L (continued 2)

LANARY La"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. lanaria, fr. lanarius belonging to wool, lana wool.]

Defn: A place for storing wool.

LANATE; LANATED La"nate, La"na*ted,Etym: [L. lanatus, fr. lana wool, down.]

Defn: Wooly; covered with fine long hair, or hairlike filaments.

LANCASHIRE BOILER La"ca*shire boil"er

Defn: . A steam boiler having two flues which contain the furnaces and extend through the boiler from end to end.

LANCASTERIAN Lan`cas*te"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the monitorial system of instruction followed by Joseph Lancaster, of England, in which advanced pupils in a school teach pupils below them.

LANCE Lance, n. Etym: [OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea; cf. Gr. Launch.]

1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen. A braver soldier never couched lance. Shak.

2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.

3. (Founding)

Defn: A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.

4. (Mil.)

Defn: An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.

5. (Pyrotech.)

Defn: One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure. Free lance, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority. — Lance bucket (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. — Lance corporal, same as Lancepesade. — Lance knight, a lansquenet. B. Jonson. — Lance snake (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance. — Stink-fire lance (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a composition which burns with a suffocating odor; — used in the counter operations of miners. To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest.

LANCE Lance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanced (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lancing.]

1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon. Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced Her back. Dryden.

2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess.

3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch.

LANCE FISH Lance" fish`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes, especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; — called also sand lance.

LANCEGAY; LANCEGAYE Lance"gay`, Lance"gaye`, n. Etym: [OF. lancegaie, corrupted from the same source as E. assagai, under the influence of F. lance lance. See Assagai.]

Defn: A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II. Nares. In his hand a launcegay, A long sword by his side. Chaucer.

LANCELET Lance"let, n. Etym: [Lance + -let.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small fishlike animal (Amphioxus lanceolatus), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus, Leptocardia.

LANCELY Lance"ly, a.

Defn: Like a lance. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

LANCEOLAR Lan"ce*o*lar, a. Etym: [L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea lance: cf. F. lancéolaire.] (Bot.)

Defn: Lanceolate.

LANCEOLATE; LANCEOLATED Lan"ce*o*late, Lan"ce*o*la`ted a. Etym: [L. lanceolatus: cf. F. lancéol. See Lanceolar.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf.

LANCEPESADE Lance`pe*sade", n. Etym: [F. lancepessade, lanspessade, anspessade, It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, a light horseman, bodyguard.]

Defn: An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties of a corporal; — called also lance corporal.

LANCER Lan"cer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lancier.]

1. One who lances; one who carries a lance; especially, a member of a mounted body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service of some nations. Wilhelm.

2. A lancet. [Obs.]

3. pl. (Dancing)

Defn: A set of quadrilles of a certain arrangement. [Written also lanciers.]

LANCET Lan"cet, n. Etym: [F. lancette, dim. of lance lance. See Lance.]

1. A surgical instrument of various forms, commonly sharp-pointed and two-edged, used in venesection, and in opening abscesses, etc.

2. (Metal.)

Defn: An iron bar used for tapping a melting furnace. Knight. Lancet arch (Arch.), a pointed arch, of which the width, or span, is narrow compared with the height. — Lancet architecture, a name given to a style of architecture, in which lancet arches are common; — peculiar to England and 13th century. — Lancet fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A large, voracious, deep-sea fish (Alepidosaurus ferox), having long, sharp, lancetlike teeth. (b) The doctor, or surgeon fish.

LANCEWOOD Lance"wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tough, elastic wood, often used for the shafts of gigs, archery bows, fishing rods, and the like. Also, the tree which produces this wood, Duguetia Quitarensis (a native of Guiana and Cuba), and several other trees of the same family (Anonaseæ). Australian lancewood, a myrtaceous tree (Backhousia Australis).

LANCH Lanch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanched; p. pr. & vb. n. Lanching. See Lanching. See Launch, Lance.]

Defn: To throw, as a lance; to let fly; to launch. See Whose arm can lanch the surer bolt. Dryden & Lee.

LANCIFEROUS Lan*cif"er*ous, a Etym: [Lance + -ferous.]

Defn: Bearing a lance.

LANCIFORM Lan"ci*form, a Etym: [Lance + -form: cf. F. lanciforme.]

Defn: Having the form of a lance.

LANCINATE Lan"ci*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lancinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Lancinating.] Etym: [L. lancinatus, p. p. of lancinare to fear.]

Defn: To tear; to lacerate; to pierce or stab. De Quincey.

LANCINATING Lan"ci*na`ting, a.

Defn: Piercing; seeming to pierce or stab; as, lancinating pains (i.e., severe, darting pains).

LANCINATION Lan`ci*na"tion, n.

Defn: A tearing; laceration. "Lancinations of the spirit." Jer. Taylor.

LAND Land, n.

Defn: Urine. See Lant. [Obs.]

LAND Land, n. Etym: [AS. land, lond; akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., Dan., and Goth. land. ]

1. The solid part of the surface of the earth; — opposed to water as constituting a part of such surface, especially to oceans and seas; as, to sight land after a long voyage. They turn their heads to sea, their sterns to land. Dryden.

2. Any portion, large or small, of the surface of the earth, considered by itself, or as belonging to an individual or a people, as a country, estate, farm, or tract. Go view the land, even Jericho. Josh. ii. 1. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.

Note: In the expressions "to be, or dwell, upon land," "to go, or fare, on land," as used by Chaucer, land denotes the country as distinguished from the town. A poor parson dwelling upon land [i.e., in the country]. Chaucer.

3. Ground, in respect to its nature or quality; soil; as, wet land; good or bad land.

4. The inhabitants of a nation or people. These answers, in the silent night received, The kind himself divulged, the land believed. Dryden.

5. The mainland, in distinction from islands.

6. The ground or floor. [Obs.] Herself upon the land she did prostrate. Spenser.

7. (Agric.)

Defn: The ground left unplowed between furrows; any one of several portions into which a field is divided for convenience in plowing.

8. (Law)

Defn: Any ground, soil, or earth whatsoever, as meadows, pastures, woods, etc., and everything annexed to it, whether by nature, as trees, water, etc., or by the hand of man, as buildings, fences, etc.; real estate. Kent. Bouvier. Burrill.

9. (Naut.)

Defn: The lap of the strakes in a clinker-built boat; the lap of plates in an iron vessel; — called also landing. Knight.

10. In any surface prepared with indentations, perforations, or grooves, that part of the surface which is not so treated, as the level part of a millstone between the furrows, or the surface of the bore of a rifled gun between the grooves. Land agent, a person employed to sell or let land, to collect rents, and to attend to other money matters connected with land. — Land boat, a vehicle on wheels propelled by sails. — Land blink, a peculiar atmospheric brightness seen from sea over distant snow-covered land in arctic regions. See Ice blink. — Land breeze. See under Breeze. — Land chain. See Gunter's chain. — Land crab (Zoöl.), any one of various species of crabs which live much on the land, and resort to the water chiefly for the purpose of breeding. They are abundant in the West Indies and South America. Some of them grow to a large size. — Land fish a fish on land; a person quite out of place.Shak. — Land force, a military force serving on land, as distinguished from a naval force. — Land, ho! (Naut.), a sailor's cry in announcing sight of land. — Land ice, a field of ice adhering to the coast, in distinction from a floe. — Land leech (Zoöl.), any one of several species of blood-sucking leeches, which, in moist, tropical regions, live on land, and are often troublesome to man and beast. — Land measure, the system of measurement used in determining the area of land; also, a table of areas used in such measurement. — Land, or House, of bondage, in Bible history, Egypt; by extension, a place or condition of special oppression. — Land o' cakes, Scotland. — Land of Nod, sleep. — Land of promise, in Bible history, Canaan: by extension, a better country or condition of which one has expectation. — Land of steady habits, a nickname sometimes given to the State of Connecticut. — Land office, a government office in which the entries upon, and sales of, public land are registered, and other business respecting the public lands is transacted. [U.S.] — Land pike. (Zoöl.) (a) The gray pike, or sauger. (b) The Menobranchus. — Land service, military service as distinguished from naval service. — Land rail. (Zoöl) (a) The crake or corncrake of Europe. See Crake. (b) An Australian rail (Hypotænidia Phillipensis); — called also pectoral rail. — Land scrip, a certificate that the purchase money for a certain portion of the public land has been paid to the officer entitled to receive it. [U.S.] — Land shark, a swindler of sailors on shore. [Sailors' Cant] — Land side (a) That side of anything in or on the sea, as of an island or ship, which is turned toward the land. (b) The side of a plow which is opposite to the moldboard and which presses against the unplowed land. — Land snail (Zoöl.), any snail which lives on land, as distinguished from the aquatic snails are Pulmonifera, and belong to the Geophila; but the operculated land snails of warm countries are Dioecia, and belong to the Tænioglossa. See Geophila, and Helix. — Land spout, a descent of cloud and water in a conical form during the occurrence of a tornado and heavy rainfall on land. — Land steward, a person who acts for another in the management of land, collection of rents, etc. — Land tortoise, Land turtle (Zoöl.), any tortoise that habitually lives on dry land, as the box tortoise. See Tortoise. — Land warrant, a certificate from the Land Office, authorizing a person to assume ownership of a public land. [U.S.] — Land wind. Same as Land breeze (above). — To make land (Naut.), to sight land. To set the land, to see by the compass how the land bears from the ship. — To shut in the land, to hide the land, as when fog, or an intervening island, obstructs the view.

LAND Land, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Landed; p. pr. & vb. n. Landing.]

1. To set or put on shore from a ship or other water craft; to disembark; to debark. I 'll undertake top land them on our coast. Shak.

2. To catch and bring to shore; to capture; as, to land a fish.

3. To set down after conveying; to cause to fall, alight, or reach; to bring to the end of a course; as, he landed the quoit near the stake; to be thrown from a horse and landed in the mud; to land one in difficulties or mistakes.

LAND Land, v. i.

Defn: To go on shore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to come to the end of a course.

LANDAMMAN Lan"dam*man, n. Etym: [G. Landamman; land land, country + amimann bailiff. See Land, and Ambassador.]

1. A chief magistrate in some of the Swiss cantons.

2. The president of the diet of the Helvetic republic.

LANDAU Lan"dau, n. Etym: [From the town Ladau in Germany; cf. F. landau. See Land, Island.]

Defn: A four-wheeled covered vehicle, the top of which is divided into two sections which can be let down, or thrown back, in such a manner as to make an open carriage. [Written also landaw.]

LANDAULET Lan`dau*let", n. Etym: [Cf. F. landaulet, dim, of landau. See Landau.]

Defn: A small landau.

LANDDROST; LANDTROST Land"drost`, n.; pl. -drosten (#). Sometimes incorrectly Landtrost. [D., fr. land land + drost a kind of official; akin to G. truchsess.] In Cape Colony: (a) A chief magistrate in rural districts. He was replaced in 1827 by "resident magistrates." (b) The president of the Heemraad.

