Li (le), n.
1. A Chinese measure of distance, being a little more than one third of a mile.
2. A Chinese copper coin; a cash. See Cash.
Li bella
Li •bel"la (li•bel"la), n. [L., dim. of libra balance. See Level, n. ]
1. A small balance.
2. A level, or leveling instrument.
Liability
Li•a•bil´i•ty (li•a•bil"i•ty), n. ; pl. Liabilities (- tiz).
1. The state of being liable; as the liability of an insurer; liability to accidents; liability to the law.
2. That which one is under obligation to pay, or for which one is liable. Specifically, in the pl. , the sum of one’s pecuniary obligations; — opposed to assets. Limited liability. See Limited company, under Limited.
Liable
Li´a•ble (li"a•b’l), a. [From F. lier to bind, L. ligare. Cf. Ally, v. t., Ligature.]
1. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable; as the surety is liable for the debt of his principal.
2. Exposed to a certain contingency or casualty, more or less probable; — with to and an infinitive or noun; as liable to slip; liable to accident.
Syn. — Accountable; responsible; answerable; bound; subject; obnoxious; exposed. — Liable, Subject. Liable refers to a future possible or probable happening which may not actually occur; as horses are liable to slip; even the sagacious are liable to make mistakes. Subject refers to any actual state or condition belonging to the nature or circumstances of the person or thing spoken of, or to that which often befalls one. One whose father was subject to attacks of the gout is himself liable to have that disease. Men are constantly subject to the law, but liable to suffer by its infraction.
"Proudly secure, yet liable to fall." Milton.
"All human things are subject to decay." Dryden.
Liableness
Li´a•ble•ness, n. Quality of being liable; liability.
Liage
Li´age (li"aj), n. [Cf. OF. liage a bond. See Liable.] Union by league; alliance. [Obs.]
Liaison
Li•ai•son´ (le•a•zôN"), n. [F., fr. L. ligatio, fr. ligare to bind. See Ligature, and cf. Ligation.] A union, or bond of union; an intimacy; especially, an illicit intimacy between a man and a woman. { Li•ane´ (li•an"), Li•a´na (li•a"na), } n. [F. liane; prob. akin to lien a band, fr. L. ligamen, fr. ligare to bind. Cf. Lien, n. ] (Bot.) A luxuriant woody plant, climbing high trees and having ropelike stems. The grapevine often has the habit of a liane. Lianes are abundant in the forests of the Amazon region.
Liar
Li´ar (li"er), n. [OE. liere. See Lie to falsify.] A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who lies.
Liard (lyär), n. [F.] A French copper coin of one fourth the value of a sou.
Lias
Li´as (li"as), n. [Cf. F. lias, fr. liais sort of limestone, OF. also liois; perh. of Celtic origin, cf. Armor. liach, leach, a stone, Gael. leac, W. llech. Cf. Cromlech.] (Geol.) The lowest of the three divisions of the Jurassic period; a name given in England and Europe to a series of marine limestones underlying the Oölite. See the Chart of Geology.
Liassic
Li•as´sic (li•as"sik), a. (Geol.) Of the age of the Lias; pertaining to the Lias formation. — n. Same as Lias.
Lib (lib), v. t. [Cf. Glib to geld.] To castrate. [Obs.]
Libament
Lib´a•ment (lib"a•m ent), n. [L. libamentum.] Libation. [Obs.] Holland.
Libatory
Li´ba•to•ry (li"ba•to•ry), a. Pertaining to libation.
Libbard
Lib´bard (lib"berd), n. [See Leopard.] A leopard. [Obs. or Poetic] Spenser. Keats.
Libbard’s bane
Lib"bard’s bane (-berdz ban•). Leopard’s bane. [Obs.]
Libel
Li´bel, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Libeled (-beld) or Libelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Libeling or Libelling.]
1. To defame, or expose to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign, etc.; to lampoon.
"Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair." Pope.
2. (Law) To proceed against by filing a libel, particularly against a ship or goods.
Libellulid
Li•bel´lu•lid (li•bel"lu•lid), n. (Zoöl.) A dragon fly.
Liber
Li´ber (li"ber), n. [L. See Libel.] (Bot.) The inner bark of plants, lying next to the wood. It usually contains a large proportion of woody, fibrous cells, and is, therefore, the part from which the fiber of the plant is obtained, as that of hemp, etc. Liber cells, elongated woody cells found in the liber.
Liberal
Lib´er•al (lib"er• al), a. [F. liberal, L. liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet, it pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.]
1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies. " Liberal education." Macaulay. " A liberal tongue." Shak.
2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as a liberal giver. " Liberal of praise." Bacon.
"Infinitely good, and of his good
As liberal and free as infinite." Milton.
3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.
"His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower." Shak.
4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.
6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. " Most like a liberal villain." Shak.
7. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
"I confess I see nothing liberal in this " order of thoughts," as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it." Hazlitt. Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to before a person or object on which anything is bestowed; as to be liberal of praise or censure; liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the poor. The liberal arts. See under Art. — Liberal education, education that enlarges and disciplines the mind and makes it master of its own powers, irrespective of the particular business or profession one may follow.
Syn. — Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample; large; profuse; free. — Liberal, Generous. Liberal is freeborn, and generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc. The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, — a spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment in consulting the feelings and happiness of others. Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which it manifests.
Liberal
Lib´er•al, n. One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.
Liberalization
Lib•er•al•i•za´tion (- al•i•za"shun), n. The act of liberalizing.
Liberalize
Lib´er•al•ize (lib"er• al•iz), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liberalized (-izd); p. pr. & vb. n. Liberalizing (-i•zing).] [Cf. F. liberaliser.] To make liberal; to free from narrow views or prejudices.
"To open and to liberalize the mind." Burke.
Liberalizer
Lib´er•al•i•zer (-i•zer), n. One who, or that which, liberalizes. Emerson.
Liberate
Lib´er•ate (-at), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liberated (- a•ted); p. pr. & vb. n. Liberating (-a•ting).] [L. liberatus, p. p. of liberare to free, fr. liber free. See Liberal, a. , and cf. Deliver.] To release from restraint or bondage; to set at liberty; to free; to manumit; to disengage; as to liberate a slave or prisoner; to liberate the mind from prejudice; to liberate gases.
Syn. — To deliver; free; release. See Deliver.
