LEPTUSLep"tus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The six-legged young, or larva, of certain mites; — sometimes used as a generic name. See Harvest mite, under Harvest.
LEPTYNITELep"ty*nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Granulite.
LERELere, n. Etym: [See Lore knowledge.]
Defn: Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.] Spenser.
LERELere, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. leeren, leren, AS. l. See Lore, Learn.]
Defn: To learn; to teach. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LERELere, a.
Defn: Empty. [Obs.] See Lere, a.
LERELere, n. Etym: [AS. lira flesh; cf. Icel lær thigh.]
Defn: Flesh; skin. [Obs.] "His white leer." Chaucer.
LEREDLer"ed, a. Etym: [From lere, v. t.]
Defn: Learned. [Obs.] " Lewed man or lered." Chaucer.
LERNAEALer*næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Lernaeus Lernæan, fr. Lerna, Gr.(Zoöl.)
Defn: A Linnæan genus of parasitic Entomostraca, — the same as the family Lernæidæ.
Note: The genus is restricted by modern zoölogists to a limited number of species similar to Lernæa branchialis found on the gills of the cod.
LERNAEACEALer`næ*a"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lernæa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of copepod Crustacea, including a large number of remarkable forms, mostly parasitic on fishes. The young, however, are active and swim freely. See Illustration in Appendix.
LERNEANLer*ne"an, n. Etym: [See Lernæa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a family (Lernæidæ) of parasitic Crustacea found attached to fishes and other marine animals. Some species penetrate the skin and flesh with the elongated head, and feed on the viscera. See Illust. in Appendix.
LEROTLé`rot", n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European rodent (Eliomys nitela), allied to the dormouse.
LESLes, n.
Defn: A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LESBIANLes"bi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos, nowMitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.
LESBIANISMLes"bi*an*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: Unnatural sexual relations between women.
LESBIAN LOVELesbian love.
Defn: See Lesbianism.
LESELese, v. t.
Defn: To lose. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LESE-MAJESTYLese`-maj"es*ty, n.
Defn: See Leze majesty.
LESION Le"sion, n. Etym: [F. lesion, L. laesio, fr. laedere, laesum, to hurt, injure.]
Defn: A hurt; an injury. Specifically: (a) (Civil Law) Loss sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract. Burrill. (b) (Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of organs. Dunglison.
-LESS -less. Etym: [AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS. l loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. sq. root127. See Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.]
Defn: A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
LESSLess (lês), conj.
Defn: Unless. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
LESS Less, a. Etym: [OE. lesse, AS. læssa; akin to OFries. lessa; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has the sense of the comparative degree of little.]
Defn: Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
Note: The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, thepurse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n.Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming ofAugustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.
LESSLess, adv. Etym: [AS. l. See Less, adj., and cf. Lest.]
Defn: Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
LESSLess, n.
1. A smaller portion or quantity. The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. Ex. xvi. 17.
2. The inferior, younger, or smaller. The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.
LESSLess, v. t.
Defn: To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] Gower.
LESSEELes*see", n. Etym: [F. laissé, p. p. of laisser. See Lease, v. t.](Law)
Defn: The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease. Blackstone.
LESSENLess"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening.]Etym: [From Less, a. ]
Defn: To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune. Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. Calamy. St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. Atterbury.
Syn. — To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade.
LESSENLess"en, v. i.
Defn: To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened. The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.
LESSENERLess"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, lessens. His wife . . . is the lessener of his pain, and the augmenter of his pleasure. J. Rogers (1839).
LESSER Less"er, a. Etym: [This word is formed by adding anew the compar. suffix -er (in which r is from an original s) to less. See Less, a.]
Defn: Less; smaller; inferior.God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 15.
Note: Lesser is used for less, now the compar. of little, in certain special instances in which its employment has become established by custom; as, Lesser Asia (i. e., Asia Minor), the lesser light, and some others; also in poetry, for the sake of the meter, and in prose where its use renders the passage more euphonious. The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Shak. The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. Pope. By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law. Locke.
LESSERLess"er, adv.
Defn: Less. [Obs.] Shak.
LESSES Les"ses, n. pl. Etym: [F. laissées, from laisser to leave. See Lease, v. t.]
Defn: The leavings or dung of beasts.
LESSON Les"son, n. Etym: [OE. lessoun, F. le lesson, reading, fr. L. lectio a reading, fr. legere to read, collect. See Legend, and cf. Lection.]
1. Anything read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner; something, as a portion of a book, assigned to a pupil to be studied or learned at one time.
2. That which is learned or taught by an express effort; instruction derived from precept, experience, observation, or deduction; a precept; a doctrine; as, to take or give a lesson in drawing." A smooth and pleasing lesson." Milton. Emprinteth well this lesson in your mind. Chaucer.
3. A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction; as, here endeth the first lesson.
4. A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning. She would give her a lesson for walking so late. Sir. P. Sidney.
5. (Mus.) An exercise; a composition serving an educational purpose; a study.
LESSONLes"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessoning.]
Defn: To teach; to instruct. Shak. To rest the weary, and to soothe the sad, Doth lesson happier men, and shame at least the bad. Byron.
LESSORLes"sor, n. Etym: [See Lessee, Lease, v. t. ] (Law)
Defn: One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease.Blackstone.