LANDED Land"ed, a.

1. Having an estate in land. The House of Commons must consist, for the most part, of landed men. Addison.

2. Consisting in real estate or land; as, landed property; landed security.

LANDER Land"er, n.

1. One who lands, or makes a landing. "The lander in a lonely isle." Tennyson.

2. (Mining)

Defn: A person who waits at the mouth of the shaft to receive the kibble of ore.

LANDFALL Land"fall, n.

1. A sudden transference of property in land by the death of its owner.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Sighting or making land when at sea. A good landfall (Naut.), the sighting of land in conformity with the navigator's reckoning and expectation.

LANDFLOOD Land"flood`, n.

Defn: An overflowing of land by river; an inundation; a freshet. Clarendon.

LANDGRAVE Land"grave`, n. Etym: [G. landgraf; land land + graf earl, count; cf. D. landgraaf, F. landgrave.]

Defn: A German nobleman of a rank corresponding to that of an earl in England and of a count in France.

Note: The title was first adopted by some German counts in the twelfth century, to distinguish themselves from the inferior counts under their jurisdiction. Three of them were princes of the empire.

LANDGRAVIATE Land*gra"vi*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. landgraviat.]

1. The territory held by a landgrave.

2. The office, jurisdiction, or authority of a landgrave.

LANDGRAVINE Land"gra*vine, n. Etym: [G. landgräfin; cf. D. landgravin.]

Defn: The wife of a landgrave.

LANDHOLDER Land"hold`er, n.

Defn: A holder, owner, or proprietor of land. — Land"hold`ing, n. & a.

LANDING Land"ing, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to or used for, setting, bringing, or going, on shore. Landing charges, charges or fees paid on goods unloaded from a vessel. — Landing net, a small, bag-shaped net, used in fishing to take the fish from the water after being hooked. — Landing stage, a floating platform attached at one end to a wharf in such a manner as to rise and fall with the tide, and thus facilitate passage between the wharf and a vessel lying beside the stage. — Landing waiter, a customhouse officer who oversees the landing of goods, etc., from vessels; a landwaiter.

LANDING Land"ing, n.

1. A going or bringing on shore.

2. A place for landing, as from a ship, a carriage. etc.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: The level part of a staircase, at the top of a flight of stairs, or connecting one flight with another. Landing place. me as Landing, n., 2 and 3.

LANDLADY Land"la`dy, n.; pl. Landladies. Etym: [Cf. Landlord.]

1. A woman having real estate which she leases to a tenant or tenants.

2. The mistress of an inn or lodging house.

LAND LEAGUE Land League.

Defn: In Ireland, a combination of tenant farmers and other, organized, with Charles Stewart Parnell as president, in 1879 with a view to the reduction of farm rents and a reconstruction of the land laws. — Land"*lea`guer (#), n. — Land"*lea`guism (#), n.

The Land League, of which Machael Davitt was the founder, originated in Mayo in August, and at a Dublin in October the organization was extended to all Ireland, with Parnell as president. Encyc. Brit.

LANDLEAPER Land"leap`er, n.

Defn: See Landlouper.

LANDLESS Land"less, a.

Defn: Having no property in land.

LANDLOCK Land"lock`, v. t.

Defn: To inclose, or nearly inclose, as a harbor or a vessel, with land.

LANDLOCKED Land"locked`, a.

1. Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, by land.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Confined to a fresh-water lake by reason of waterfalls or dams; — said of fishes that would naturally seek the sea, after spawning; as, the landlocked salmon.

LANDLOPER Land"lo`per, n.

Defn: Same as Landlouper.

LANDLORD Land"lord`, n. Etym: [See Land, and Lord.]

1. The lord of a manor, or of land; the owner of land or houses which he leases to a tenant or tenants.

2. The master of an inn or of a lodging house. Upon our arrival at the inn, my companion fetched out the jolly landlord. Addison.

LANDLORDISM Land"lord`ism, n.

Defn: The state of being a landlord; the characteristics of a landlord; specifically, in Great Britain, the relation of landlords to tenants, especially as regards leased agricultural lands. J. S. Mill.

LANDLORDRY Land"lord`ry, n.

Defn: The state of a landlord. [Obs.]

LANDLOUPER Land"loup`er, n. Etym: [D. landlooper, lit., landrunner; land land + loopen to run. See Land, and Leap.]

Defn: A vagabond; a vagrant. [Written also landleaper and landloper.] "Bands of landloupers." Moltey.

LANDLOUPING Land"loup`ing, a.

Defn: Vagrant; wandering about.

LANDLUBBER Land"lub`ber, n. Etym: [Prop. fr. land + lubber, or possibly corrupted fr. laudlouper.] (Naut.)

Defn: One who passes his life on land; — so called among seamen in contempt or ridicule.

LANDMAN Land"man, n.; pl. Landmen (.

1. A man who lives or serves on land; — opposed to seaman.

2. (Eng.)

Defn: An occupier of land. Cowell.

LANDMARK Land"mark`, n. Etym: [AS. landmearc. See Land, and Mark a sign.]

1. A mark to designate the boundary of land; any , mark or fixed object (as a marked tree, a stone, a ditch, or a heap of stones) by which the limits of a farm, a town, or other portion of territory may be known and preserved.

2. Any conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide; some prominent object, as a hill or steeple. Landmarks of history, important events by which eras or conditions are determined.

LAND OF STEADY HABITS Land of Steady Habits.

Defn: Connecticut; — a nickname alluding to the moral character of its inhabitants, implied by the rigid laws (see Blue laws) of the early period.

LANDOWNER Land"own`er, n.

Defn: An owner of land.

LANDOWNING Land"own`ing, n.

Defn: The owning of land. — a.

Defn: Having property in land; of or pertaining to landowners.

LAND-POOR Land"-poor`, a.

Defn: Pecuniarily embarrassed through owning much unprofitable land. [Colloq.]

LANDREEVE Land"reeve`, n. Etym: [Land + reeve an officer.]

Defn: A subordinate officer on an extensive estate, who acts as an assistant to the steward.

LANDSCAPE Land"scape, n. [Formerly written also landskip.] Etym: [D. landschap; land land + -schap, equiv. to E. -schip; akin to G. landschaft, Sw. landskap, Dan. landskab. See Land, and -schip.]

1. A portion of land or territory which the eye can comprehend in a single view, including all the objects it contains.

2. A picture representing a scene by land or sea, actual or fancied, the chief subject being the general aspect of nature, as fields, hills, forests, water. etc.

3. The pictorial aspect of a country. The landscape of his native country had taken hold on his heart. Macaulay. Landscape gardening, The art of laying out grounds and arranging trees, shrubbery, etc., in such a manner as to produce a picturesque effect.

LANDSCAPIST Land"scap`ist, n.

Defn: A painter of landscapes.

LANDSKIP Land"skip, n. Etym: [See Landscape.]

Defn: A landscape. [Obs. except in poetry.] Straight my eye hath caught new pleasures, Whilst the landskip round it measures. Milton.

LANDSLIP; LANDSLIDE Land"slip`, Land"slide`, n.

1. The slipping down of a mass of land from a mountain, hill, etc.

2. The land which slips down.

LANDSMAN Lands"man, n.; pl. Landsmen.

1. One who lives on the land; — opposed to seaman.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A sailor on his first voyage.

LANDSTHING Lands"thing`, n. [Dan. landsthing, landsting, fr. land land + thing, ting, parliament. See Land; Thing.] (Denmark.)

Defn: See Legislature, below.

LANDSTORM Land"storm`, n. [Sw.]

Defn: See Varnpligtige.

LANDSTREIGHT Land"streight`, n. Etym: [See Strait.]

Defn: A narrow strip of land. [Obs.]

LANDSTURM Land"sturm`, n. Etym: [G. See Land, and Storm.]

Defn: That part of the reserve force in Germany which is called out last.

LANDTAG Land"tag`, n. Etym: [G. See Land, and Day.]

Defn: The diet or legislative body; as, the Landtag of Prussia.

LANDWAITER Land"wait`er, n.

Defn: See Landing waiter, under Landing, a.

LANDWARD Land"ward, adv. & a.

Defn: Toward the land.

LANDWEHR Land"wehr`, n. Etym: [G., fr. land land, country + wehr defense.]

Defn: That part of the army, in Germany and Austria, which has completed the usual military service and is exempt from duty in time of peace, except that it is called out occasionally for drill.

LANE Lane, a. Etym: [See Lone.]

Defn: Alone [Scot.] His lane, by himself; himself alone.

LANE Lane, n. Etym: [OE. lane, lone, AS. lone, lone; akin to D. laan, OFries. lana, lona.]

Defn: A passageway between fences or hedges which is not traveled as a highroad; an alley between buildings; a narrow way among trees, ras, a lane between lines of men, or through a field of ice. It is become a turn-again lane unto them which they can not go through. Tyndale.

LANG Lang, a. & adv.

Defn: Long. [Obs. or Scot.]

LANGAHA Lan"ga*ha, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A curious colubriform snake of the genus Xyphorhynchus, from Madagascar. It is brownish red, and its hose is prolonged in the form of a sharp blade.

LANGAREY Lan`ga*rey", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of numerous species of long-winged, shrikelike birds of Australia and the East Indies, of the genus Artamus, and allied genera; called also wood swallow.

LANGATE Lan"gate, n. (Surg.)

Defn: A linen roller used in dressing wounds.

LANGDAK Lang"dak`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A wolf (Canis pallipes), found in India, allied to the jackal.

LANGRAGE; LANGREL Lan"grage, Lan"grel, n.

Defn: A kind of shot formerly used at sea for tearing sails and rigging. It consisted of bolts, nails, and other pieces of iron fastened together or inclosed in a canister.

LANGRET Lan"gret, n.

Defn: A kind of loaded die. [Obs.]

LANGRIDGE Lan"gridge, n.

Defn: See Langrage.

Note: [Sometimes compounded with shot.]

LANGSYNE Lang`syne", adv. & n. Etym: [Scot. lang long + syne since.]

Defn: Long since; long ago. [Scot.]

LANGTERALOO Lang`ter*a*loo", n. Etym: [See Loo.]

Defn: An old game at cards. See Loo (a) Tatler.

LANGUAGE Lan"guage, n. Etym: [OE. langage, F. langage, fr. L. lingua the tongue, hence speech, language; akin to E. tongue. See Tongue, cf. Lingual.]

1. Any means of conveying or communicating ideas; specifically, human speech; the expression of ideas by the voice; sounds, expressive of thought, articulated by the organs of the throat and mouth.

Note: Language consists in the oral utterance of sounds which usage has made the representatives of ideas. When two or more persons customarily annex the same sounds to the same ideas, the expression of these sounds by one person communicates his ideas to another. This is the primary sense of language, the use of which is to communicate the thoughts of one person to another through the organs of hearing. Articulate sounds are represented to the eye by letters, marks, or characters, which form words.