Liberation
Lib•er•a´tion (lib•er•a"shun), n. [L. liberatio: cf. F. liberation. Cf. Livraison.] The act of liberating or the state of being liberated.
"This mode of analysis requires perfect liberation from all prejudged system." Pownall.
Liberator
Lib´er•a•tor (lib"er•a•ter), n. [L.] One who, or that which, liberates; a deliverer.
Liberatory
Lib´er•a•to•ry (-a•to•ry), a. Tending, or serving, to liberate. [R.]
Libertarian
Lib•er•ta´ri•an (-ta"ri• an), a. [See Liberty.] Pertaining to liberty, or to the doctrine of free will, as opposed to the doctrine of necessity.
Libertarian
Lib•er•ta´ri•an, n. One who holds to the doctrine of free will.
Libertarianism
Lib•er•ta´ri•an•ism (-iz’m), n. Libertarian principles or doctrines.
Libertinage
Lib´er•tin•age (-tin•aj), n. [Cf. F. libertinage. See Libertine.] Libertinism; license. [R.]
Libertine
Lib´er•tine (-tin), n. [L. libertinus freedman, from libertus one made free, fr. liber free: cf. F. libertin. See Liberal.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) A manumitted slave; a freedman; also the son of a freedman.
2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of Anabaptists, in the fifteenth and early part of the sixteenth century, who rejected many of the customs and decencies of life, and advocated a community of goods and of women.
3. One free from restraint; one who acts according to his impulses and desires; now, specifically, one who gives rein to lust; a rake; a debauchee.
"Like a puffed and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads." Shak.
4. A defamatory name for a freethinker. [Obsoles.]
Libertine
Lib´er•tine, a. [L. libertinus of a freedman: cf. F. libertin. See Libertine, n. ]
1. Free from restraint; uncontrolled. [Obs.]
"You are too much libertine." Beau. & Fl.
2. Dissolute; licentious; profligate; loose in morals; as libertine principles or manners. Bacon.
Liberty
Lib´er•ty (lib"er•ty), n. ; pl. Liberties (- tiz). [OE. liberte, F. liberte, fr. L. libertas, fr. liber free. See Liberal.]
1. The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; — opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection.
"But ye … caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection." Jer. xxxiv. 16.
"Delivered fro the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God." Bible, 1551. Rom. viii. 21.
2. Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion.
"Being pent from liberty, as I am now." Shak.
3. A privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like.
4. Privilege; exemption; franchise; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; as the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe.
"His majesty gave not an entire county to any; much less did he grant … any extraordinary liberties." Sir J. Davies.
5. The place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised. [Eng.]
"Brought forth into some public or open place within the liberty of the city, and there … burned." Fuller.
6. A certain amount of freedom; permission to go freely within certain limits; also the place or limits within which such freedom is exercised; as the liberties of a prison.
7. A privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette or propriety; as to permit, or take, a liberty.
"He was repeatedly provoked into striking those who had taken liberties with him." Macaulay.
8. The power of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing.
"The idea of liberty is the idea of a power in any agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, whereby either of them is preferred to the other." Locke.
"This liberty of judgment did not of necessity lead to lawlessness." J. A. Symonds.
9. (Manege) A curve or arch in a bit to afford room for the tongue of the horse.
10. (Naut.) Leave of absence; permission to go on shore. At liberty. (a) Unconfined; free. (b) At leisure. — Civil liberty, exemption from arbitrary interference with person, opinion, or property, on the part of the government under which one lives, and freedom to take part in modifying that government or its laws. — Liberty bell. See under Bell. — Liberty cap. (a) The Roman pileus which was given to a slave at his manumission. (b) A limp, close- fitting cap with which the head of representations of the goddess of liberty is often decked. It is sometimes represented on a spear or a liberty pole. — Liberty of the press, freedom to print and publish without official supervision. Liberty party, the party, in the American Revolution, which favored independence of England; in more recent usage, a party which favored the emancipation of the slaves. — Liberty pole, a tall flagstaff planted in the ground, often surmounted by a liberty cap. [U. S.] — Moral liberty, that liberty of choice which is essential to moral responsibility. — Religious liberty, freedom of religious opinion and worship.
Syn. — Leave; permission; license. — Liberty, Freedom. These words, though often interchanged, are distinct in some of their applications. Liberty has reference to previous restraint; freedom, to the simple, unrepressed exercise of our powers. A slave is set at liberty; his master had always been in a state of freedom. A prisoner under trial may ask liberty (exemption from restraint) to speak his sentiments with freedom (the spontaneous and bold utterance of his feelings). The liberty of the press is our great security for freedom of thought.
Libidinist
Li•bid´i•nist (li•bid"i•nist), n. [See Libidinous.] One given to lewdness.
Libidinous
Li•bid´i•nous (-nus), a. [L. libidinosus, fr. libido, libidinis, pleasure, desire, lust, fr. libet, lubet, it pleases: cf. F. libidineux. See Lief.] Having lustful desires; characterized by lewdness; sensual; lascivious. — Li•bid´i•nous•ly, adv. — Li•bid´i•nous•ness, n.
Syn. — Lewd; lustful; lascivious; unchaste; impure; sensual; licentious; lecherous; salacious. { Lib´ken (lib"ken), Lib´kin (lib"kin), } n. [AS. libban, E. live, v. i. + -kin.] A house or lodging. [Old Slang] B. Jonson.
Librarian
Li•bra´ri•an (li•bra"ri• an), n. [See Library.]
1. One who has the care or charge of a library.
2. One who copies manuscript books. [Obs.] Broome.
Librarianship
Li•bra´ri•an•ship, n. The office of a librarian.
Library
Li´bra•ry (li"bra•ry), n. ; pl. Libraries (- riz). [OE. librairie, F. librairie bookseller’s shop, book trade, formerly, a library, fr. libraire bookseller, L. librarius, from liber book; cf. libraria bookseller’s shop, librarium bookcase, It. libreria. See Libel.]
1. A considerable collection of books kept for use, and not as merchandise; as a private library; a public library.
2. A building or apartment appropriated for holding such a collection of books. Holland.
Librate
Li´brate (li"brat), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Librated (li"bra•ted); p. pr. & vb. n. Librating.] [L. libratus, p. p. of librare to balance, to make even, fr. libra. Cf. Level, Deliberate, Equilibrium.] To vibrate as a balance does before resting in equilibrium; hence, to be poised.
"Their parts all librate on too nice a beam." Clifton.