LESTLest, v. i.
Defn: To listen. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
LESTLest, n. Etym: [See List to choose.]
Defn: Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LESTLest, a.
Defn: Last; least. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEST Lest, conj. Etym: [OE.leste, fr. AS. l the less that, where that, who, which. See The, Less, a.]
1. ForLove not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Prov. xx. 18.Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth he standeth take heedlest he fall. I Cor. x. 12.
2. That (without the negative particle); — after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension. I feared Lest I might anger thee. Shak.
LESTERLes"ter, n. [Pg., prob. fr. Fr. l'est the east.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A dry sirocco in the Madeira Islands.
-LET -let.Etym: [From two French dim. endings -el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in bracelet.]
Defn: A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in streamlet, armlet.
LET Let, v. t. Etym: [OE.letten, AS. lettan to delay, to hinder, fr. læt slow; akin to D. letten to hinder, G. verletzen to hurt, Icel. letja to hold back, Goth. latjan. See Late.]
Defn: To retard; to hinder; to impede; to oppose. [Archaic]He was so strong that no man might him let. Chaucer.He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2.Thess. ii. 7.Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And lets me from the saddle.Tennyson.
LETLet, n.
1. A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; — common in the phrase without let or hindrance, but elsewhere archaic. Keats. Consider whether your doings be to the let of your salvation or not. Latimer.
2. (Lawn Tennis)
Defn: A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net in passing over.
LET Let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Let (Letted, [Obs].); p. pr. & vb. n. Letting.] Etym: [OE. leten, læten (past tense lat, let, p. p. laten, leten, lete), AS. lætan (past tense let, p. p. læten); akin to OFries. leta, OS. latan, D. laten, G. lessen, OHG. lazzan, Icel. lata, Sw. låta, Dan. lade, Goth. letan, and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. Alas, Late, Lassitude, Let to hinder.]
1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.] He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let Chaucer. Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. Spenser. Let me alone in choosing of my wife. Chaucer.
2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. To cause; to make; — used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e., cause to be made; let bring, i. e., cause to be brought. [Obs.] This irous, cursed wretch Let this knight's son anon before him fetch. Chaucer. He . . . thus let do slay hem all three. Chaucer. Anon he let two coffers make. Gower.
4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; — either affirmatively, by positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent.
Note: In this sense, when followed by an infinitive, the latter is commonly without the sign to; as to let us walk, i. e., to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose. Pharaoh said, I will let you go Ex. viii. 28. If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. Shak.
5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to rent; to hire out; — often with out; as, to let a farm; to let a house; to let out horses.
6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; — often with out; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering.
Note: The active form of the infinitive of let, as of many other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house to let (i. e., for letting, or to be let). This form of expression conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See Gerund, 2. " Your elegant house in Harley Street is to let." Thackeray. In the imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a hortative force. " Rise up, let us go." Mark xiv. 42. " Let us seek out some desolate shade." Shak. To let alone, to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering with. — To let blood, to cause blood to flow; to bleed. — To let down. (a) To lower. (b) To soften in tempering; as to let down tools, cutlery, and the like. — To let drive or fly, to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under Drive, and Fly. — To let in or into. (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface for the purpose. To let loose, to remove restraint from; to permit to wander at large. — To let off (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun. (b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation. [Colloq.] To let out. (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord. (c) To lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job. (d) To divulge. — To let slide, to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] " Let the world slide." Shak.
LETLet, v. i.
1. To forbear. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. To be let or leased; as, the farm lets for $500 a year. See note under Left, v. i. To let on, to tell; to tattle; to divulge something. [Low] — To let up, to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm lets up. [Colloq.]
LET-ALONELet"-a*lone", a.
Defn: Letting alone. The let-alone principle, doctrine, or policy.(Polit. Econ.) See Laissez faire.
LETCHLetch, v. & n.
Defn: See Leach.
LETCHLetch, n. Etym: [See Lech, Lecher.]
Defn: Strong desire; passion. (Archaic.) Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others. De Quincey.
LETCHYLetch"y, a.
Defn: See Leachy.
LETELete, v. t.
Defn: To let; to leave. [Obs.]
LETENLet"en, obs. p. p.
Defn: of Lete. Chaucer.
LETHALLeth"al, n. Etym: [Lauric + ether + alcohol.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.
LETHAL Le"thal, a. Etym: [L. lethalis, letalis, fr. lethum, letum, death: cf. F. léthal.]
Defn: Deadly; mortal; fatal. "The lethal blow." W. Richardson.— Le"thal*ly, adv.
LETHALITYLe*thal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. léthalité.]
Defn: The quality of being lethal; mortality.
LETHARGIC; LETHARGICAL Le*thar"gic, Le*thar"gic*al, a. Etym: [L. lethargicus, Gr. léthargique. See Lethargy.]
Defn: Pertaining to, affected with, or resembling, lethargy; morbidlydrowsy; dull; heavy.— Le*thar"gic*al*ly, v.— Le*thar"gic*al*ness, n.— Le*thar"gic*ness, n.
LETHARGIZELeth"ar*gize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lethargized; p. pr. & vb. n.Lethargizing.]
Defn: To make lethargic. All bitters are poison, and act by stilling, and depressing, and lethargizing the irritability. Coleridge.
