# Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Lolium Lytta

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.
Lolium, lō′li-um, n. a genus of grasses of the tribe Hordeeæ. [L., darnel, 'tares.']
Loll, lol, v.i. to lie lazily about, to lounge: to hang out from the mouth.—v.t. to thrust out (the tongue).—n. Loll′er.—adv. Loll′ingly.—v.i. Loll′op, to lounge, idle: (coll.) to be moved heavily about. [Old Dut. lollen, to sit over the fire; cf. Lull.]
Lollards, lol′ards, n.pl. the followers of Wycliffe in England: a society founded in Antwerp (1300 A.D.) for the burial of the dead and the care of the sick.—ns. Loll′ardy, Loll′ardism, the doctrines of the Lollards. [Old Dut. Lollaerd, from their peculiar hum in singing—lollen, to sing softly; but confused with M. E. loller, an idler; cf. Loll.]
Lolly, lol′i, n. a lump.—n. Loll′ypop, a sweetmeat made with sugar and treacle: (pl.) sweets.
Loma, lō′ma, n. a lobe, flap, or fringe bordering the toe of a bird.
Lombard, lom′bard, n. an inhabitant of Lombardy in Italy: one of the Lombards or Langobardi, a Germanic tribe, which founded a kingdom in Lombardy (568), overthrown by Charlemagne (774): (obs.) a banker or money-lender, so called from the number of Lombard bankers in London.—adjs. Lom′bard, Lombar′dic.—Lombard architecture, the style used by the Lombards, derived from the base Roman style they found in the country, superseded by the Pointed Style imported from France (13th century); Lombard Street, the chief centre of the banking interest in London. [O. Fr.,—L. Langobardus, from Old Teut. lang, long, bart, beard.]
Loment, lō′ment, n. (bot.) an indehiscent legume, with constrictions or transverse articulations between the seeds—also Lomen′tum.—adj. Lomentā′ceous.
Londoner, lun′dun-ėr, n. a native or citizen of London.—adj. Londonese′, pertaining to London: cockney.—n. English as spoken in London: cockney speech.—v.t. and v.i. Lon′donise.—n. Lon′donism, a mode of speech, &c., peculiar to London.—London clay, a geological formation in south-eastern England, belonging to the lower division of the Eocene Tertiary; London pride, a hardy perennial cultivated in cottage-gardens—also None-so-pretty and St Patrick's cabbage.
Lone, lōn, Lonely, lōn′li, adj. alone: solitary: retired: standing by itself.—ns. Lone′liness, Lone′ness.—adj. Lone′some, solitary: dismal.—adv. Lone′somely.—n. Lone′someness. [Alone.]
Long, long, conj. by means (of), owing (to). [Along.]
Long, long, v.i. (Spens.) to belong.
Long, long, adj. (comp. Long′er; superl. Long′est) extended: not short: extended in time: slow in coming: tedious: far-reaching.—n. (prosody) a long time or syllable: (coll.) the long summer vacation at the English universities, termed 'the Long.'—adv. to a great extent in space or time: through the whole: all along.—v.i. to desire earnestly.—adv. Long′-agō′, in the far past.—n. the far past.—n. Longanim′ity, long-suffering, endurance.—adj. Longan′imous.—ns. Long′boat, the largest and strongest boat of a ship; Long′-bow, a bow bent by the hand in shooting, called long as distinguished from the cross-bow.—adj. Long′-breathed, able to continue violent exercise of the lungs for a long time.—n.pl. Long′-coats, long clothes, worn by infants.—adj. Long′-descend′ed, of ancient lineage.—n. Long′-doz′en, thirteen.—adjs. Long′-drawn, prolonged; Longeval, Longevous (-jē′-), of long or great age.—ns. Longevity (-jev′-); Long′-field (cricket), a fielder placed near the boundary on the bowler's side; Long′-firm, the name given to a company of swindlers who obtain goods on pretence of being established in business, and then decamp without payment to do the like elsewhere; Long′hand, writing of the ordinary kind.—adj. Long′-head′ed, having good intellectual powers: sagacious.—ns. Long′-head′edness; Long′-hun′dred, a hundred and twenty.—adjs. Lon′gicorn (-ji-), having long antennæ; Longimanous (-jim′-), long-handed; Longimet′ric.—ns. Longimetry (-jim′-), the art of measuring distances; Long′ing, an eager desire, craving, esp. of the whimsical desires sometimes felt in pregnancy.—adv. Long′ingly.—n. Longinquity (-jinq′-), greatness of distance.—adj. Longipen′nate (-ji-), long-winged, as gulls.—n. Longiros′ter (-ji-), one of a family of birds having a long, slender bill, as the snipe.—adjs. Longiros′tral, Longiros′trate (-ji-), having a long bill or beak; Long′ish.—n. Lon′gitude (-ji-), distance of a place east or west of a given meridian: distance in degrees from the vernal equinox, on the ecliptic—adj. Longitud′inal, pertaining to longitude or length: extending lengthwise.—adv. Longitud′inally.—n. Long′-leg (cricket), see Leg.—adj. Long′-legged, having long legs.—n. Long′legs, an insect with long legs, as the common crane-fly.—adj. Long′-lived, having a long life.—adv. Long′ly (Shak.), longingly.—ns. Long′-meas′ure, lineal measure; Long′-off, Long′-on (cricket), the fielders in the long-field to the left and right of the bowler respectively; Long′-prim′er, a size of type intermediate between small pica and bourgeois; Long′-pur′ples, the manorchis.—adj. Long′-range, able to reach or hit from a considerable distance.—n.pl. Longs′-and-shorts′, verses.—adj. Long′shore, existing or employed along the shore.—n. Long′shoreman, a stevedore: one who makes a living along shores by oyster-fishing, &c.—adj. Long′-sight′ed, able to see far but not close at hand: sagacious.—ns. Long′-sight′edness; Long′-slip (cricket), a fielder some distance behind on the right of the batsman.—adjs. Long′some, long and tedious; Long′-spun, long-drawn, tedious; Long′-stā′ple, having a long fibre.—n. Long′-stop (cricket), one who stands behind the wicket-keeper and stops balls missed by him.—v.i. to field at long-stop.—adj. Long′-suff′ering, enduring long.—n. long endurance or patience.—n. Long′-tail, an animal, esp. a dog, with uncut tail—also adj.—adjs. Long′-tongued, talkative, babbling; Long′-vis′aged, having a long face, of rueful countenance; Long′-waist′ed, having a long waist, long from the armpits to the hips; Long′-wind′ed, long-breathed: tedious.—n. Long′-wind′edness.—adv. Long′wise, lengthwise.—Long home, the grave; Long Tom (see Tom).—A long figure (slang), a high price or rate; Before long, Ere long, soon; Draw the long-bow, to exaggerate, to tell incredible stories; For long, for a considerable period of time; In the long-run (see Run); Make a long arm (prov.), to help one's self liberally at table; The long and the short, the sum of the matter in a few words. [A.S. lang; Ger. lang, Ice. langr.]