Librettist
Li•bret´tist (li•bret"tist), n. One who makes a libretto.
Libretto
Li•bret´to (li•bret"to; It. le•brat"to), n. ; pl. E. Librettos (-toz), It. Libretti (-te). [It., dim. of libro book, L. liber. See Libel.] (Mus.) (a) A book containing the words of an opera or extended piece of music. (b) The words themselves.
Licensable
Li´cens•a•ble (li"s ens•a•b’l), a. That can be licensed.
License
Li´cense (li"s ens), n. [Written also licence.] [F. licence, L. licentia, fr. licere to be permitted, prob. orig., to be left free to one; akin to linquere to leave. See Loan, and cf. Illicit, Leisure.]
1. Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; especially, a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as a license to preach, to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating liquors.
"To have a license and a leave at London to dwell." P. Plowman.
2. The document granting such permission. Addison.
3. Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.
"License they mean when they cry liberty." Milton.
4. That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as poetic license; grammatical license, etc.
Syn. — Leave; liberty; permission.
License
Li´cense (li"s ens), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Licensed (li"s enst); p. pr. & vb. n. Licensing.] To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as to license a man to preach. Milton. Shak.
Licensee
Li•cen•see´ (li•s en•se"), n. (Law) The person to whom a license is given.
Licenser
Li´cens•er (li"s ens•er), n. One who gives a license; as a licenser of the press.
Licensure
Li´cen•sure (li"s en•shur; 135), n. A licensing. [R.]
Licentiate
Li•cen´ti•ate (li•sen"shi•at or - shat; 106), n. [LL. licentiatus, fr. licentiare to allow to do anything, fr. L. licentia license. See License, n. ]
1. One who has a license to exercise a profession; as a licentiate in medicine or theology.
"The college of physicians, in July, 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighboring poor." Johnson.
2. A friar authorized to receive confessions and grant absolution in all places, independently of the local clergy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. One who acts without restraint, or takes a liberty, as if having a license therefor. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
4. On the continent of Europe, a university degree intermediate between that of bachelor and that of doctor.
Licentiate
Li•cen´ti•ate (-shi•at), v. t. To give a license to. [Obs.] L’Estrange.
Licentious
Li•cen´tious (-shus), a. [L. licentiosus: cf. F. licencieux. See License.]
1. Characterized by license; passing due bounds; excessive; abusive of freedom; wantonly offensive; as a licentious press.
"A wit that no licentious pertness knows." Savage.
2. Unrestrained by law or morality; lawless; immoral; dissolute; lewd; lascivious; as a licentious man; a licentious life. "Licentious wickedness." Shak.
Syn. — Unrestrained; uncurbed; uncontrolled; unruly; riotous; ungovernable; wanton; profligate; dissolute; lax; loose; sensual; impure; unchaste; lascivious; immoral. — Li•cen´tious•ly, adv. — Li•cen´tious•ness, n.
Lich (lik), a. Like. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Lich (lich), n. [AS. lic body. See Like, a. ] A dead body; a corpse. [Obs.] Lich fowl (Zoöl.), the European goatsucker; — called also lich owl. — Lich gate, a covered gate through which the corpse was carried to the church or burial place, and where the bier was placed to await the clergyman; a corpse gate. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. — Lich wake, the wake, or watching, held over a corpse before burial. [Prov Eng.] Chaucer. — Lich wall, the wall of a churchyard or burying ground. — Lich way, the path by which the dead are carried to the grave. [Prov. Eng.]
Lichen
Li´chen (li"ken; 277), n. [L., fr. Gr. leichh•n.]
1. (Bot.) One of a class of cellular, flowerless plants, (technically called Lichenes), having no distinction of leaf and stem, usually of scaly, expanded, frond-like forms, but sometimes erect or pendulous and variously branched. They derive their nourishment from the air, and generate by means of spores. The species are very widely distributed, and form irregular spots or patches, usually of a greenish or yellowish color, upon rocks, trees, and various bodies, to which they adhere with great tenacity. They are often improperly called rock moss or tree moss. A favorite modern theory of lichens (called after its inventor the Schwendener hypothesis), is that they are not autonomous plants, but that they consist of ascigerous fungi, parasitic on algae. Each lichen is composed of white filaments and green, or greenish, rounded cells, and it is argued that the two are of different nature, the one living at the expense of the other. See Hyphae, and Gonidia.
2. (Med.) A name given to several varieties of skin disease, esp. to one characterized by the eruption of small, conical or flat, reddish pimples, which, if unchecked, tend to spread and produce great and even fatal exhaustion.
Lichened
Li´chened (li"kend), a. Belonging to, or covered with, lichens. Tennyson.
Licheniform
Li•chen´i•form (-i•fôrm), a. Having the form of a lichen.
Lichenologist
Li•chen•ol´o•gist (-ol"o•jist), n. One versed in lichenology.
Lichenology
Li•chen•ol´o•gy (-jy), n. [ Lichen + -logy.] The science which treats of lichens.
Lichwort
Lich´wort (-wûrt•), n. (Bot.) An herb, the wall pellitory. See Pellitory.
Licit
Lic´it (lis"it), a. [L. licitus permitted, lawful, from licere: cf. F. licite. See License.] Lawful. "Licit establishments." Carlyle. — Lic´it•ly, adv. — Lic´it•ness, n.
Lick (lik), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Licked (likt); p. pr. & vb. n. Licking.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likkon, D. likken, OHG. lecchon, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laigon, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei•chein, Skr. lih, rih. rad.121. Cf. Lecher, Relish.]
1. To draw or pass the tongue over; as a dog licks his master’s hand. Addison.
2. To lap; to take in with the tongue; as a dog or cat licks milk. Shak. To lick the dust, to be slain; to fall in battle. "His enemies shall lick the dust." Ps. lxxii. 9. — To lick into shape, to give proper form to; — from a notion that the bear’s cubs are born shapeless and subsequently formed by licking. Hudibras. — To lick the spittle of, to fawn upon. South. - - To lick up, to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely. Shak. Num. xxii. 4.
Lick, n. [See Lick, v. ]
1. A stroke of the tongue in licking. "A lick at the honey pot." Dryden.
2. A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as to put on colors with a lick of the brush. also a small quantity of any substance so applied. [Colloq.]
"A lick of court whitewash." Gray.