LETHARGYLeth"ar*gy, n.; pl. -gies. Etym: [F. léthargie, L. letgargia, Gr.Lethe.]
1. Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked.
2. A state of inaction or indifference. Europe lay then under a deep lethargy. Atterbury.
LETHARGYLeth"ar*gy, v. t.
Defn: To lethargize. [Obs.] Shak.
LETHELe"the, n. Etym: [See Lethal.]
Defn: Death.[Obs.] Shak.
LETHELe"the (le"the), n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A river of Hades whose waters when drunk caused forgetfulness of the past.
2. Oblivion; a draught of oblivion; forgetfulness.
LETHEANLe*the"an, a. Etym: [L. Letha, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Lethe; resembling in effect the water ofLethe. Milton. Barrow.
LETHEEDLe"theed, a.
Defn: Caused by Lethe. " Letheed dullness." [Obs.] Shak.
LETHEONLe"the*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Sulphuric ether used as an anæsthetic agent. [R.]
LETHEONIZELe"the*on*ize, v. t.
Defn: To subject to the influence of letheon. [R. or Obs.]
LETHIFEROUS Le*thif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. lethifer, letifer, fr. lethum, letum, death + ferre to bear, to bring: cf. F. léthifère.]
Defn: Deadly; bringing death or destruction.
LETHYLe"thy, a.
Defn: Lethean. [Obs.] Marston.
LET-OFFLet"-off`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A device for letting off, releasing, or giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom.
LETTELet"te, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Letted.]
Defn: To let; to hinder. See Let, to hinder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LETTERLet"ter, n. Etym: [From Let to permit.]
Defn: One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire.
LETTERLet"ter, n. Etym: [From Let to hinder.]
Defn: One who retards or hinders. [Archaic.]
LETTER Let"ter, n. Etym: [OE. lettre, F. lettre, OF. letre, fr. L.littera, litera, a letter; pl., an epistle, a writing, literature, fr. linere, litum, to besmear, to spread or rub over; because one of the earliest modes of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or covered with wax. Pliny, xiii. 11. See Leniment, and cf. Literal.]
1. A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew. Luke xxiii. 38.
2. A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle. The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural. Walsh.
3. A writing; an inscription. [Obs.] None could expound what this letter meant. Chaucer.
4. Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement. We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver. Jer. Taylor. I broke the letter of it to keep the sense. Tennyson.
5. (Print.)
Defn: A single type; type, collectively; a style of type. Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed. Evelyn.
6. pl.
Defn: Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.
7. pl.
Defn: A letter; an epistle. [Obs.] Chaucer. Dead letter, Drop letter, etc. See under Dead, Drop, etc. — Letter book, a book in which copies of letters are kept. — Letter box, a box for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered. — Letter carrier, a person who carries letters; a postman; specif., an officer of the post office who carries letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, and collects letters to be mailed. — Letter cutter, one who engraves letters or letter punches. — Letter lock, a lock that can not be opened when fastened, unless certain movable lettered rings or disks forming a part of in are in such a position (indicated by a particular combination of the letters) as to permit the bolt to be withdrawn. A strange lock that opens with AMEN. Beau. & Fl. — Letter paper, paper for writing letters on; especially, a size of paper intermediate between note paper and foolscap. See Paper. — Letter punch, a steel punch with a letter engraved on the end, used in making the matrices for type. — Letters of administration (Law), the instrument by which an administrator or administratrix is authorized to administer the goods and estate of a deceased person. — Letter of attorney, Letter of credit, etc. See under Attorney, Credit, etc. — Letter of license, a paper by which creditors extend a debtor's time for paying his debts. — Letters close or clause (Eng. Law.), letters or writs directed to particular persons for particular purposes, and hence closed or sealed on the outside; — distinguished from letters patent. Burrill. — Letters of orders (Eccl.), a document duly signed and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc. — Letters patent, overt, or open (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do some act, or enjoy some right; as, letters patent under the seal of England. — Letter-sheet envelope, a stamped sheet of letter paper issued by the government, prepared to be folded and sealed for transmission by mail without an envelope. — Letters testamentary (Law), an instrument granted by the proper officer to an executor after probate of a will, authorizing him to act as executor. — Letter writer. (a) One who writes letters. (b) A machine for copying letters. (c) A book giving directions and forms for the writing of letters.
LETTERLet"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lettering.]
Defn: To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered.
LETTEREDLet"tered, a.
1. Literate; educated; versed in literature. " Are you not lettered" Shak. The unlettered barbarians willingly accepted the aid of the lettered clergy, still chiefly of Roman birth, to reduce to writing the institutes of their forefathers. Milman.
2. Of or pertaining to learning or literature; learned. " A lettered education." Collier.
3. Inscribed or stamped with letters. Addison.
LETTERERLet"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who makes, inscribes, or engraves, alphabetical letters.
LETTERGRAMLet"ter*gram, n.
Defn: See Letter, above.
LETTERINGLet"ter*ing, n.
1. The act or business of making, or marking with, letters, as by cutting or painting.
2. The letters made; as, the lettering of a sign.
LETTERLESSLet"ter*less, a.
1. Not having a letter.
2. Illiterate. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
LETTERNLet"tern, n.
Defn: See Lecturn.
LETTERPRESSLet"ter*press", n.