Loo, lōō, n. a game at cards.—v.t. to beat in the game of loo:—pr.p. lōō′ing; pa.p. lōōed.—n. Loo′-tā′ble, a table for loo. [Formerly lanterloo—Dut. lanterlu. Cf. Dut. lanterfant, an idler.]
Looby, lōōb′i, n. a clumsy, clownish fellow.—adv. Loob′ily. [From root of lob.]
Loof, lōōf, n. the after-part of a ship's bow where the planks begin to curve in towards the cut-water. [Dut. loef, the weather-gauge, luff, orig. a paddle for steering; perh. conn. with loof, palm.]
Loof, lōōf, n. (Scot) the palm of the hand. [Ice. lófi.]
Loofa. See Luffa.
Look, lōōk, v.i. to turn the eye toward so as to see; to direct the attention to: to watch: to seem: to face, as a house: (B.) to expect.—v.t. to express by a look: to influence by look.—n. the act of looking or seeing: sight: air of the face: appearance.—imp. or interj. see: behold.—ns. Look′er, one who looks; Look′er-on, one that looks on, a mere spectator; Look′ing, seeing: search or searching; Look′ing-for (B.), expectation; Look′ing-glass, a glass which reflects the image of the person looking into it, a mirror; Look′out, a careful watching for: an elevated place from which to observe: one engaged in watching.—Look about, to be on the watch; Look after, to attend to or take care of: (B.) to expect; Look alive (coll.), to bestir one's self; Look down on, to treat with indifference, to despise; Look for, to search for, to expect; Look into, to inspect closely; Look on, to regard, view, think; Look out, to watch: to select; Look over, to examine cursorily: to overlook or pass over anything; Look through, to penetrate with the eye or the understanding; Look to, to take care of: to depend on; Look up, to search for: (coll.) to call upon, visit.—Have a look in (slang), to have a chance. [A.S. lócian, to look.]
Loom, lōōm, n. a machine in which yarn or thread is woven into a fabric, by the crossing of threads called chain or warp, running lengthwise, with others called weft, woof, or filling; the handle of an oar, or the part within the rowlock.—n. Jac′quard-loom, a famous apparatus devised by Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834), invaluable in weaving the finer kinds of figured silk fabrics. [A.S. gelóma, a tool.]
Loom, lōōm, v.i. to appear above the horizon, or larger than the real size: to show large in darkness, &c.: to stand out prominently in the future.—n. Loom′ing, a mirage. [O. Fr. lumer—L. lumināre.]
Loon, lōōn, n. a low fellow: a rascal: (Scot.) a lad. [Old Dut. loen, a stupid fellow, lome, slow.]
Loon, lōōn, n. a genus of web-footed aquatic birds, the Divers, with short wings, and legs placed very far back—also Loom.—n. Loon′ing, the cry of a loon, like the howl of a wolf, ominous of evil. [Ice. lómr, prob. influenced by loon, as above, from their awkward walk on land.]
Loop, lōōp, n. a doubling of a cord, chain, &c., through which another may pass: an ornamental doubling in fringes.—v.t. to fasten or ornament with loops.—n.pl. Loop′ers, the caterpillars of certain moths, which move by drawing up the hindpart of their body to the head.—n. Loop′-line, a branch from a main line of railway, returning to it after making a detour. [Prob. Celt.; Gael. lub, a bend.]
Loop, lōōp, Loophole, lōōp′hōl, n. a small hole in a wall, &c., through which small-arms may be fired: a means of escape.—adjs. Looped (Shak.), full of small openings; Loop′holed.—n. Loop′-light, a small narrow window. [O. Fr. loup.]
Loord, lōōrd, n. (Spens.) a lout. [Fr. lourd, heavy.]
Loos, lōōs, n. (Spens.) praise. [L. laus, praise.]
Loose, lōōs, adj. slack, free: unbound: not confined: not compact: indefinite: vague: not strict: unrestrained: lax in principle: licentious: inattentive.—adj. Loose′-bod′ied, flowing.—n. Loose′-kir′tle, a wanton.—adv. Loose′ly.—ns. Loos′ener, a laxative; Loose′ness, the state of being loose: diarrhœa.—Loose box, a part of a stable where horses are kept untied.—Break loose, to escape from confinement; Give a loose to, to give free vent to; Let loose, to set at liberty. [A.S. leás, loose; from the same root as loose (v.t.) and lose, seen also in Goth. laus, Ger. los; more prob. due to Ice. lauss.]
Loose, lōōs, v.t. to free from any fastening: to release: to relax: (Spens.) to solve.—v.i. (B.) to set sail.—v.t. Loos′en, to make loose: to relax anything tied or rigid: to make less dense; to open, as the bowels.—v.i. to become loose: to become less tight. [A.S. lósian; Ger. lösen, Goth. lausjan, to loose.]
Loosestrife, lōōs′strīf, n. the popular name for a plant of the natural order Lythraceæ (q.v.).
Loot, lōōt, n. act of plundering, esp. in a conquered city: plunder.—v.t. or v.i. to plunder, ransack. [Hindi lūt—Sans. lotra, loptra, stolen goods.]
Lop, lop, v.i. to hang down loosely.—adjs. Lop′-eared, having ears which hang downwards; Lop′sided, heavier on one side than the other, as a ship.
Lop, lop, v.t. to cut off the top or ends of, esp. of a tree: to curtail by cutting away superfluous parts:—pr.p. lop′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. lopped.—n. twigs of trees cut off—ns. Lop′per; Lop′ping, a cutting off: that which is cut off. [Cf. Dut. lubben, to cut; perh. conn. with leaf.]
Lope, lōp, v.i. to leap: to run with a long stride.
Lophobranch, lō′fō-brangk, adj. having tufted gills.—Also Lophobran′chiate. [Gr. lophos, a crest, brachia, gills.]
Loquacious, lo-kwā′shus, adj. talkative.—adv. Loquā′ciously.—ns. Loquā′ciousness, Loquac′ity, talkativeness. [L. loquax, -acis—loqui, to speak.]
Loquat, lō′kwat, n. an esteemed Chinese and Japanese fruit, yellowish, flavouring tarts. [Chinese.]
Lorate, lōr′āt, adj. (bot.) resembling a thong or strap. [L. loratus—lorum, a thong.]
Lorcha, lor′cha, n. a light vessel of European build, but rigged like a Chinese junk.