3. A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; — often, but not always, near salt springs. [U. S.]
Lick, n. A slap; a quick stroke.[Colloq.] "A lick across the face." Dryden.
Licker
Lick´er (lik"er), n. [Cf. Lecher.] One who, or that which, licks. Licker in (Carding Machine), the drum, or cylinder, by which the lap is taken from the feed rollers.
Lickerish
Lick´er•ish, a. [Cf. Lecherous.]
1. Eager; craving; urged by desire; eager to taste or enjoy; greedy. "The lickerish palate of the glutton." Bp. Hall.
2. Tempting the appetite; dainty. "Lickerish baits, fit to insnare a brute." Milton.
3. Lecherous; lustful. Robert of Brunne. — Lick´er•ish•ly, adv. — Lick´er•ish•ness, n.
Licking
Lick´ing, n.
1. A lapping with the tongue.
2. A flogging or castigation. [Colloq. or Low]
Lick-spittle
Lick´-spit•tle (-spit•t’l), n. An abject flatterer or parasite. Theodore Hook.
Licorice
Lic´o•rice (lik"o•ris), n. [OE. licoris, through old French, fr. L. liquiritia, corrupted fr. glycyrrhiza, Gr. glyky•rriza; glyky•s sweet + "ri•za root. Cf. Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza, Wort.] [Written also liquorice.]
1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza ( G. glabra), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions.
2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and for medicinal purposes. Licorice fern (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor. — Licorice sugar. (Chem.) See Glycyrrhizin. — Licorice weed (Bot.), the tropical plant Scapania dulcis. — Mountain licorice (Bot.), a kind of clover ( Trifolium alpinum), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock. — Wild licorice. (Bot.) (a) The North American perennial herb Glycyrrhiza lepidota. (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers ( Galium circaezans and G. lanceolatum). (c) The leguminous climber Abrus precatorius, whose scarlet and black seeds are called black-eyed Susans. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra).
Licorous
Lic´o•rous (lik"o•rus), a. See Lickerish. — Lic´o•rous•ness, n. [Obs.] Herbert.
Lidge (lij), n. Same as Ledge.[Obs.] Spenser.
Lie (li), n. [AS. lyge; akin to D. leugen, OHG. lugi, G. lüge, lug, Icel. lygi, Dan. & Sw. lögn, Goth. liugn. See Lie to utter a falsehood.]
1. A falsehood uttered or acted for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth; an untruth spoken with the intention to deceive.
"The proper notion of a lie is an endeavoring to deceive another by signifying that to him as true, which we ourselves think not to be so." S. Clarke.
"It is willful deceit that makes a lie. A man may act a lie, as by pointing his finger in a wrong direction when a traveler inquires of him his road." Paley.
2. A fiction; a fable; an untruth. Dryden.
3. Anything which misleads or disappoints.
"Wishing this lie of life was o’er." Trench. To give the lie to. (a) To charge with falsehood; as the man gave him the lie. (b) To reveal to be false; as a man’s actions may give the lie to his words. — White lie, a euphemism for such lies as one finds it convenient to tell, and excuses himself for telling.
Syn. — Untruth; falsehood; fiction; deception. — Lie, Untruth. A man may state what is untrue from ignorance or misconception; hence, to impute an untruth to one is not necessarily the same as charging him with a lie. Every lie is an untruth, but not every untruth is a lie. Cf. Falsity.
Lie, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lied (lid); p. pr. & vb. n. Lying (li"ing).] [OE. lien, li&yogh;en, le&yogh;en, leo&yogh;en, AS. leógan; akin to D. liegen, OS. & OHG. liogan, G. lügen, Icel. ljuga, Sw. ljuga, Dan. lyve, Goth. liugan, Russ. lgate.] To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive; to say or do that which is intended to deceive another, when he a right to know the truth, or when morality requires a just representation.
Lie, v. i. [ imp. Lay (la); p. p. Lain (lan), (Lien (li"en), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Lying.] [OE. lien, liggen, AS. licgan; akin to D. liggen, OHG. ligen, licken, G. liegen, Icel. liggja, Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, Goth. ligan, Russ. lejate, L. lectus bed, Gr. le•chos bed, le•xasqai to lie. Cf. Lair, Law, Lay, v. t., Litter, Low, adj. ]
1. To rest extended on the ground, a bed, or any support; to be, or to put one’s self, in an horizontal position, or nearly so; to be prostate; to be stretched out; — often with down, when predicated of living creatures; as the book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin.
"The watchful traveler … Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes." Dryden.
2. To be situated; to occupy a certain place; as Ireland lies west of England; the meadows lie along the river; the ship lay in port.
3. To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition; as to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hid; to lie grieving; to lie under one’s displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves; the paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
4. To be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist; — with in.
"Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances." Collier.
"He that thinks that diversion may not lie in hard labor, forgets the early rising and hard riding of huntsmen." Locke.
5. To lodge; to sleep.
"Whiles I was now trifling at home, I saw London, … where I lay one night only." Evelyn.
"Mr. Quinion lay at our house that night." Dickens.
6. To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
"The wind is loud and will not lie." Shak.
7. (Law) To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained. "An appeal lies in this case." Parsons. Through ignorance or carelessness speakers and writers often confuse the forms of the two distinct verbs lay and lie. Lay is a transitive verb, and has for its preterit laid; as he told me to lay it down, and I laid it down. Lie is intransitive, and has for its preterit lay; as he told me to lie down, and I lay down. Some persons blunder by using laid for the preterit of lie; as he told me to lie down, and I laid down. So persons often say incorrectly, the ship laid at anchor; they laid by during the storm; the book was laying on the shelf, etc. It is only necessary to remember, in all such cases, that laid is the preterit of lay, and not of lie. To lie along the shore (Naut.), to coast, keeping land in sight. — To lie at the door of, to be imputable to; as the sin, blame, etc., lies at your door. — To lie at the heart, to be an object of affection, desire, or anxiety. Sir W. Temple. — To lie at the mercy of, to be in the power of. — To lie by. (a) To remain with; to be at hand; as he has the manuscript lying by him. (b) To rest; to intermit labor; as we lay by during the heat of the day. — To lie hard or heavy, to press or weigh; to bear hard. — To lie in, to be in childbed; to bring forth young. — To lie in one, to be in the power of; to belong to. "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Rom. xii. 18. — To lie in the way, to be an obstacle or impediment. — To lie in wait, to wait in concealment; to lie in ambush. — To lie on or upon. (a) To depend on; as his life lies on the result. (b) To bear, rest, press, or weigh on. — To lie low, to remain in concealment or inactive. [Slang] — To lie on hand, To lie on one’s hands, to remain unsold or unused; as the goods are still lying on his hands; they have too much time lying on their hands. — To lie on the head of, to be imputed to.