Defn: Print; letters and words impressed on paper or other material by types; — often used of the reading matter in distinction from the illustrations. Letterpress printing, printing directly from type, in distinction from printing from plates.
LETTERURELet"ter*ure, n.
Defn: Letters; literature. [Obs.] "To teach him letterure and courtesy." Chaucer.
LETTERWOODLet"ter*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The beautiful and highly elastic wood of a tree of the genus Brosimum (B. Aubletii), found in Guiana; — so called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to hieroglyphics; also called snakewood, and leopardwood. It is much used for bows and for walking sticks.
LETTIC Let"tic, a. (a) Of or pertaining to the Letts; Lettish. (b) Of or pertaining to a branch of the Slavic family, subdivided into Lettish, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian. — n. (a) The language of the Letts; Lettish. (b) The language of the Lettic race, including Lettish, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian.
LETTISHLet"tish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Letts.— n.
Defn: The language spoken by the Letts. See Lettic.
LETTRURELet"trure, n.
Defn: See Letterure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LETTSLetts, n. pl.; sing. Lett (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: An Indo-European people, allied to the Lithuanians and OldPrussians, and inhabiting a part of the Baltic provinces of Russia.
LETTUCELet"tuce, n. Etym: [OE. letuce, prob. through Old French from someLate Latin derivative of L. lactuca lettuce, which, according toVarro, is fr. lac, lactis, milk, on account of the milky white juicewhich flows from it when it is cut: cf. F. laitue. Cf. Lacteal,Lactucic.] (Bot.)
Defn: A composite plant of the genus Lactuca (L. sativa), the leaves of which are used as salad. Plants of this genus yield a milky juice, from which lactucarium is obtained. The commonest wild lettuce of the United States is L. Canadensis. Hare's lettuce, Lamb's lettuce. See under Hare, and Lamb. — Lettuce opium. See Lactucarium. — Sea lettuce, certain papery green seaweeds of the genus Ulva.
LETUARYLet"u*a*ry, n.
Defn: Electuary. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LET-UPLet"-*up`, n. Etym: [See Let to forbear.]
Defn: Abatement; also, cessation; as, it blew a gale for three days without any let-up. [Colloq.]
LEUC-Leuc-
Defn: . Same as Leuco-.
LEUCADENDRONLeu`ca*den"dron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of evergreen shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope, having handsome foliage. Leucadendron argenteum is the silverboom of the colonists.
LEUCANILINELeu*can"i*line, n. Etym: [Leuc- + aniline.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline, organic base, obtained from rosaniline by reduction, and also from other sources. It forms colorless salts.
LEUCHAEMIALeu*chæ"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: See Leucocythæmia.— Leu*chæm"ic, a. [Written also leukæmia, leukæmic.]
LEUCIC; LEUCINICLeu"cic, Leu*cin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from leucin, and called also oxycaproic acid.
LEUCINLeu"cin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance formed in the decomposition of albuminous matter by pancreatic digestion, by the action of boiling dilute sulphuric acid, and by putrefaction. It is also found as a constituent of various tissues and organs, as the spleen, pancreas, etc., and likewise in the vegetable kingdom. Chemically it is to be considered as amido-caproic acid. (CH3)2CH.CH2.CH(NH2)-COOH. L-leucine, the natural form, is present in most proteins.
LEUCITELeu"cite, n. Etym: [Gr.leucite.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral having a glassy fracture, occurring in translucent trapezohedral crystals. It is a silicate of alumina and potash. It is found in the volcanic rocks of Italy, especially at Vesuvius.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A leucoplast.
LEUCITICLeu*cit"ic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Containing leucite; as, leucitic rocks.
LEUCITOIDLeu"ci*toid, n. Etym: [Leucite + -oid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: The trapezohedron or tetragonal trisoctahedron; — so called as being the form of the mineral leucite.
LEUCO-; LEUC-Leu"co-, Leuc-.Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form signifying white, colorless; specif. (Chem.), denoting an extensive series of colorless organic compounds, obtained by reduction from certain other colored compounds; as, leucaniline, leucaurin, etc.
LEUCOCYTELeu"co*cyte, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Cr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A colorless corpuscle, as one of the white blood corpuscles, or those found in lymph, marrow of hone, connective tissue, etc.
Note: They all consist of more or less spherical masses of protoplasm, without any surrounding membrane or wall, and are capable of motion.
LEUCOCYTHAEMIA; LEUCOCYTHEMIALeu`co*cy*thæ"mi*a, Leu`co*cy*the"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A disease in which the white corpuscles of the blood are largely increased in number, and there is enlargement of the spleen, or the lymphatic glands; leuchæmia.
LEUCOCYTOGENESISLeu`co*cy`to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Leucocyte + genesis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The formation of leucocytes.
LEUCOETHIOPICLeu`co*e`thi*op"ic, a. Etym: [Leuco- + Ethiopic.]
Defn: White and black; — said of a white animal of a black species, or the albino of the negro race.
LEUCOETHIOPSLeu`co*e"thi*ops, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Aethiops.]
Defn: An albino. [Also written leucoethiops.]
LEUCOLINELeu"co*line, n. Etym: [Leuc- + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous organic base from coal tar, and identical with quinoline. Cf. Quinoline.
