenant or tenants.
2. The master of an inn or of a lodging house. Upon our arrival at the inn, my companion fetched out the jolly landlord. Addison.
LANDLORDISMLand"lord`ism, n.
Defn: The state of being a landlord; the characteristics of a landlord; specifically, in Great Britain, the relation of landlords to tenants, especially as regards leased agricultural lands. J. S. Mill.
LANDLORDRYLand"lord`ry, n.
Defn: The state of a landlord. [Obs.]
LANDLOUPER Land"loup`er, n. Etym: [D. landlooper, lit., landrunner; land land + loopen to run. See Land, and Leap.]
Defn: A vagabond; a vagrant. [Written also landleaper and landloper.]"Bands of landloupers." Moltey.
LANDLOUPINGLand"loup`ing, a.
Defn: Vagrant; wandering about.
LANDLUBBER Land"lub`ber, n. Etym: [Prop. fr. land + lubber, or possibly corrupted fr. laudlouper.] (Naut.)
Defn: One who passes his life on land; — so called among seamen in contempt or ridicule.
LANDMANLand"man, n.; pl. Landmen (.
1. A man who lives or serves on land; — opposed to seaman.
2. (Eng.)
Defn: An occupier of land. Cowell.
LANDMARKLand"mark`, n. Etym: [AS. landmearc. See Land, and Mark a sign.]
1. A mark to designate the boundary of land; any , mark or fixed object (as a marked tree, a stone, a ditch, or a heap of stones) by which the limits of a farm, a town, or other portion of territory may be known and preserved.
2. Any conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide; some prominent object, as a hill or steeple. Landmarks of history, important events by which eras or conditions are determined.
LAND OF STEADY HABITSLand of Steady Habits.
Defn: Connecticut; — a nickname alluding to the moral character of its inhabitants, implied by the rigid laws (see Blue laws) of the early period.
LANDOWNERLand"own`er, n.
Defn: An owner of land.
LANDOWNINGLand"own`ing, n.
Defn: The owning of land.— a.
Defn: Having property in land; of or pertaining to landowners.
LAND-POORLand"-poor`, a.
Defn: Pecuniarily embarrassed through owning much unprofitable land.[Colloq.]
LANDREEVELand"reeve`, n. Etym: [Land + reeve an officer.]
Defn: A subordinate officer on an extensive estate, who acts as an assistant to the steward.
LANDSCAPE Land"scape, n. [Formerly written also landskip.] Etym: [D. landschap; land land + -schap, equiv. to E. -schip; akin to G. landschaft, Sw. landskap, Dan. landskab. See Land, and -schip.]
1. A portion of land or territory which the eye can comprehend in a single view, including all the objects it contains.
2. A picture representing a scene by land or sea, actual or fancied, the chief subject being the general aspect of nature, as fields, hills, forests, water. etc.
3. The pictorial aspect of a country. The landscape of his native country had taken hold on his heart. Macaulay. Landscape gardening, The art of laying out grounds and arranging trees, shrubbery, etc., in such a manner as to produce a picturesque effect.
LANDSCAPISTLand"scap`ist, n.
Defn: A painter of landscapes.
LANDSKIPLand"skip, n. Etym: [See Landscape.]
Defn: A landscape. [Obs. except in poetry.] Straight my eye hath caught new pleasures, Whilst the landskip round it measures. Milton.
LANDSLIP; LANDSLIDELand"slip`, Land"slide`, n.
1. The slipping down of a mass of land from a mountain, hill, etc.
2. The land which slips down.
LANDSMANLands"man, n.; pl. Landsmen.
1. One who lives on the land; — opposed to seaman.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A sailor on his first voyage.
LANDSTHING Lands"thing`, n. [Dan. landsthing, landsting, fr. land land + thing, ting, parliament. See Land; Thing.] (Denmark.)
Defn: See Legislature, below.
LANDSTORMLand"storm`, n. [Sw.]
Defn: See Varnpligtige.
LANDSTREIGHTLand"streight`, n. Etym: [See Strait.]
Defn: A narrow strip of land. [Obs.]
LANDSTURMLand"sturm`, n. Etym: [G. See Land, and Storm.]
Defn: That part of the reserve force in Germany which is called out last.
LANDTAGLand"tag`, n. Etym: [G. See Land, and Day.]
Defn: The diet or legislative body; as, the Landtag of Prussia.