"What he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head." Shak. — To lie over. (a) To remain unpaid after the time when payment is due, as a note in bank. (b) To be deferred to some future occasion, as a resolution in a public deliberative body. — To lie to (Naut.), to stop or delay; especially, to head as near the wind as possible as being the position of greatest safety in a gale; — said of a ship. Cf. To bring to, under Bring. — To lie under, to be subject to; to suffer; to be oppressed by. — To lie with. (a) To lodge or sleep with. (b) To have sexual intercourse with. (c) To belong to; as it lies with you to make amends.
Lieberkühn’s glands
Lie"ber•kühn’s glands (le"ber•kunz glandz•). [See Lieberkühn.] (Anat.) The simple tubular glands of the small intestines; — called also crypts of Lieberkühn.
Lief (lef), a. [Written also lieve.] [OE. leef, lef, leof, AS. leóf; akin to OS. liof, OFries. liaf, D. lief, G. lieb, OHG. liob, Icel. ljufr, Sw. ljuf, Goth. liubs, and E. love. rad.124. See Love, and cf. Believe, Leave, n. , Furlough, Libidinous.]
1. Dear; beloved. [Obs., except in poetry.] "My liefe mother." Chaucer. "My liefest liege." Shak.
"As thou art lief and dear." Tennyson.
2. (Used with a form of the verb to be, and the dative of the personal pronoun.) Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable. [Obs.] See Lief, adv. , and Had as lief, under Had.
"Full lief me were this counsel for to hide." Chaucer.
"Death me liefer were than such despite." Spenser.
3. Willing; disposed. [Obs.]
"I am not lief to gab." Chaucer.
"He up arose, however lief or loth." Spenser.
Lief, n. A dear one; a sweetheart. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lief, adv. Gladly; willingly; freely; — now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief; as I had, or would, as lief go as not.
"All women liefest would
Be sovereign of man’s love." Gower.
"I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines." Shak.
"Far liefer by his dear hand had I die." Tennyson. The comparative liefer with had or would, and followed by the infinitive, either with or without the sign to, signifies prefer, choose as preferable, would or had rather. In the 16th century rather was substituted for liefer in such constructions in literary English, and has continued to be generally so used. See Had as lief, Had rather, etc., under Had.
Liefsome
Lief´some (lef"sum), a. Pleasing; delightful. [Obs.]
Liege (lej), a. [OE. lige, lege, F. lige, LL. ligius, legius, liege, unlimited, complete, prob. of German origin; cf. G. ledig free from bonds and obstacles, MHG. ledec, ledic, lidic, freed, loosed, and Charta Ottonis de Benthem, ann. 1253, "ligius homo quod Teutonicè dicitur ledigman," i. e., uni soli homagio obligatus, free from all obligations to others; influenced by L. ligare to bind. G. ledig perh. orig. meant, free to go where one pleases, and is perh. akin to E. lead to conduct. Cf. Lead to guide.]
1. Sovereign; independent; having authority or right to allegiance; as a liege lord. Chaucer.
"She looked as grand as doomsday and as grave;
And he, he reverenced his liege lady there." Tennyson.
2. Serving an independent sovereign or master; bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, as a vassal to his lord; faithful; loyal; as a liege man; a liege subject.
3. (Old Law) Full; perfect; complete; pure. Burrill. Liege homage (Feudal Custom), that homage of one sovereign or prince to another which acknowledged an obligation of fealty and services. — Liege poustie [L. legitima potestas] (Scots Law), perfect, i. e., legal, power; specif., having health requisite to do legal acts. — Liege widowhood, perfect, i. e., pure, widowhood. [Obs.]
Liegeman
Liege´man (-m an), n. ; pl. Liegemen (-m en). Same as Liege, n. , 2. Chaucer. Spenser.
Lieger
Lie´ger (le"jer), n. [See Leger, Ledger.] A resident ambassador. [Obs.] See Leger. Denham.
Lien
Li´en (li"en), obs. p. p. of Lie. See Lain. Ps. lxviii. 13.
Lien (len or li"en; 277), n. [F. lien band, bond, tie, fr. L. ligamen, fr. ligare to bind. Cf. League a union, Leam a string, Leamer, Ligament.] (Law) A legal claim; a charge upon real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty; a right in one to control or hold and retain the property of another until some claim of the former is paid or satisfied.
Lienteric
Li•en•ter´ic (li•en•ter"ik), a. [L. lientericus, Gr. leienteriko•s: cf. F. lienterique. See Lientery.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of, a lientery. — n. (Med.) A lientery. Grew.
Lier
Li´er (li"er), n. [From Lie. ] One who lies down; one who rests or remains, as in concealment.
"There were liers in ambush against him." Josh. viii. 14.
Lieu (lu), n. [F., OF. also liu, leu, lou, fr. L. locus place. See Local, Locus.] Place; room; stead; — used only in the phrase in lieu of, that is, instead of.
"The plan of extortion had been adopted in lieu of the scheme of confiscation." Burke.
Lieutenant
Lieu•ten´ant (lu•ten"ant), n. [F., fr. lieu place + tenant holding, p. pr. of tenir to hold, L. tenere. See Lieu, and Tenant, and cf. Locum Tenens.]
1. An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his absence; a representative of, or substitute for, another in the performance of any duty.
"The lawful magistrate, who is the vicegerent or lieutenant of God." Abp. Bramhall.
2. (a) A commissioned officer in the army, next below a captain. (b) A commissioned officer in the British navy, in rank next below a commander. (c) A commissioned officer in the United States navy, in rank next below a lieutenant commander. Lieutenant is often used, either adjectively or in hyphened compounds, to denote an officer, in rank next below another, especially when the duties of the higher officer may devolve upon the lower one; as lieutenant general, or lieutenant- general; lieutenant colonel, or lieutenant-colonel; lieutenant governor, etc. Deputy lieutenant, the title of any one of the deputies or assistants of the lord lieutenant of a county. [Eng.] — Lieutenant colonel, an army officer next in rank above major, and below colonel. — Lieutenant commander, an officer in the United States navy, in rank next below a commander and next above a lieutenant. — Lieutenant general. See in Vocabulary. — Lieutenant governor. (a) An officer of a State, being next in rank to the governor, and, in case of the death or resignation of the latter, himself acting as governor. [U. S.] (b) A deputy governor acting as the chief civil officer of one of several colonies under a governor general. [Eng.]