LEUCOMALeu*co"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A white opacity in the cornea of the eye; — called also albugo.
LEUCOMAINELeu*co"ma*ine, n. Etym: [Leuco- + -maine, as in ptomaine.] (Physiol.Chem.)
Defn: An animal base or alkaloid, appearing in the tissue during life; hence, a vital alkaloid, as distinguished from a ptomaine or cadaveric poison.
LEUCONICLeu*con"ic, a. Etym: [Leuc- + croconic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a complex organic acid, obtained as a yellowish white gum by the oxidation of croconic acid.
LEUCOPATHYLeu*cop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr.
Defn: The state of an albino, or of a white child of black parents.
LEUCOPHANELeu"co*phane, n. Etym: [Gr. leukophan.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a greenish yellow color; it is a silicate of glucina, lime, and soda with fluorine. Called also leucophanite.
LEUCOPHLEGMACYLeu`co*phleg"ma*cy, n. Etym: [Gr. leucophlegmasie.] (Med.)
Defn: A dropsical habit of body, or the commencement of anasarca; paleness, with viscid juices and cold sweats.
LEUCOPHLEGMATICLeu`co*phleg*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. leucophlegmatique, Gr.
Defn: Having a dropsical habit of body, with a white bloated skin.
LEUCOPHYLLLeu"co*phyll, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless substance isomeric with chlorophyll, contained in parts of plants capable of becoming green. Watts.
LEUCOPHYLLOUSLeu*coph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having white or silvery foliage.
LEUCOPLAST; LEUCOPLASTIDLeu"co*plast, Leu`co*plas"tid, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: One of certain very minute whitish or colorless granules occurring in the protoplasm of plants and supposed to be the nuclei around which starch granules will form.
LEUCOPYRITELeu*cop"y*rite, n. Etym: [Leuco- + pyrites.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a color between white and steel-gray, with a metallic luster, and consisting chiefly of arsenic and iron.
LEUCORRHOEALeu`cor*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. "rei^n to flow.] (Med.)
Defn: A discharge of a white, yellowish, or greenish, viscid mucus, resulting from inflammation or irritation of the membrane lining the genital organs of the female; the whites. Dunglison.
LEUCORYXLeu"co*ryx, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large antelope of North Africa (Oryx leucoryx), allied to the gemsbok.
LEUCOSCOPELeu"co*scope, n. Etym: [Leuco- + -scope.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument, devised by Professor Helmholtz, for testing the color perception of the eye, or for comparing different lights, as to their constituent color or their relative whiteness.
LEUCOSOID Leu"co*soid, a. Etym: [NL. Leucosia, the typical genus (fr. Gr. - oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Leucosoidea, a tribe of marine crabs including the box crab or Calappa.
LEUCOSPHERELeu"co*sphere, n. Etym: [Leuco- + sphere.] (Astron.)
Defn: The inner corona. [R.]
LEUCOTURICLeu`co*tu"ric, a. Etym: [Leuco- + allantoic + uric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous organic substance of the uric acid group, called leucoturic acid or oxalantin. See Oxalantin.
LEUCOUSLeu"cous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: White; — applied to albinos, from the whiteness of their skin and hair.
LEUCOXENELeu*cox"ene, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. xe`nos stranger.] (Min.)
Defn: A nearly opaque white mineral, in part identical with titanite, observed in some igneous rocks as the result of the alteration of titanic iron.
LEUKAEMIALeu*kæ"mi*a, n.
Defn: Leucocythæmia.
LEUKE; LEUKENESSLeuke, a., Leuke"ness, n.
Defn: See Luke, etc.
LEUKOPLASTLeu"ko*plast, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Leucoplast.
LEUKOPLASTLeu"ko*plast (lu"ko*plast), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Leucoplast.
LEVANALe*va"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. levare to raise.] (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: A goddess who protected newborn infants.
LEVANTLe"vant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of lever to raise.] (Law)
Defn: Rising or having risen from rest; — said of cattle. SeeCouchant and levant, under Couchant.
LEVANTLe*vant", n. Etym: [It. levante the point where the sum rises, theeast, the Levant, fr.levare to raise, levarsi to rise: cf. F. levant.See Lever.]
1. The countries washed by the eastern part of the Mediterranean and its contiguous waters.
2. A levanter (the wind so called).
LEVANTLe"vant, a.
Defn: Eastern. [Obs.]Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds. Milton.
LEVANT Le*vant", v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sp. levantar to raise, go from one place to another.]
Defn: To run away from one's debts; to decamp. [Colloq. Eng.]Thackeray.
LEVANTERLe*vant"er, n. Etym: [From Levant, v.]
Defn: One who levants, or decamps. [Colloq. Eng.]
LEVANTERLe*vant"er, n. Etym: [From Levant, n.]
Defn: A strong easterly wind peculiar to the Mediterranean. W. H.Russell.
LEVANTINELe*vant"ine, a. Etym: [F. levantin, or It. levantino. See Levant, n.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Levant. J. Spencer.
LEVANTINELe*vant"ine, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of the Levant.
2. Etym: [F. levantine, or It. levantina.]
Defn: A stout twilled silk fabric, formerly made in the Levant.
LEVARI FACIASLe*va`ri fa"ci*as. Etym: [Law L., cause to be levied.]
Defn: A writ of execution at common law.