Lord, lawrd, n. a master: a superior: a husband: a ruler: the proprietor of a manor: a baron: a peer of the realm: the son of a duke or marquis, or the eldest son of an earl: a bishop, esp. if a member of parliament: (B.) the Supreme Being, Jehovah (when printed in capitals): a name also applied to Christ.—v.t. to raise to the peerage.—v.i. to act the lord: to tyrannise.—ns. Lord′liness; Lord′ling, a little lord: a would-be lord—also Lord′ing, Lord′kin.—adj. Lord′ly, like, becoming, or pertaining to a lord: dignified: haughty: tyrannical—also adv.—ns. Lordol′atry, excessive worship of nobility; Lords′-and-lā′dies, a popular name for the common arum (q.v.); Lord's′-day, the first day of the week; Lord′ship, state or condition of being a lord: the territory belonging to a lord: dominion: authority; Lord's′-sup′per, the sacrament of the communion, instituted at our Lord's last supper.—Lord-lieutenant of a county (see Lieutenant); Lord-lieutenant Of Ireland, a viceroy or deputy of the sovereign to whom the government of Ireland is nominally committed; Lord of misrule (see Misrule); Lords of Session, the judges of the Scotch Court of Session; Lords Ordinary, the five judges forming the outer house of the Court of Session; Lords spiritual, the archbishops and bishops in the House of Lords—opp. to Lords temporal, the peers proper.—House of Lords, the upper house in the two branches of the British parliament, consisting of the lords spiritual and temporal. [M. E. loverd, laverd—A.S. hláford—hláf, a loaf, bread, weard, warder.]
Lordosis, lor-dō′sis, n. abnormal curvature of the spinal column, the convexity towards the front.
Lore, lōr, n. that which is learned: doctrine: learning.—n. Lor′ing (Spens.), learning. [A.S. lár.]
Lore, lōr, n. (Spens.) something like a thong: (ornith.) the side of the head between the eye and the base of the upper mandible.
Lorel, lor′el, n. (Spens.) an idle fellow. [Losel.]
Lorette, lō-ret′, n. a showy strumpet. [Fr.]
Lorgnette, lōr-nyet′, n. an opera-glass.—n. Lor′gnon, an eye-glass with a handle. [Fr.]
Lorica, lo-rī′ka, n. in ancient Rome, a cuirass made of thongs—also Lor′ic (Browning).—v.t. Lor′icāte, to furnish with a coat-of-mail: to plate or coat over.—adj. covered with defensive armour: imbricated.—n. Loricā′tion, a coating or crusting over, as with plates of mail. [L.,—lorum, a thong.]
Lorikeet, lor-i-kēt′, n. a small parrot, a kind of lory.
Lorimer, lor′i-mėr, n. a maker of horse-furniture.—Also Lor′iner. [Fr. lormier—L. lorum, a thong.]
Loriot, lō′ri-ut, n. the oriole. [Fr. le, the, oriol—L. aureolus, dim. of aureus, golden—aurum, gold.]
Loris, lō′ris, n. the slender lemur of Ceylon.
Lorn, lorn, adj. (Spens.) lost, forsaken. [A.S. loren, pa.p. of leósan, to lose.]
Lorry, lor′i, n. a four-wheeled wagon without sides. [Perh. from prov. Eng. lurry, to pull.]
Lory, lō′ri, n. a common name for the members of a family of Australian parrots. [Malay.]
Lose, lōōz, v.t. to be deprived of: to cease to have: to mislay: to waste, as time: to miss: to bewilder: to cause to perish: to ruin.—v.i. to fail, to be unsuccessful: to suffer waste:—pr.p. los′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. lost.—adj. Los′able.—n. Los′er.—adj. Los′ing, causing loss.—adv. Los′ingly.—n. Loss, the act of losing: injury: destruction: defeat: that which is lost: waste.—adj. Lost, parted with: no longer possessed: missing: thrown away: squandered: ruined.—Lose one's self, to lose one's way, to become bewildered; Lost to, insensible to; Lost tribes, the tribes of Israel which never returned from captivity.—At a loss, in uncertainty. [A.S. losian—leósan; cog. with Ger. ver-lieren, to lose.]
Losel, lō′zel, n. a sorry, worthless fellow: a scamp.—adj. slothful: wasteful—n. Lō′selism, worthlessness, worthless fellows collectively. [Prob. lose.]
Löss. See Loess.
Lot, lot, n. one's fate in the future: destiny: that which falls to any one as his fortune: that which decides by chance: a separate portion.—v.t. to allot: to separate into lots: to catalogue:—pr.p. lot′ting; pa.p. lot′ted.—Cast, or Draw, lots, to determine an event by some arrangement of chances. [A.S. hlot, hlýt, a lot—hleótan, to cast lots.]
Lotah, lō′ta, n. a Hindu small brass or copper pot.
Lote. See Lotus.
Loth, lōth, adj. Same as Loathful, Loathly.
Lothario, lō-thā′ri-ō, n. a libertine, rake. [From Lothario, in Rowe's play, The Fair Penitent.]
Lotion, lō′shun, n. a liquid preparation for healing or cleansing any diseased or bruised part. [Fr.,—L.,—lavāre lotum, to wash.]
Lottery, lot′ėr-i, n. a distribution of prizes by lot or chance: a game of chance.
Lotto, lot′ō, n. a game played with numbered discs and cards.—Also Lot′o. [It.]
Lotus, lō′tus, n. the water-lily of Egypt: a tree in North Africa, whose fruit made strangers forget their home: a genus of leguminous plants—also Lote, Lō′tos.—ns.pl. Lotō′phagi, Lō′tus-eat′ers, a people who ate the fruit of the lotus, among whom Ulysses lived for a time.—ns. Lō′tus-eat′er, an eater of the lotus: one given up to sloth; Lō′tus-land, the country of the lotus-eaters. [Gr.]
Loud, lowd, adj. making a great sound: noisy: showy.—advs. Loud, Loud′ly.—adj. Loud′-lunged, vociferous.—n. Loud′ness.—adj. Loud′-voiced, stentorian. [A.S, hlúd; Ger. laut, sound; L. inclytus, renowned, Gr. klytos, heard.]
Lough, loh, n. the Irish form of loch.
Louis, lōō′i, n. a French gold coin superseded in 1795 by the 20-franc piece—also Lou′is-d'or.—adjs. Lou′is-Quatorze′, characteristic of the reign of Louis XIV. (1643-1715), in architecture and decoration; Lou′is-Quinze, of that of Louis XV. (1715-74); Lou′is-Seize, of that of Louis XVI. (1774-92); Lou′is-Treize, of that of Louis XIII. (1610-43).
Lounder, lown′dėr, v.t. (Scot.) to beat.—n. a heavy blow.—n. Loun′dering, a beating.
Lounge, lownj, v.i. to recline at one's ease: to move about listlessly.—n. the act or state of lounging: an idle stroll: a place for lounging: a kind of sofa.—n. Loung′er. [Fr. longis, one that is long in doing anything, formed (but with a pun on L. longus, long) from L. Longius or Longinus, the legendary name of the centurion who pierced the body of Christ.]