Lieutenant general
Lieu•ten"ant gen"er•al (jen"er• al). An army officer in rank next below a general and next above a major general. In the United States, before the civil war, this rank had been conferred only on George Washington and (in brevet) on Winfield Scott. In 1864 it was revived by Congress and conferred on Ulysses S. Grant, and subsequently, by promotion, on William T. Sherman and Philip H. Sheridan, each of whom was advanced to the rank of general of the army. When Sheridan was made general (in 1888) the rank of lieutenant general was suffered to lapse. See General.
Lieutenantry
Lieu•ten´ant•ry (-ry), n. See Lieutenancy. [Obs.]
Life (lif), n. ; pl. Lives (livz). [AS. lif; akin to D. lijf body, G. leib body, MHG. lip life, body, OHG. lib life, Icel. lif, life, body, Sw. lif, Dan. liv, and E. live, v. rad.119. See Live, and cf. Alive.]
1. The state of being which begins with generation, birth, or germination, and ends with death; also the time during which this state continues; that state of an animal or plant in which all or any of its organs are capable of performing all or any of their functions; - - used of all animal and vegetable organisms.
2. Of human beings: The union of the soul and body; also the duration of their union; sometimes, the deathless quality or existence of the soul; as man is a creature having an immortal life.
"She shows a body rather than a life." Shak.
3. (Philos.) The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and plants are started and continued in the performance of their several and coöperative functions; the vital force, whether regarded as physical or spiritual.
4. Figuratively: The potential or animating principle, also the period of duration, of anything that is conceived of as resembling a natural organism in structure or functions; as the life of a state, a machine, or a book; authority is the life of government.
5. A certain way or manner of living with respect to conditions, circumstances, character, conduct, occupation, etc.; hence, human affairs; also lives, considered collectively, as a distinct class or type; as low life; a good or evil life; the life of Indians, or of miners.
"That which before us lies in daily life." Milton.
"By experience of life abroad in the world." Ascham.
"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime." Longfellow.
"’T is from high life high characters are drawn." Pope
6. Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy.
"No notion of life and fire in fancy and in words." Felton.
"That gives thy gestures grace and life." Wordsworth.
7. That which imparts or excites spirit or vigor; that upon which enjoyment or success depends; as he was the life of the company, or of the enterprise.
8. The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as a picture or a description from the life.
9. A person; a living being, usually a human being; as many lives were sacrificed.
10. The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively.
"Full nature swarms with life." Thomson.
11. An essential constituent of life, esp. the blood.
"The words that I speak unto you … they are life." John vi. 63.
"The warm life came issuing through the wound." Pope
12. A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as Johnson wrote the life of Milton.
13. Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of God; heavenly felicity.
14. Something dear to one as one’s existence; a darling; — used as a term of endearment. Life forms the first part of many compounds, for the most part of obvious meaning; as life-giving, life- sustaining, etc. Life annuity, an annuity payable during one’s life. — Life arrow, Life rocket, Life shot, an arrow, rocket, or shot, for carrying an attached line to a vessel in distress in order to save life. — Life assurance. See Life insurance, below. — Life buoy. See Buoy. — Life car, a water- tight boat or box, traveling on a line from a wrecked vessel to the shore. In it persons are hauled through the waves and surf. — Life drop, a drop of vital blood. Byron. — Life estate (Law), an estate which is held during the term of some certain person’s life, but does not pass by inheritance. — Life everlasting (Bot.), a plant with white or yellow persistent scales about the heads of the flowers, as Antennaria, and Gnaphalium; cudweed. — Life of an execution (Law), the period when an execution is in force, or before it expires. — Life guard. (Mil.) See under Guard. — Life insurance, the act or system of insuring against death; a contract by which the insurer undertakes, in consideration of the payment of a premium (usually at stated periods), to pay a stipulated sum in the event of the death of the insured or of a third person in whose life the insured has an interest. — Life interest, an estate or interest which lasts during one’s life, or the life of another person, but does not pass by inheritance. — Life land (Law), land held by lease for the term of a life or lives. — Life line. (a) (Naut.) A line along any part of a vessel for the security of sailors. (b) A line attached to a life boat, or to any life saving apparatus, to be grasped by a person in the water. — Life rate, the rate of premium for insuring a life. — Life rent, the rent of a life estate; rent or property to which one is entitled during one’s life. — Life school, a school for artists in which they model, paint, or draw from living models. — Life table, a table showing the probability of life at different ages. — To lose one’s life, to die. — To seek the life of, to seek to kill. — To the life, so as closely to resemble the living person or the subject; as the portrait was drawn to the life.
Lifeless
Life´less, a. Destitute of life, or deprived of life; not containing, or inhabited by, living beings or vegetation; dead, or apparently dead; spiritless; powerless; dull; as a lifeless carcass; lifeless matter; a lifeless desert; a lifeless wine; a lifeless story. — Life´less•ly, adv. — Life´less•ness, n.
Syn. — Dead; soulless; inanimate; torpid; inert; inactive; dull; heavy; unanimated; spiritless; frigid; pointless; vapid; flat; tasteless. — Lifeless, Dull, Inanimate, Dead. In a moral sense, lifeless denotes a want of vital energy; inanimate, a want of expression as to any feeling that may be possessed; dull implies a torpor of soul which checks all mental activity; dead supposes a destitution of feeling. A person is said to be lifeless who has lost the spirits which he once had; he is said to be inanimate when he is naturally wanting in spirits; one is dull from an original deficiency of mental power; he who is dead to moral sentiment is wholly bereft of the highest attribute of his nature.
Lifelike
Life´like (lif"lik•), a. [Cf. Lively.] Like a living being; resembling life; giving an accurate representation; as a lifelike portrait. — Life´like•ness, n. Poe.
Lifelong
Life´long (-long•), a. [ Life + long. Cf. Livelong.] Lasting or continuing through life. Tennyson.
Lifely
Life´ly, adv. [Cf. Lively, a. ] In a lifelike manner. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lifemate
Life´mate (-mat•), n. Companion for life. Hawthorne.
