LITERATORLit"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L. litterator, literator. See Letter.]
1. One who teaches the letters or elements of knowledge; a petty schoolmaster. Burke.
2. A person devoted to the study of literary trifles, esp. trifles belonging to the literature of a former age. That class of subjects which are interesting to the regular literator or black-letter " bibliomane," simply because they have once been interesting. De Quincey.
3. A learned person; a literatus. Sir W. Hamilton.
LITERATURE Lit"er*a*ture, n. Etym: [F. littérature, L. litteratura, literatura, learning, grammar, writing, fr.littera, litera, letter. See Letter.]
1. Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.
2. The collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing; also, the whole body of literary productions or writings upon a given subject, or in reference to a particular science or branch of knowledge, or of a given country or period; as, the literature of Biblical criticism; the literature of chemistry.
3. The class of writings distinguished for beauty of style or expression, as poetry, essays, or history, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge; belles-lettres.
4. The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work. Lamp.
Syn. — Science; learning; erudition; belles-lettres. See Science. — Literature, Learning, Erudition. Literature, in its widest sense, embraces all compositions in writing or print which preserve the results of observation, thought, or fancy; but those upon the positive sciences (mathematics, etc.) are usually excluded. It is often confined, however, to belles-lettres, or works of taste and sentiment, as poetry, eloquence, history, etc., excluding abstract discussions and mere erudition. A man of literature (in this narrowest sense) is one who is versed in belles-lettres; a man of learning excels in what is taught in the schools, and has a wide extent of knowledge, especially, in respect to the past; a man of erudition is one who is skilled in the more recondite branches of learned inquiry. The origin of all positive science and philosophy, as well as of all literature and art, in the forms in which they exist in civilized Europe, must be traced to the Greeks. Sir G. Lewis. Learning thy talent is, but mine is sense. Prior. Some gentlemen, abounding in their university erudition, fill their sermons with philosophical terms. Swift.
LITERATUSLit`e*ra"tus, n.; pl. Literati. Etym: [L. litteratus, literatus.]
Defn: A learned man; a man acquainted with literature; — chieflyused in the plural.Now we are to consider that our bright ideal of a literatus maychance to be maimed. De Quincey.
-LITH; -LITE -lith, -lite.
Defn: Combining forms fr. Gr. li`qos a stone; — used chiefly in naming minerals and rocks.
LITHLith, obs.
Defn: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Lie, to recline, for lieth. Chaucer.
LITHLith, n. Etym: [AS. li.]
Defn: A joint or limb; a division; a member; a part formed by growth, and articulated to, or symmetrical with, other parts. Chaucer.
LITHAEMIALi*thæ"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A condition in which uric (lithic) acid is present in the blood.
LITHAGOGUELith"a*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine having, or supposed to have, the power of expelling calculous matter with the urine. Hooper.
LITHARGELith"arge, n. Etym: [OE. litarge, F. litharge, L. lithargyrus, Gr.(Chem.)
Defn: Lead monoxide; a yellowish red substance, obtained as an amorphous powder, or crystallized in fine scales, by heating lead moderately in a current of air or by calcining lead nitrate or carbonate. It is used in making flint glass, in glazing earthenware, in making red lead minium, etc. Called also massicot.
LITHARGYRUMLi*thar"gy*rum, n. Etym: [NL. See Litharge.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: Crystallized litharge, obtained by fusion in the form of fine yellow scales.
LITHATELith"ate, n. (Old Med. Chem.)
Defn: A salt of lithic or uric acid; a urate. [Obs.] [Written also lithiate.]
LITHELithe, v. i. & i. Etym: [Icel Listen.]
Defn: To listen or listen to; to hearken to. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
LITHE Lithe, a. Etym: [AS. lind, gelind, OHG. lindi, Icel. linr, L. lenis soft, mild, lentus flexible, and AS. linnan to yield. Cf. Lenient.]
1. Mild; calm; as, lithe weather. [Obs.]
2. Capable of being easily bent; pliant; flexible; limber; as, the elephant's lithe proboscis. Milton.
LITHELithe, v. t. Etym: [AS. Lithe, a.]
Defn: To smooth; to soften; to palliate. [Obs.]
LITHELYLithe"ly, adv.
Defn: In a lithe, pliant, or flexible manner.
LITHENESSLithe"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being lithe; flexibility; limberness.
LITHERLi"ther, a. Etym: [AS.
Defn: Bad; wicked; false; worthless; slothful. [Obs.] Chaucer.Not lither in business, fervent in spirit. Bp. Woolton.
Note: Professor Skeat thinks " the lither sky" as found inShakespeare's Henry VI. ((Part I. IY. YII., 21) means the stagnant orpestilential sky.— Li"ther*ly, adv. [Obs.].— Li"ther*ness, n. [Obs.]
LITHERLYLi"ther*ly, a.
Defn: Crafty; cunning; mischievous; wicked; treacherous;lazy.[Archaic]He [the dwarf] was waspish, arch, and litherly. Sir W. Scott.
LITHESOMELithe"some, a. Etym: [See Lithe, a., and cf. Lissom.]
Defn: Pliant; limber; flexible; supple; nimble; lissom.— Lithe"some*ness, n.
LITHIALith"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The oxide of lithium; a strong alkaline caustic similar to potash and soda, but weaker. See Lithium. Lithia emerald. See Hiddenite.
LITHIASISLi*thi"a*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The formation of stony concretions or calculi in any part of the body, especially in the bladder and urinary passages. Dunglison.
LITHICLith"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. lithique.]
1. Of or pertaining to stone; as, lithic architecture.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to the formation of uric-acid concretions (stone) in the bladder and other parts of the body; as, lithic diathesis. LIthic acid (Old Med. Chem.), uric acid. See Uric acid, under Uric.
LITHICLith"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine which tends to prevent stone in the bladder.
LITHICLith"ic, a. Etym: [From Lithium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to or denoting lithium or some of its compounds.Frankland.