2. The expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality.

3. The forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar to a particular nation.

4. The characteristic mode of arranging words, peculiar to an individual speaker or writer; manner of expression; style. Others for language all their care express. Pope.

5. The inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express their feelings or their wants.

6. The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers. There was . . . language in their very gesture. Shak.

7. The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or theology.

8. A race, as distinguished by its speech. [R.] All the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image. Dan. iii. 7. Language master, a teacher of languages.[Obs.]

Syn. — Speech; tongue; idiom; dialect; phraseology; diction; discourse; conversation; talk. — Language, Speech, Tongue, Idiom, Dialect. Language is generic, denoting, in its most extended use, any mode of conveying ideas; speech is the language of articulate sounds; tongue is the Anglo- Saxon tern for language, esp. for spoken language; as, the English tongue. Idiom denotes the forms of construction peculiar to a particular language; dialects are varieties if expression which spring up in different parts of a country among people speaking substantially the same language.

LANGUAGE Lan"guage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Languaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Languaging.]

Defn: To communicate by language; to express in language. Others were languaged in such doubtful expressions that they have a double sense. Fuller.

LANGUAGED Lan"guaged, a.

Defn: Having a language; skilled in language; — chiefly used in composition. " Manylanguaged nations." Pope.

LANGUAGELESS Lan"guage*less, a.

Defn: Lacking or wanting language; speechless; silent. Shak.

LANGUED Langued, a. Etym: [F. langue tongue. See Language.] (Her.)

Defn: Tongued; having the tongue visible. Lions . . . represented as armed and langued gules. Cussans.

LANGUE D'OC Langue` d'oc". Etym: [F., language of oc yes.]

Defn: The dialect, closely akin to French, formerly spoken south of the Loire (in which the word for "yes" was oc); Provencal.

LANGUE D'OIL Langue` d'oïl". Etym: [F., language of oïl yes.]

Defn: The dialect formerly spoken north of the Loire (in which the word for "yes" was oïl, F. oui).

LANGUENTE Lan*guen"te, adv. Etym: [It., p. pr. of languire. See Languish.] (Mus.)

Defn: In a languishing manner; pathetically.

LANGUET Lan"guet, n. Etym: [F. languette, dim. of langue tongue, L. lingua.]

1. Anything resembling the tongue in form or office; specif., the slip of metal in an organ pipe which turns the current of air toward its mouth.

2. That part of the hilt, in certain kinds of swords, which overlaps the scabbard.

LANGUID Lan"guid, a. Etym: [L. languidus, fr. languere to be faint or languid: cf. F. languide. See Languish.]

1. Drooping or flagging from exhaustion; indisposed to exertion; without animation; weak; weary; heavy; dull. " Languid, powerless limbs. " Armstrong. Fire their languid souls with Cato's virtue. Addison.

2. Slow in progress; tardy. " No motion so swift or languid." Bentley.

3. Promoting or indicating weakness or heaviness; as, a languid day. Feebly she laugheth in the languid moon. Keats. Their idleness, aimless and languid airs. W. Black.

Syn. — Feeble; weak; faint; sickly; pining; exhausted; weary; listless; heavy; dull; heartless. — Lan"guid*ly, adv. — Lan"guid*ness, n.

LANGUISH Lan"guish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Languished; p. pr. & vb. n. Languishing.] Etym: [OE. languishen, languissen, F. languir, L. languere; cf. Gr. lakra to lag behind; prob. akin to E. lag, lax, and perh. to E. slack.See -ish.]

1. To become languid or weak; to lose strength or animation; to be or become dull, feeble or spiritless; to pine away; to wither or fade. We . . . do languish of such diseases. 2 Esdras viii. 31. Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me landguish into life. Pope. For the fields of Heshbon languish. Is. xvi. 8.

2. To assume an expression of weariness or tender grief, appealing for sympathy. Tennyson.

Syn. — To pine; wither; fade; droop; faint.

LANGUISH Lan"guish, v. i.

Defn: To cause to dr [Obs.] Shak. Dryden.

LANGUISH Lan"guish, n.

Defn: See Languishiment. [Obs. or Poetic] What, of death, too, That rids our dogs of languish Shak. And the blue languish of soft Allia's eye. Pope.

LANGUISHER Lan"guish*er, n.

Defn: One who languishes.

LANGUISHING Lan"guish*ing, a.

1. Becoming languid and weak; pining; losing health and strength.

2. Amorously pensive; as, languishing eyes, or look.

LANGUISHINGLY Lan"guish*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a languishing manner.

LANGUISHMENT Lan"guish*ment, n.

1. The state of languishing. " Lingering languishment." Shak.

2. Tenderness of look or mien; amorous pensiveness.

LANGUISHNESS Lan"guish*ness, n.

Defn: Languishment. [Obs.]

LANGUOR Lan"guor, n. Etym: [OE. langour, OF. langour, F. langueur, L. languor. See Languish.]

1. A state of the body or mind which is caused by exhaustion of strength and characterized by a languid feeling; feebleness; lassitude; laxity.

2. Any enfeebling disease. [Obs.] Sick men with divers languors. Wyclif (Luke iv. 40).

3. Listless indolence; dreaminess. Pope. " German dreams, Italian languors." The Century.

Syn. — Feebleness; weakness; faintness; weariness; dullness; heaviness; lassitude; listlessness.

LANGUOROUS Lan"guor*ous, a. Etym: [From Languor: cf. F. langoureux.]

Defn: Producing, or tending to produce, languor; characterized by languor. [Obs. or Poetic] Whom late I left in languorous constraint. Spenser. To wile the length from languorous hours, and draw The sting from pain. Tennyson.

LANGURE Lan"gure, v. i.

Defn: To languish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LANGYA Lan"gya, n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Native name Anglicized.]

Defn: One of several species of East Indian and Asiatic fresh-water fishes of the genus Ophiocephalus, remarkable for their power of living out of water, and for their tenacity of life; — called also walking fishes.

LANIARD Lan"iard, n.

Defn: See Lanyard.

LANIARIFORM La`ni*ar"i*form, a. Etym: [Laniary + -form.] (Anat.)

Defn: Shaped like a laniary, or canine, tooth. Owen.

LANIARY La"ni*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. laniarius, fr. lanius butcher, laniare to tear in pieces: cf. F. laniaire.] (Anat.)

Defn: Lacerating or tearing; as, the laniary canine teeth.

LANIARY La"ni*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. Laniary, a.]

1. The shambles; a place of slaughter. [R.]

2. (Anat.)

Defn: A laniary, or canine, tooth.

LANIATE La"ni*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. laniatus, p. p. of laniare.]

Defn: To tear in pieces. [R.]

LANIATION La`ni*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. laniatio.]

Defn: A tearing in pieces. [R.]

LANIER Lan"ier, n. Etym: [F. lanière. See Lanyard.] [Written also lanner, lanyer.]

1. A thong of leather; a whip lash. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. A strap used to fasten together parts of armor, to hold the shield by, and the like. Fairholt.

LANIFEROUS La*nif"er*ous, n. Etym: [L. lanifer; lana wool + ferre to bear: cf. F. lanifère.]

Defn: Bearing or producing wool.

LANIFICAL La*nif"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. lanificus; lana wool + facere to make.]

Defn: Working in wool.

LANIFICE Lan"i*fice, n. Etym: [L. lanificium: cf. OF. lanifice.]

Defn: Anything made of wool. [Obs.] Bacon.

LANIGEROUS La*nig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. laniger; lano wool + gerere to hear.]

Defn: Bearing or producing wool.

LANIOID La"ni*oid, a. Etym: [NL. Lanius (fr. L. lanius a butcher), the typical genus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the shrikes (family Laniidæ).

LANK Lank, a. [Compar. Lanker; superl. Lankest.] Etym: [AS. hlanc; cf. G. lenken to turn, gelenk joint, OHG. hlanca hip, side, flank, and E. link of a chain.]

1. Slender and thin; not well filled out; not plump; shrunken; lean. Meager and lank with fasting grown. Swift. Who would not choose . . . to have rather a lank purse than an empty brain Barrow.

2. Languid; drooping.[Obs.] Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head. Milton. Lank hair, long, thin hair. Macaulay.

LANK Lank, v. i. & t.

Defn: To become lank; to make lank. [Obs.] Shak. G. Fletcher.

LANKINESS Lank"i*ness, n.

Defn: The condition or quality or being lanky.

LANKLY Lank"ly, adv.

Defn: In a lank manner.

LANKNESS Lank"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being lank.

LANKY Lank"y, a.

Defn: Somewhat lank. Thackeray. The lanky Dinka, nearly seven feet in height. The Century.

LANNER; LANNERET Lan"ner, n. f. Lan"ner*et, n. m. Etym: [F. lanier, OF. also, lasnier. Cf. Lanyard.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A long-tailed falcon (Falco lanarius), of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa, resembling the American prairie falcon.

LANOLIN Lan"o*lin, n. Etym: [L. lana wool + oleum oil.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A peculiar fatlike body, made up of cholesterin and certain fatty acids, found in feathers, hair, wool, and keratin tissues generally.

Note: Under the same name, it is prepared from wool for commercial purposes, and forms an admirable basis for ointments, being readily absorbed by the skin.

LANSEH Lan"seh, n.

Defn: The small, whitish brown fruit of an East Indian tree (Lansium domesticum). It has a fleshy pulp, with an agreeable subacid taste. Balfour.

LANSQUENET Lans"que*net, n. Etym: [F., fr. G. landsknecht a foot soldier, also a game of cards introduced by these foot soldiers; land country + knecht boy, servant. See Land, and Knight.]

1. A German foot soldier in foreign service in the 15th and 16th centuries; a soldier of fortune; — a term used in France and Western Europe.

2. A game at cards, vulgarly called lambskinnet. [They play] their little game of lansquenet. Longfellow.

LANT Lant, n.

Defn: Urine. [Prov. Eng.] Nares.

LANT Lant, n. Etym: [Cf. Lance.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small, slender, marine fishes of the genus Ammedytes. The common European species (A. tobianus) and the American species (A. Americanus) live on sandy shores, buried in the sand, and are caught in large quantities for bait. Called also launce, and sand eel.

LANT Lant, n.

Defn: See Lanterloo. [Obs.] Halliwell.

LANTANIUM; LANTANUM Lan*ta"ni*um, Lan"ta*num, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Lanthanum.

LANTANURIC Lan`ta*nu"ric, a. Etym: [Formed by transposition of the letters of allantoin and -uric.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous organic acid of the uric acid group, obtained by the decomposition of allantoin, and usually called allanturic acid.

LANTERLOO Lan"ter*loo`, n.

Defn: An old name of loo (a).

LANTERN Lan"tern, n. Etym: [F. lanterne, L. lanterna, laterna, from Gr. Lamp.]

