5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant.
LIKELYLike"ly, adv.
Defn: In all probability; probably. While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of nothing that imported him to know. Glanvill.
LIKE-MINDEDLike"-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a like disposition or purpose; of the same mind.Tillotson.
LIKENLik"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Likened; p. pr. & vb. n. Likening.] Etym:[OE. liknen. See Like, a.]
1. To allege, or think, to be like; to represent as like; to compare; as, to liken life to a pilgrimage. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock. Matt. vii. 24.
2. To make or cause to be like. [R.] Brougham.
LIKENESSLike"ness, n. Etym: [AS. gelicnes.]
1. The state or quality of being like; similitude; resemblance; similarity; as, the likeness of the one to the other is remarkable.
2. Appearance or form; guise. An enemy in the likeness of a friend. L'Estrange.
3. That which closely resembles; a portrait. [How he looked] the likenesses of him which still remain enable us to imagine. Macaulay.
4. A comparison; parable; proverb. [Obs.] He said to them, Soothly ye shall say to me this likeness, Leech, heal thyself. Wyclif (Luke iv. 23).
Syn. — Similarity; parallel; similitude; representation; portrait; effigy.
LIKEROUS; LIKEROUSNESSLik"er*ous, a., Lik"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Lickerish, Lickerishness. Chaucer.
LIKEWISELike"wise`, adv. & conj. Etym: [See Wise, n.]
Defn: In like manner; also; moreover; too. See Also.Go, and do thou likewise. Luke x. 37.For he seeth that wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutishperson perish. Ps. xlix. 10.
LIKIN Li"kin`, n. [Written also lekin.] [ Chin. li kin; li the thousandth part of a tael + kin money.]
Defn: A Chinese provincial tax levied at many inland stations upon imports or articles in transit.
"Likin," which used to be regarded as illegal, as one of the many, "squeezes" imposed by the mandarins, is, in Jamieson's opinion, just as legal as any other form of taxation. A. R. Colquhoun.
LIKINGLik"ing, p. a.
Defn: Looking; appearing; as, better or worse liking. See Like, tolook. [Obs.] Chaucer.Why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which areof your sort Dan. i. 10.
LIKINGLik"ing, n.
1. The state of being pleasing; a suiting. See On liking, below. [Obs. or Prov. End.]
2. The state of being pleased with, or attracted toward, some thing or person; hence, inclination; desire; pleasure; preference; — often with for, formerly with to; as, it is an amusement I have no liking for. If the human intellect hath once taken a liking to any doctrine, . . . it draws everything else into harmony with that doctrine, and to its support. Bacon.
3. Appearance; look; figure; state of body as to health or condition. [Archaic] I shall think the worse of fat men, as long as I have an eye to make difference of men's liking. Shak. Their young ones are in good liking. Job. xxxix. 4. On liking, on condition of being pleasing to or suiting; also, on condition of being pleased with; as, to hold a place of service on liking; to engage a servant on liking. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Would he be the degenerate scion of that royal line . . . to be a king on liking and on sufferance Hazlitt.
LILAC Li"lac, n. [Also lilach.] Etym: [Sp. lilac, lila, Ar.lilak, fr. Per. lilaj, lilanj, lilang, nilaj, nil, the indigo plant, or from the kindred lilak bluish, the flowers being named from the color. Cf. Anil.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub of the genus Syringa. There are six species, natives of Europe and Asia. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, and S. Persica, the Persian lilac, are frequently cultivated for the fragrance and beauty of their purplish or white flowers. In the British colonies various other shrubs have this name.
2. A light purplish color like that of the flower of the purplish lilac. California lilac (Bot.), a low shrub with dense clusters of purplish flowers (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).
LILACINLil"a*cin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Syringin.
LILIACEOUS Lil`i*a"ceous, a. Etym: [L. liliaceus, fr. lilium lily. See Lily.] (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to a natural order of which the lily, tulip, and hyacinth are well-known examples. (b) Like the blossom of a lily in general form.
LILIALLil"i*al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a general resemblance to lilies or to liliaceous plants.
LILIEDLil"ied, a.
Defn: Covered with, or having many, lilies.By sandy Ladon's lilied banks. Milton.
LILLLill, v. i.
Defn: To loll. [Obs. or Prov.] Spenser.
LILLIPUTIANLil`li*pu"tian, n.
1. One belonging to a very diminutive race described in Swift's "Voyage to Lilliput."
2. Hence:
Defn: A person or thing of very small size.
LILLIPUTIANLil`li*pu"tian, a.
1. Of or having to the imaginary island of Lilliput described by Swift, or to its inhabitants.
2. Hence:
Defn: Of very small size; diminutive; dwarfed.
LILLY-PILLYLil"ly-pil`ly, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An Australian myrtaceous tree (Eugenia Smithii), having smooth ovate leaves, and panicles of small white flowers. The wood is hard and fine-grained.
LILTLilt, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Norw. lilla, lirla, to sing in a high tone.]
1. To do anything with animation and quickness, as to skip, fly, or hop. [Prov. Eng.] Wordsworth.
2. To sing cheerfully. [Scot.]
LILTLilt, v. t.
Defn: To utter with spirit, animation, or gayety; to sing with spiritand liveliness.A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, With scraps of thundrous epiclilted out By violet-hooded doctors. Tennyson.
LILTLilt, n.
1. Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness. The movement, the lilt, and the subtle charm of the verse. F. Harrison.
2. A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune. The housewife went about her work, or spun at her wheel, with a lilt upon her lips. J. C. Shairp.
LILY Lil"y, n.; pl. Lilies. Etym: [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. Flower-de- luce.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant and flower of the genus Lilium, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three-celled ovary.
Note: There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. Lilium candidum and L. longiflorum are the common white lilies of gardens; L. Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States. L. Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the "lily of the field" in our Lord's parable; L. auratum is the great gold-banded lily of Japan.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as Pancratium, Crinum, Amaryllis, Nerine, etc.