Loup, lōōp, n. (Spens.) loop.
Loup, lowp, v.i. (Scot.) to leap.—ns. Loup′ing-ill, a disease causing sheep to spring up in walking; Loup′ing-on′-stane, a stone from which to mount a horse; Loup′-the-dyke′, runaway.
Lour, lowr, v.i. Same as lower, to frown.
Louse, lows, n. a common wingless parasitic insect, with a flat body, and short legs furnished with claws:—pl. Lice (līs).—v.t. (obs.) to remove lice from.—n. Lous′iness.—adj. Lous′y, swarming with lice. [A.S. lús, pl. lýs; Ger. laus; from the root of Goth. liusan, to destroy.]
Lout, lowt, n. a clown, awkward fellow.—v.t. to treat as a lout.—v.i. to bend.—adj. Lout′ish, clownish: awkward and clumsy.—adv. Lout′ishly.—n. Lout′ishness. [A.S. lútan, to stoop.]
Louvre, Louver, lōō′vėr, n. an opening of a turret shape on roofs, to allow the smoke or foul air to escape from halls, kitchens, &c.—n. Lou′vre-win′dow, an open window in a church tower, crossed by a series of sloping boards. [O. Fr. louvert for l'ouvert, the open space.]
Lovage, luv′āj, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Umbelliferæ, allied to Angelica, used as a salad plant: a liquor made from the above. [O. Fr. luvesche—L. ligusticum, belonging to Liguria.]
Love, luv, n. fondness: an affection of the mind caused by that which delights: pre-eminent kindness: benevolence: reverential regard: devoted attachment to one of the opposite sex: the object of affection: the god of love, Cupid: (Shak.) a kindness, a favour done: nothing, in billiards, tennis, and some other games.—v.t. to be fond of: to regard with affection: to delight in with exclusive affection: to regard with benevolence.—v.i. to have the feeling of love.—adj. Lov′able, worthy of love: amiable.—ns. Love′-app′le, the fruit of the tomato; Love′bird, a genus of small birds of the parrot tribe, so called from their attachment to each other; Love′-brok′er (Shak.), a third person who carries messages and makes assignations between lovers; Love′-charm, a philtre; Love′-child, a bastard; Love′-day (Shak.), a day for settling disputes; Love′-fā′vour, something given to be worn in token of love; Love′-feast, a religious feast held periodically by certain sects of Christians in imitation of the love-feasts celebrated by the early Christians in connection with the Lord's-supper; Love′-feat, the gallant act of a lover; Love′-in-ī′dleness, the heart's-ease; Love′-juice, a concoction used to excite love; Love′-knot, an intricate knot, used as a token of love.—adj. Love′less, without love, tenderness, or kindness.—ns. Love′-lett′er, a letter of courtship; Love′-lies-bleed′ing, a species of the plant Amaranthus; Love′liness; Love′lock, a lock of hair hanging at the ear, worn by men of fashion in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.—adj. Love′lorn, forsaken by one's love.—n. Love′lornness.—adj. Love′ly, exciting love or admiration: amiable: pleasing: delightful.—adv. beautifully, delightfully.—ns. Love′-match, a marriage for love, not money; Love′-mong′ėr, one who deals in affairs of love; Love′-pō′tion, a philtre; Lov′er, one who loves, esp. one in love with person of the opposite sex, in the singular almost exclusively of the man: one who is fond of anything: (B.) a friend.—adjs. Lov′ered (Shak.), having a lover; Lov′erly, like a lover.—n. Love′-shaft, a dart of love from Cupid's bow.—adjs. Love′-sick, languishing with amorous desire; Love′some, lovely.—ns. Love′-suit (Shak.), courtship; Love′-tō′ken, a gift in evidence of love.—adj. Lov′ing, having love or kindness: affectionate: fond: expressing love.—ns. Lov′ing-cup (see under Cup); Lov′ing-kind′ness, kindness full of love: tender regard: mercy: favour.—adv. Lov′ingly.—n. Lov′ingness.—For love or money, in some way or another; In love, enamoured; Make love to, to try to gain the affections of; Play for love, to play without stakes; There's no love lost between them, they have no regard for each other. [A.S. lufu, love; Ger. liebe; cf. L. libet, lubet.]
Lovelace, luv′lās, n. a well-mannered libertine. [From Lovelace, the hero of Clarissa Harlowe.]
Lover, an obsolete form of louvre.
Low, lō, v.i. to make the loud noise of oxen: to bellow.—n. the bellow of oxen.—n. Low′ing, the bellowing of cattle. [A.S. hlówan; Dut. loeijen; imit.]
Low, lō, adj. (comp. Low′er; superl. Low′est) lying in an inferior place or position: not high: deep: shallow: small: moderate: cheap: dejected: mean: plain: in poor circumstances: humble.—adv. not aloft: cheaply: meanly: in subjection, poverty, or disgrace: in times near our own: not loudly: (astron.) near the equator.—adj. Low′-born, of mean birth.—ns. Low′-church, a party within the Church of England minimising sacerdotal claims, ecclesiastical constitutions, ordinances, and forms, holding evangelical views of theology:—opp. to High-church; Low′-church′ism; Low′-church′man.—v.t. Low′er, to bring low: to depress: to degrade: to diminish.—v.i. to fall: to sink: to grow less.—adjs. Low′er-case (print.), kept in a lower case, denoting small letters as distinguished from capitals; Low′er-class, pertaining to persons of the humbler ranks.—n. Low′ering, the act of bringing low or reducing.—adj. letting down: sinking: degrading.—adj. Low′ermost, lowest.—ns. Low′land, land low with respect to higher land; Low′lander, a native of lowlands; Low′-life, humble life; Low′lihead, Low′lihood, a lowly or humble state; Low′liness.—adjs. Low′-lived, vulgar: shabby; Low′ly, of a low or humble mind: not high: meek: modest; Low′-mind′ed, moved by base or gross motives: vulgar; Low′-necked, cut low in the neck and away from the shoulders, décolleté.—n. Low′ness.—adjs. Low′-press′ure, employing or exerting a low degree of pressure (viz. less than 50 lb. to the sq. inch), said of steam and steam-engines; Low′-spir′ited, having the spirits low or cast down: not lively: sad.—n. Low′-spir′itedness.—adj. Low′-thought′ed, having the thoughts directed to low pursuits.—n. Low′-wa′ter, the lowest point of the tide at ebb.—Low Latin, a term often applied loosely to the Latin spoken and written after the fall of the Roman Empire, as well as during the Middle Ages; Low Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, so called in contrast to the great festival whose octave it ends; Low wines, the weak spirit produced from the first distillation of substances containing alcohol.—Lie low, to keep quiet or hidden. [Ice. lágr, Dut. laag, low; allied to A.S. licgan, to lie.]