1. Something inclosing a light, and protecting it from wind, rain, etc. ; — sometimes portable, as a closed vessel or case of horn, perforated tin, glass, oiled paper, or other material, having a lamp or candle within; sometimes fixed, as the glazed inclosure of a street light, or of a lighthouse light.

2. (Arch.) (a) An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior. (b) A cage or open chamber of rich architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns. (c) A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light; such as the lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral.

3. (Mach.)

Defn: A lantern pinion or trundle wheel. See Lantern pinion (below).

4. (Steam Engine)

Defn: A kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc. ; — called also lantern brass.

5. (Founding)

Defn: A perforated barrel to form a core upon.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Aristotle's lantern.

Note: Fig. 1 represents a hand lantern; fig. 2, an arm lantern; fig. 3, a breast lantern; — so named from the positions in which they are carried. Dark lantern, a lantern with a single opening, which may be closed so as to conceal the light; — called also bull's-eye. — Lantern fly, Lantern carrier (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large, handsome, hemipterous insects of the genera Laternaria, Fulgora, and allies, of the family Fulgoridæ. The largest species is Laternaria phosphorea of Brazil. The head of some species has been supposed to be phosphorescent. — Lantern jaws, long, thin jaws; hence, a thin visage. — Lantern pinion, Lantern wheel (Mach.), a kind of pinion or wheel having cylindrical bars or trundles, instead of teeth, inserted at their ends in two parallel disks or plates; — so called as resembling a lantern in shape; — called also wallower, or trundle. — Lantern shell (Zoöl.), any translucent, marine, bivalve shell of the genus Anatina, and allied genera. — Magic lantern, an optical instrument consisting of a case inclosing a light, and having suitable lenses in a lateral tube, for throwing upon a screen, in a darkened room or the like, greatly magnified pictures from slides placed in the focus of the outer lens.

LANTERN Lan"tern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanterned; p. pr. & vb. n. Lanterning.] Etym: [Cf. F. lanterner to hang at the lamp post, fr. lanterne. See Lantern.]

Defn: To furnish with a lantern; as, to lantern a lighthouse.

LANTERN-JAWED Lan"tern-jawed`, a.

Defn: Having lantern jaws or long, thin jaws; as, a lantern-jawed person.

LANTHANITE Lan"tha*nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Hydrous carbonate of lanthanum, found in tabular while crystals.

LANTHANUM Lan"tha*num, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A rare element of the group of the earth metals, allied to aluminium. It occurs in certain rare minerals, as cerite, gadolinite, orthite, etc., and was so named from the difficulty of separating it from cerium, didymium, and other rare elements with which it is usually associated. Atomic weight 138.5. Symbol La. [Formerly written also lanthanium.]

LANTHOPINE Lan"tho*pine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid found in opium in small quantities, and extracted as a white crystalline substance.

LANTHORN Lan"thorn, n.

Defn: See Lantern. [Obs.]

LANUGINOSE; LANUGINOUS La*nu"gi*nose`, La*nu"gi*nous, a. Etym: [L. lanuginosus, fr. lanugo, -ginis, woolly substance, down, fr. lana wool: cf. F. lanugineux.]

Defn: Covered with down, or fine soft hair; downy.

LANUGO La*nu"go, n. Etym: [See Lanuginose.] (Anat.)

Defn: The soft woolly hair which covers most parts of the mammal fetus, and in man is shed before or soon after birth.

LANYARD Lan"yard, n. Etym: [F.lanière thong, strap, OF. lasniere, fr. lasne strap, thong, L. lacinia lappet. flap, edge of a garment. Cf. Lanier.] [Written also laniard.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: A short piece of rope or line for fastening something in ships; as, the lanyards of the gun ports, of the buoy, and the like; esp., pieces passing through the dead-eyes, and used to extend shrouds, stays, etc.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A strong cord, about twelve feet long, with an iron hook at one end a handle at the other, used in firing cannon with a friction tube.

LANYER Lan"yer, n.

Defn: See Lanier.

LAOCOON; LAOCOOEN La*oc"o*ön, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A priest of Apollo, during the Trojan war. (See 2.)

2. (Sculp.)

Defn: A marble group in the Vatican at Rome, representing the priest Laocoön, with his sons, infolded in the coils of two serpents, as described by Virgil.

LAODICEAN La*od`i*ce"an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Laodicea, a city in Phrygia Major; like the Christians of Laodicea; lukewarm in religion. Rev. iii. 14-16.

LAP Lap, n. Etym: [OE. lappe, AS. læppa; akin to D. lap patch, piece, G. lappen, OHG. lappa, Dan. lap, Sw. lapp.]

1. The loose part of a coat; the lower part of a garment that plays loosely; a skirt; an apron. Chaucer.

2. An edge; a border; a hem, as of cloth. Chaucer. If he cuts off but a lap of truth's garment, his heart smites him. Fuller.

3. The part of the clothing that lies on the knees or thighs when one sits down; that part of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place of rearing and fostering; as, to be reared in the lap of luxury. Men expect that happiness should drop into their laps. Tillotson.

4. That part of any substance or fixture which extends over, or lies upon, or by the side of, a part of another; as, the lap of a board; also, the measure of such extension over or upon another thing.

Note: The lap of shingles or slates in roofing is the distance one course extends over the second course below, the distance over the course immediately below being called the cover.

5. (Steam Engine)

Defn: The amount by which a slide valve at its half stroke overlaps a port in the seat, being equal to the distance the valve must move from its mid stroke position in order to begin to open the port. Used alone, lap refers to outside lap. See Outside lap (below).

6. The state or condition of being in part extended over or by the side of something else; or the extent of the overlapping; as, the second boat got a lap of half its length on the leader.

7. One circuit around a race track, esp. when the distance is a small fraction of a mile; as, to run twenty laps; to win by three laps. See Lap, to fold, 2.

8. In card playing and other games, the points won in excess of the number necessary to complete a game; — so called when they are counted in the score of the following game.

9. (Cotton Manuf.)

Defn: A sheet, layer, or bat, of cotton fiber prepared for the carding machine.

10. (Mach.)

Defn: A piece of brass, lead, or other soft metal, used to hold a cutting or polishing powder in cutting glass, gems, and the like, or in polishing cutlery, etc. It is usually in the form of wheel or disk, which revolves on a vertical axis. Lap joint, a joint made by one layer, part, or piece, overlapping another, as in the scarfing of timbers. — Lap weld, a lap joint made by welding together overlapping edges or ends. — Inside lap (Steam Engine), lap of the valve with respect to the exhaust port. — Outside lap, lap with respect to the admission, or steam, port.

LAP Lap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lapped (; p. pr. & vb. n. Lapping.]

1. To rest or recline in a lap, or as in a lap. To lap his head on lady's breast. Praed.

2. To cut or polish with a lap, as glass, gems, cutlery, etc. See 1st Lap, 10.

LAP Lap, v. t. Etym: [OE. lappen to fold (see Lap, n.); cf. also OE. wlappen, perh. another form of wrappen, E, wrap.]

1. To fold; to bend and lay over or on something; as, to lap a piece of cloth.

2. To wrap or wind around something. About the paper . . . I lapped several times a slender thread of very black silk. Sir I. Newton.

3. To infold; to hold as in one's lap; to cherish. Her garment spreads, and laps him in the folds. Dryden.

4. To lay or place over anything so as to partly or wholly cover it; as, to lap one shingle over another; to lay together one partly over another; as, to lap weather-boards; also, to be partly over, or by the side of (something); as, the hinder boat lapped the foremost one.

5. (Carding & Spinning)

Defn: To lay together one over another, as fleeces or slivers for further working. To lap boards, shingles, etc., to lay one partly over another. — To lap timbers, to unite them in such a way as to preserve the same breadth and depth throughout, as by scarfing. Weale.

LAP Lap, v. i.

Defn: To be turned or folded; to lie partly upon or by the side of something, or of one another; as, the cloth laps back; the boats lap; the edges lap. The upper wings are opacous; at their hinder ends, where they lap over, transparent, like the wing of a flay. Grew.

LAP Lap, v. i. Etym: [OE. lappen, lapen, AS. lapian; akin to LG. lappen, OHG. laffan, Icel. lepja, Dan. lade, Sw. läppja, L. lambere; cf. Gr. llepio. Cf. Lambent.]

1. To take up drink or food with the tongue; to drink or feed by licking up something. The dogs by the River Nilus's side, being thirsty, lap hastily as they run along the shore. Sir K. Digby.

2. To make a sound like that produced by taking up drink with the tongue. I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping on the crag. Tennyson.

LAP Lap, v. t.

Defn: To take into the mouth with the tongue; to lick up with a quick motion of the tongue. They 'II take suggestion as a cat laps milk. Shak.

LAP Lap, n.

1. The act of lapping with, or as with, the tongue; as, to take anything into the mouth with a lap.

2. The sound of lapping.

LAPAROCELE Lap"a*ro*cele`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A rupture or hernia in the lumbar regions.

LAPAROTOMY Lap`a*rot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)

Defn: A cutting through the walls of the abdomen, as in the Cæsarean section.

LAPBOARD Lap"board`, n.

Defn: A board used on the lap as a substitute for a table, as by tailors.

LAPDOG Lap"dog`, n.

Defn: A small dog fondled in the lap.

LAPEL La*pel", n. Etym: [Dim. of lap a fold.]

Defn: That part of a garment which is turned back; specifically, the lap, or fold, of the front of a coat in continuation of collar. [Written also lappel and lapelle.]

LAPELLED La*pelled", a.

Defn: Furnished with lapels.

LAPFUL Lap"ful, n.; pl. Lapfuls (.

Defn: As much as the lap can contain.

LAPICIDE Lap"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. lapicida, fr. lapis stone + caedere to cut.]

Defn: A stonecutter. [Obs.]

LAPIDARIAN Lap`i*da"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to stone; inscribed on stone; as, a lapidarian record.

LAPIDARIOUS Lap`i*da"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. lapidarius, fr. lapis, -idis, stone.]

Defn: Consisting of stones.

LAPIDARY Lap"i*da*ry, n. ; pl. Lapidaries. Etym: [L. lapidarius, fr. lapidarius pertaining to stone: cf. F. lapidaire.]

1. An artificer who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones; hence, a dealer in precious stones.

2. A virtuoso skilled in gems or precious stones; a connoisseur of lapidary work. Lapidary's lathe, mill, or wheel, a machine consisting essentially of a revolving lap on a vertical spindle, used by a lapidary for grinding and polishing.

LAPIDARY Lap"i*da*ry, a. Etym: [L. lapidarius pertaining to stone: cf. F. lapidaire.]

1. Of or pertaining to the art of cutting stones, or engraving on stones, either gems or monuments; as, lapidary ornamentation.

