Word: low Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *légʰyeti Proto-Germanic *ligjaną Proto-Germanic *lēgaz Old Norse lágrbor. Middle English lāh English low From Middle English lowe, lohe, lāh, from Old Norse lágr (“low”), from Proto-Germanic *lēgaz (“lying, flat, situated near the ground, low”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie”). Cognate with Scots laich (“low”), Saterland Frisian läich (“low”), West Frisian leech (“low”), Dutch laag (“low”), obsolete German läg (“low”), German Low German leeg, leeg' (“low”), Danish lav (“low”), Faroese, Icelandic lágur (“low”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish låg (“low”). More at lie. Pronunciation: /ˈləʊ/, /ˈlo/, /ˈlou/, /ˈlaː/, /ˈloʊ/ 1. Situated close to, or even below, the ground or another normal reference plane; not high or lofty. Example: standing on low ground Example: in a low valley, ringed by low hills 2. Situated close to, or even below, the ground or another normal reference plane; not high or lofty. Example: the low countries Example: Low German 3. Situated close to, or even below, the ground or another normal reference plane; not high or lofty. Example: the pitch (or: the ball) was low 4. Of less than normal height or upward extent or growth, or of greater than normal depth or recession; below the average or normal level from which elevation is measured. Example: a low bow Example: a low tide 5. Of less than normal height or upward extent or growth, or of greater than normal depth or recession; below the average or normal level from which elevation is measured. Example: Again, observe the unmeaningness of the low neck fashion. Our mothers wore low dresses and bare arms all day long; they knew if their shoulders and arms were beautiful they would look as well by daylight as by candlelight; […] Example: Why do girls wear low dresses? 6. Not high in status, esteem, or rank, dignity, or quality. (Compare vulgar.) Example: low birth Example: low rank 7. Humble, meek, not haughty. Example: God loves an humble soul. It is not our high birth, but our low hearts God delights in. 8. Disparaging; assigning little value or excellence. Example: She had a low opinion of cats. He took a low view of dogs. Example: The humble soul has low thoughts of his own person; as David, 'I am a worm, and no man.' 9. Being a nadir, a bottom. Example: the low point in her career Example: Virginia, for example, reached such a low point in her junior year that she briefly considered suicide [...] 10. Depressed in mood, dejected, sad. Example: low spirits Example: As low as I felt, at least I didn't have Hunding's [miserable] job. 11. Lacking health or vitality, strength or vivacity; feeble; weak. Example: a low pulse Example: made (or: laid) low by sickness 12. Lacking health or vitality, strength or vivacity; feeble; weak. 13. Dead. (Compare lay low.) Example: And wilt thou weep when I am low? Example: [L]et the mournful martial music blow; / The last great Englishman is low. 14. Small, not high (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc). Example: My credit union charges a low interest rate. Jogging during a whiteout, with such low temperatures and low visibility, is dangerous. The store sold bread at low prices, and milk at even lower prices. The contractors gave a low estimate of the costs. low cholesterol a low voltage wire a low number Example: Unfortunately, low winds were the rule over the local waters and this craft was no better, if as good, as ordinary sailboats under such conditions. 15. Small, not high (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc). Example: diets low in vitamin A Example: made from low-carbon steel 16. Small, not high (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc). Example: running low on cash Example: When silica is in low supply other classes of algae dominate the phytoplankton composition. 17. Simple in complexity or development. Labels: especially Example: low protozoan animals, low cryptogamic plants, and other low organisms Example: In the case of languages spoken by very low races, like the Puris and the Tasmanians, the difficulty of deciding such a point must be very great. 18. Favoring simplicity (see e.g. low church, Low Tory). Example: Among them there was none more low, more pious, more sincere, or more given to interference. To teach Mr. Worth his duty as a parish clergyman was evidently a necessity to such a bishop. Example: […] and give a judgment against not only Denison, but the Church's doctrine; and that, it having once been given, we shall not get it reversed; and that the Church of England will seem to be committed to Low doctrine, which […] 19. Being near the equator. Example: the low northern latitudes 20. Grave in pitch, due to being produced by relatively slow vibrations (wave oscillations); flat. Example: The note was too low for her to sing. Example: Generally, European men have lower voices than their Indian counterparts. 21. Quiet; soft; not loud. Example: They spoke in low voices so I would not hear what they were saying. Example: Why would you want to play heavy metal at such a low volume? 22. Made with a relatively large opening between the tongue and the palate; made with (part of) the tongue positioned low in the mouth, relative to the palate. 23. Lesser in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc. Example: a low card 24. Not rich or seasoned; offering the minimum of nutritional requirements; plain, simple. Labels: archaic Example: The Physicians ordered a low diet, and cooling ptisans in great abundance. 25. Designed for a slow (or the slowest) speed. Example: low gear