LANDWAITERLand"wait`er, n.
Defn: See Landing waiter, under Landing, a.
LANDWARDLand"ward, adv. & a.
Defn: Toward the land.
LANDWEHRLand"wehr`, n. Etym: [G., fr. land land, country + wehr defense.]
Defn: That part of the army, in Germany and Austria, which has completed the usual military service and is exempt from duty in time of peace, except that it is called out occasionally for drill.
LANELane, a. Etym: [See Lone.]
Defn: Alone [Scot.] His lane, by himself; himself alone.
LANELane, n. Etym: [OE. lane, lone, AS. lone, lone; akin to D. laan,OFries. lana, lona.]
Defn: A passageway between fences or hedges which is not traveled as a highroad; an alley between buildings; a narrow way among trees, ras, a lane between lines of men, or through a field of ice. It is become a turn-again lane unto them which they can not go through. Tyndale.
LANGLang, a. & adv.
Defn: Long. [Obs. or Scot.]
LANGAHALan"ga*ha, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A curious colubriform snake of the genus Xyphorhynchus, from Madagascar. It is brownish red, and its hose is prolonged in the form of a sharp blade.
LANGAREYLan`ga*rey", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of numerous species of long-winged, shrikelike birds of Australia and the East Indies, of the genus Artamus, and allied genera; called also wood swallow.
LANGATELan"gate, n. (Surg.)
Defn: A linen roller used in dressing wounds.
LANGDAKLang"dak`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wolf (Canis pallipes), found in India, allied to the jackal.
LANGRAGE; LANGRELLan"grage, Lan"grel, n.
Defn: A kind of shot formerly used at sea for tearing sails and rigging. It consisted of bolts, nails, and other pieces of iron fastened together or inclosed in a canister.
LANGRETLan"gret, n.
Defn: A kind of loaded die. [Obs.]
LANGRIDGELan"gridge, n.
Defn: See Langrage.
Note: [Sometimes compounded with shot.]
LANGSYNELang`syne", adv. & n. Etym: [Scot. lang long + syne since.]
Defn: Long since; long ago. [Scot.]
LANGTERALOOLang`ter*a*loo", n. Etym: [See Loo.]
Defn: An old game at cards. See Loo (a) Tatler.
LANGUAGELan"guage, n. Etym: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua thetongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf.Lingual.]
1. Any means of conveying or communicating ideas; specifically, human speech; the expression of ideas by the voice; sounds, expressive of thought, articulated by the organs of the throat and mouth.
Note: Language consists in the oral utterance of sounds which usage has made the representatives of ideas. When two or more persons customarily annex the same sounds to the same ideas, the expression of these sounds by one person communicates his ideas to another. This is the primary sense of language, the use of which is to communicate the thoughts of one person to another through the organs of hearing. Articulate sounds are represented to the eye by letters, marks, or characters, which form words.
2. The expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality.
3. The forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar to a particular nation.
4. The characteristic mode of arranging words, peculiar to an individual speaker or writer; manner of expression; style. Others for language all their care express. Pope.
5. The inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express their feelings or their wants.
6. The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers. There was . . . language in their very gesture. Shak.
7. The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or theology.
8. A race, as distinguished by its speech. [R.] All the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image. Dan. iii. 7. Language master, a teacher of languages.[Obs.]
Syn. — Speech; tongue; idiom; dialect; phraseology; diction; discourse; conversation; talk. — Language, Speech, Tongue, Idiom, Dialect. Language is generic, denoting, in its most extended use, any mode of conveying ideas; speech is the language of articulate sounds; tongue is the Anglo- Saxon tern for language, esp. for spoken language; as, the English tongue. Idiom denotes the forms of construction peculiar to a particular language; dialects are varieties if expression which spring up in different parts of a country among people speaking substantially the same language.
LANGUAGELan"guage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Languaged; p. pr. & vb. n.Languaging.]
Defn: To communicate by language; to express in language. Others were languaged in such doubtful expressions that they have a double sense. Fuller.
LANGUAGEDLan"guaged, a.
Defn: Having a language; skilled in language; — chiefly used in composition. " Manylanguaged nations." Pope.
LANGUAGELESSLan"guage*less, a.
Defn: Lacking or wanting language; speechless; silent. Shak.