3. That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; — so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de- lis. But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west. Sir T. Browne. African lily (Bot.), the blue-flowered Agapanthus umbellatus. — Atamasco lily (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zephyranthes (Z. Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily. Gray. — Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense like a blackberry. — Bourbon lily (Bot.), Lilium candidum. See Illust. — Butterfly lily. (Bot.) Same as Mariposa lily, in the Vocabulary. — Lily daffodil (Bot.), a plant of the genus Narcissus, and its flower. — Lily encrinite (Paleon.), a fossil encrinite, esp. Encrinus liliiformis. See Encrinite. — Lily hyacinth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hyacinthus. — Lily iron, a kind of harpoon with a detachable head of peculiar shape, used in capturing swordfish. — Lily of the valley (Bot.), a low perennial herb (Convallaria majalis), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers. — Lily pad, the large floating leaf of the water lily. [U. S.] Lowell. — Tiger lily (Bot.), Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black. — Turk's-cap lily (Bot.) Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, L. superbum. — Water lily (Bot.), the Nymphæa, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymphæa.]
LILY-HANDEDLil"y-hand`ed, a.
Defn: Having white, delicate hands.
LILY-LIVEREDLil"y-liv`ered, a.
Defn: White-livered; cowardly.
LILYWORTLil"y*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the Lily family or order. Lindley.
LIMLim, n. Etym: [See Limb.]
Defn: A limb. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LIMALi"ma, n.
Defn: The capital city of Peru, in South America. Lima bean. (Bot.) (a) A variety of climbing or pole bean (Phaseolus lunatus), which has very large flattish seeds. (b) The seed of this plant, much used for food. — Lima wood (Bot.), the beautiful dark wood of the South American tree Cæsalpinia echinata.
LIMACEOUS Li*ma"ceous, a. Etym: [L. limax, limacis, slug, snail: cf. F. limacé.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, Limax, or the slugs.
LIMACINALim`a*ci"na, n. Etym: [NL., From L. limax, limacis, a slug.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small spiral pteropods, common in the Arctic andAntarctic seas. It contributes to the food of the right whales.
LIMACONLi`ma`con", n. Etym: [F. limacon, lit., a snail.] (Geom.)
Defn: A curve of the fourth degree, invented by Pascal. Its polar equation is r = a cos + b.
LIMAILLELi"maille, n. Etym: [F., fr. limer to file. See Limation.]
Defn: Filings of metal. [Obs.] "An ounce . . . of silver lymaille."Chaucer.
LIMANLi"man, n. Etym: [F. limon, fr. L. limus slime.]
Defn: The deposit of slime at the mouth of a river; slime.
LIMATION Li*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. limatus, p. p. of limare to file, fr. lima file : cf. F. limation.]
Defn: The act of filing or polishing.
LIMATURELi"ma*ture, n. Etym: [L. limatura. See Limation.]
1. The act of filing.
2. That which is filed off; filings. Johnson.
LIMAXLi"max, n. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of airbreathing mollusks, including the common garden slugs. They have a small rudimentary shell. The breathing pore is on the right side of the neck. Several species are troublesome in gardens. See Slug.
LIMB Limb, n. Etym: [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS. li, OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. lipus. Cf. Lith, Limber.]
1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal. A second Hector for his grim aspect, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. Shak.
3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else. Shak. That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows. Sir W. Scott.
4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock. Limb of the law, a lawyer or an officer of the law. [Colloq.] Landor.
LIMBLimb, v. t.
1. To supply with limbs. [R.] Milton.
2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.
LIMBLimb, n. Etym: [L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.]
Defn: A border or edge, in certain special uses. (a) (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade. (b) (Astron.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon. (c) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.
LIMBATLim"bat, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A cooling periodical wind in the Isle of Cyprus, blowing from the northwest from eight o'clock, A. M., to the middle of the day or later.
LIMBATELim"bate, a. Etym: [L. limbatus, fr. limbus border, edge. SeeLimbus.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Bordered, as when one color is surrounded by an edging of another.
LIMBECLim"bec, n. Etym: [Abbrev. of alembic.]
Defn: An alembic; a still. [Obs.] Spenser. Shak.
LIMBECLim"bec, v. t.
Defn: To distill. [Obs.] Dryden.
LIMBEDLimbed, a.
Defn: Having limbs; — much used in composition; as, large-limbed;short-limbed.Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, Limbed and full grown.Milton.
LIMBER Lim"ber, n. Etym: [For limmer, Icel. limar branches, boughs, pl. of lim; akin to E. limb. See Limb a branch.]
1. pl.
Defn: The shafts or thills of a wagon or carriage. [Prov. Eng.]
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The detachable fore part of a gun carriage, consisting of two wheels, an axle, and a shaft to which the horses are attached. On top is an ammunition box upon which the cannoneers sit.
3. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Gutters or conduits on each side of the keelson to afford a passage for water to the pump well. Limber boards (Naut.), short pieces of plank forming part of the lining of a ship's floor immediately above the timbers, so as to prevent the limbers from becoming clogged. — Limber box or chest (Mil.), a box on the limber for carrying ammunition. — Limber rope, Limber chain or Limber clearer (Naut.), a rope or chain passing through the limbers of a ship, by which they may be cleared of dirt that chokes them. Totten. — Limber strake (Shipbuilding), the first course of inside planking next the keelson.
LIMBERLim"ber v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Limbering.](Mil.)
Defn: To attach to the limber; as, to limber a gun. To limber up, to change a gun carriage into a four-wheeled vehicle by attaching the limber.
LIMBERLim"ber, a. Etym: [Akin to lim, a. Limp, a.]
Defn: Easily bent; flexible; pliant; yielding. Milton.The bargeman that doth row with long and limber oar. Turbervile.
LIMBERLim"ber, v. t.