LITHIOPHILITELith`i*oph"i*lite, n. Etym: [Lithium + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A phosphate of manganese and lithium; a variety of triphylite.
LITHIUMLith"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A metallic element of the alkaline group, occurring in several minerals, as petalite, spodumene, lepidolite, triphylite, etc., and otherwise widely disseminated, though in small quantities.
Note: When isolated it is a soft, silver white metal, tarnishing and oxidizing very rapidly in the air. It is the lightest solid element known, specific gravity being 0.59. Symbol Li. Atomic weight 7.0 So called from having been discovered in a mineral.
LITHOLith"o
Defn: A combining form from Gr. stone.
LITHOBILICLith`o*bil"ic, a. Etym: [Litho + bile.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to or designating an organic acid of the tartaric acid series, distinct from lithofellic acid, but, like it, obtained from certain bile products, as bezoar stones.
LITHOCARPLith"o*carp, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. lithocarpe.] (Paleon.)
Defn: Fossil fruit; a fruit petrified; a carpolite.
LITHOCHROMATICSLith`o*chro*mat"ics, n.
Defn: See Lithochromics.
LITHOCHROMICSLith`o*chro"mics, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr.
Defn: The art of printing colored pictures on canvas from oil paintings on stone.
LITHOCLASTLith"o*clast, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument for crushing stones in the bladder.
LITHOCYSTLith"o*cyst, n. Etym: [Litho- + cyst.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sac containing small, calcareous concretions (otoliths). They are found in many Medusæ, and other invertebrates, and are supposed to be auditory organs.
LITHODOMELith"o*dome, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. lithodome.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of bivalves, which form holes in limestone, in which they live; esp., any species of the genus Lithodomus.
LITHODOMOUSLi*thod"o*mous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, Lithodomus; lithophagous.
LITHODOMUSLi*thod"o*mus, n. Etym: [NL. See Lithodome.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of elongated bivalve shells, allied to the mussels, and remarkable for their ability to bore holes for shelter, in solid limestone, shells, etc. Called also Lithophagus.
Note: These holes are at first very small and shallow, but are enlarged with the growth of the shell, sometimes becoming two or three inches deep and nearly an inch diameter.
LITHOFELLICLith"o*fel"lic, a. Etym: [Litho- + L. fel, fellis, gall.] (Physiol.Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a crystalline, organic acid, resembling cholic acid, found in the biliary intestinal concretions (bezoar stones) common in certain species of antelope.
LITHOFRACTEURLith`o*frac"teur, n. Etym: [F., fr. frangere, fractum, to break.]
Defn: An explosive compound of nitroglycerin. See Nitroglycerin.
LITHOGENESYLith`o*gen"e*sy, n. Etym: [Litho- Gr. lithogénésie. See Genesis.]
Defn: The doctrine or science of the origin of the minerals composing the globe.
LITHOGENOUSLi*thog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Litho- + -genous.]
Defn: Stone-producing; — said of polyps which form coral.
LITHOGLYPHLith"o*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An engraving on a gem.
LITHOGLYPHERLi*thog"ly*pher, n.
Defn: One who curs or engraves precious stones.
LITHOGLYPHICLith`o*glyph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the art of cutting and engraving precious stones.
LITHOGLYPTICSLith`o*glyp"tics, n.
Defn: The art of cutting and engraving gems.
LITHOGRAPHLith"o*graph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lithographed; p. pr. & vb. n.Lithographing.] Etym: [Litho- + -graph: cf. F. lithographier.]
Defn: To trace on stone by the process of lithography so as to transfer the design to paper by printing; as, to lithograph a design; to lithograph a painting. See Lithography.
LITHOGRAPHLith"o*graph, n.
Defn: A print made by lithography.
LITHOGRAPHERLi*thog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who lithographs; one who practices lithography.
LITHOGRAPHIC; LITHOGRAPHICAL Lith`o*graph"ic, Lith`o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lithographique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to lithography; made by lithography; as, thelithographic art; a lithographic picture. Lithographic limestone(Min.), a compact, fine-grained limestone, obtained largely from theLias and Oölite, esp. of Bavaria, and extensively used inlithography.— Lith`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
LITHOGRAPHYLi*thog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lithographie.]
Defn: The art or process of putting designs or writing, with a greasy material, on stone, and of producing printed impressions therefrom. The process depends, in the main, upon the antipathy between grease and water, which prevents a printing ink containing oil from adhering to wetted parts of the stone not covered by the design. See Lithographic limestone, under Lithographic.
LITHOID; LITHOIDALLith"oid Li*thoid"al, a. Etym: [Litho- + -oid: cf. F. lithoïde.]
Defn: Like a stone; having a stony structure.
LITHOLATRYLi*thol"a*try, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr.
Defn: The worship of a stone or stones.
LITHOLOGIC; LITHOLOGICALLith`o*log"ic, Lith`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lithologique.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the character of a rock, as derived from the nature and mode of aggregation of its mineral contents.
2. Of or pertaining to lithology.
LITHOLOGICALLYLith`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: From a lithological point of view; as, to consider a stratum lithologically.
LITHOLOGISTLi*thol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is skilled in lithology.
LITHOLOGYLi*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Litho- + -logy: cf. F. lithologie.]
1. The science which treats of rocks, as regards their mineral constitution and classification, and their mode of occurrence in nature.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A treatise on stones found in the body.
LITHOMANCYLith"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Litho- + -mancy: cf. F. lithomancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of stones.
LITHOMARGELith"o*marge, n. Etym: [Litho- + L. marga marl.]
Defn: A clay of a fine smooth texture, and very sectile.
LITHONTHRIPTIC; LITHONTHRYPTICLith`on*thrip"tic, Lith`on*thryp"tic, a. & n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr.
Defn: Same as Lithontriptic.
LITHONTRIPTICLith`on*trip"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. lithontriptique.] (Med.)