Low, low, n. (Scot.) a flame.—v.i. to blaze.—n. Low′-bell, a bell used in fowling by night, in connection with a light, to frighten birds into a net. [Ice. logi; cf. Dan. lue, Ger. lohe.]
Lower, low′ėr, v.i. to appear gloomy, as the clouds: to threaten a storm: to frown.—adjs. Lou′ry, Low′ery, cloudy; Low′ering, looking sullen: appearing dark and threatening.—adv. Low′eringly. [M. E. louren, from M. E. lure, lere, the cheek, allied to A.S. hleór, and thus a variant of leer.]
Lown, lown, n. a variant of loon.
Lown, lown, adj. (Scot.) sheltered, tranquil.
Loxia, lok′si-a, n. wryneck. [Gr.]
Loxodromic, lok-so-drom′ik, adj. pertaining to certain lines on the surface of a sphere which cut all meridians at the same angle, and indicate the course held by ships in rhumb sailing.—Loxodromic curve, line, or spiral, the course of a ship oblique to the equator and cutting all the meridians at the same angle, sailing constantly toward the same point of the compass.—Loxodromics, the art of such oblique sailing. [Gr. loxos, oblique, dromos, a course.]
Loyal, loi′al, adj. faithful to one's sovereign: obedient: true to a lover.—n. Loy′alist, a loyal adherent of his sovereign, esp. in English history, a partisan of the Stuarts: in the American war, one that sided with the British troops.—adv. Loy′ally.—n. Loy′alty. [Fr.,—L. legalis—lex, legis, law.]
Lozenge, loz′enj, n. an oblique-angled parallelogram or a rhombus: a small cake of flavoured sugar, originally lozenge or diamond shaped: (her.) the rhomb-shaped figure in which the arms of maids, widows, and deceased persons are borne.—adjs. Loz′enged, formed in the shape of a lozenge; Loz′enge-shaped, shaped like a lozenge or rhomb; Loz′engy (her.), divided into lozenge-shaped compartments. [O. Fr. losange, flattery, whence its use for an epitaph, square slab, window-pane.]
Lubber, lub′ėr, Lubbard, lub′ard, n. an awkward, clumsy fellow: a lazy, sturdy fellow.—adj. Lubb′ard, lubberly.—adj. and adv. Lubb′erly.—n. Lubb′er's-hole (naut.), a hole between the head of the lower mast and the edge of the top through which 'lubbers' may climb, instead of going round the futtock shroud. [W. llob, a dolt, llabbi, a stripling.]
Lubricate, lū′bri-kāt, v.t. to make smooth or slippery: to supply with oil to overcome friction.—adjs. Lū′bric, -al, Lū′bricous, slippery: lewd.—ns. Lū′bricant; Lubricā′tion.—adj. Lū′bricative.—ns. Lū′bricator; Lubricity (lū-bris′i-ti), slipperiness: smoothness: instability: lewdness; Lubrifac′tion. [L. lubricāre, -ātum—lubricus, slippery.]
Lucarne, lū′kärn, n. a dormer-window, esp. in a church spire. [Fr.,—L. lucerna, a lamp.]
Luce, lūs, n. a fresh-water fish, the pike. [O. Fr. lus—Low L. lucius.]
Lucent, lū′sent, adj. shining: bright.—n. Lū′cency, brightness.—adj. Lucer′nal, pertaining to a lamp. [L. lucens—lucēre, to shine—lux, lucis, light.]
Lucerne, lū′sėrn, n. a species of Medick, a valuable forage-plant. [Fr. luzerne.]
Lucid, lū′sid, adj. shining: transparent: easily understood: intellectually bright: not darkened with madness.—ns. Lucid′ity, Lū′cidness.—adv. Lū′cidly.—ns. Luc′ifer, the planet Venus when it appears as the morning-star: Satan: a match of wood tipped with a combustible substance ignited by friction.—adjs. Lucifē′rian, Lucif′erous, of or pertaining to Lucifer: bearing light: affording means of discovery; Lucif′ugal, Lucif′ugous, shunning light.—n. Lucim′eter, an instrument for measuring the intensity and duration of sunshine in promoting evaporation. [L.,—lux, lucis, light.]
Lucigen, lū′si-jen, n. one of the most powerful artificial lamps, and specially adapted for lighting large spaces, whether open or covered. [L. lux, lucis, light, and root of gignĕre, to beget.]
Lucina, lū′sī-na, n. a name applied both to Diana and to Juno—to the latter as the especial divinity that presides over childbirth. [L.,—lux, light.]
Luck, luk, n. fortune, good or bad: chance: lot: good fortune.—adv. Luck′ily.—n. Luck′iness.—adj. Luck′less, without good luck: unhappy.—adv. Luck′lessly.—ns. Luck′lessness; Luck′-penn′y, a trifle returned for luck by a seller to a buyer: a coin carried for luck.—adj. Luck′y, having good luck: auspicious.—n. Luck′y-bag, a receptacle for lost property on board a man-of-war.—Be down on one's luck, to be unfortunate. [From a Low Ger. root, seen in Dut. luk; cf. Ger. glück, prosperity.]
Lucky, Luckie, luk′i, n. (Scot.) an elderly woman.
Lucky, luk′i, n. (slang) departure.—Cut one's lucky, to bolt.
Lucre, lū′kėr, n. gain (esp. sordid gain): profit: advantage.—adj. Lū′crative, bringing lucre or gain: profitable.—adv. Lū′cratively. [Fr.,—L. lucrum, gain.]
Luctation, luk-tā′shun, n. struggle. [L.,—luctāri.]
Lucubrate, lū′kū-brāt, v.i. to study by lamplight or at night.—n. Lucubrā′tion, a product of close study or thought, any composition produced in retirement.—adj. Lū′cubrātory, composed by candle-light. [L. lucubrāre, -ātum—lux.]
Luculent, lū′kū-lent, adj. lucid: clear: transparent: evident.—adv. Lū′culently. [L. luculentus—lux.]
Lucumo, lū′kū-mō, n. an appellation of the Etruscan princes and priests. [L.]
Lud, n. a minced form of lord.
Ludicrous, lū′di-krus, adj. that serves for sport: adapted to excite laughter: laughable: comic.—adv. Lū′dicrously.—n. Lū′dicrousness. [L. ludicrus—ludĕre, to play.]
Lue, lū, v.t. to sift.
Lues, lū′ēz, n. a plague.—adj. Luet′ic. [L.]
Luff, luf, n. the windward side of a ship: the act of sailing a ship close to the wind: the loof.—v.t. to turn a ship towards the wind. [M. E. lof, a paddle; cf. Scot. loof, Dut. loef.]