2. Of or pertaining to monumental inscriptions; as, lapidary adulation. Lapidary style, that style which is proper for monumental and other inscriptions; terse; sententious.

LAPIDATE Lap"i*date, v. t. Etym: [L.lapidatus, p. p. of lapidare, fr. lapis stone.]

Defn: To stone. [Obs.]

LAPIDATION Lap`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. lapidatio: cf. F. lapidation.]

Defn: The act of stoning. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

LAPIDEOUS La*pid"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. lapideus, fr. lapis stone.]

Defn: Of the nature of stone; [Obs.] Ray.

LAPIDESCENCE Lap`i*des"cence, n.

1. The state or quality of being lapidescent.

2. A hardening into a stone substance.

3. A stony concretion. Sir T. Browne.

LAPIDESCENT Lap`i*des"cent, a. Etym: [L. lapidescens, p. pr. of lapidescere to become stone, fr. lapis, -idis, stone: cf. F. lapidescent.]

Defn: Undergoing the process of becoming stone; having the capacity of being converted into stone; having the quality of petrifying bodies.

LAPIDESCENT Lap"i*des"cent, n.

Defn: Any substance which has the quality of petrifying other bodies, or of converting or being converted into stone.

LAPIDIFIC; LAPIDIFICAL Lap`i*dif"ic, Lap`i*dif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. lapis, -idis, stone + facere to make: cf. F. lapidifique.]

Defn: Forming or converting into stone.

LAPIDIFICATION La*pid`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lapidification.]

Defn: The act or process of lapidifying; fossilization; petrifaction.

LAPIDIFY La*pid"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lapidified; p. pr. & vb. n. Lapidifying.] Etym: [Cf. f. lapidifier. See Lapidific, and -fy.]

Defn: To convert into stone or stony material; to petrify.

LAPIDIFY La*pid"i*fy, v. i.

Defn: To become stone or stony

LAPIDIST Lap"i*dist, n. Etym: [L. lapis, -idis, a stone.]

Defn: A lapidary. Ray.

LAPILLATION Lap"il*la"tion, n.Etym: [See Lapilli.]

Defn: The state of being, or the act of making, stony.

LAPILLI La*pil"li, n. pl. Etym: [L. lapillus a little stone, dim. of lapis stone.] (Min.)

Defn: Volcanic ashes, consisting of small, angular, stony fragments or particles.

LAPIS La"pis, n.; pl. Lapides. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A stone. Lapis calaminaris (. Etym: [NL.] (Min.) Calamine. — Lapis infernalis (. Etym: [L.] Fused nitrate of silver; lunar caustic.

LAPIS LAZULI La"pis laz"u*li. (Min.)

Defn: An albuminous mineral of a rich blue color. Same as Lazuli, which see.

LAP-JOINTED Lap"-joint`ed, a.

Defn: Having a lap joint, or lap joints, as many kinds of woodwork and metal work.

LAPLANDER Lap"land*er, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Lapland; — called also Lapp.

LAPLANDISH Lap"land*ish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Lapland.

LAPLING Lap"ling, n. Etym: [Lap of a garment + ling.]

Defn: One who has been fondled to excess; one fond of ease and sensual delights; — a term of contempt.

LAPP Lapp, n.

Defn: Same as Laplander. Cf. Lapps.

LAPPACEOUS Lap*pa"ceous, a. Etym: [L. lappaceus burlike, fr. lappa a bur.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling the capitulum of burdock; covered with forked points.

LAPPER Lap"per, n. Etym: [From Lap to drink.]

Defn: One who takes up food or liquid with his tongue.

LAPPET Lap"pet, n. Etym: [Dim. of lap a fold.]

Defn: A small decorative fold or flap, esp, of lace or muslin, in a garment or headdress. Swift. Lappet moth (Zoöl.), one of several species of bombycid moths, which have stout, hairy caterpillars, flat beneath. Two common American species (Gastropacha Americana, and Tolype velleda) feed upon the apple tree.

LAPPET Lap"pet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lappeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lappeting.]

Defn: To decorate with, or as with, a lappet. [R.] Landor.

LAPPIC Lap"pic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Lapland, or the Lapps. — n.

Defn: The language of the Lapps. See Lappish.

LAPPING Lap"ping, n.

Defn: A kind of machine blanket or wrapping material used by calico printers. Ure. Lapping engine, Lapping machine (Textile Manuf.), A machine for forming fiber info a lap. See its Lap, 9.

LAPPISH Lap"pish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Lapps; Laplandish. — n.

Defn: The language spoken by the Lapps in Lapland. It is related to the Finnish and Hungarian, and is not an Aryan language.

LAPPONIAN; LAPPONIC Lap*po"ni*an, Lap*pon"ic, a.

Defn: Laplandish; Lappish.

LAPPS Lapps, n. pl.; sing. Lapp (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A branch of the Mongolian race, now living in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and the adjacent parts of Russia.

LAPSABLE Laps"a*ble, a.

Defn: Lapsible. Cudworth.

LAPSE Lapse, n. Etym: [L. lapsus, fr. labi, p. p. lapsus, to slide, to fall: cf. F. laps. See Sleep.]

1. A gliding, slipping, or gradual falling; an unobserved or imperceptible progress or passing away,; — restricted usually to immaterial things, or to figurative uses. The lapse to indolence is soft and imperceptible. Rambler. Bacon was content to wait the lapse of long centuries for his expected revenue of fame. I. Taylor.

2. A slip; an error; a fault; a failing in duty; a slight deviation from truth or rectitude. To guard against those lapses and failings to which our infirmities daily expose us. Rogers.

3. (Law)

Defn: The termination of a right or privilege through neglect to exercise it within the limited time, or through failure of some contingency; hence, the devolution of a right or privilege.

4. (Theol.)

Defn: A fall or apostasy.

LAPSE Lapse, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lapsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lapsing.]

1. To pass slowly and smoothly downward, backward, or away; to slip downward, backward, or away; to glide; — mostly restricted to figurative uses. A tendency to lapse into the barbarity of those northern nations from whom we are descended. Swift. Homer, in his characters of Vulcan and Thersites, has lapsed into the burlesque character. Addison.

2. To slide or slip in moral conduct; to fail in duty; to fall from virtue; to deviate from rectitude; to commit a fault by inadvertence or mistake. To lapse in fullness Is sorer than to lie for need. Shak.

3. (Law) (a) To fall or pass from one proprietor to another, or from the original destination, by the omission, negligence, or failure of some one, as a patron, a legatee, etc. (b) To become ineffectual or void; to fall. If the archbishop shall not fill it up within six months ensuing, it lapses to the king. Ayliffe.

LAPSE Lapse, v. t.

1. To let slip; to permit to devolve on another; to allow to pass. An appeal may be deserted by the appellant's lapsing the term of law. Ayliffe.

2. To surprise in a fault or error; hence, to surprise or catch, as an offender. [Obs.] For which, if be lapsed in this place, I shall pay dear. Shak.

LAPSED Lapsed, a.

1. Having slipped downward, backward, or away; having lost position, privilege, etc., by neglect; — restricted to figurative uses. Once more I will renew His lapsed powers, though forfeit. Milton.

2. Ineffectual, void, or forfeited; as, a lapsed policy of insurance; a lapsed legacy. Lapsed devise, Lapsed legacy (Law), a devise, or legacy, which fails to take effect in consequence of the death of the devisee, or legatee, before that of the testator, or for ether cause. Wharton (Law Dict.).

LAPSIBLE Laps"i*ble, a.

Defn: Liable to lapse.

LAPSIDED Lap"sid`ed, a.

Defn: See Lopsided.

LAPSTONE Lap"stone`, n.

Defn: A stone for the lap, on which shoemakers beat leather.

LAPSTREAK; LAPSTRAKE Lap"streak`, Lap"strake`, a.

Defn: Made with boards whose edges lap one over another; clinker- built; — said of boats.

LAPUTAN La*pu"tan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Laputa, an imaginary flying island described in Gulliver's Travels as the home of chimerical philosophers. Hence, fanciful; preposterous; absurd in science or philosophy. "Laputan ideas." G. Eliot.

LAP-WELDED Lap"-weld`ed, a

Defn: Having edges or ends united by a lap weld; as, a lap-welded pipe.

LAPWING Lap"wing`, n. Etym: [OE.lapwynke, leepwynke, AS. hleápewince; hleápan to leap, jump + (prob.) a word akin to AS. wincian to wink, E. wink, AS. wancol wavering; cf. G. wanken to stagger, waver. See Leap, and Wink.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European bird of the Plover family (Vanellus cristatus, or V. vanellus). It has long and broad wings, and is noted for its rapid, irregular fight, upwards, downwards, and in circles. Its back is coppery or greenish bronze. Its eggs are the "plover's eggs" of the London market, esteemed a delicacy. It is called also peewit, dastard plover, and wype. The gray lapwing is the Squatarola cinerea.

LAPWORK Lap"work`, n.

Defn: Work in which one part laps over another. Grew.

LAQUAY Laq"uay, n.

Defn: A lackey. [Obs.] Evelyn.

LAQUEAR La"que*ar, n.; pl. Laquearia. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)

Defn: A lacunar.

LAQUEARY Laq"ue*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. laqueus a noose.]

Defn: Using a noose, as a gladiator. [Obs. or R.] Retiary and laqueary combatants. Sir T. Browne.

LAR Lar, n.; pl. Lares, sometimes Lars. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Myth.)

Defn: A tutelary deity; a deceased ancestor regarded as a protector of the family. The domestic Lares were the tutelar deities of a house; household gods. Hence, Eng.: Hearth or dwelling house. Nor will she her dear Lar forget, Victorious by his benefit. Lovelace. The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint. Milton. Looking backward in vain toward their Lares and lands. Longfellow.

LAR Lar, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of gibbon (Hylobates lar), found in Burmah. Called also white-handed gibbon.

LARAMIE GROUP Lar"a*mie group`. (Geol.)

Defn: An extensive series of strata, principally developed in the Rocky Mountain region, as in the Laramie Mountains, and formerly supposed to be of the Tertiary age, but now generally regarded as Cretaceous, or of intermediate and transitional character. It contains beds of lignite, often valuable for coal, and is hence also called the lignitic group. See Chart of Geology.

LARBOARD Lar"board`, n. Etym: [Lar- is of uncertain origin, possibly the same as lower, i. e., humbler in rank, because the starboard side is considered by mariners as higher in rank; cf. D. laag low, akin to E. low. See Board, n., 8.] (Naut.)

Defn: The left-hand side of a ship to one on board facing toward the bow; port; — opposed to Ant: starboard.

Note: Larboard is a nearly obsolete term, having been superseded by port to avoid liability of confusion with starboard, owing to similarity of sound.

LARBOARD Lar"board`, a.

Defn: On or pertaining to the left-hand side of a vessel; port; as, the larboard quarter.

LARCENER; LARCENIST Lar"ce*ner, Lar"ce*nist, n.