Defn: Having the quality of, or used for, dissolving or destroying stone in the bladder or kidneys; as, lithontriptic forcéps. — n.
Defn: A lithontriptic remedy or agent, as distilled water.
LITHONTRIPTISTLith"on*trip"tist, n.
Defn: Same as Lithotriptist.
LITHONTRIPTORLith"on*trip`tor, n. (Surg.)
Defn: See Lithotriptor.
LITHOPHAGOUS Li*thoph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) Eating or swallowing stones or gravel, as the ostrich. (b) Eating or destroying stone; — applied to various animals which make burrows in stone, as many bivalve mollusks, certain sponges, annelids, and sea urchins. See Lithodomus.
LITHOPHANELith`o*phane, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr.
Defn: Porcelain impressed with figures which are made distinct by transmitted light, — as when hung in a window, or used as a lamp shade.
LITHOPHOSPHORLith"o*phos`phor, n. Etym: [Litho- + phosphor.]
Defn: A stone that becomes phosphoric by heat.
LITHOPHOSPHORICLith`o*phos*phor"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to lithophosphor; becoming phosphoric by heat.
LITHOPHOTOGRAPHYLith`o*pho*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Litho- + photography.]
Defn: Same as Photolithography.
LITHOPHYLLLith"o*phyll, n. Etym: [Gr. lithophylle.]
Defn: A fossil leaf or impression of a leaf.
LITHOPHYSELith"o*physe, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A spherulitic cavity often with concentric chambers, observed in some volcanic rocks, as in rhyolitic lavas. It is supposed to be produced by expanding gas, whence the name.
LITHOPHYTELith"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. lithophyte.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hard, or stony, plantlike organism, as the gorgonians, corals, and corallines, esp. those gorgonians having a calcareous axis. All the lithophytes except the corallines are animals.
LITHOPHYTICLith`o*phyt"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to lithophytes.
LITHOPHYTOUSLi*thoph"y*tous, a.
Defn: Lithophytic.
LITHOSIANLi*tho"sian, n. Etym: [From NL. Lithosia, the typical genus, fr. Gr.(Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of various species of moths belonging to the familyLithosidæ. Many of them are beautifully colored.
LITHOSPHERE Lith"o*sphere, n. [Litho- + sphere.] (Phys. Geog.) (a) The solid earth as distinguished from its fluid envelopes, the hydrosphere and atmosphere. (b) The outer part of the solid earth, the portion undergoing change through the gradual transfer of material by volcanic eruption, the circulation of underground water, and the process of erosion and deposition. It is, therefore, regarded as a third mobile envelope comparable with the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
LITHOTINTLith"o*tint, n. Etym: [Litho- + tint.]
1. A kind of lithography by which the effect of a tinted drawing is produced, as if made with India ink.
2. A picture produced by this process.
LITHOTOMELith"o*tome, n. Etym: [Gr. lithotome.]
1. A stone so formed by nature as to appear as if cut by art.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument used for cutting the bladder in operations for the stone.
LITHOTOMIC; LITHOTOMICALLith`o*tom"ic, Lith`o*tom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. lithotomique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or performed by, lithotomy.
LITHOTOMISTLi*thot"o*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lithotomiste.]
Defn: One who performs the operation of cutting for stone in the bladder, or one who is skilled in the operation.
LITHOTOMYLi*thot"o*my, n. Etym: [L. lithotomia, Gr. lithotomie.] (Surg.)
Defn: The operation, art, or practice of cutting for stone in the bladder.
LITHOTRIPSYLith"o*trip`sy, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. lithotripsie.] (Surg.)
Defn: The operation of crushing a stone in the bladder with an instrument called lithotriptor or lithotrite; lithotrity.
LITHOTRIPTICLith`o*trip"tic, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Lithontriptic.
LITHOTRIPTISTLith"o*trip`tist, n.
Defn: One skilled in breaking and extracting stone in the bladder.
LITHOTRIPTORLith"o*trip`tor, n. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument for triturating the stone in the bladder; a lithotrite.
LITHOTRITE; LITHOTRITORLith"o*trite, Lith"o*tri"tor,Etym: [See Lithotrity.] (Surg.)
Defn: A lithotriptor.
LITHOTRITISTLi*thot"ri*tist, n.
Defn: A lithotriptist.
LITHOTRITYLi*thot"ri*ty, n. Etym: [Litho- + L. terere, tritum, to rub, grind.](Surg.)
Defn: The operation of breaking a stone in the bladder into small pieces capable of being voided.
LITHOTYPELith"o*type, n.
Defn: A kind of stereotype plate made by lithotypy; also, that which in printed from it. See Lithotypy.
LITHOTYPELith"o*type, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lithotyped; p. pr. & vb. n.Lithotyping.]
Defn: To prepare for printing with plates made by the process of lithotypy. See Lithotypy.
LITHOTYPICLith`o*typ"ic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or produced by, lithotypy.
LITHOTYPYLi*thot"y*py, n. Etym: [Litho- + -typy.]
Defn: The art or process of making a kind of hard, stereotypeplate, by pressing into a mold, taken from a page of type or other matter, a composition of gum shell-lac and sand of a fine quality, together with a little tar and linseed oil, all in a heated state.
LITHOXYL Li*thox`yl, n. Etym: [Written also lithoxyle.] Etym: [Litho- + Gr. lithoxyle.]
Defn: Petrified wood. [Obs.]
LITHUANIANLith`u*a"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Lithuania (formerly a principality united with Poland, but now Russian and Prussian territory).
LITHUANIANLith`u*a"ni*an, n.
Defn: A native, or one of the people, of Lithuania; also, the language of the Lithuanian people.
LITHYLith"y a. Etym: [See Lithe.]
Defn: Easily bent; pliable. Lithy tree (Bot.), a European shrub(Viburnum Lantana); — so named from its tough and flexible stem.
LITIGABLELit"i*ga*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be litigated.