Luffa, luf′a, n. a genus of climbing herbs of the gourd family, whose seeds are contained in a fibrous network removed entire by soaking, &c., and used as a flesh-brush.—Also Loof′a, &c. [Ar.]
Lug, lug, v.t. to pull along: to drag: to pull with difficulty:—pr.p. lug′ging; pa.t. and pa.p. lugged.—ns. Lug′gage, the trunks and other baggage of a traveller; Lug′gage-van, a wagon for baggage; Lug′ger, a small vessel with two or three masts, a running bowsprit, and long or lug sails; Lug′sail, Lug, a square sail bent upon a yard that hangs obliquely to the mast.—Lug in, to introduce without any apparent connection. [Scand., Sw. lugga, to pull by the hair—lugg, the forelock; from a base luk, to pull, present in Scot. lug, the ear.]
Lug, lug, n. (Spens.) a perch or rod of land.
Lug, lug, n. (Scot.) the ear.—adj. Lugged, having ears.—n. Lug′gie, a small vessel with ears.
Lugubrious, lū-gū′bri-us, adj. mournful: dismal.—adv. Lugū′briously. [L. lugubris—lugēre, to mourn.]
Lugworm, lug′wurm, n. a sluggish worm found in the sand on the sea-shore, much used for bait by fishermen.—Also Lobworm.
Lukewarm, lūk′wawrm, adj. partially or moderately warm: indifferent—also Luke.—adv. Luke′warmly.—ns. Luke′warmness, Luke′warmth. [M. E. leuk, luke, an extension of lew, cog. with the A.S. hleó, the source of lee; prob. confused with A.S. wlæc, wlacu, tepid; cf. Dut. leuk, Ger. lau.]
Lull, lul, v.t. to soothe: to compose: to quiet.—v.i. to become calm: to subside.—n. a season of calm.—n. Lull′aby, a song to lull children to sleep, a cradle-song.—v.t. to lull to sleep. [Scand., as in Sw. lulla; imit. like Ger. lallen, Gr. lalein.]
Lum, lum, n. (Scot.) a chimney. [W. llumon.]
Lumbago, lum-bā′gō, n. a rheumatic affection of the muscles or fibrous tissues in the lumbar region.—adjs. Lumbag′inous; Lum′bar, Lum′bal, pertaining to, or near, the loins. [L.,—lumbus, loin.]
Lumber, lum′bėr, n. anything cumbersome or useless: timber sawed or split for use.—v.t. to fill with lumber: to heap together in confusion.—n. Lum′berer, one employed in felling timber and bringing it from the forest.—adj. Lum′bering, filling with lumber: putting in confusion.—n. Lum′ber-room, a room for holding things not in use. [Fr. Lombard—Ger. Langbart; the lumber-room being orig. the Lombard-room or place where the Lombards, the medieval bankers and pawnbrokers, stored their pledges.]
Lumber, lum′bėr, v.i. to move heavily. [Scand.; prov. Sw. lomra, to resound, Ice. hljómr, a sound.]
Lumbrical, lum′brik-al, adj. (anat.) worm-like.—adj. Lumbric′iform. [L. lumbricus, a worm.]
Luminary, lū′min-ar-i, n. any body which gives light, esp. one of the heavenly bodies: one who illustrates any subject or instructs mankind.—adj. Lū′minant, emitting light.—n. an illuminating agent.—n. Luminā′tion, a lighting up.—v.t. Lū′mine (Spens.), to illumine.—adjs. Luminif′erous, transmitting light; Lū′minous, giving light: shining: illuminated: clear: lucid.—adv. Lū′minously.—ns. Lū′minousness, Luminos′ity.—Luminous paint, a phosphorescent powder, such as sulphide or oxysulphide of calcium, ground up with a colourless varnish or other medium, and used as a paint. [L. lumen, luminis, light—lucēre, to shine.]
Lummy, lum′i, adj. (slang) knowing, cute.
Lump, lump, n. a small shapeless mass: a protuberance: swelling: the whole together: the gross.—v.t. to throw into a confused mass: to take in the gross.—ns. Lump′er, a labourer employed in the lading or unlading of ships: (prov.) a militiaman; Lump′fish, a clumsy sea-fish with a short, deep, and thick body and head, and a ridge on its back, also called Lump′sucker, from the power of its sucker.—adjs. Lump′ing, in a lump: heavy: bulky; Lump′ish, like a lump: heavy: gross: dull.—adv. Lump′ishly.—ns. Lump′ishness; Lump′-sug′ar, loaf-sugar in small pieces.—adj. Lump′y, full of lumps.—In the lump, in gross. [Scand., Norw. lump, a block; Dut. lomp.]
Lunar, lū′nar, adj. belonging to the moon: measured by the revolutions of the moon: caused by the moon: like the moon—also Lū′nary.—ns. Lū′nacy, a kind of madness formerly supposed to be affected by the moon: insanity; Lunā′rian, Lū′narist, a student of lunar phenomena; Lū′nary, the moonwort fern.—adjs. Lū′nāte, -d, formed like a half-moon: crescent-shaped; Lū′natic, affected with lunacy.—n. a person so affected: a madman (De lunatico inquirendo, the title of the writ or commission for inquiry into the mental state of an alleged lunatic).—n. Lunā′tion, the time between two revolutions of the moon: a lunar month.—adjs. Lū′niform, moon-shaped; Lū′nisolar, resulting from the united action of the sun and moon: compounded of the revolution of the sun and the moon.—n. Lū′nula, a crescent-like appearance, esp. the whitish area at the base of the nails.—adjs. Lū′nulate, -d (bot.), shaped like a small crescent.—ns. Lū′nule, Lū′nulet, anything in form like a small crescent; Lū′nulite, a small circular fossil coral.—Lunar caustic, fused crystals of nitrate of silver, applied to ulcers, &c.; Lunar cycle=Metonic cycle (q.v.); Lunar month (see Month); Lunar observation, an observation of the moon's distance from a star for the purpose of finding the longitude; Lunar rainbow (see Rainbow, under Rain); Lunar theory, a term employed to denote the a priori deduction of the moon's motions from the principles of gravitation; Lunar year (see Year). [L. lunaris—luna, the moon—lucēre, to shine.]
Lunch, lunsh, n. a slight repast between breakfast and dinner—also Lunch′eon.—v.i. to take lunch.—n. Lunch′eon-bar, a counter at a restaurant where luncheons are served. [Lunch, a contr. of luncheon, itself extended from lunch, a lump.]
Lune, lūn, n. anything in the shape of a half-moon: (Shak.) a fit of lunacy.—n. Lunette′, a little moon: (fort.) a detached bastion: a hole in a concave ceiling to admit light: a watch-glass flattened more than usual in the centre: in the R.C. Church, a moon-shaped case of crystal used for receiving the consecrated host. [Fr. lune—L. luna.]