Defn: To cause to become limber; to make flexible or pliant.Richardson.
LIMBERNESSLim"ber*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being limber; flexibleness. Boyle.
LIMBLESSLimb"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of limbs.
LIMBMEALLimb"meal`, adv. Etym: [See Limb, and Piecemeal.]
Defn: Piecemeal. [Obs.] "To tear her limbmeal." Shak.
LIMBO; LIMBUS Lim"bo, Lim"bus, n. Etym: [L. limbus border, edge in limbo on the border. Cf. Limb border.]
1. (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: An extramundane region where certain classes of souls weresupposed to await the judgment.As far from help as Limbo is from bliss. Shak.A Limbo large and broad, since called The Paradise of fools. Milton.
Note: The limbus patrum was considered as a place for the souls of good men who lived before the coming of our Savior. The limbus infantium was said to be a similar place for the souls of unbaptized infants. To these was added, in the popular belief, the limbus fatuorum, or fool's paradise, regarded as a receptacle of all vanity and nonsense.
2. Hence: Any real or imaginary place of restraint or confinement; a prison; as, to put a man in limbo.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: A border or margin; as, the limbus of the cornea. Etym: Jamaican E limba to bend, fr. E. limber (1950)]. Often performed at celebrations, such as weddings. (1950-1996)
LIMBOUSLim"bous, a. Etym: [See Limbus.] (Anat.)
Defn: With slightly overlapping borders; — said of a suture.
LIMBURG CHEESE; LIMBURGER; LIMBURGER CHEESELim"burg cheese, Lim"burg*er, n., Lim"burg*er cheese.
Defn: A soft cheese made in the Belgian province of Limburg (Limbourg), and usually not eaten until the curing has developed a peculiar and, to most people, unpleasant odor.
LIMELime, n. Etym: [See Leam a string.]
Defn: A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. Halliwell.
LIMELime, n. Etym: [Formerly line, for earlier lind. See Linden.] (Bot.)
Defn: The linden tree. See Linden.
LIMELime, n. Etym: [F. lime; of Persian origin. See Lemon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also, the tree which bears it. There are two kinds; Citrus Medica, var. acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime (C. Medica, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour.
LIME Lime, n. Etym: [AS. lim; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG. lim, L. limus mud, linere to smear, and E. loam. . Cf. Loam, Liniment.]
1. Birdlime. Like the lime That foolish birds are caught with. Wordsworth.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic substance, usually called quicklime, obtained by calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when treated with water, forming slacked lime, and is an essential ingredient of cement, plastering, mortar, etc.CaO
Note: Lime is the principal constituent of limestone, marble, chalk,bones, shells, etc. Caustic lime, calcium hydrate or slacked lime;also, in a less technical sense, calcium oxide or quicklime.— Lime burner, one who burns limestone, shells, etc., to make lime.— Lime light. See Calcium light under Calcium.— Lime pit, a limestone quarry.— Lime rod, Lime twig, a twig smeared with birdlime; hence, thatwhich catches; a snare. Chaucer.
LIMELime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limed; p. pr. & vb. n. Liming.] Etym: [Cf.AS. geliman to glue or join together. See Lime a viscous substance.]
1. To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime. These twigs, in time, will come to be limed. L'Estrange.
2. To entangle; to insnare. We had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must take the chance. Tennyson.
3. To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to manure with lime; as, to lime hides for removing the hair; to lime sails in order to whiten them. Land may be improved by draining, marling, and liming. Sir J. Child.
4. To cement. "Who gave his blood to lime the stones together." Shak.
LIMEHOUNDLime"hound`, n. Etym: [Lime a leash + hound.]
Defn: A dog used in hunting the wild boar; a leamer. Spenser.
LIMEKILNLime"kiln`, n.
Defn: A kiln or furnace in which limestone or shells are burned and reduced to lime.
LIMELIGHTLime"light`, n. (Theat.)
Defn: That part of the stage upon which the limelight as cast, usually where the most important action is progressing or where the leading player or players are placed and upon which the attention of the spectators is therefore concentrated. Hence, consspicuous position before the public; as, politicians who are never happy except in the limelight.
LIMENEANLi*men"e*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Lima, or to the inhabitants of Lima, in Peru. — n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Lima.
LIMERLim"er, n.
Defn: A limehound; a limmer. Chaucer.
LIMERICK Lim"er*ick, n. [Said to be from a song with the same verse construction, current in Ireland, the refrain of which contains the place name Limerick.]
Defn: A nonsense poem of five anapestic lines, of which lines 1, 2, and 5 are of there feet, and rime, and lines 3 and 4 are of two feet, and rime; as —
There was a young lady, Amanda,Whose Ballades Lyriques were quite fin deSiècle, I deemBut her Journal IntimeWas what sent her papa to Uganda.
LIMESTONELime"stone`, n.
Defn: A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime. It sometimes contains also magnesium carbonate, and is then called magnesian or dolomitic limestone. Crystalline limestone is called marble.
LIME TWIGLime twig
Defn: . See under 4th Lime.
LIME-TWIGGEDLime"-twigged`, a.
Defn: Beset with snares; insnared, as with birdlime. L. Addison.
LIMEWATERLime"wa`ter, n.
Defn: Water impregnated with lime; esp., an artificial solution of lime for medicinal purposes.
LIMICOLAE Li*mic"o*læ, n. pl. Etym: [L. limicola a dweller in the mud; limus mud + colere to dwell.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of shore birds, embracing the plovers, sandpipers, snipe, curlew, etc. ; the Grallæ.
LIMICOLINELi*mic"o*line, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Shore-inhabiting; of or pertaining to the Limicolæ.
LIMINESSLim"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being limy.
LIMIT Lim"it, n. Etym: [From L. limes, limitis: cf. F.limite; -or from E. limit, v. See Limit, v. t.]
1. That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent; as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the limits of human knowledge or endeavor. As eager of the chase, the maid Beyond the forest's verdant limits strayed. Pope.