LITIGANT Lit"i*gant, a. Etym: [L. litigans, -antis, p. pr. of litigare: cf. F. litigant. See Litigate.]
Defn: Disposed to litigate; contending in law; engaged in a lawsuit; as, the parties litigant. Ayliffe.
LITIGANTLit"i*gant, n.
Defn: A person engaged in a lawsuit.
LITIGATELit"i*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Litigated; p. pr. & vb. n.Litigating.] Etym: [See Litigation.]
Defn: To make the subject of a lawsuit; to contest in law; to prosecute or defend by pleadings, exhibition of evidence, and judicial debate in a court; as, to litigate a cause.
LITIGATELit"i*gate, v. i.
Defn: To carry on a suit by judicial process.
LITIGATION Lit`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. litigatio, fr. litigare to dispute, litigate; lis, litis, dispute, lawsuit (OL. stlis) + agere to carry on. See Agent.]
Defn: The act or process of litigating; a suit at law; a judicial contest.
LITIGATORLit"i*ga`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who litigates.
LITIGIOUS Li*ti"gious, a. Etym: [L. litigiosus, fr. litigium dispute, quarrel, fr. litigare: cf. F. litigieux. See Litigation.]
1. Inclined to judicial contest; given to the practice of contending in law; guarrelsome; contentious; fond of litigation. " A pettifogging attorney or a litigious client." Macaulay. Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still Litigious men, who guarrels move. Donne.
2. Subject to contention; disputable; controvertible; debatable; doubtful; precarious. Shak. No fences, parted fields, nor marks, nor bounds, Distinguished acres of litigious grounds. Dryden.
3. Of or pertaining to legal disputes. Nor brothers cite to the litigious bar. Young.
LITIGIOUSLYLi*ti"gious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a litigious manner.
LITIGIOUSNESSLi*ti"gious*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being litigious; disposition to engage in or carry on lawsuits.
LITMUS Lit"mus, n. Etym: [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See Lac a resinous substance.] (Chem.)
Defn: A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens (Roccella tinctoria, Lecanora tartarea, etc.), as a blue amorphous mass which consists of a compound of the alkaline carbonates with certain coloring matters related to orcin and orcein.
Note: Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity. Litmus paper (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, — used in testing for acids or alkalies.
LITOTESLi"to*tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A diminution or softening of statement for the sake of avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with the moderation shown in the form of expression; as, " a citizen of no mean city," that is, of an illustrious city.
LITRANETERLi*tran"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. li`tra + -meter. See Liter]
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the specific gravity of liquids.
LITRELi"tre, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Same as Liter.
LITTER Lit"ter, n. Etym: [F. litière, LL. lectaria, fr. L. lectus couch, bed. See Lie to be prostrated, and cf. Coverlet.]
1. A bed or stretcher so arranged that a person, esp. a sick or wounded person, may be easily carried in or upon it. There is a litter ready; lay him in 't. Shak.
2. Straw, hay, etc., scattered on a floor, as bedding for animals to rest on; also, a covering of straw for plants. To crouch in litter of your stable planks. Shak. Take off the litter from your kernel beds. Evelyn.
3. Things lying scattered about in a manner indicating slovenliness; scattered rubbish. Strephon, who found the room was void. Stole in, and took a strict survey Of all the litter as it lay. Swift.
4. Disorder or untidiness resulting from scattered rubbish, or from thongs lying about uncared for; as, a room in a state of litter.
5. The young brought forth at one time, by a sow or other multiparous animal, taken collectively. Also Fig. A wolf came to a sow, and very kindly offered to take care of her litter. D. Estrange. Reflect upon numerous litter of strange, senseless opinions that crawl about the world. South.
LITTERLit"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Littered; p. pr. & vb. n. Littering.]
1. To supply with litter, as cattle; to cover with litter, as thefloor of a stall.Tell them how they litter their jades. Bp. HackeFor his ease, well littered was the floor. Dryden.
2. To put into a confused or disordered condition; to strew with scattered articles; as, to litter a room. The room with volumes littered round. Swift.
3. To give birth to; to bear; — said of brutes, esp. those which produce more than one at a birth, and also of human beings, in abhorrence or contempt. We might conceive that dogs were created blind, because we observe they were littered so with us. Sir T. Browne. The son that she did litter here, A freckled whelp hagborn. Shak.
LITTERLit"ter, v. i.
1. To be supplied with litter as bedding; to sleep or make one's bed in litter. [R.] The inn Where he and his horse littered. Habington.
2. To produce a litter. A desert . . . where the she-wolf still littered. Macaulay.
LITTERATEURLit`te`ra`teur", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who occupies himself with literature; a literary man; a literatus. " Befriended by one kind-hearted littérateur after another." C. Kingsley.
LITTERYLit"ter*y, a.
Defn: Covered or encumbered with litter; consisting of or constituting litter.
LITTLE Lit"tle, a. [The regular comparative of this word is wanting, its place being supplied by less, or, rarely, lesser. See Lesser. For the superlative least is used, the regular form, littlest, occurring very rarely, except in some of the English provinces, and occasionally in colloquial language. " Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear." Shak.] Etym: [OE. litel, lutel, AS. l, litel, l; akin to OS. littil, D. luttel, LG. lütt, OHG. luzzil, MHG. lützel; and perh. to AS. lytig deceitful, lot deceit, Goth. liuts deceitful, lut to deceive; cf. also Icel. litill little, Sw. liten, Dan. liden, lille, Goth. leitils, which appear to have a different root vowel.]
1. Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; — opposed to big or large; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill; a little distance; a little child. He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Luke xix. 3.
2. Short in duration; brief; as, a little sleep. Best him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too. Shak.
3. Small in quantity or amount; not much; as, a little food; a littleair or water.Conceited of their little wisdoms, and doting upon their own fancies.Barrow.
4. Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible. When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes I Sam. xv. 17.
5. Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, little attention or exertion;little effort; little care or diligence. By sad experiment I know How little weight my words with thee can find. Milton.
6. Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous. The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise, Because their natures are little. Tennyson. Little chief. (Zoöl.) See Chief hare. — Little finger, the fourth and smallest finger of the hand. — Little go (Eng. Universities), a public examination about the middle of the course, which as less strict and important than the final one; — called also smalls. Cf. Great go, under Great. Thackeray. — Little hours (R. C. Ch.), the offices of prime, tierce, sext, and nones. Vespers and compline are sometimes included. — Little ones, young children. The men, and the women, and the little ones. Deut. ii. 34.
LITTLELit"tle, n.
1. That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or the like. Much was in little writ. Dryden. There are many expressions, which carrying with them no clear ideas, are like to remove but little of my ignorance. Locke.
2. A small degree or scale; miniature. " His picture in little." Shak. A little, to or in a small degree; to a limited extent; somewhat; for a short time. " Stay a little." Shak. The painter flattered her a little. Shak. — By little and little, or Little by little, by slow degrees; piecemeal; gradually.
LITTLELit"tle, adv.
Defn: In a small quantity or degree; not much; slightly; somewhat; — often with a preceding it. " The poor sleep little." Otway.
LITTLE-EASELit"tle-ease`, n.
Defn: An old slang name for the pillory, stocks, etc., of a prison.[Eng.] Latimer.
LITTLENESSLit"tle*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being little; as, littleness of size, thought, duration, power, etc.
Syn. — Smallness; slightness; inconsiderableness; narrowness; insignificance; meanness; penuriousness.
LITTORAL Lit"to*ral, a. Etym: [L. littoralis, litoralis, from littus, litus, the seashore: cf. F. littoral.]
1. Of or pertaining to a shore, as of the sea.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Inhabiting the seashore, esp. the zone between high-water and low-water mark.
LITTORINALit"to*ri"na, n. Etym: [NL. See Littoral.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small pectinibranch mollusks, having thick spiral shells, abundant between tides on nearly all rocky seacoasts. They feed on seaweeds. The common periwinkle is a well-known example. See Periwinkle.
LITTRESSLit"tress, n.
Defn: A smooth kind of cartridge paper used for making cards. Knight.
LITUATELit"u*ate, a. Etym: [See Lituus.] (Bot.)
Defn: Forked, with the points slightly curved outward.
LITUIFORMLit"u*i*form, a. Etym: [Lituus + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of a lituus; like a lituite.
LITUITELit"u*ite, n. Etym: [See Lituus.] (Paleon.)
Defn: Any species of ammonites of the genus Lituites. They are found in the Cretaceous formation.
LITURATE Lit"u*rate, a. Etym: [L. lituratus, p. p. of liturare to erase, fr. litura a blur.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having indistinct spots, paler at their margins.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Spotted, as if from abrasions of the surface.
LITURGIC; LITURGICALLi*tur"gic, Li*tur"gic*al,Etym: [Gr. liturgique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, of or the nature of, a liturgy; of or pertaining to public prayer and worship. T. Warton.
LITURGICALLYLi*tur"gic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a liturgy.
LITURGICSLi*tur"gics, n.
Defn: The science of worship; history, doctrine, and interpretation of liturgies.
LITURGIOLOGISTLi*tur`gi*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in liturgiology.
LITURGIOLOGYLi*tur`gi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Liturgy + -logy.]
Defn: The science treating of liturgical matters; a treatise on, or description of, liturgies. Shipley.
LITURGISTLit"ur*gist, n.
Defn: One who favors or adheres strictly to a liturgy. Milton.
LITURGYLit"ur*gy, n.; pl. Liturgies. Etym: [F. liturgie, LL. liturgia, Gr.Lay, a., and Work.]
Defn: An established formula for public worship, or the entire ritual for public worship in a church which uses prescribed forms; a formulary for public prayer or devotion. In the Roman Catholic Church it includes all forms and services in any language, in any part of the world, for the celebration of Mass.
LITUUSLit"u*us, n.; pl. Litui. Etym: [L.]
1. (Rom. Antig.) (a) A curved staff used by the augurs in quartering the heavens. (b) An instrument of martial music; a kind of trumpet of a somewhat curved form and shrill note.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A spiral whose polar equation is r2th = a; that is, a curve the square of whose radius vector varies inversely as the angle which the radius vector makes with a given line.
LIVABLELiv"a*ble, a.
1. Such as can be lived.
2. Such as in pleasant to live in; fit or suitable to live in.[Colloq.]A more delightful or livable region is not easily to be found. T.Arnold.
LIVE Live, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lived; p. pr. & vb. n. Living.] Etym: [OE. liven, livien, AS. libban, lifian; akin to OS. libbian, D. leven, G. leben, OHG. lebn, Dan. leve, Sw. lefva, Icel. lifa to live, to be left, to remain, Goth. liban to live; akin to E. leave to forsake, and life, Gr. lip to anoint, smear; — the first sense prob. was, to cleave to, stick to; hence, to remain, stay; and hence, to live.]
1. To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will . . . lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live. Ezek. xxxvii. 5, 6.
2. To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully. O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions! Ecclus. xli. 1.
3. To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. Gen. xlvii. 28.
4. To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; — said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc. Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water. Shak.
5. To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness. What greater curse could envious fortune give Than just to die when I began to live Dryden.
6. To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; — with on; as, horses live on grass and grain.
7. To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith. The just shall live by faith. Gal. iii. ll.
8. To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; — with on or by; as, to live on spoils. Those who live by labor. Sir W. Temple.
9. To outlast danger; to float; — said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm. A strong mast that lived upon the sea. Shak. To live out, to be at service; to live away from home as a servant. [U. S.] — To live with. (a) To dwell or to be a lodger with. (b) To cohabit with; to have intercourse with, as male with female.
LIVELive, v. t.