LEVATIONLe*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. levatio.]
Defn: The act of raising; elevation; upward motion, as that produced by the action of a levator muscle.
LEVATORLe*va"tor, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle that serves to raise some part, as the lip or the eyelid.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: A surgical instrument used to raise a depressed part of the skull.
LEVELeve, a.
Defn: Dear. See Lief. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEVELeve, n. & v.
Defn: Same as 3d & 4th Leave. [Obs.]
LEVELeve, v. i.
Defn: To live. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEVELeve, v. t. Etym: [OE., fr. AS. l, abbrev. fr. gel. See Believe.]
Defn: To believe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEVELeve, v. t. Etym: [OE. leven, AS. l, l. See Leave permission.]
Defn: To grant; — used esp. in exclamations or prayers followed by a dependent clause. [Obs.] God leve all be well. Chaucer.
LEVECHELe*ve"che, n. [Sp. Cf. Lebeccio.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A dry sirocco of Spain.
LEVEELev"ee, n. Etym: [F. lever, fr. lever to raise, se lever to rise. SeeLever, n.]
1. The act of rising. " The sun's levee." Gray.
2. A morning assembly or reception of visitors, — in distinction from a soirée, or evening assembly; a matinée; hence, also, any general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, whether in the daytime or evening; as, the president's levee.
Note: In England a ceremonious day reception, when attended by both ladies and gentlemen, is called a drawing-room.
LEVEELev"ee, v. t.
Defn: To attend the levee or levees of.He levees all the great. Young.
LEVEELev"ee, n. Etym: [F. levée, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf.Levy.]
Defn: An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along theMississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river. [U. S. ]
LEVEELev"ee, v. t.
Defn: To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river. [U. S.]
LEVEE EN MASSELe*vée" en` masse". Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Levy in mass, under Levy, n.
LEVEFULLeve"ful, a. Etym: [Leve, n. + -ful.]
Defn: Allowable; permissible; lawful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEVEL Lev"el, n. Etym: [OE. level, livel, OF. livel, F. niveau, fr. L. libella level, water level, a plumb level, dim. of libra pound, measure for liquids, balance, water poise, level. Cf. Librate, Libella.]
1. A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; — this is the true level, and is a curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere.
2. A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; — this is the apparent level at the given point.
3. An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the earth; as, to climb from the level of the coast to the l of the plateau and then descent to the level of the valley or of the sea. After draining of the level in Northamptonshire. Sir M. Hale. Shot from the deadly level of a gun. Shak.
4. Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation. Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level. Addison. Somebody there of his own level. Swift. Be the fair level of thy actions laid As temperance wills and prudence may persuade. Prior.
5. A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level. When merit shall find its level. F. W. Robertson.
6. (Mech. & Surv.) (a) An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line. (b) A measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a level; as, to take a level.
7. A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in mine. Air level, a spirit level. See Spirit level (below). — Box level, a spirit level in which a glass-covered box is used instead of a tube. — Garpenter's level, Mason's level, either the plumb level or a straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small spirit level. — Level of the sea, the imaginary level from which heights and depths are calculated, taken at a mean distance between high and low water. — Line of levels, a connected series of measurements, by means of a level, along a given line, as of a railroad, to ascertain the profile of the ground. — Plumb level, one in which a horizontal bar is placed in true position by means of a plumb line, to which it is at right angles. — Spirit level, one in which the adjustment to the horizon is shown by the position of a bubble in alcohol or ether contained in a nearly horizontal glass tube, or a circular box with a glass cover. — Surveyor's level, a telescope, with a spirit level attached, and with suitable screws, etc., for accurate adjustment, the whole mounted on a tripod, for use in leveling; — called also leveling instrument. — Water level, an instrument to show the level by means the surface of water in a trough, or in upright tubes connected by a pipe.
LEVELLev"el, a.
1. Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth's surface; as, a level field; level ground; the level surface of a pond or lake. Ample spaces o'er the smooth And level pavement. Milton.
2. Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level.
3. Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; — followed by with, sometimes by to. Young boys and girls Are level now with men; the odds is gone. Shak. Everything lies level to our wish. Shak.
4. Straightforward; direct; direct; clear; open. A very plain and level account. M. Arnold.
5. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [Colloq.] " A level consideration." Shak.
6. (Phonetics)
Defn: Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection. H. Sweet. Level line (Shipbuilding), the outline of a section which is horizontal crosswise, and parallel with the rabbet of the keel lengthwise. Level surface (Physics), an equipotential surface at right angles at every point to the lines of force.
LEVELLev"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leveled or Levelled; p. pr. & vb. n.Leveling or Levelling.]
1. To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a road, a walk, or a garden.
2. To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower. And their proud structures level with the ground. Sandys. He levels mountains and he raises plains. Dryden.
3. To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct. Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, leveled a quarrel out of a crossbow. Stow.
4. Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the ranks and conditions of men.
5. To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children. For all his mind on honor fixed is, To which he levels all his purposes. Spenser.
LEVELLev"el, v. i.
1. To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit. [Obs.] With such accommodation and besort As levels with her breeding. Shak.
2. To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object. The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife. Shak. The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the mark whereat we also level. Hooker. She leveled at our purposes. Shak.
LEVELERLev"el*er, n. Etym: [Written also leveller.]