LANGUEDLangued, a. Etym: [F. langue tongue. See Language.] (Her.)
Defn: Tongued; having the tongue visible.Lions . . . represented as armed and langued gules. Cussans.
LANGUE D'OCLangue` d'oc". Etym: [F., language of oc yes.]
Defn: The dialect, closely akin to French, formerly spoken south of the Loire (in which the word for "yes" was oc); Provencal.
LANGUE D'OILLangue` d'oïl". Etym: [F., language of oïl yes.]
Defn: The dialect formerly spoken north of the Loire (in which the word for "yes" was oïl, F. oui).
LANGUENTELan*guen"te, adv. Etym: [It., p. pr. of languire. See Languish.](Mus.)
Defn: In a languishing manner; pathetically.
LANGUETLan"guet, n. Etym: [F. languette, dim. of langue tongue, L. lingua.]
1. Anything resembling the tongue in form or office; specif., the slip of metal in an organ pipe which turns the current of air toward its mouth.
2. That part of the hilt, in certain kinds of swords, which overlaps the scabbard.
LANGUID Lan"guid, a. Etym: [L. languidus, fr. languere to be faint or languid: cf. F. languide. See Languish.]
1. Drooping or flagging from exhaustion; indisposed to exertion; without animation; weak; weary; heavy; dull. " Languid, powerless limbs. " Armstrong. Fire their languid souls with Cato's virtue. Addison.
2. Slow in progress; tardy. " No motion so swift or languid." Bentley.
3. Promoting or indicating weakness or heaviness; as, a languid day. Feebly she laugheth in the languid moon. Keats. Their idleness, aimless and languid airs. W. Black.
Syn.— Feeble; weak; faint; sickly; pining; exhausted; weary; listless;heavy; dull; heartless.— Lan"guid*ly, adv.— Lan"guid*ness, n.
LANGUISH Lan"guish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Languished; p. pr. & vb. n. Languishing.] Etym: [OE. languishen, languissen, F. languir, L. languere; cf. Gr. lakra to lag behind; prob. akin to E. lag, lax, and perh. to E. slack.See -ish.]
1. To become languid or weak; to lose strength or animation; to be or become dull, feeble or spiritless; to pine away; to wither or fade. We . . . do languish of such diseases. 2 Esdras viii. 31. Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me landguish into life. Pope. For the fields of Heshbon languish. Is. xvi. 8.
2. To assume an expression of weariness or tender grief, appealing for sympathy. Tennyson.
Syn.— To pine; wither; fade; droop; faint.
LANGUISHLan"guish, v. i.
Defn: To cause to dr [Obs.] Shak. Dryden.
LANGUISHLan"guish, n.
Defn: See Languishiment. [Obs. or Poetic]What, of death, too, That rids our dogs of languish Shak.And the blue languish of soft Allia's eye. Pope.
LANGUISHERLan"guish*er, n.
Defn: One who languishes.
LANGUISHINGLan"guish*ing, a.
1. Becoming languid and weak; pining; losing health and strength.
2. Amorously pensive; as, languishing eyes, or look.
LANGUISHINGLYLan"guish*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a languishing manner.
LANGUISHMENTLan"guish*ment, n.
1. The state of languishing. " Lingering languishment." Shak.
2. Tenderness of look or mien; amorous pensiveness.
LANGUISHNESSLan"guish*ness, n.
Defn: Languishment. [Obs.]
LANGUOR Lan"guor, n. Etym: [OE. langour, OF. langour, F. langueur, L. languor. See Languish.]
1. A state of the body or mind which is caused by exhaustion of strength and characterized by a languid feeling; feebleness; lassitude; laxity.
2. Any enfeebling disease. [Obs.] Sick men with divers languors. Wyclif (Luke iv. 40).
3. Listless indolence; dreaminess. Pope. " German dreams, Italian languors." The Century.
Syn. — Feebleness; weakness; faintness; weariness; dullness; heaviness; lassitude; listlessness.
LANGUOROUSLan"guor*ous, a. Etym: [From Languor: cf. F. langoureux.]
Defn: Producing, or tending to produce, languor; characterized bylanguor. [Obs. or Poetic]Whom late I left in languorous constraint. Spenser.To wile the length from languorous hours, and draw The sting frompain. Tennyson.
LANGURELan"gure, v. i.
Defn: To languish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LANGYALan"gya, n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Native name Anglicized.]