Life-size
Life´-size (-siz•), a. Of full size; of the natural size.
Lifesome
Life´some (-sum), a. Animated; sprightly. [Poetic] Coleridge. — Life´some•ness, n.
Lifespring
Life´spring (-spring•), n. Spring or source of life.
Lift (lift), n. [AS. lyft air. See Loft.] The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. [Obs. or Scot.]
Lift (lift), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lifting.] [Icel. lypta, fr. lopt air; akin to Sw. lyfta to lift, Dan. löfte, G. lüften; — prop., to raise into the air. See Loft, and cf. 1st Lift.]
1. To move in a direction opposite to that of gravitation; to raise; to elevate; to bring up from a lower place to a higher; to upheave; sometimes implying a continued support or holding in the higher place; — said of material things; as to lift the foot or the hand; to lift a chair or a burden.
2. To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; — often with up.
"The Roman virtues lift up mortal man." Addison.
"Lest, being lifted up with pride." 1 Tim. iii. 6.
3. To bear; to support. [Obs.] Spenser.
4. To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
5. [Perh. a different word, and akin to Goth. hliftus thief, hlifan to steal, L. clepere, Gr. kle•ptein. Cf. Shoplifter.] To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as to lift a drove of cattle. In old writers, lift is sometimes used for lifted.
"He ne’er lift up his hand but conquered." Shak. To lift up, to raise or elevate; in the Scriptures, specifically, to elevate upon the cross. John viii. 28. — To lift up the eyes. To look up; to raise the eyes, as in prayer. Ps. cxxi. 1. — To lift up the feet, to come speedily to one’s relief. Ps. lxxiv. 3. — To lift up the hand. (a) To take an oath. Gen. xiv. 22. (b) To pray. Ps. xxviii. 2. (c) To engage in duty. Heb. xii. 12. — To lift up the hand against, to rebel against; to assault; to attack; to injure; to oppress. Job xxxi. 21. — To lift up one’s head, to cause one to be exalted or to rejoice. Gen. xl. 13. Luke xxi. 28. — To lift up the heel against, to treat with insolence or unkindness. John xiii.18. — To lift up the voice, to cry aloud; to call out. Gen. xxi. 16.
Lift (lift), v. i.
1. To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.
"Strained by lifting at a weight too heavy." Locke.
2. To rise; to become or appear raised or elevated; as the fog lifts; the land lifts to a ship approaching it.
3. [See Lift, v. t., 5.] To live by theft. Spenser.
Lift, n.
1. Act of lifting; also that which is lifted.
2. The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as a long lift. Bacon.
3. Help; assistance, as by lifting; as to give one a lift in a wagon. [Colloq.]
"The goat gives the fox a lift." L’Estrange.
4. That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted; as: (a) A hoisting machine; an elevator; a dumb waiter. (b) A handle. (c) An exercising machine.
5. A rise; a degree of elevation; as the lift of a lock in canals.
6. A lift gate. See Lift gate, below. [Prov. Eng.]
7. (Naut.) A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; — used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.
8. (Mach.) One of the steps of a cone pulley.
9. (Shoemaking) A layer of leather in the heel.
10. (Horology) That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given. Saunier. Dead lift. See under Dead. Swift. — Lift bridge, a kind of drawbridge, the movable part of which is lifted, instead of being drawn aside. — Lift gate, a gate that is opened by lifting. — Lift hammer. See Tilt hammer. — Lift lock, a canal lock. — Lift pump, a lifting pump. - - Lift tenter (Windmills), a governor for regulating the speed by adjusting the sails, or for adjusting the action of grinding machinery according to the speed. — Lift wall (Canal Lock), the cross wall at the head of the lock.
Lifting
Lift´ing, a. Used in, or for, or by, lifting. Lifting bridge, a lift bridge. — Lifting jack. See 2d Jack, 5. — Lifting machine. See Health lift, under Health. — Lifting pump. (Mach.) (a) A kind of pump having a bucket, or valved piston, instead of a solid piston, for drawing water and lifting it to a high level. (b) A pump which lifts the water only to the top of the pump, or delivers it through a spout; a lift pump. — Lifting rod, a vertical rod lifted by a rock shaft, and imparting motion to a puppet valve; — used in the engines of river steamboats. — Lifting sail (Naut.), one which tends to lift a vessel’s bow out of water, as jibs and square foresails.
Lig (lig), v. i. [See Lie to be prostrate.] To recline; to lie still. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Ligament
Lig´a•ment (lig"a•m ent), n. [L. ligamentum, fr. ligare to bind: cf. F. ligament. Cf. Lien, n. , Ligature.]
1. Anything that ties or unites one thing or part to another; a bandage; a bond. Hawthorne.
"Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts." Washington.
2. (Anat.) (a) A tough band or plate of dense, fibrous, connective tissue or fibrocartilage serving to unite bones or form joints. (b) A band of connective tissue, or a membranous fold, which supports or retains an organ in place; as the gastrophrenic ligament, connecting the diaphragm and stomach. { Lig•a•men´tal (-men"t al), Lig•a•men´tous (-tus), } a. [Cf. F. ligamenteux.] Composing a ligament; of the nature of a ligament; binding; as a strong ligamentous membrane.
Ligan
Li´gan (li"g an), n. [Cf. L. ligare to bind, to tie, ligamen band, bandage, E. ligament, or ligsam.] (Law) Goods sunk in the sea, with a buoy attached in order that they may be found again. See Jetsam and Flotsam. [Written also lagan.] Blackstone.
Ligation
Li•ga´tion (li•ga"shun), n. [L. ligatio, fr. ligare to bind. Cf. Liaison.]
1. The act of binding, or the state of being bound.
2. That which binds; bond; connection.
"Tied with tape, and sealed at each fold and ligation." Sir W. Scott.
Ligator
Li•ga´tor (-tor), n. [See Ligate.] (Surg.) An instrument for ligating, or for placing and fastening a ligature.
Ligature
Lig´a•ture (lig"a•tur; 135), n. [L. ligatura, fr. ligare, ligatum, to bind: cf. F. ligature. Cf. Ally, League, Legatura, Liable, Ligament.]
1. The act of binding.
2. Anything that binds; a band or bandage.
3. (Surg.) (a) A thread or string for tying the blood vessels, particularly the arteries, to prevent hemorrhage. (b) A thread or wire used to remove tumors, etc.