1. One who, or that which, levels.
2. One who would remove social inequalities or distinctions; a socialist.
LEVELINGLev"el*ing, n. Etym: [Written also levelling.]
1. The act or operation of making level.
2. (Surveying)
Defn: The art or operation of using a leveling instrument for finding a horizontal line, for ascertaining the differences of level between different points of the earth's surface included in a survey, for establishing grades, etc., as in finding the descent of a river, or locating a line of railroad. Leveling instrument. See Surveyor's level, under Level, n. — Leveling staff, a graduated rod or staff used in connection with a leveling instrument for measuring differences of level between points.
LEVELISMLev"el*ism, n.
Defn: The disposition or endeavor to level all distinctions of rank in society.
LEVELLYLev"el*ly, adv.
Defn: In an even or level manner.
LEVELNESSLev"el*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being level.
LEVENLev"en, n. Etym: [See Levin.]
Defn: Lightning. [Obs.]Wild thunder dint and fiery leven. Chaucer.
LEVERLev"er, a. Etym: [Old compar. of leve or lief.]
Defn: More agreeable; more pleasing. [Obs.] Chaucer. To be lever than. See Had as lief, under Had.
LEVERLev"er, adv.
Defn: Bather. [Obs.] Chaucer.For lever had I die than see his deadly face. Spenser.
LEVER Le"ver, n. Etym: [OE. levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever to raise, L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. Alleviate, Elevate, Leaven, Legerdemain, Levy, n.]
1. (Mech.)
Defn: A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P. respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.
2. (Mach.) (a) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. (b) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. Compound lever, a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon each other. — Lever escapement. See Escapement. — Lever jack. See Jack, n., 5. — Lever watch, a watch having a vibrating lever to connect the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance. Universal lever, a machine formed by a combination of a lever with the wheel and axle, in such a manner as to convert the reciprocating motion of the lever into a continued rectilinear motion of some body to which the power is applied.
LEVERAGELev"er*age, n.
Defn: The action of a lever; mechanical advantage gained by the lever. Leverage of a couple (Mech.), the perpendicular distance between the lines of action of two forces which act in parallel and opposite directions. — Leverage of a force, the perpendicular distance from the line in which a force acts upon a body to a point about which the body may be supposed to turn.
LEVERETLev"er*et, n. Etym: [F. levraut, dim. of lièvre hare, L. lepus. Cf.Leporine.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hare in the first year of its age.
LEVEROCKLev"er*ock, n. Etym: [See Lark.]
Defn: A lark. [Scot.]
LEVERWOODLev"er*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The American hop hornbeam (Ostrya Virginica), a small tree with very tough wood.
LEVESELLev"e*sel, n. Etym: [AS. leáf a leaf + sæl, sel, a room, a hall.]
Defn: A leafy shelter; a place covered with foliage. [Obs.]Behind the mill, under a levesel. Chaucer.
LEVETLev"et, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lever to raise.]
Defn: A trumpet call for rousing soldiers; a reveille. [Obs.]Hudibras.
LEVIABLELev"i*a*ble, a. Etym: [From Levy to assess.]
Defn: Fit to be levied; capable of being assessed and collected; as, sums leviable by course of law. Bacon.
LEVIATHANLe*vi"a*than, n. Etym: [Heb. livyathan.]
1. An aquatic animal, described in the book of Job, ch. xli., and mentioned on other passages of Scripture.
Note: It is not certainly known what animal is intended, whether the crocodile, the whale, or some sort of serpent.
2. The whale, or a great whale. Milton.
LEVIERLev"i*er, n.
Defn: One who levees. Cartwright.
LEVIGABLELev"i*ga*ble a. Etym: [See Levigate, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being levigated.
LEVIGATE Lev"i*gate, a. Etym: [L. levigatus, p. p. of levigare to lighten, fr. l light.]
Defn: Made less harsh or burdensome; alleviated. [Obs.] Sir. T.Elyot.
LEVIGATELev"i*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Levigated; p. pr. & vb. n.Levigating.] Etym: [L. levigatus, p. p. of levigare to make smooth,fr. l smooth; akin to Gr.
Defn: To make smooth in various senses: (a) To free from grit; to reduce to an impalpable powder or paste. (b) To mix thoroughly, as liquids or semiliquids. (c) To polish. (d) To make smooth in action. " When use hath levigated the organs." Barrow. (e) Technically, to make smooth by rubbing in a moist condition between hard surfaces, as in grinding pigments.
LEVIGATELev"i*gate, a. Etym: [L. levigatus, p. p.]
Defn: Made smooth, as if polished.
LEVIGATION Lev"i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. levigatio a smoothing: cf. F. lévigation.]
Defn: The act or operation of levigating.
LEVINLev"in, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Cf. Leven.]
Defn: Lightning. [Obs.] Spenser. Levin brand, a thunderbolt. [Obs.]Spenser.
LEVINERLev"in*er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A swift hound.
LEVIRLe"vir, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A husband's brother; — used in reference to levirate marriages.
LEVIRATE; LEVIRATICAL Lev"i*rate, Lev`i*rat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. levir a husband's brother, brother-in-law; akin to Gr. lévirat leviration.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in accordance with, a law of the ancient Israelites and other tribes and races, according to which a woman, whose husband died without issue, was married to the husband's brother. The firstborn son of a leviratical marriage was reckoned and registered as the son of the deceased brother. Alford.