2. The space or thing defined by limits. The archdeacon hath divided it Into three limits very equally. Shak.
3. That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period itself; the full time or extent. The dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak. The limit of your lives is out. Shak.
4. A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance. I prithee, give no limits to my tongue. Shak.
5. (Logic & Metaph.)
Defn: A determining feature; a distinguishing characteristic a differentia.
6. (Math.)
Defn: A determinate quantity, to which a variable one continually approaches, and may differ from it by less than any given difference, but to which, under the law of variation, the variable can never become exactly equivalent. Elastic limit. See under Elastic. — Prison limits, a definite, extent of space in or around a prison, within which a prisoner has liberty to go and come.
Syn.— Boundary; border; edge; termination; restriction; bound; confine.
LIMITLim"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limited; p. pr. & vb. n. Limiting.] Etym:[F. limiter, L. limitare, fr. limes, limitis, limit; prob. akin tolimen threshold, E. eliminate; cf. L. limus sidelong.]
Defn: To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate, circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as, to limit the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to limit one's ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of a word. Limiting parallels (Astron.), those parallels of latitude between which only an occultation of a star or planet by the moon, in a given case, can occur.
LIMITLim"it, v. i.
Defn: To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region; as, a limiting friar. [Obs.]
LIMITABLELim"it*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being limited.
LIMITANEOUSLim`i*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. limitancus. See Limit, v. t.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a limit. [Obs.]
LIMITARIANLim`i*ta"ri*an, a.
Defn: Tending to limit.
LIMITARYLim"i*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L.limitaris. See Limit , v. t.]
1. Placed at the limit, as a guard. "Proud limitary cherub." Milton.
2. Confined within limits; limited in extent, authority, power, etc."The limitary ocean." Trench.The poor, limitary creature calling himself a man of the world. DeQuincey.
3. Limiting, or tending to limit; restrictive. Doctrines limitary, if not subversive of the papal power. Milman.
LIMITARYLim"i*ta*ry, n.; pl. -ries (.
1. That which serves to limit; a boundary; border land. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. A limiter. See Limiter, 2.
LIMITATELim"i*tate, a. Etym: [L. limitatus, p. p. of limitare to limit. SeeLimit, v. t. ]
Defn: Bounded by a distinct line.
LIMITATION Lim`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. limitatio: cf. F. Limitation. See Limit, v. t.]
1. The act of limiting; the state or condition of being limited; as, the limitation of his authority was approved by the council. They had no right to mistake the limitation . . . of their own faculties, for an inherent limitation of the possible modes of existence in the universe. J. S. Mill.
2. That which limits; a restriction; a qualification; a restraining condition, defining circumstance, or qualifying conception; as, limitations of thought. The cause of error is ignorance what restraints and limitations all principles have in regard of the matter whereunto they are applicable. Hooker.
3. A certain precinct within which friars were allowed to beg, or exercise their functions; also, the time during which they were permitted to exercise their functions in such a district. Chaucer. Latimer.
4. A limited time within or during which something is to be done. You have stood your limitation, and the tribunes Endue you with the people's voice. Shak.
5. (Law) (a) A certain period limited by statute after which the claimant shall not enforce his claims by suit. (b) A settling of an estate or property by specific rules. (c) A restriction of power; as, a constitutional limitation. Wharton. Bouvier. To know one's own limitations, to know the reach and limits of one's abilities. A. R. Wallace.
LIMITEDLim"it*ed, a.
Defn: Confined within limits; narrow; circumscribed; restricted; as, our views of nature are very limited. Limited company, a company in which the liability of each shareholder is limited by the number of shares he has taken, so that he can not be called on to contribute beyond the amount of his shares. [Eng.] Mozley & W.
LIMITEDLYLim"it*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With limitation.
LIMITEDNESS lim"it*ed*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being limited.
LIMITERLim"it*er, n.
1. One who, or that which, limits.
2. A friar licensed to beg within certain bounds, or whose duty was limited to a certain district. [Formerly written also limitour.] Chaucer. A limitour of the Gray Friars, in the time of his limitation, preached many times, and had one sermon at all times. Latimer.
LIMITIVELim"it*ive, a.
Defn: Involving a limit; as, a limitive law, one designed to limit existing powers. [R.]
LIMITLESSLim"it*less, a.
Defn: Having no limits; unbounded; boundless. Davies (Wit's Pilgr.).
LIMITOURLim"it*our, n.
Defn: See Limiter, 2.
LIMMERLim"mer, a.
Defn: Limber. [Obs.] Holland.
LIMMERLim"mer, n. Etym: [F. limier. See Leamer.]
1. A limehound; a leamer.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mongrel, as a cross between the mastiff and hound.
3. A low, base fellow; also, a prostitute. [Scot.] Thieves, limmers, and broken men of the Highlands. Sir W. Scott.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A man rope at the side of a ladder.
LIMNLimn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limned; p. pr. & vb. n. Limning.] Etym:[OE. limnen, fr. luminen, for enluminen, F. enluminer to illuminate,to limn, LL. illuminare to paint. Illuminate, Luminous.]
1. To draw or paint; especially, to represent in an artistic way with pencil or brush. Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different. Sir T. Browne.
2. To illumine, as books or parchments, with ornamental figures, letters, or borders.
LIM NAEALim *næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fresh-water air-breathing mollusks, abundant in ponds and streams; — called also pond snail. [Written also Lymnæa.]
LIMNERLim"ner, n. Etym: [F. enlumineur, LL. illuminator. See Limn, and cf.Alluminor.]
Defn: A painter; an artist; esp.: (a) One who paints portraits. (b) One who illuminates books. [Archaic]
LIMNIADLim"ni*ad, n. Etym: [Gr. (Myth.)
Defn: See Limoniad.
LIMNINGLim"ning, n.