1. To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually; as, to live an idle or a useful life.
2. To act habitually in conformity with; to practice. To live the Gospel. Foxe. To live down, to live so as to subdue or refute; as, to live down slander.
LIVELive, a. Etym: [Abbreviated from alive. See Alive, Life.]
1. Having life; alive; living; not dead. If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it. Ex. xxi. 35.
2. Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers. " The live ether." Thomson.
3. Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator.
4. Vivid; bright. " The live carnation." Thomson.
5. (Engin.)
Defn: Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe. Live birth, the condition of being born in such a state that acts of life are manifested after the extrusion of the whole body. Dunglison. — Live box, a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. P. H. Gosse. — Live feathers, feathers which have been plucked from the living bird, and are therefore stronger and more elastic. — Live gang. (Sawing) See under Gang. — Live grass (Bot.), a grass of the genus Eragrostis. — Live load (Engin.), a suddenly applied load; a varying load; a moving load; as a moving train of cars on a bridge, or wind pressure on a roof. Live oak (Bot.), a species of oak (Quercus virens), growing in the Southern States, of great durability, and highly esteemed for ship timber. In California the Q. chrysolepis and some other species are also called live oaks. — Live ring (Engin.), a circular train of rollers upon which a swing bridge, or turntable, rests, and which travels around a circular track when the bridge or table turns. — Live steam , steam direct from the boiler, used for any purpose, in distinction from exhaust steam. — Live stock, horses, cattle, and other domestic animals kept on a farm. whole body.
LIVELive, n.
Defn: Life. [Obs.] Chaucer. On live, in life; alive. [Obs.] SeeAlive. Chaucer.
LIVEDLived, a.
Defn: Having life; — used only in composition; as, long-lived; short-lived.
LIVE-FOREVERLive"-for*ev`er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Sedum Telephium) with fleshy leaves, which has extreme powers of resisting drought; garden ox-pine.
LIVELIHEDLive"li*hed, n.
Defn: See Livelihood. [Obs.]
LIVELIHOOD Live"li*hood, n. Etym: [OE. livelode, liflode, prop., course of life, life's support, maintenance, fr. AS. lif life + lad road, way, maintenance. Confused with livelihood liveliness. See Life, and Lode.]
Defn: Subsistence or living, as dependent on some means of support; support of life; maintenance. The opportunities of gaining an honest livelihood. Addison. It is their profession and livelihood to get their living by practices for which they deserve to forfeit their lives. South.
LIVELIHOODLive"li*hood, n. Etym: [Lively + -hood.]
Defn: Liveliness; appearance of life. [Obs.] Shak.
LIVELILYLive"li*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lively manner. [Obs.] Lamb.
LIVELINESSLive"li*ness, n. Etym: [From Lively.]
1. The quality or state of being lively or animated; sprightliness; vivacity; animation; spirit; as, the liveliness of youth, contrasted with the gravity of age. B. Jonson.
2. An appearance of life, animation, or spirit; as, the liveliness of the eye or the countenance in a portrait.
3. Briskness; activity; effervescence, as of liquors.
Syn. — Sprightliness; gayety; animation; vivacity; smartness; briskness; activity. — Liveliness, Gayety, Animation, Vivacity. Liveliness is an habitual feeling of life and interest; gayety refers more to a temporary excitement of the animal spirits; animation implies a warmth of emotion and a corresponding vividness of expressing it, awakened by the presence of something which strongly affects the mind; vivacity is a feeling between liveliness and animation, having the permanency of the one, and, to some extent, the warmth of the other. Liveliness of imagination; gayety of heart; animation of countenance; vivacity of gesture or conversation.
LIVELODELive"lode`, n. Etym: [See 1st Livelihood.]
Defn: Course of life; means of support; livelihood. [Obs.]
LIVELONGLive"long`, a. Etym: [For lifelong. Cf. Lifelong.]
1. Whole; entire; long in passing; — used of time, as day or night, in adverbial phrases, and usually with a sense of tediousness. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Shak. How could she sit the livelong day, Yet never ask us once to play Swift.
2. Lasting; durable. [Obs.] Thou hast built thyself a livelong monument. Milton.
LIVELYLive"ly, a. [Compar. Livelier; superl. Liveliest.] Etym: [For lifely.Cf. Lifelike.]
1. Endowed with or manifesting life; living. Chaplets of gold and silver resembling lively flowers and leaves. Holland.
2. Brisk; vivacious; active; as, a lively youth. But wherefore comes old Manoa in such haste, With youthful steps Much livelier than erewhile He seems. Milton.
3. Gay; airy; animated; spirited. From grave to gay, from lively to severe. Pope.
4. Representing life; lifelike. [Obs.] I spied the lively picture of my father. Massinger.
5. Bright; vivid; glowing; strong; vigorous. The colors of the prism are manifestly more full, intense, and lively that those of natural bodies. Sir I. Newton. His faith must be not only living, but lively too. South. Lively stones (Script.), saints, as being quickened by the Spirit, and active in holiness.
Syn. — Brisk; vigorous; quick; nimble; smart; active; alert; sprightly; animated; spirited; prompt; earnest; strong; energetic; vivid; vivacious; blithe; gleeful; airy; gay; jocund.
LIVELYLive"ly, adv.
1. In a brisk, active, or animated manner; briskly; vigorously. Hayward.
2. With strong resemblance of life. [Obs.] Thou counterfeitest most lively. Shak.
LIVERLiv"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, lives. And try if life be worth the liver's care. Prior.
2. A resident; a dweller; as, a liver in Brooklyn.
3. One whose course of life has some marked characteristic (expressed by an adjective); as, a free liver. Fast liver, one who lives in an extravagant and dissipated way. — Free liver, Good liver, one given to the pleasures of the table. — Loose liver, a person who lives a somewhat dissolute life.
LIVERLiv"er, n. Etym: [AS. lifer; akin to D. liver, G. leber, OHG. lebara,Icel. lifr, Sw. lefver, and perh. to Gr. live, v.] (Anat.)