Lung, lung, n. one of the organs of breathing—from its spongy texture.—adjs. Lunged; Lung′-grown, having an adhesion of the lung to the pleura.—n. Lung′wort, an herb with purple flowers and spotted leaves: a lichen on tree-trunks, used as a remedy for pulmonary diseases. [A.S. lunge, pl. lungan, the lungs; cog. with light (adj.).]
Lunge, lunj, n. a sudden thrust in fencing.—v.i. to give such.—v.t. to cause to plunge. [Fr. allonger, to lengthen—L. ad, to, longus, long.]
Luniform, Lunisolar, Lunulate. See Lunar.
Lunt, lunt, n. a light, blaze.—v.i. (Scot.) to burn, to smoke. [Dut. lont, a match; cf. Ger. lunte.]
Lupine, lū′pīn, adj. like a wolf: wolfish.—n. a genus of leguminous plants.—adj. Lupanā′rian, bawdy.—n. Lupercā′lia, a festival among the ancient Romans, held on the 15th of February, in honour of Lupercus (Pan), god of fertility and patron of shepherds—(Shak.) Lū′percal. [L. lupinus—lupus, a wolf, lupa, a whore.]
Luppa, lup′a, n. cloth having so much gold and silver thread as to look as if made entirely of metal.
Lupulus, lū′pu-lus, n. the common hop.—n. Lū′pulin, the peculiar bitter aromatic principle of the hop.
Lupus, lū′pus, n. a chronic tuberculosis of the skin, often affecting the nose. [L. lupus, a wolf.]
Lurch, lurch, n. an ancient card-game: in cribbage, the position of the party who has gained every point before the other makes one.—v.t. to overreach: (arch.) to steal.—Leave in the lurch, to leave in a difficult situation without help. [O. Fr. lourche.]
Lurch, lurch, v.i. to evade by stooping, to lurk: to roll or pitch suddenly to one side (as a ship).—n. a sudden roll of a ship.—n. Lurch′er, a name applied to any dog with a distinct cross of greyhound: one who lies in wait: a glutton. [Lurk.]
Lurdan, lur′dan, adj. (arch.) stupid.—n. a stupid person.—Also Lur′dane, Lur′den. [O. Fr. lourdein, dull—lourd, heavy.]
Lure, lūr, n. any enticement: bait: decoy: (Shak.) a stuffed bird used in falconry for training the hawk.—v.t. to entice: decoy. [O. Fr. loerre (Fr. leurre)—Mid. High Ger. luoder (Ger. luder), bait.]
Lure, lūr, n. a trumpet with long curved tube, used for calling cattle, &c. [Ice. lúdhr.]
Lurid, lū′rid, adj. ghastly pale, wan: ghastly and sensational: gloomy.—adv. Lū′ridly. [L. luridus.]
Lurk, lurk, v.i. to lie in wait: to be concealed.—n. a swindle.—n. Lurk′er.—adj. Lurk′ing, lying hid: keeping out of sight.—n. Lurk′ing-place, a hiding-place. [Scand., Sw. prov. luska.]
Lurry, lur′i, n. (Milt.) confusion.
Luscious, lush′us, adj. sweet in a great degree: delightful: fulsome, as flattery.—adv. Lusc′iously.—n. Lusc′iousness. [Old form lushious, from lusty.]
Lush, lush, adj. rich and juicy, of grass. [A contr. of lushious, old form of luscious.]
Lush, lush, v.t. to swill.—n. plentiful liquor.—adj. Lush′y, tipsy.
Lusiad, lū′si-ad, n. a Portuguese epic by Camoens, celebrating the chief events in the history of Portugal.—adj. Lusitā′nian, Portuguese. [Port. Os Lusiadas, the Lusitanians.]
Lusk, lusk, adj. (obs.) lazy.—v.i. to lie about lazily.—adj. Lusk′ish (obs.).—n. Lusk′ishness (Spens.).
Lust, lust, n. longing desire: eagerness to possess: carnal appetite: (B.) any violent or depraved desire.—v.i. to desire eagerly (with after, for): to have carnal desire: to have depraved desires.—adjs. Lust′-breathed (Shak.), animated by lust; Lust′-dī′eted (Shak.), pampered by lust.—n. Lust′er.—adj. Lust′ful, having lust: inciting to lust: sensual.—adv. Lust′fully.—n. Lust′fulness.—adj. Lust′ic (Shak.), lusty, healthy, vigorous.—ns. Lust′ihead, Lust′ihood, Lust′iness.—adv. Lust′ily.—adj. Lust′less (Spens.), listless, feeble.—n. Lust′wort, the sundew.—adj. Lust′y, vigorous: healthful: stout: bulky: (Milt.) lustful. [A.S. lust, pleasure.]
Lustre, lus′tėr, n. brightness, gloss, splendour: (fig.) renown: a candlestick ornamented with pendants of cut-glass: the characteristic appearance of a bright metallic surface, or of air within glass under water as seen under certain angles of total reflection: a dress material having a highly finished surface: a glaze applied to porcelain.—adjs. Lus′treless, destitute of lustre; Lus′trous, bright: shining: luminous.—adv. Lus′trously. [Fr.,—Low L. lustrum, a window—L. lucēre, to shine.]
Lustre, lus′tėr, Lustrum, lus′trum, n. a period of five years: (orig.) the solemn offering for the purification of the Roman people made by one of the censors at the conclusion of the census, taken every five years.—adj. Lus′tral, relating to or used in lustration: of or pertaining to a lustre.—n. Lustrā′tion, a purification by sacrifice: act of purifying.—adj. Lus′trical, pertaining to purification by lustration. [L. lustrum—luĕre, to wash, to purify.]
Lustring, lus′tring, n. a glossy silk cloth.—Also Lus′trine, Lute′string. [Fr. lustrine—It. lustrino.]
Lusty. See Lust.
Lute, lūt, n. a medieval stringed instrument of music like the guitar.—v.i. to play on the lute.—ns. Lut′anist, Lut′er, Lut′ist, a player on a lute; Lute′string, the string of a lute. [O. Fr. lut (Fr. luth); like Ger. laute, from Ar. al, the, ‛úd, wood, the lute.]
Lute, lūt, n. a composition used to exclude air, as round pipe-joints: a brickmaker's straight-edge scraper: a rubber packing-ring for a jar.—v.t. to close or coat with lute.—adjs. Lutā′rious, Lū′teous, of or like mud.—n. Lutā′tion.—adj. Lū′tose, miry. [L. lutum, from luĕre, to wash.]
Luteolin, lū′tē-ō-lin, n. the yellow colouring matter of weld or dyer's weed.—adjs. Lutē′olous, yellowish; Lū′teous, golden-yellowish. [L. lutum, weld.]
Lutetian, lū-tē′shan, adj. Parisian. [L.]