Defn: The act, process, or art of one who limns; the picture or decoration so produced. Adorned with illumination which we now call limning. Wood.
LIMOGESLi*moges", n.
Defn: A city of Southern France. Limoges enamel, a kind of enamel ware in which the enamel is applied to the whole surface of a metal plaque, vase, or the like, and painted in enamel colors. The art was brought to a high degree of perfection in Limoges in the 16th century. — Limoges ware. (a) Articles decorated with Limoges enamel. (b) Articles of porcelain, etc., manufactured at Limoges.
LIMONIADLi*mo"ni*ad, n. Etym: [L. limoniades, pl., Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A nymph of the meadows; — called also Limniad.
LIMONIN Li*mo"nin, n. Etym: [From NL. Citrus Medica, var. Limonum, the scientific name of the lemon.] (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter, white, crystalline substance found in orange and lemon seeds.
LIMONITELi"mon*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. limonite, G. limonit.] (Min.)
Defn: Hydrous sesquixoide of iron, an important ore of iron, occurring in stalactitic, mammillary, or earthy forms, of a dark brown color, yellowish brown powder. It includes bog iron. Also called brown hematite.
LIMOSISLi*mo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A ravenous appetite caused by disease; excessive and morbid hunger.
LIMOUSLi"mous, a. Etym: [L. limosus, fr. limus slime, mud.]
Defn: Muddy; slimy; thick. Sir T. Browne.
LIMOUSINE Li`mou*sine", n. [Cf. F. limousine a kind of cloak, fr. Limousin, an old province in central France.]
Defn: An automobile body with seats and permanent top like a coupé, and with the top projecting over the driver and a projecting front; also, an automobile with such a body.
LIMPLimp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Limped; p. pr. & vb. n. Limping.] Etym:[Cf. AS. lemphealt lame, OHG. limphen to limp, be weak; perh. akin toE. lame, or to limp, a
Defn: To halt; to walk lamely. Also used figuratively. Shak.
LIMPLimp, n.
Defn: A halt; the act of limping.
LIMPLimp, n. (Ore Washing)
Defn: A scraper for removing poor ore or refuse from the sieve.
LIMP Limp, a. Etym: [Cf. Icel. limpa limpness, weakness, and E.lap, n., lop, v. t. Cf. Limber, a.]
1. Flaccid; flabby, as flesh. Walton.
2. Lacking stiffness; flimsy; as, a limp cravat.
LIMPERLimp"er, n.
Defn: One who limps.
LIMPETLim"pet, n. Etym: [Prob. through French fr. L. lepas, -adis, Gr.(Zoöl.)
1. In a general sense, any hatshaped, or conical, gastropod shell.
2. Any one of many species of marine shellfish of the order Docoglossa, mostly found adhering to rocks, between tides.
Note: The common European limpets of the genus Patella (esp. P. vulgata) are extensively used as food. The common New England species is Acmæa testudinalis. Numerous species of limpets occur on the Pacific coast of America, some of them of large size.
3. Any species of Siphonaria, a genus of limpet-shaped Pulmonifera, living between tides, on rocks.
4. A keyhole limpet. See Fissurella.
LIMPIDLim"pid, a. Etym: [L.limpidus; akin to Gr. limpide. Cf. Lamp.]
Defn: Characterized by clearness or transparency; clear; as, a limpidstream.Springs which were clear, fresh, and limpid. Woodward.
Syn. — Clear; transparent; pellucid; lucid; pure; crystal; translucent; bright.
LIMPIDITYLim*pid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. limpiditas: cf. F. limpidité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being limpid.
LIMPIDNESSLim"pid*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being limpid; limpidity.
LIMPINLim"pin, n.
Defn: A limpet. [Obs.] Holland.
LIMPINGLYLimp"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a limping manner.
LIMPITUDELimp"i*tude, n.
Defn: Limpidity. [Obs.]
LIMPKINLimp"kin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Either one of two species of wading birds of the genus Aramus, intermediate between the cranes and rails. The limpkins are remarkable for the great length of the toes. One species (A. giganteus) inhabits Florida and the West Indies; the other (A. scolopaceus) is found in South America. Called also courlan, and crying bird.
LIMPNESSLimp"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being limp.
LIMPSY; LIMSY Limp"sy, Lim"sy, a. Etym: [See Limp, a., and cf. W. llymsi having a fickle motion, weak. Cf. Flimsy.]
Defn: Limp; flexible; flimsy. [Local, U. S.]
LIMULi"mu, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The Hawaiian name for seaweeds. Over sixty kinds are used as food, and have species names, as Limu Lipoa, Limu palawai, etc.
LIMULELim"ule, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A limulus.
LIMULOIDEALim`u*loi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Limulus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Merostomata, including among living animals the genus Limulus, with various allied fossil genera, mostly of the Carboniferous period. Called also Xiphosura.
Note: There are six pairs of leglike organs, surrounding the mouth, most of which terminate in claws; those of the first pair (probably mandibles) are the smallest; the others have the basal joints thickened and spinose, to serve as jaws, while the terminal joints serve as legs. This group is intermediate, in some characteristics, between crustaceans and certain arachnids (scorpions), but the respiration is by means of lamellate gills borne upon the five posterior abdominal appendages, which are flat and united in pairs by their inner edges, and are protected by the lidlike anterior pair, which also bear the genital orifices.
LIMULUS Lim"u*lus, n.; pl. Limuli (-li). Etym: [L., dim. of limus sidelong, askance.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The only existing genus of Merostomata. It includes only a few species from the East Indies, and one (Limulus polyphemus) from the Atlantic coast of North America. Called also Molucca crab, king crab, horseshoe crab, and horsefoot.
LIMYLim"y, a. Etym: [See 4th Lime.]
1. Smeared with, or consisting of, lime; viscous. "Limy snares.' Spenser.
2. Containing lime; as, a limy soil.
3. Resembling lime; having the qualities of lime.
LINLin, v. i. Etym: [AS. linnan. See Lithe.]