Defn: One who commits larceny.

LARCENOUS Lar"ce*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. OE. larrecinos. See Larceny.]

Defn: Having the character of larceny; as, a larcenous act; committing larceny. "The larcenous and burglarious world." Sydney Smith. — Lar"ce*nous*ly, adv.

LARCENY Lar"ce*ny, n.; pl. Larcenies. Etym: [F. larcin, OE. larrecin, L. latrocinium, fr. latro robber, mercenary, hired servant; cf. Gr. (Latrociny.] (Law)

Defn: The unlawful taking and carrying away of things personal with intent to deprive the right owner of the same; theft. Cf. Embezzlement. Grand larceny and Petit larceny are distinctions having reference to the nature or value of the property stolen. They are abolished in England. — Mixed, or Compound, larceny, that which, under statute, includes in it the aggravation of a taking from a building or the person. — Simple larceny, that which is not accompanied with any aggravating circumstances.

LARCH Larch, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. larege (Cotgrave), It.larice, Sp. larice, alerce, G. lärche; all fr. L. larix, -icis, Gr. ( (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of coniferous trees, having deciduous leaves, in fascicles (see Illust. of Fascicle).

Note: The European larch is Larix Europæa. The American or black larch is L. Americana, the hackmatack or tamarack. The trees are generally of a drooping, graceful appearance.

LARCHEN Larch"en, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the larch. Keats.

LARD Lard, n. Etym: [F., bacon, pig's fat, L. lardum, laridum; cf. Gr. (

1. Bacon; the flesh of swine. [Obs.] Dryden.

2. The fat of swine, esp. the internal fat of the abdomen; also, this fat melted and strained. Lard oil, an illuminating and lubricating oil expressed from lard. — Leaf lard, the internal fat of the hog, separated in leaves or masses from the kidneys, etc.; also, the same melted.

LARD Lard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Larded; p. pr. & vb. n. Larding.] Etym: [F. larder. See Lard, n.]

1. To stuff with bacon; to dress or enrich with lard; esp., to insert lardons of bacon or pork in the surface of, before roasting; as, to lard poultry. And larded thighs on loaded altars laid. Dryden.

2. To fatten; to enrich. [The oak] with his nuts larded many a swine. Spenser. Falstaff sweats to death. And lards the lean earth as he walks along. Shak.

3. To smear with lard or fat. In his buff doublet larded o'er with fat Of slaughtered brutes. Somerville.

4. To mix or garnish with something, as by way of improvement; to interlard. Shak. Let no alien Sedley interpose To lard with wit thy hungry Epsom prose. Dryden.

LARD Lard, v. i.

Defn: To grow fat. [Obs.]

LARDACEIN Lar`da*ce"in, n. Etym: [See Lardaceous.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A peculiar amyloid substance, colored blue by iodine and sulphuric acid, occurring mainly as an abnormal infiltration into the spleen, liver, etc.

LARDACEOUS Lar*da"ceous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lardacé.]

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, lard. Lardaceous degeneration (Med.), amyloid degeneration.

LARDER Lard"er, n. Etym: [OF. lardier. See Lard, n.]

Defn: A room or place where meat and other articles of food are kept before they are cooked. Shak.

LARDERER Lard"er*er, n.

Defn: One in charge of the larder.

LARDERY Lard"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. larderie.]

Defn: A larder. [Obs.]

LARDON; LARDOON Lar"don, Lar*doon", n. Etym: [F. lardon, fr. lard lard.]

Defn: A bit of fat pork or bacon used in larding.

LARDRY Lard"ry, n. Etym: [See Lardery.]

Defn: A larder. [Obs.]

LARDY Lard"y, a.

Defn: Containing, or resembling, lard; of the character or consistency of lard.

LARE Lare, n. Etym: [See Lore.]

Defn: Lore; learning. [Obs.]

LARE Lare, n.

Defn: Pasture; feed. See Lair. [Obs.] Spenser.

LARE Lare, v. t.

Defn: To feed; to fatten. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

LARES La"res, n. pl.

Defn: See 1st Lar.

LARGE Large, a. [Compar. Larger; superl. Largest.] Etym: [F., fr. L. largus. Cf. Largo.]

1. Exceeding most other things of like in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; — opposed to small; as, a nlarge horse; a large house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large vineyard; a large army; a large city.

Note: For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great, and not large, is used as a qualifying word; as, great length, breadth, depth; a great distance; a great height.

2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions. We hare yet large day. Milton.

3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse. I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education. Felton.

4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; — said of the mind and heart.

5. Free; unembarrassed. [Obs.] Of burdens all he set the Paynims large. Fairfax.

6. Unrestrained by decorum; — said of language. [Obs.] "Some large jests he will make." Shak.

7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

8. (Naut.)

Defn: Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; — said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter. At large. (a) Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large; to be left at large. (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse on a subject at large. — Common at large. See under Common, n. — Electors at large, Representative at large, electors, or a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the whole of a State, in distinction from those chosen to represent particular districts in a State. [U. S.] — To give, go, run, or sail large (Naut.), to have the wind crossing the direction of a vessel's course in such a way that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains its highest speed. See Large, a., 8.

Syn. — Big; bulky; huge; capacious; comprehensive; ample; abundant; plentiful; populous; copious; diffusive; liberal.

LARGE Large, adv.

Defn: Freely; licentiously. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LARGE Large, n. (Mus.)

Defn: A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs, four breves, or eight semibreves.

LARGE-ACRED Large"-a`cred, a.

Defn: Possessing much land.

LARGE-HANDED Large"-hand`ed, a.

Defn: Having large hands, Fig.: Taking, or giving, in large quantities; rapacious or bountiful.

LARGE-HEARTED Large"-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Having a large or generous heart or disposition; noble; liberal. — Large"-heart`ed*ness, n.

LARGELY Large"ly, adv.

Defn: In a large manner. Dryden. Milton.

LARGENESS Large"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being large.

LARGESS; LARGESSE Lar"gess, Lar"gesse, n. Etym: [F. largesse, fr. large. See Large, a.]

1. Liberality; generosity; bounty. [Obs.] Fulfilled of largesse and of all grace. Chaucer.

2. A present; a gift; a bounty bestowed. The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of "Largesse, largesse, gallant knights!" and gold and silver pieces were showered on them from the galleries. Sir W. Scott.

LARGET Lar"get, n. Etym: [Cf. F. larget.]

Defn: A sport piece of bar iron for rolling into a sheet; a small billet.

LARGHETTO Lar*ghet"to, a. & adv. Etym: [It., dim. of largo largo.] (Mus.)

Defn: Somewhat slow or slowly, but not so slowly as largo, and rather more so than andante.

LARGIFICAL Lar*gif"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. largificus; largus large + facere.]

Defn: Generous; ample; liberal. [Obs.]

LARGIFLUOUS Lar*gif"lu*ous, a. Etym: [L. largifiuus; large abundantly + fluere to flow.]

Defn: Flowing copiously. [Obs.]

LARGILOQUENT Lar*gil"o*quent, a. Etym: [Cf. L. largiloquus.]

Defn: Grandiloquent. [Obs.]

LARGISH Lar"gish, a.

Defn: Somewhat large. [Colloq.]

LARGITION Lar*gi"tion, Etym: [L. largitio, fr. largiri, p. p. largitus, to give bountifully.]

Defn: The bestowment of a largess or gift. [Obs.]

LARGO Lar"go, a. & adv. Etym: [It., large, L. largus, See Large.] (Mus.)

Defn: Slow or slowly; — more so than adagio; next in slowness to grave, which is also weighty and solemn. — n.

Defn: A movement or piece in largo time.

LARIAT Lar"i*at, n. Etym: [Sp. la reata the rope; la the + reata rope. Cf. Reata.]

Defn: A long, slender rope made of hemp or strips of hide, esp. one with a noose; — used as a lasso for catching cattle, horses, etc., and for picketing a horse so that he can graze without wandering. [Mexico & Western U.S.]

LARIAT Lar"i*at, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lariated; p. pr. & vb. n. Lariating.]

Defn: To secure with a lariat fastened to a stake, as a horse or mule for grazing; also, to lasso or catch with a lariat. [Western U.S.]

LARINE La"rine, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Gull family (Laridæ).

LARIXINIC Lar`ix*in"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, or derived from, the larch (Larix); as, larixinic acid.

LARK Lark, n. Etym: [Perh fr. AS. lac play, sport. Cf. Lake, v. i.]

Defn: A frolic; a jolly time. [Colloq.] Dickens.

LARK Lark, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Larked; p. pr. & vb. n. Larking.]

Defn: To sport; to frolic. [Colloq.]

LARK Lark, n. Etym: [OE. larke, laverock, AS. lawerce; akin to D. leeuwerik, LG. lewerke, OHG. l, G. lerche, Sw. lärka, Dan. lerke, Icel. lævirki.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one numerous species of singing birds of the genus Alauda and allied genera (family Alaudidæ). They mostly belong to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. In America they are represented by the shore larks, or horned by the shore larks, or horned larks, of the genus Otocoris. The true larks have holaspidean tarsi, very long hind claws, and usually, dull, sandy brown colors.

Note: The European skylark, or lark of the poets (Alauda arvensis), is of a brown mottled color, and is noted for its clear and sweet song, uttered as it rises and descends almost perpendicularly in the air. It is considered a table delicacy, and immense numbers are killed for the markets. Other well-known European species are the crested, or tufted, lark (Alauda cristata), and the wood lark (A. arborea). The pipits, or titlarks, of the genus Anthus (family Motacillidæ) are often called larks. See Pipit. The American meadow larks, of the genus Sturnella, are allied to the starlings. See Meadow Lark. The Australian bush lark is Mirafra Horsfieldii. See Shore lark. Lark bunting (Zoöl.), a fringilline bird (Calamospiza melanocorys) found on the plains of the Western United States. — Lark sparrow (Zoöl.), a sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), found in the Mississippi Valley and the Western United States.

LARK Lark, v. i.

Defn: To catch larks; as, to go larking.

LARK-COLORED Lark"-col`ored, a.

Defn: Having the sandy brown color of the European larks.

LARKER Lark"er, n. Etym: [See 3d Lark, for sense 1, and 1st Lark, for sense 2.]

1. A catcher of larks.

2. One who indulges in a lark or frolic. [Colloq.]

LARK'S-HEEL Lark's"-heel`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Indian cress.

LARKSPUR Lark"spur, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of ranunculaceous plants (Delphinium), having showy flowers, and a spurred calyx. They are natives of the North Temperate zone. The commonest larkspur of the gardens is D. Consolida. The flower of the bee larkspur (D. elatum) has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee.

LARMIER Lar"mi*er, n. Etym: [F., fr. larme tear, drop, L. lacrima. See Lachrymose.] (Anat.)

Defn: See Tearpit.

LAROID La"roid, a. Etym: [Larus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or belonging to the Gull family (Laridæ).