Lutheran, lū′thėr-an, adj. pertaining to Luther, the great German Protestant reformer (1483-1546), or to his doctrines: a follower of Luther.—ns. Lu′theranism, Lū′therism; Lū′therist.
Luxate, luks′āt, v.t. to put out of joint: to displace.—n. Luxā′tion, a dislocation. [L. luxāre, -ātum—luxus—Gr. loxos, slanting.]
Luxury, luk′sū-ri, n. free indulgence in rich diet or costly dress or equipage: anything delightful: a dainty: (Shak.) wantonness.—ns. Luxū′riance, Luxū′riancy, Luxurī′ety.—adj. Luxū′riant, exuberant in growth: overabundant.—adv. Luxū′riantly.—v.i. Luxū′riate, to be luxuriant: to grow exuberantly: to live luxuriously: to expatiate with delight.—n. Luxuriā′tion, the act of luxuriating.—adj. Luxū′rious, given to luxury: administering to luxury: furnished with luxuries: softening by pleasure: (Milt.) luxuriant: (Shak.) lustful.—adv. Luxū′riously.—ns. Luxū′riousness; Lux′urist, one given to luxury. [O. Fr. luxurie—L. luxuria, luxury—luxus, excess.]
Luz, luz, n. a bone supposed by Rabbinical writers to be indestructible, probably the sacrum.
Luzula, lū′zū-lä, n. a genus of plants of the rush family, having plain leaves, covered with thinly scattered, longish hairs. [Old It. luzziola, a firefly.]
Lyam, lī′am, n. a leash.—Also Lime.
Lyart. See Liard.
Lycanthropy, lī-kan′thro-pi, n. the power possessed by a person of changing himself into a wolf: a kind of madness, in which the patient fancies himself to be a wolf.—ns. Lycan′thrope, Lycan′thropist, a wolf-man or were-wolf, one affected with lycanthropy.—adjs. Lycanthrop′ic, Lycan′thropous. [Gr. lykos, a wolf, anthrōpos, a man.]
Lyceum, lī-sē′um, n. a place devoted to instruction by lectures: an association for literary improvement. [Orig. the name of a place in the immediate neighbourhood of Athens, consecrated to Apollo Lyceios, where Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, taught.]
Lychgate. Same as Lichgate.
Lychnic, lik′nik, n. a part of the vespers of the Greek Church on the occasion of a vigil.—n. Lychnap′sia, a series of seven prayers in the vespers of the Greek Church.—adj. Lychnid′iate, emitting light, phosphorescent.—ns. Lych′nobite, one who works by night and sleeps by day; Lych′nomancy, divination by means of lamps; Lych′noscope, a small window-like opening in the south wall of a church. [Gr. lychnos, a light.]
Lychnis, lik′nis, n. a genus of erect ornamental herbs of the pink family—campions or wall-flowers. [L.]
Lycopodiaceæ, lī-ko-pō-di-ā′se-ē, n.pl. a class of isoporous vascular cryptogams, having mostly a dichotomous form of branching—its typical genus Lycopō′dium.—n. Ly′copode, a highly inflammable yellow powder made up of the spores of Lycopodium. [Gr. lykos, a wolf, pous, the foot.]
Lyddite, lid′īt, n. a powerful explosive made (at Lydd in Kent) from picrate of potash.
Lydian, lid′i-an, adj. pertaining to Lydia in Asia Minor: of an ancient Greek mode of music: (mus.) soft and slow: luxurious and effeminate.
Lye, lī, n. a short side-branch of railway.
Lye, lī, n. a solution leached from ashes: a solution of the fixed alkalies, potash and soda, in water. [A.S. leáh; Ger. lauge; allied to lavāre, to wash.]
Lyencephalous, lī-en-sef′a-lus, adj. having the corpus callosum absent or rudimentary.
Lying, lī′ing, adj. addicted to telling lies.—n. the habit of telling lies.—adv. Ly′ingly.
Lying, lī′ing, adj. being in a horizontal position.—n. Ly′ing-in, the confinement of women during child-bearing—also adj.
Lyke-wake, līk′-wāk, n. Same as Lich-wake.
Lym, lim, n. (Shak.) a lime-hound.—Also Lym′-hound.
Lyme-grass, līm′-gras, n. any one of various coarse grasses of genus Elymus.
Lymph, limf, n. water: a colourless or faintly-yellowish fluid in animal bodies, of a rather saltish taste, and with an alkaline reaction.—n. Lymphangī′tis (see Weed, 3).—adj. Lymphat′ic, pertaining to lymph.—n. a vessel which conveys the lymph.—adjs. Lymph′y, Lymph′oid. [L. lympha.]
Lymphad, lim′fad, n. (Scot.) a kind of sailing-vessel.
Lynch, linsh, v.t. to judge and punish without the usual forms of law.—n. Lynch′-law (Amer.), a kind of summary justice exercised by the people. [From Charles Lynch (1736-96) of Virginia.]
Lynx, lingks, n. a genus of Felidæ, with the body elevated at the haunches, long fur, a short tail, the ears tipped with tufts of hair.—adjs. Lyncē′an, Lynx′-eyed, sharp-sighted. [L.,—Gr.]
Lyon Court, lī′un kōrt, n. the court in Scotland with jurisdiction in questions of coat-armour and precedency—presided over by the Lyon King-of-arms. [From the heraldic lion of Scotland.]
Lyre, līr, n. a musical instrument like the harp, anciently used as an accompaniment to poetry.—n. Ly′ra, one of the northern constellations.—adjs. Ly′rate, -d (bot.), lyre-shaped.—ns. Lyre′bird, an Australian bird about the size of a pheasant, having the 16 tail-feathers of the male arranged in the form of a lyre; Lyric (lir′-), a lyric poem: (obs.) a composer of lyric poetry.—adjs. Lyric, -al (lir′-), pertaining to the lyre: fitted to be sung to the lyre: written in stanzas: said of poetry which expresses the individual emotions of the poet: that composes lyrics.—ns. Lyricism (lir′-), a lyrical expression or composition; Lyr′ism, the art of playing on the lyre; Lyr′ist, a player on the lyre or harp. [Fr.,—L. lyra—Gr.]
Lysimeter, lī-sim′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the rate of percolation of rain through a soil.
Lysis, lī′sis, n. the gradual abatement of a disease, as distinguished from crisis: (archit.) a plinth or step above the cornice of the podium in an ancient temple. [Gr.]
Lyssa, lis′a, n. hydrophobia. [Gr.]
Lyterian, lī-tē′ri-an, adj. terminating a disease. [Gr.]
Lythe, līth, adj. (Spens.) pliant, flexible. [Lithe.]
Lytta, lit′a, n. a longitudinal vermiform cartilaginous or fibrous band on the under surface of the tongue in carnivores—the 'worm' of a dog's tongue. [Gr.]