Defn: To yield; to stop; to cease. [Obs. or Scot.] Marsion.
LINLin, n. Etym: [Ir. linn, or Gael. linne; akin to W. llyn a pool,pond, lake, but in senses 2 and 3 prob. from AS.hlynn torrent. Cf.Dunlin.]
1. A pool or collection of water, particularly one above or below a fall of water.
2. A waterfall, or cataract; as, a roaring lin.
3. A steep ravine.
Note: Written also linn and lyn.
LINAGELin"age, n.
Defn: See Lineage. [Obs.] Holland.
LINAMENTLin"a*ment, n. Etym: [L. linamentum, fr. linum flax.] (Surg.)
Defn: Lint; esp., lint made into a tent for insertion into wounds or ulcers.
LINARITELi*nar`ite, n. Etym: [So called because formerly supposed to occur atLinares, in Spain.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous sulphate of lead and copper occurring in bright blue monoclinic crystals.
LINCHLinch, n. Etym: [AS. hlinc a hill.]
Defn: A ledge; a right-angled projection.
LINCHILin"chi, n. Etym: [Native Chinese name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An esculent swallow.
LINCHPIN Linch"pin`, n. Etym: [AS. lynis the axletree; akin to D. luns linchpin, OS. lunisa, LG. lunse, G. lünse, OHG. lun peg, bolt.]
Defn: A pin used to prevent the wheel of a vehicle from sliding off the axletree.
LINCOLN GREENLin"coln green"
Defn: . A color of cloth formerly made in Lincoln, England; the cloth itself.
LINCTURE; LINCTUSLinc"ture, Linc"tus, n. Etym: [L. lingere, linctum, to lick.]
Defn: Medicine taken by licking with the tongue.
LINDLind, n.
Defn: The linden. See Linden. Chaucer.
LINDEN Lin"den, n. Etym: [Orig. an adj. from lind linden tree, AS. lind; akin to D. & G. linde, OHG. linta, Icel., Sw., & Dan. lind. Cf. Lime linden.] (Bot.) (a) A handsome tree (Tilia Europæa), having cymes of light yellow flowers, and large cordate leaves. The tree is common in Europe. (b) In America, the basswood, or Tilia Americana.
LINDIALin"di*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar genus of rotifers, remarkable for the absence of ciliated disks. By some zoölogists it is thought to be like the ancestral form of the Arthropoda.
LINDIFORMLin"di*form, a. Etym: [Lindia + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling the genus Lindia; — said of certain apodous insect larvæ. [See Illust. under Larva.]
LINELine, n. Etym: [OE. lin. See Linen.]
1. Flax; linen. [Obs.] "Garments made of line." Spenser.
2. The longer and fiber of flax.
LINELine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lined; p. pr. & vb. n. Lining.]
1. To cover the inner surface of; as, to line a cloak with silk or fur; to line a box with paper or tin. The inside lined with rich carnation silk. W. Browne.
2. To put something in the inside of; to fill; to supply, as a purse with money. The charge amounteth very high for any one man's purse, except lined beyond ordinary, to reach unto. Carew. Till coffee has her stomach lined. Swift.
3. To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding; to fortify; as, to line works with soldiers. Line and new repair our towns of war With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.
4. To impregnate; — applied to brute animals. Creech. Lined gold, gold foil having a lining of another metal.
LINE Line, n. Etym: [OE. line, AS. line cable, hawser, prob. from L. linea a linen thread, string, line, fr. linum flax, thread, linen, cable; but the English word was influenced by F. ligne line, from the same L. word linea. See Linen.]
1. linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline. Who so layeth lines for to latch fowls. Piers Plowman.
2. A more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver; any long mark; as, a chalk line.
3. The course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road or route; as, the arrow descended in a curved line; the place is remote from lines of travel.
4. Direction; as, the line sight or vision.
5. A row of letters, words, etc., written or printed; esp., a row of words extending across a page or column.
6. A short letter; a note; as, a line from a friend.
7. (Poet.)
Defn: A verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure. In the preceding line Ulysses speaks of Nausicaa. Broome.
8. Course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity. He is uncommonly powerful in his own line, but it is not the line of a first-rate man. Coleridge.
9. (Math.)
Defn: That which has length, but not breadth or thickness.
10. The exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory; boundary; contour; outline. Eden stretched her line From Auran eastward to the royal towers Of great Seleucia. Milton.
11. A threadlike crease marking the face or the hand; hence,characteristic mark.Though on his brow were graven lines austere. Byron.He tipples palmistry, and dines On all her fortune-telling lines.Cleveland.
12. Lineament; feature; figure. "The lines of my boy's face." Shak.
13. A straight row; a continued series or rank; as, a line of houses, or of soldiers; a line of barriers. Unite thy forces and attack their lines. Dryden.
14. A series or succession of ancestors or descand ants of a given person; a family or race; as, the ascending or descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings. Of his lineage am I, and his offspring By very line, as of the stock real. Chaucer.
15. A connected series of public conveyances, and hence, an established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc. ; as, a line of stages; an express line.
16. (Geog.) (a) A circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map. (b) The equator; — usually called the line, or equinoctial line; as, to cross the line.
17. A long tape, or a narrow ribbon of steel, etc., marked with subdivisions, as feet and inches, for measuring; a tapeline.
18. (Script.) (a) A measuring line or cord. He marketh it out with a line. Is. xliv. 13.
(b) That which was measured by a line, as a field or any piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of abode. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yes. I have a goodly heritage. Ps. xvi. 6.
(c) Instruction; doctrine. Their line is gone out through all the earth. Ps. xix. 4.
19. (Mach.)
Defn: The proper relative position or adjustment of parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference to smooth working; as, the engine is in line or out of line or out of line.