LEVIRATIONLev`i*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Levirate marriage or marriages. Kitto.
LEVIROSTRES Lev`i*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. levis light + rostrum beak.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds, including the hornbills, kingfishers, and related forms.
LEVITATELev"i*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. levitas, -atis, lightness. See Levity.]
Defn: To rise, or tend to rise, as if lighter than the surrounding medium; to become buoyant; — opposed to gravitate. Sir. J. Herschel.
LEVITATELev"i*tate, v. i. (Spiritualism)
Defn: To make buoyant; to cause to float in the air; as, to levitate a table. [Cant]
LEVITATIONLev`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. levis light in weight.]
1. Lightness; buoyancy; act of making light. Paley.
2. The act or process of making buoyant.
LEVITELe"vite, n. Etym: [L. Levites, Gr. Levi, one of the sons of Jacob.]
1. (Bib. Hist.)
Defn: One of the tribe or family of Levi; a descendant of Levi; esp., one subordinate to the priests (who were of the same tribe) and employed in various duties connected with the tabernacle first, and afterward the temple, such as the care of the building, bringing of wood and other necessaries for the sacrifices, the music of the services, etc.
2. A priest; so called in contempt or ridicule.
LEVITICALLe*vit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. Leviticus, Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to a Levite or the Levites.
2. Priestly. " Levitical questions." Milton.
3. Of or pertaining to, or designating, the law contained in the book of Leviticus. Ayliffe. Levitical degrees, degrees of relationship named in Leviticus, within which marriage is forbidden.
LEVITICALLYLe*vit"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: After the manner of the Levites; in accordance with the levitical law.
LEVITICUSLe*vit"i*cus, n. Etym: [See Levitical.]
Defn: The third canonical book of the Old Testament, containing the laws and regulations relating to the priests and Levites among the Hebrews, or the body of the ceremonial law.
LEVITY Lev"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. levitas, fr. levis light in weight; akin to levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk; relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or floating upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; — opposed to gravity. He gave the form of levity to that which ascended; to that which descended, the form of gravity. Sir. W. Raleigh. This bubble by reason of its comparative levity to the fluidity that incloses it, would ascend to the top. Bentley.
2. Lack of gravity and earnestness in deportment or character; trifling gayety; frivolity; sportiveness; vanity. " A spirit of levity and libertinism." Atterbury. He never employed his omnipotence out of levity. Calamy.
3. Lack of steadiness or constancy; disposition to change; fickleness; volatility. The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with everything of which it is in possession. Burke.
Syn. — Inconstancy; thoughtlessness; unsteadiness; inconsideration; volatility; flightiness. — Levity, Volatility, Flightiness. All these words relate to outward conduct. Levity springs from a lightness of mind which produces a disregard of the proprieties of time and place.Volatility is a degree of levity which causes the thoughts to fly from one object to another, without resting on any for a moment. Flightiness is volatility carried to an extreme which often betrays its subject into gross impropriety or weakness. Levity of deportment, of conduct, of remark; volatility of temper, of spirits; flightiness of mind or disposition.
LEVO-Le"vo-.
Defn: A prefix from L. laevus, meaning: (a) Pertaining to, or toward, the left; as, levorotatory. (b) (Chem. & Opt.) Turning the plane of polarized light to the left; as, levotartaric acid; levoracemic acid; levogyratory crystals, etc. [Written also lævo-.]
LEVOGYRATELe`vo*gy"rate, a. Etym: [Levo- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: Turning or twisting the plane of polarization towards the left, as levulose, levotartaric acid, etc. [Written also lævogyrate.]
LEVOROTATIONLe`vo*ro*ta"tion, n. [Written also lævorotation.] [Levo- + rotation.](Physics & Chem.)
Defn: Rotation in the direction of an outgoing right-handed screw; counter-clockwise rotation; — applied chiefly to the turning of the plane of polarization of light.
LEVOROTATORYLe`vo*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Levo- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: Turning or rotating the plane of polarization towards the left; levogyrate, as levulose, left handed quartz crystals, etc. [Written also lævorotatory.]
LEVULINLev"u*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance resembling dextrin, obtained from the bulbs of the dahlia, the artichoke, and other sources, as a colorless, spongy, amorphous material. It is so called because by decomposition it yields levulose. [Written also lævulin.]
LEVULINICLev`u*lin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid (called also acetyl- propionic acid), C5H8O3, obtained by the action of dilute acids on various sugars (as levulose). [Written also lævulinic.]
LEVULOSANLev`u*lo"san, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An unfermentable carbohydrate obtained by gently heating levulose.
LEVULOSELev"u*lose`, n. Etym: [See Levo-.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sirupy variety of sugar, rarely obtained crystallized, occurring widely in honey, ripe fruits, etc., and hence called also fruit sugar. It is called levulose, because it rotates the plane of polarization to the left. [Written also lævulose.]C6H12O6.
Note: It is obtained, together with an equal quantity of dextrose, by the inversion of ordinary cane or beet sugar, and hence, as being an ingredient of invert sugar, is often so called. It is fermentable, nearly as sweet as cane sugar, and is metameric with dextrose. Cf. Dextrose.