LARRIKIN Lar"ri*kin, n. [Cf. E. dial. larrikin a mischievous or frolicsome youth, larrick lively, careless, larack to trolic, to romp.]

Defn: A rowdy street loafer; a rowdyish or noisy ill-bred fellow; — variously applied, as to a street blackguard, a street Arab, a youth given to horse-play, etc. [Australia & Eng.] — a.

Defn: Rowdy; rough; disorderly. [Australia & Eng.]

Mobs of unruly larrikins. Sydney Daily Telegraph.

Larrikin is often popularly explained by the following anecdote (which is without foundation): An Irish policeman at Melbourne, on bringing a notorious rough into court, was asked by the magistrate what the prisoner had been doing, and replied, "He was a-larrikin' [i. e., a-larking] about the streets."

LARRUP Lar"rup, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Larruped; p. pr. & vb. n. Larruping.] Etym: [Perh, a corrupt. of lee rope, used by sailors in beating the boys; but cf. D. larpen to thresh, larp a whip, blow.]

Defn: To beat or flog soundly. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] Forby.

LARRY Lar"ry, n.

Defn: Same as Lorry, or Lorrie.

LARUM Lar"um

Defn: , See Alarum, and Alarm.

LARVA Lar"va, n.; pl. L. Larvæ, E. Larvas. Etym: [L. larva ghost, specter, mask.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any young insect from the time that it hatches from the egg until it becomes a pupa, or chrysalis. During this time it usually molts several times, and may change its form or color each time. The larvæ of many insects are much like the adults in form and habits, but have no trace of wings, the rudimentary wings appearing only in the pupa stage. In other groups of insects the larvæ are totally unlike the parents in structure and habits, and are called caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The early, immature form of any animal when more or less of a metamorphosis takes place, before the assumption of the mature shape.

LARVAL Lar"val, a. Etym: [L. larvalis ghostly. See Larva.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a larva.

LARVALIA Lar*va"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Larval.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Tunicata, including Appendicularia, and allied genera; — so called because certain larval features are retained by them through life. Called also Copelata. See Appendicularia.

LARVATE Lar"vate, a. [L. larva mask.]

Defn: Masked; hence, concealed; obscure; — applied in medicine to doubtful cases of some diseases; as, larvate pneumonis; larvate epilepsy.

LARVATED Lar"va*ted, a. Etym: [L.larvatus bewitched. See Larva.]

Defn: Masked; clothed as with a mask.

LARVE Larve, n.; pl.Larves. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A larva.

LARVIFORM Lar"vi*form, a. Etym: [Larva + -form.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the form or structure of a larva.

LARVIPAROUS Lar*vip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Larva + L. parete to bring forth.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Depositing living larvæ, instead of eggs; — said of certain insects.

LARY La"ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lare sea gull, L. larus a sort of sea bird, Gr. (

Defn: A guillemot; — called also lavy. [Prov. Eng.]

LARYNGEAL Lar`yn*ge"al, a. Etym: [From Larynx.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the larynx; adapted to operations on the larynx; as, laryngeal forceps.

LARYNGEAN Lar`yn*ge"an, a.

Defn: See Laryngeal.

LARYNGECTOMY Lar`yn*gec"to*my, n. [Larynx + Gr. to cut out.] (Surg.)

Defn: Excision of the larynx.

LARYNGISMUS Lar`yn*gis"mus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Larynx.] (Med.)

Defn: A spasmodic state of the glottis, giving rise to contraction or closure of the opening.

LARYNGITIS Lar`yn*gi"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Larynx, and -tis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the larynx.

LARYNGOGRAPH La*ryn"go*graph, n. [larynx + -graph.]

Defn: An instrument for recording the larynx movements in speech.

LARYNGOLOGICAL La*ryn`go*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to laryngology.

LARYNGOLOGIST Lar`yn*gol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who applies himself to laryngology.

LARYNGOLOGY Lar`yn*gol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Larynx + -logy.]

Defn: Systematized knowledge of the action and functions of the larynx; in pathology, the department which treats of the diseases of the larynx.

LARYNGOPHONY Lar`yn*goph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Larynx + Gr. (

Defn: The sound of the voice as heard through a stethoscope when the latter is placed upon the larynx.

LARYNGOSCOPE La*ryn"go*scope, n. Etym: [Larynx + -scope.] (Surg.)

Defn: An instrument, consisting of an arrangement of two mirrors, for reflecting light upon the larynx, and for examining its image.

LARYNGOSCOPIC La*ryn`go*scop"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the inspection of the larynx.

LARYNGOSCOPIST Lar`yn*gos"co*pist, n.

Defn: One skilled in laryngoscopy.

LARYNGOSCOPY Lar`yn*gos"co*py, n.

Defn: The art of using the laryngoscope; investigations made with the laryngoscope.

LARYNGOTOME La*ryn"go*tome, n. (Surg.)

Defn: An instrument for performing laryngotomy.

LARYNGOTOMY Lar`yn*got"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (laryngotomie.] (Surg.)

Defn: The operation of cutting into the larynx, from the outside of the neck, for assisting respiration when obstructed, or for removing foreign bodies.

LARYNGOTRACHEAL La*ryn`go*tra"che*al, a. Etym: [Larynx + tracheal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to both larynx and trachea; as, the laryngotracheal cartilage in the frog.

LARYNGOTRACHEOTOMY La*ryn`go*tra`che*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Larynx + tracheotomy.] (Surg.)

Defn: The operation of cutting into the larynx and the upper part of the trachea, — a frequent operation for obstruction to breathing.

LARYNX Lar"ynx, n. [ (Anat.)

Defn: The expanded upper end of the windpipe or trachea, connected with the hyoid bone or cartilage. It contains the vocal cords, which produce the voice by their vibrations, when they are stretched and a current of air passes between them. The larynx is connected with the pharynx by an opening, the glottis, which, in mammals, is protected by a lidlike epiglottis.

Note: In the framework of the human larynx, the thyroid cartilage, attached to the hyoid bone, makes the protuberance on the front of the neck known as Adam's apple, and is articulated below to the ringlike cricoid cartilage. This is narrow in front and high behind, where, within the thyroid, it is surmounted by the two arytenoid cartilages, from which the vocal cords pass forward to be attached together to the front of the thyroid. See Syrinx.

LAS Las, n.

Defn: A lace. See Lace. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAS Las, a. & adv.

Defn: Less. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LASCAR Las"car, n. Etym: [Per. & Hind. lashkar an army, an inferior artillery man, a cooly, a native sailor.]

Defn: A native sailor, employed in European vessels; also, a menial employed about arsenals, camps, camps, etc.; a camp follower. [East Indies]

LASCIOUS Las"ci*ous, a.

Defn: Loose; lascivious. [Obs.] "To depaint lascious wantonness." Holland.

LASCIVIENCY Las*civ"i*en*cy, n. Etym: [See Lascivient.]

Defn: Lasciviousness; wantonness. [Obs.]

LASCIVIENT Las*civ"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. lasciviens, pr. of lascivire to be wanton, fr. lascivus. See Lascivious.]

Defn: Lascivious. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

LASCIVIOUS Las*civ"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. lascivia wantonness, fr. lascivus wanton; cf. Gr. (lash to desire.]

1. Wanton; lewd; lustful; as, lascivious men; lascivious desires. Milton.

2. Tending to produce voluptuous or lewd emotions. He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. Shak. — Las*civ"i*ous*ly, adv. — Las*civ"i*ous*ness, n.

LASERWORT La"ser*wort`, n. Etym: [L.laser the juice of the laserwort.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the umbelliferous genus Laserpitium, of several species (as L. glabrum, and L. siler), the root of which yields a resinous substance of a bitter taste. The genus is mostly European.

LASH Lash, n. Etym: [OE. lasche; cf. D. lasch piece set in, joint, seam, G. lashe latchet, a bit of leather, gusset, stripe, laschen to furnish with flaps, to lash or slap, Icel. laski gusset, flap, laska to break.]

1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given. I observed that your whip wanted a lash to it. Addison.

2. A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare. [Obs.]

3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough; as, the culprit received thirty-nine lashes.

4. A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or gives pain; a cut. The moral is a lash at the vanity of arrogating that to ourselves which succeeds well. L'Estrange.

5. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.

6. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.

LASH Lash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lashng.]

1. To strike with a lash ; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with something like one. We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward. Dryden.

2. To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash; as, a whale lashes the sea with his tail. And big waves lash the frighted shores. Dryden.

3. To throw out with a jerk or quickly. He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws. Dryden.

4. To scold; to berate; to satirize; to censure with severity; as, to lash vice.

LASH Lash

Defn: ,. v. i. To ply the whip; to strike; to uttercensure or sarcastic language. To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice. Dryden. To lash out, to strike out wildly or furiously.

LASH Lash, v. t. Etym: [Cf. D. lasschen to fasten together, lasch piece, joint, Sw. laska to stitch, Dan. laske stitch. See Lash, n. ]

Defn: To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten; as, to lash something to a spar; to lash a pack on a horse's back.

LASHER Lash"er, n.

Defn: One who whips or lashes.

LASHER Lash"er, n.

1. A piece of rope for binding or making fast one thing to another; - - called also lashing.

2. A weir in a river. [Eng.] Halliwell.

LASHING Lash"ing, n.

Defn: The act of one who, or that which, lashes; castigation; chastisement. South. Lashing out, a striking out; also, extravagance.

LASHING Lash"ing, n.

Defn: See 2d Lasher.

LASK Lask, n.

Defn: A diarrhea or flux. [Obs.] Holland.

LASKET Las"ket, n. Etym: [Cf. Lash, Latching.] (Naut.)

Defn: latching.

LASS Lass, n. Etym: [OE. lasse; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. llodes girl, fem. of llawd lad. (Lad a youth.]

Defn: A youth woman; a girl; a sweetheart.

LASSE Lasse, a. & adv.

Defn: Less. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LASSIE Las"sie, n.

Defn: A young girl; a lass. [Scot.]

LASSITUDE Las"si*tude, n. Etym: [L. lassitudo, fr. lassus faint, weary; akin to E. late: cf. F. lassitude. See Late.]

Defn: A condition of the body, or mind, when its voluntary functions are performed with difficulty, and only by a strong exertion of the will; languor; debility; weariness. The corporeal instruments of action being strained to a high pitch . . . will soon feel a lassitude. Barrow.

LASSLORN Lass"lorn`, a.

Defn: Forsaken by a lass. Shak.

LASSO Lass"o (lâs"so) n.; pl. Lassos (-soz). Etym: [Sp. lazo, L. laqueus. See Lace.]