20. The track and roadbed of a railway; railroad.
21. (Mil.) (a) A row of men who are abreast of one another, whether side by side or some distance apart; — opposed to column. (b) The regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery, etc.
22. (Fort.) (a) A trench or rampart. (b) pl.
Defn: Dispositions made to cover extended positions, and presenting a front in but one direction to an enemy.
23. pl. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: form of a vessel as shown by the outlines of vertical, horizontal, and obique sections.
24. (Mus.)
Defn: One of the straight horizontal and parallel prolonged strokes on and between which the notes are placed.
25. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: A number of shares taken by a jobber.
26. (Trade)
Defn: A series of various qualities and values of the same general class of articles; as, a full line of hosiery; a line of merinos, etc. McElrath.
27. The wire connecting one telegraphic station with another, or the whole of a system of telegraph wires under one management and name.
28. pl.
Defn: The reins with which a horse is guided by his driver. [U. S.]
29. A measure of length; one twelfth of an inch. Hard lines, hard lot. C. Kingsley. [See Def. 18.] — Line breeding (Stockbreeding), breeding by a certain family line of descent, especially in the selection of the dam or mother. — Line conch (Zoöl.), a spiral marine shell (Fasciolaria distans), of Florida and the West Indies. It is marked by narrow, dark, revolving lines. — Line engraving. (a) Engraving in which the effects are produced by lines of different width and closeness, cut with the burin upon copper or similar material; also, a plate so engraved. (b) A picture produced by printing from such an engraving. — Line of battle. (a) (Mil Tactics) The position of troops drawn up in their usual order without any determined maneuver. (b) (Naval) The line or arrangement formed by vessels of war in an engagement. — Line of battle ship. See Ship of the line, below. — Line of beauty (Fine Arts),an abstract line supposed to be beautiful in itself and absolutely; — differently represented by different authors, often as a kind of elongated S (like the one drawn by Hogarth). — Line of centers. (Mach.) (a) A line joining two centers, or fulcra, as of wheels or levers. (b) A line which determines a dead center. See Dead center, under Dead. — Line of dip (Geol.), a line in the plane of a stratum, or part of a stratum, perpendicular to its intersection with a horizontal plane; the line of greatest inclination of a stratum to the horizon. — Line of fire (Mil.), the direction of fire. — Line of force (Physics), any line in a space in which forces are acting, so drawn that at every point of the line its tangent is the direction of the resultant of all the forces. It cuts at right angles every equipotential surface which it meets. Specifically (Magnetism), a line in proximity to a magnet so drawn that any point in it is tangential with the direction of a short compass needle held at that point. Faraday. — Line of life (Palmistry), a line on the inside of the hand, curving about the base of the thumb, supposed to indicate, by its form or position, the length of a person's life. — Line of lines. See Gunter's line. — Line of march. (Mil.) (a) Arrangement of troops for marching. (b) Course or direction taken by an army or body of troops in marching. — Line of operations, that portion of a theater of war which an army passes over in attaining its object. H. W. Halleck. — Line of sight (Firearms), the line which passes through the front and rear sight, at any elevation, when they are sighted at an object. — Line tub (Naut.), a tub in which the line carried by a whaleboat is coiled. — Mason and Dixon's line, the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, as run before the Revolution (1764-1767) by two English astronomers named Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. In an extended sense, the line between the free and the slave States. — On the line, on a level with the eye of the spectator; — said of a picture, as hung in an exhibition of pictures. — Right line a picture, as hung in an exhibition of pictures. — Right line, a straight line; the shortest line that can be drawn between two points. — Ship of the line, formerly, a ship of war large enough to have a place in the line of battle; a vessel superior to a frigate; usually, a seventy-four, or three-decker; — called also line of battle ship. Totten. — To cross the line, to cross the equator, as a vessel at sea. — To give a person line, to allow him more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line. — Water line (Shipbuilding), the outline of a horizontal section of a vessel, as when floating in the water.
LINELine, v. t.
1. To mark with a line or lines; to cover with lines; as, to line a copy book. He had a healthy color in his cheeks, and his face, though lined, bore few traces of anxiety. Dickens.
2. To represent by lines; to delineate; to portray. [R.] "Pictures fairest lined." Shak.
3. To read or repeat line by line; as, to line out a hymn. This custom of reading or lining, or, as it was frequently called "deaconing' the hymn or psalm in the churches, was brought about partly from necessity. N. D. Gould.
4. To form into a line; to align; as, to line troops. To line bees, to track wild bees to their nest by following their line of flight. — To line up (Mach.), to put in alignment; to put in correct adjustment for smooth running. See 3d Line, 19.
LINEAGE Lin"e*age, n. Etym: [OE. linage, F. lignage, fr. L. linea line. See 3d Line.]
Defn: Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; race; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage. Both the lineage and the certain sire From which I sprung, from me are hidden yet. Spenser.
LINEAL Lin"e*al, a. Etym: [L. linealis belonging to a line, fr. linea line: cf. F. linéal. See 3d Line.]
1. Descending in a direct line from an ancestor; hereditary; derived from ancestors; — opposed to collateral; as, a lineal descent or a lineal descendant. The prime and ancient right of lineal succession. Locke.
2. Inheriting by direct descent; having the right by direct descent to succeed (to). For only you are lineal to the throne. Dryden.
3. Composed of lines; delineated; as, lineal designs.
4. In the direction of a line; of a line; of or pertaining to a line; measured on, or ascertained by, a line; linear; as, lineal magnitude. Lineal measure, the measure of length; — usually written linear measure.
LINEALITYLin`e*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being linea
LINEALLYLin"e*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lineal manner; as, the prince is lineally descended from the Conqueror.
LINEAMENT Lin"e*a*ment, n. Etym: [L. lineamentum, fr. linea line: cf. F. linéament. See 3d Line.]