Defn: A very large glandular and vascular organ in the visceral cavity of all vertebrates.
Note: Most of the venous blood from the alimentary canal passes through it on its way back to the heart; and it secretes the bile, produces glycogen, and in other ways changes the blood which passes through it. In man it is situated immediately beneath the diaphragm and mainly on the right side. See Bile, Digestive, and Glycogen. The liver of invertebrate animals is usually made up of cæcal tubes, and differs materially, in form and function, from that of vertebrates. Floating liver. See Wandering liver, under Wandering. — Liver of antimony, Liver of sulphur. (Old Chem.) See Hepar. — Liver brown, Liver color, the color of liver, a dark, reddish brown. — Liver shark (Zoöl.), a very large shark (Cetorhinus maximus), inhabiting the northern coasts both of Europe and North America. It sometimes becomes forty feet in length, being one of the largest sharks known; but it has small simple teeth, and is not dangerous. It is captured for the sake of its liver, which often yields several barrels of oil. It has gill rakers, resembling whalebone, by means of which it separates small animals from the sea water. Called also basking shark, bone shark, hoemother, homer, and sailfish. — Liver spots, yellowish brown patches or spots of chloasma.
LIVERLiv"er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The glossy ibis (Ibis falcinellus); — said to have given its name to the city of Liverpool.
LIVER-COLOREDLiv"er-col`ored, a.
Defn: Having a color like liver; dark reddish brown.
LIVEREDLiv"ered, a.
Defn: Having (such) a liver; used in composition; as, white-livered.
LIVER-GROWNLiv"er-grown`, a.
Defn: Having an enlarged liver. Dunglison.
LIVERIEDLiv"er*ied, a.
Defn: Wearing a livery. See Livery, 3.The liveried servants wait. Parnell.
LIVERINGLiv"er*ing, n.
Defn: A kind of pudding or sausage made of liver or pork. [Obs.]Chapman.
LIVERLEAFLiv"er*leaf`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Liverwort.
LIVERWORTLiv"er*wort`, n. (Bot.)
1. A ranunculaceous plant (Anemone Hepatica) with pretty white or bluish flowers and a three-lobed leaf; — called also squirrel cups.
2. A flowerless plant (Marchantia polymorpha), having an irregularly lobed, spreading, and forking frond.
Note: From this plant many others of the same order (Hepaticæ) have been vaguely called liverworts, esp. those of the tribe Marchantiaceæ. See Illust. of Hepatica.
LIVERY Liv"er*y, n.; pl. Liveries. Etym: [OE. livere, F. livrée, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See Liberate.]
1. (Eng. Law) (a) The act of delivering possession of lands or tenements. (b) The writ by which possession is obtained.
Note: It is usual to say, livery of seizin, which is a feudal investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of a rod, or twig, from the feoffor to the feoffee. In the United States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient.
2. Release from wardship; deliverance. It concerned them first to sue out their livery from the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative. Milton.
3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as clothing, food, etc.; especially: (a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to their retainers and serving as a badge when in military service. (b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman or gentleman are distinguished; as, a claret-colored livery. (c) Hence, also, the peculiar dress or garb appropriated by any association or body of persons to their own use; as, the livery of the London tradesmen, of a priest, of a charity school, etc.; also, the whole body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and entitled to the privileges of the association; as, the whole livery of London. A Haberdasher and a Carpenter, A Webbe, a Dyer, and a Tapicer, And they were clothed all in one livery Of a solempne and a gret fraternite. Chaucer. From the periodical deliveries of these characteristic articles of servile costume (blue coats) came our word livery. De Quincey.
(d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance. " April's livery." Sir P. Sidney. Now came still evening on, and twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad. Milton.
(e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as to a family, to servants, to horses, etc. The emperor's officers every night went through the town from house to house whereat any English gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their liveries for all night: first, the officers brought into the house a cast of fine manchet [white bread], and of silver two great post, and white wine, and sugar. Cavendish.
(f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for compensation; boarding; as, to keep one's horses at livery. What livery is, we by common use in England know well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which word, I guess, is derived of livering or delivering forth their nightly food. Spenser. It need hardly be observed that the explanation of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly correct, but . . . it is no longer applied to the ration or stated portion of food delivered at stated periods. Trench.
(g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being so kept. Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the largest establishment in Moorfields. Lowell.
4. A low grade of wool. Livery gown, the gown worn by a liveryman in London.
LIVERYLiv"er*y, v. t.
Defn: To clothe in, or as in, livery. Shak.
LIVERYMANLiv"er*y*man, n.; pl. Liverymen (.
1. One who wears a livery, as a servant.
2. A freeman of the city, in London, who, having paid certain fees, is entitled to wear the distinguishing dress or livery of the company to which he belongs, and also to enjoy certain other privileges, as the right of voting in an election for the lord mayor, sheriffs, chamberlain, etc.
3. One who keeps a livery stable.
LIVERY STABLELiv"er*y sta`ble
Defn: . A stable where horses are kept for hire, and where stabling is provided. See Livery, n., 3 (e) (f) & (g).
LIVESLives, n.;
Defn: pl. of Life.
LIVESLives, a. & adv. Etym: [Orig. a genitive sing. of life.]
Defn: Alive; living; with life. [Obs.] " Any lives creature."Chaucer.
LIVID Liv"id, a. Etym: [L. lividus, from livere to be of a blush color, to be black and blue: cf. F. livide.]
Defn: Black and blue; grayish blue; of a lead color; discolored, as flesh by contusion. Cowper. There followed no carbuncles, no purple or livid spots, the mass of the blood not being tainted. Bacon.
LIVIDITYLi*vid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lividité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being livid.
LIVIDNESSLiv"id*ness, n.
Defn: Lividity. Walpole.
LIVINGLiv"ing, a. Etym: [From Live, v. i.]