Defn: A rope or long thong of leather with, a running noose, used for catching horses, cattle, etc. Lasso cell (Zoöl.), one of a peculiar kind of defensive and offensive stinging cells, found in great numbers in all coelenterates, and in a few animals of other groups. They are most highly developed in the tentacles of jellyfishes, hydroids, and Actiniæ. Each of these cells is filled with, fluid, and contains a long, slender, often barbed, hollow thread coiled up within it. When the cell contracts the thread is quickly ejected, being at the same time turned inside out. The thread is able to penetrate the flesh of various small, soft-bodied animals, and carries a subtle poison by which they are speedily paralyzed and killed. The threads, at the same time, hold the prey in position, attached to the tentacles. Some of the jellyfishes, as the Portuguese man-of-war, and Cyanea, are able to penetrate the human skin, and inflict painful stings in the same way. Called also nettling cell, cnida, cnidocell.

LASSO Las"so, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lassoed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lassoing.]

Defn: To catch with a lasso.

LAST Last, 3d pers. sing. pres.

Defn: of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAST Last (, a. Etym: [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest.]

1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. Neh. viii. 18. Fairest of stars, last in the train of night. Milton.

2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.

3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost. Contending for principles of the last importance. R. Hall .

4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. Pope.

5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.

At last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." Motley. — At the last. Etym: [Prob. fr. AS. on laste behind, following behind, fr. last race, track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot.] At the end; in the conclusion. [Obs.] "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." Gen. xlix. 19. — Last heir, the person to whom lands escheat for want of an heir. [Eng.] Abbott. — On one's last legs, at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. [Colloq.] — To breathe one's last, to die. — To the last, to the end; till the conclusion. And blunder on in business to the last. Pope.

Syn. — At Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived.

LAST Last, adv. Etym: [See Last, a.]

1. At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.

2. In conclusion; finally.lastly Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires. Dryden.

3. At a time next preceding the present time. How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask Shak.

LAST Last, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lasting.] Etym: [OE. lasten, As. læstan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. last, l, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform, Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.]

1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence. [I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted. Testament of Love.

2. To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

LAST Last, n. Etym: [AS. lasttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. läst, Dan. læst, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.]

Defn: A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. L'Estrange. Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.

LAST Last, v. t.

Defn: To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

LAST Last, n. Etym: [As. hlæst, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G., D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.]

1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

2. The burden of a ship; a cargo.

LASTAGE Last"age n. Etym: [E. lestage ballasting, fr. lest ballast, or LL. lastagium, lestagium. See Last a load.]

1. A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will. [Obs.]

2. A tax on wares sold by the last. [Obs.] Cowell.

3. The lading of a ship; also, ballast. Spelman.

4. Room for stowing goods, as in a ship.

LASTE Last"e, obs. imp.

Defn: of Last, to endure. Chaucer.

LASTER Last"er, n.

Defn: A workman whose business it is to shape boots or shoes, or place leather smoothly, on lasts; a tool for stretching leather on a last.

LASTERY Last"er*y, n.

Defn: A red color.[Obs.] Spenser.

LASTING Last"ing, a.

Defn: Existing or continuing a long while; enduring; as, a lasting good or evil; a lasting color.

Syn. — Durable; permanent; undecaying; perpetual; unending. — Lasting, Permanent, Durable. Lasting commonly means merely continuing in existence; permanent carries the idea of continuing in the same state, position, or course; durable means lasting in spite of agencies which tend to destroy.

LASTING Last"ing, n.

1. Continuance; endurance. Locke.

2. A species of very durable woolen stuff, used for women's shoes; everlasting.

3. The act or process of shaping on a last.

LASTING Last"ing, adv.

Defn: In a lasting manner.

LASTINGLY Last"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a lasting manner.

LASTLY Last"ly, adv.

1. In the last place; in conclusion.

2. at last; finally.

LAT Lat, v. t.

Defn: To let; to allow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LATA; LATAH La"ta, La"tah, n. [Malay.]

Defn: A convulsive tic or hysteric neurosis prevalent among Malays, similar to or identical with miryachit and jumping disease, the person affected performing various involuntary actions and making rapid inarticulate ejaculations in imitation of the actions and words of another person.

LATAKIA Lat`a*ki"a, n. Etym: [Turk.]

Defn: A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.

LATCH Latch, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. lécher to lick (of German origin). Cf. Lick.]

Defn: To smear; to anoint. [Obs.] Shak.

LATCH Latch, n. Etym: [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. læccan.]

1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A latching.

4. A crossbow. [Obs.] Wright.

LATCH Latch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Latched; p. pr. & vb. n. Latching.] Etym: [OE.lacchen. See Latch. n.]

1. To catch so as to hold. [Obs.] Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at us. Golding.

2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch. The door was only latched. Locke.

LATCHET Latch"et, n. Etym: [OE. lachet, from an OF. dialect form of F. lacet plaited string, lace dim. of lacs. See Lace.]

Defn: The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

LATCHING Latch"ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; — called also latch and lasket. [Usually in pl.]

LATCHKEY Latch"key`, n.

Defn: A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch.

LATCHSTRING Latch"string`, n.

Defn: A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door. To find the latchstring out, to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) [Colloq. U.S.]

LATE Late, a. [Compar. Later, or latter (; superl. Latest.] Etym: [OE. lat slow, slack, As.læt; akin to Os. lat, D. laat late, G. lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel. latr, Sw. lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats, and to E. let, v. See Let to permit, and cf. Alas, Lassitude.]

1. Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring.

2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a late period of life.

3. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of London; the late administration.

4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains; we have received late intelligence.

5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; as, late revels; a late watcher.

LATE Late, adv. Etym: [AS. late. See Late, a.]

1. After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late; — opposed to early.

2. Not long ago; lately.

3. Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night. Of late, in time not long past, or near the present; lately; as, the practice is of late uncommon. — Too late, after the proper or available time; when the time or opportunity is past.

LATED Lat"ed, a.

Defn: Belated; too late. [Obs.] Shak.

LATEEN La*teen", a. (Naut.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa. See below. Lateen sail. Etym: [F. voile latine a sail in the shape of a right- angled triangle; cf. It. & Sp. vela latina; properly Latin sail. See Latin.] (Naut.) A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung at about one fourth of its length from the lower end, to a low mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five degrees; — used in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc., especially in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some lateen sails have also a boom on the lower side.

LATELY Late"ly, adv.

Defn: Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived from Italy.

LATENCE La"tence, n.

Defn: Latency. Coleridge.

LATENCY La"ten*cy, n. Etym: [See Latent.]

Defn: The state or quality of being latent. To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of this latency. Sir W. Hamilton.

LATENESS Late"ness, n.

Defn: The state, condition, or quality, of being late; as, the lateness of his arrival; the lateness of the hour; the lateness of the season.

LATENT La"tent, a. Etym: [L. latens, -entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. lethargy: cf. F.latent.]

Defn: Not visible or apparent; hidden; springs of action. The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise. Burke. Latent buds (bot.), buds which remain undeveloped or dormant for a long time, but may at length grow. Latent heat (Physics), that quantity of heat which disappears or becomes concealed in a body while producing some change in it other than rise of temperature, as fusion, evaporation, or expansion, the quantity being constant for each particular body and for each species of change. — Latent period. (a) (Med.) The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing without manifesting itself. (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed activity.

LATENTLY La"tent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a secret or concealed manner; invisibly.

LATER La"ter, n.; pl. Lateres. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A brick or tile. Knight.

LATER Lat"er, a.

Defn: Compar. of Late, a. & adv.

LATERAD Lat"er*ad, adv. Etym: [L. latus, lateris, side + ad to.] (Anat.)

Defn: Toward the side; away from the mesial plane; — opposed to mesiad.

LATERAL Lat"er*al, a. Etym: [L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side: cf. F.latéral.]

1. Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; — opposed to mesial.

3. Directed to the side; as, a lateral view of a thing. Lateral cleavage (Crystallog.), cleavage parallel to the lateral planes. — Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree. [Obs.] — Lateral line (Anat.), in fishes, a line of sensory organs along either side of the body, often marked by a distinct line of color. — Lateral pressure or stress (Mech.), a pressure or stress at right angles to the length, as of a beam or bridge; — distinguished from longitudinal pressure or stress. — Lateral strength (Mech.), strength which resists a tendency to fracture arising from lateral pressure. — Lateral system (Bridge Building), the system of horizontal braces (as between two vertical trusses) by which lateral stiffness is secured.

LATERALITY Lat`er*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or condition of being lateral.

LATERALLY Lat"er*al*ly, adv.

Defn: By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the side.

LATERAN Lat"er*an, n.

Defn: The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world.

Note: The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.

LATERED Lat"ered, a.

Defn: Inclined to delay; dilatory. [Obs.] "When a man is too latered." Chaucer.

LATERIFOLIOUS Lat`er*i*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. latus, lateris, side + folium leaf: cf. F. latérifolié.] (Bot.)

Defn: Growing from the stem by the side of a leaf; as, a laterifolious flower.

LATERITE Lat"er*ite, n. Etym: [L. later brick, tile: cf. F. latérite.] (Geol.)

Defn: An argillaceous sandstone, of a red color, and much seamed; — found in India.

LATERITIC Lat`er*it"ic, a.

Defn: consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.

LATERITIC Lat`er*it"ic, a.

Defn: Consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.

LATERITIOUS Lat"er*i"tious, a. Etym: [L.lateritius, fr. later a brick.]

Defn: Like bricks; of the color of red bricks. Lateritious sediment (Med.), a sediment in urine resembling brick dust, observed after the crises of fevers, and at the termination of gouty paroxysms. It usually consists of uric acid or urates with some coloring matter.

LATES La"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large percoid fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus) inhabits the Nile, and another (L. calcarifer

LATESCENCE La*tes"cence, n.

Defn: A slight withdrawal from view or knowledge. Sir W. Hamilton.

LATESCENT La*tes"cent, a. Etym: [L. latescens, -entis, p. pr. of latescere to be concealed, fr. latere to be hid.]

Defn: Slightly withdrawn from view or knowledge; as, a latescent meaning. Sir W. Hamilton.

LATEWAKE Late"wake`, n.

Defn: See Lich wake, under Lich.

LATEWARD Late"ward, a. & adv.

Defn: Somewhat late; backward. [Obs.] "Lateward lands." Holland.

LATEX La"tex, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A milky or colored juice in certain plants in cavities (called latex cells or latex tubes). It contains the peculiar principles of the plants, whether aromatic, bitter, or acid, and in many instances yields caoutchouc upon coagulation.

LATH Lath, n.; pl. Laths. Etym: [OE. laththe, latthe, latte, AS. lætta; akin to D. lat, G. latte, OHG. latta; cf. W. llath a rod, staff, yard. Cf. Lattice, Latten.]

Defn: A thin, narrow strip of wood, nailed to the rafters, studs, or floor beams of a building, for the purpose of supporting the tiles, plastering, etc. A corrugated metallic strip or plate is sometimes used. Lath brick, a long, slender brick, used in making the floor on which malt is placed in the drying kiln. Lath nail a slender nail for fastening laths.