Defn: One of the outlines, exterior features, or distinctive marks, of a body or figure, particularly of the face; feature; form; mark; - - usually in the plural. "The lineaments of the body." Locke. "Lineaments in the character." Swift. Man he seems In all his lineaments. Milton.
LINEAR Lin"e*ar, a. Etym: [L. linearis, linearius , fr. linea line: cf. F. linéaire. See 3d Line.]
1. Of or pertaining to a line; consisting of lines; in a straight direction; lineal.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Like a line; narrow; of the same breadth throughout, except at the extremities; as, a linear leaf. Linear differential (Math.), an equation which is of the first degree, when the expression which is equated to zero is regarded as a function of the dependent variable and its differential coefficients. — Linear equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree between two variables; — so called because every such equation may be considered as representing a right line. — Linear measure, the measurement of length. — Linear numbers (Math.), such numbers as have relation to length only: such is a number which represents one side of a plane figure. If the plane figure is square, the linear figure is called a root. — Linear problem (Geom.), a problem which may be solved geometrically by the use of right lines alone. — Linear transformation (Alg.), a change of variables where each variable is replaced by a function of the first degree in the new variable.
LINEARENSATELin`e*ar*en"sate, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a sword, but very long and narrow.
LINEARLYLin"e*ar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a linear manner; with lines.
LINEAR-SHAPEDLin"e*ar-shaped`, a.
Defn: Of a linear shape.
LINEARYLin"e*a*ry, a.
Defn: Linear. Holland.
LINEATE; LINEATED Lin"e*ate, Lin"e*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. lineatus, p. p. of lineare to reduce to a straight line, fr. linea line.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Marked with lines.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Marked longitudinally with depressed parallel lines; as, a lineate leaf.
LINEATION Lin`e*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. lineatio the drawing of a line, fr. lineare.]
Defn: Delineation; a line or lines.
LINEATURELin"e*a*ture, n.
Defn: Anything having outline. [R.] Holland.
LINEMANLine"man, n.; pl. Linemen (.
1. One who carried the line in surveying, etc.
2. A man employed to examine the rails of a railroad to see if they are in good condition; also, a man employed to repair telegraph lines.
LINENLin"en, a. Etym: [OE., fr. lin linen. See Linen, n.
1.]
Defn: Made of linen; as, linen cloth; a linen stocking.
2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.
LINEN Lin"en, n. Etym: [Prop. an adj. from OE. lin. flax, AS. lin flax, whence linen made of flax; akin to OS., Icel., & MHG. lin flax and linen, G. lein, leinen, linen, Sw. lin flax, Goth. lein linen, L. linum flax, linen, Gr. Line, Linseed.]
1. Thread or cloth made of flax or (rarely) of hemp; — used in a general sense to include cambric, shirting, sheeting, towels, tablecloths, etc. "In linen white as milk." Robert of Brunne.
2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times, chiefly made of linen. Linen draper, a dealer in linen. — Linen prover, a small microscope for counting the threads in a given space in linen fabrics. — Linen scroll, Linen pattern (Arch.), an ornament for filling panels, copied from the folds of a piece of stuff symmetrically disposed.
LINENERLin"en*er, n.
Defn: A dealer in linen; a linen draper. [Obs.]
LINEOLATELin"e*o*late, a. Etym: [L. lineola, dim. of linea line.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Marked with little lines.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Marked longitudinally with fine lines. Gray.
LINERLin"er, n.
1. One who lines, as, a liner of shoes.
2. A vessel belonging to a regular line of packets; also, a line-of- battle ship; a ship of the line.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: A thin piece placed between two parts to hold or adjust them, fill a space, etc., ; a shim.
4. (Steam Engine)
Defn: A lining within the cylinder, in which the piston works and between which and the outer shell of the cylinder a space is left to form a steam jacket.
5. A slab on which small pieces of marble, tile, etc., are fastened for grinding.
6. (Baseball)
Defn: A ball which, when struck, flies through the air in a nearly straight line not far from the ground.
LINE-UP; LINEUPLine"-up`, Line"up`, n.
Defn: The formation of football players before the start or a restart of play; hence (Colloq.),
Defn: any arrangement of persons (rarely, of things), esp. when having a common purpose or sentiment; as, the line-up at a ticket- office window; the line-up of political factions.
-LING -ling. Etym: [AS. -ling.]
Defn: A noun suffix, commonly having a diminutive or a depreciatory force; as in duck-ling, dosling, hireling, fosterling, firstling, underling.
-LING -ling
Defn: . An adverbial suffix; as, darkling, flatling.
LING Ling, n. Etym: [OE. lenge; akin to D. leng, G. länge, Dan. lange, Sw. l, Icel. langa. So named from its being long. See Long, a.] (Zoöl.) (a) A large, marine, gadoid fish (Molva vulgaris) of Northern Europe and Greenland. It is valued as a food fish and is largely salted and dried. Called also drizzle. (b) The burbot of Lake Ontario. (c) An American hake of the genus Phycis. [Canada] (d) A New Zealand food fish of the genus Genypterus. The name is also locally applied to other fishes, as the cultus cod, the mutton fish, and the cobia.
LINGLing, n. Etym: [Icel. lyng; akin to Dan. lyng, Sw. ljung.] (Bot.)
Defn: Heather (Calluna vulgaris). Ling honey, a sort of wild honey, made from the flowers of the heather. Holland.
LINGA; LINGAMLin"ga, Lin"gam, n. Etym: [Skr. linga.]
Defn: The phallic symbol under which Siva is principally worshiped in his character of the creative and reproductive power. Whitworth. E. Arnold.
LING-BIRDLing"-bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European meadow pipit; — called also titling.
LINGELLin"gel, n. Etym: [F. ligneul, dim. of L. linea a linen thread.]
1. A shoemaker's thread. [Obs.]
2. A little tongue or thong of leather; a lacing for belts. Crabb.
LINGENCELin"gence, n. Etym: [L. lingere to lick.]