1. Being alive; having life; as, a living creature.
2. Active; lively; vigorous; — said esp. of states of the mind , and sometimes of abstract things; as, a living faith; a living principle. " Living hope. " Wyclif.
3. Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as, a living spring; — opposed to stagnant.
4. Producing life, action, animation, or vigor; quickening. " Living light." Shak.
5. Ignited; glowing with heat; burning; live. Then on the living coals wine they pour. Dryden. Living force. See Vis viva, under Vis. — Living gale (Naut.), a heavy gale. Living rock or stone, rock in its native or original state or location; rock not quarried. " I now found myself on a rude and narrow stairway, the steps of which were cut of the living rock." Moore. — The living, those who are alive, or one who is alive.
LIVINGLiv"ing, n.
1. The state of one who, or that which, lives; lives; life; existence. "Health and living." Shak.
2. Manner of life; as, riotous living; penurious living; earnest living. " A vicious living." Chaucer.
3. Means of subsistence; sustenance; estate. She can spin for her living. Shak. He divided unto them his living. Luke xv. 12.
4. Power of continuing life; the act of living, or livingcomfortably.There is no living without trusting somebody or other in some cases.L' Estrange.
5. The benefice of a clergyman; an ecclesiastical charge which aminister receives. [Eng.]He could not get a deanery, a prebend, or even a living Macaulay.Livng room, the room most used by the family.
LIVINGLYLiv"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a living state. Sir T. Browne.
LIVINGNESSLiv"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being alive; possession of energy or vigor; animation; quickening.
LIVING PICTURELiv"ing pic"ture.
Defn: A tableau in which persons take part; also, specif., such a tableau as imitating a work of art.
LIVONIANLi*vo"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Livonia, a district of Russia near theBaltic Sea.
LIVONIANLi*vo"ni*an, n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Livonia; the language (allied to the Finnish) of the Livonians.
LIVORLi"vor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Malignity. [P.] Burton.
LIVRAISON Li`vrai`son", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. liberatio a setting free, in LL., a delivering up. See Liberation.]
Defn: A part of a book or literary composition printed and delivered by itself; a number; a part.
LIVRELi"vre, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. libra a pound of twelve ounces. Cf.Lira.]
Defn: A French money of account, afterward a silver coin equal to 20 sous. It is not now in use, having been superseded by the franc.
LIXIVIAL Lix*iv"i*al, a. Etym: [L. lixivius, fr. lix ashes, lye ashes, lye: cf. F. lixiviel.]
1. Impregnated with, or consisting of, alkaline salts extracted from wood ashes; impregnated with a salt or salts like a lixivium. Boyle.
2. Of the color of lye; resembling lye.
3. Having the qualities of alkaline salts extracted from wood ashes. Lixivial salts (Old Chem.), salts which are obtained by passing water through ashes, or by pouring it on them.
LIXIVIATE; LIXIVITEDLix*iv"i*ate, Lix*iv"i*`ted, a. Etym: [From Lixivium.]
1. Of or pertaining to lye or lixivium; of the quality of alkaline salts.
2. Impregnated with salts from wood ashes. Boyle.
LIXIVIATELix*iv"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lixiviated; p. pr. & vb. n.Lixiviating.]
Defn: To subject to a washing process for the purpose of separating soluble material from that which is insoluble; to leach, as ashes, for the purpose of extracting the alkaline substances.
LIXIVIATIONLix*iv`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lixiviation.]
Defn: Lixiviating; the process of separating a soluble substance form one that is insoluble, by washing with some solvent, as water; leaching.
LIXIVIOUSLix*iv"i*ous, a.
Defn: See Lixivial.
LIXIVIUMLix*iv"i*um, n. Etym: [L. lixivium, lixivia. See Lixivial.]
Defn: A solution of alkaline salts extracted from wood ashes; hence, any solution obtained by lixiviation.
LIXTLixt, obs.
Defn: 2d pers. sing. pres. of Lige, to lie, to tell lies, — contracted for ligest. Chaucer.
LIZALi"za, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American white mullet (Mugil curema).
LIZARD Liz"ard, n. Etym: [OE. lesarde, OF. lesarde, F. lézard, L. lacerta, lacertus. Cf. Alligator, Lacerta.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of the numerous species of reptiles belonging to the order Lacertilia; sometimes, also applied to reptiles of other orders, as the Hatteria.
Note: Most lizards have an elongated body, with four legs, and a long tail; but there are some without legs, and some with a short, thick tail. Most have scales, but some are naked; most have eyelids, but some do not. The tongue is varied in form and structure. In some it is forked, in others, as the chameleons, club-shaped, and very extensible. See Amphisbæna, Chameleon, Gecko, Gila monster, Horned toad, Iguana, and Dragon, 6.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A piece of rope with thimble or block spliced into one or both of the ends. R. H. Dana, Ir.
3. A piece of timber with a forked end, used in dragging a heavy stone, a log, or the like, from a field. Lizard fish (Zoöl.), a marine scopeloid fish of the genus Synodus, or Saurus, esp. S. foetens of the Southern United States and West Indies; — called also sand pike. — Lizard snake (Zoöl.), the garter snake (Eutænia sirtalis). — Lizard stone (Min.), a kind of serpentine from near Lizard Point, Cornwall, England, — used for ornamental purposes.
LIZARD'S TAILLiz"ard's tail`. (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial plant of the genus Saururus (S. cernuus), growing in marshes, and having white flowers crowded in a slender terminal spike, somewhat resembling in form a lizard's tail; whence the name. Gray.
LLAMALla"ma, n. Etym: [Peruv.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American ruminant (Auchenia llama), allied to the camels, but much smaller and without a hump. It is supposed to be a domesticated variety of the guanaco. It was formerly much used as a beast of burden in the Andes.
LLANDEILO GROUPLlan*dei"lo group`. (Geol.)
Defn: A series of strata in the lower Silurian formations of GreatBritain; — so named from Llandeilo in Southern Wales. See Chart ofGeology.