4. The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness; as the ligature of a joint.
5. Impotence caused by magic or charms. [Obs.]
6. (Mus.) A curve or line connecting notes; a slur.
7. (Print.) A double character, or a type consisting of two or more letters or characters united, as a. , fi, ffl.
Ligature
Lig´a•ture (lig"a•tur), v. t. (Surg.) To ligate; to tie.
Ligeance
Li´geance (le"j ans), n. [OF. ligeance, ligance. See Liege.] (O. Eng. Law) The connection between sovereign and subject by which they were mutually bound, the former to protection and the securing of justice, the latter to faithful service; allegiance. [Written also ligeancy and liegance.] Chaucer.
Ligge
Lig´ge (lig"g e), v. i. To lie or recline. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ligger
Lig´ger (lig"ger), n.
1. A baited line attached to a float, for night fishing. See Leger, a.
2. See Ledger, 2.
Light (lit), n. [OE. light, liht, AS. leóht; akin to OS. lioht, D. & G. licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuhaþ, Icel. ljos, L. lux light, lucere to shine, Gr. leyko•s white, Skr. ruc to shine. rad.122. Cf. Lucid, Lunar, Luminous, Lynx.]
1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous. Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles per second; but it is now generally understood to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by Newton (but long since abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory of light.
2. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.
"Then he called for a light, and sprang in." Acts xvi. 29.
"And God made two great light. ; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night." Gen. i. 16.
3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.
"The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy." Job xxiv. 14.
4. The brightness of the eye or eyes.
"He seemed to find his way without his eyes;
For out o’ door he went without their helps,
And, to the last, bended their light on me." Shak.
5. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.
"There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks." I Kings vii.4.
6. Life; existence.
"O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born!" Pope.
7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
"The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light." Shak.
8. The power of perception by vision.
"My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me." Ps. xxxviii. 10.
9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.
"He shall never know
That I had any light of this from thee." Shak.
10. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.
"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily." Is. lviii. 8.
11. (Paint.) The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; — opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro.
12. Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as to state things fairly and put them in the right light.
"Frequent consideration of a thing … shows it in its several light. and various ways of appearance." South.
13. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as the light. of the age or of antiquity.
"Joan of Arc,
A light of ancient France." Tennyson.
14. (Pyrotech.) A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as a Bengal light. Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind. Ancient lights (Law), Calcium light, Flash light, etc. See under Ancient, Calcium, etc. — Light ball (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to afford light; — sometimes made so as to be fired from a cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket. — Light barrel (Mil.), an empty powder barrel pierced with holes and filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to light up a ditch or a breach. — Light dues (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses. - - Light iron, a candlestick. [Obs.] — Light keeper, a person appointed to take care of a lighthouse or light-ship. — Light money, charges laid by government on shipping entering a port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and light-ships. — The light of the countenance, favor; kindness; smiles.
"Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us." Ps. iv. 6. — Northern lights. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora. — To bring to light, to cause to be disclosed. — To come to light, to be disclosed. — To see the light, to come into the light; hence, to come into the world or into public notice; as his book never saw the light. — To stand in one’s own light, to take a position which is injurious to one’s own interest.
Light (lit), a. [AS. leóht. See Light, n. ] [ Compar. Lighter (-er); superl. Lightest.]
1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as the apartment is light.
2. White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a deep shade; moderately colored; as a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.
Light, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lighted (-ed) or Lit (lit); p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.] [AS. lyhtan, lihtan, to shine. rad.122. See Light, n. ]
1. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; — sometimes with up.
"If a thousand candles be all lighted from one." Hakewill.
"And the largest lamp is lit." Macaulay.
"Absence might cure it, or a second mistress Light up another flame, and put out this." Addison.
2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; — often with up.
"Ah, hopeless, lasting flames ! like those that burn
To light the dead." Pope.
"One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds." F. Harrison.
"The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply
His absent beams, has lighted up the sky." Dryden.
3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
"His bishops lead him forth, and light him on." Landor. To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire.
Light, a. [ Compar. Lighter (-er); superl. Lightest.] [OE. light, liht, AS. liht, leóht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. lihti, Icel. lettr, Dan. let, Sw. lätt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf. Levity), Gr. ’elachy•s small, Skr. laghu light. rad.125. ]
1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
"These weights did not exert their natural gravity, … insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand." Addison.
2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as a light burden, or load.
"Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. xi. 29, 30.
3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as a light affliction or task. Chaucer.
"Light sufferings give us leisure to complain." Dryden.
4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as light food; also containing little nutriment.
5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as light troops; a troop of light horse.
6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
"Unmarried men are best friends, best masters … but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away." Bacon.
7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as the ship returned light.
8. Slight; not important; as a light error. Shak.
9. Well leavened; not heavy; as light bread.
10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as a light wind.
12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as a light touch; a light style of execution.
13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as a light, vain person; a light mind.
"There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion." Tillotson.
14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
"Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light." Shak.
"Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful." Hawthorne.
15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
"Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?" Shak.
16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
"To a fair semblance doth light faith annex." Spenser.
17. Wanton; unchaste; as a woman of light character.
"A light wife doth make a heavy husband." Shak.
18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as light coin.
19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as a light soil. Light cavalry, Light horse (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses. — Light eater, one who eats but little. — Light infantry, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions. — Light of foot. (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet. — Light of heart, gay, cheerful. — Light oil (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene. — Light sails (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails, with, also the studding sails and flying jib. Dana. — Light sleeper, one easily wakened. — Light weight, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Cf. Feather weight, under Feather. [Cant] — To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard. — To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.
Light (lit), adv. Lightly; cheaply. Hooker.
Light, v. t. [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.] To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. [Obs.]
"From his head the heavy burgonet did light." Spenser.
Light, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lighted (-ed) or Lit (lit); p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.] [AS. lihtan to alight, orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider’s burden, to make less heavy, fr. liht light. See Light not heavy, and cf. Alight, Lighten to make light.]
1. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; — with from, off, on, upon, a. , in.
"When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel." Gen. xxiv. 64.
"Slowly rode across a withered heath,
And lighted at a ruined inn." Tennyson.
2. To feel light; to be made happy. [Obs.]
"It made all their hearts to light." Chaucer.
3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.
"[The bee] light. on that, and this, and tasteth all." Sir. J. Davies.
"On the tree tops a crested peacock lit." Tennyson.
4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; — with on or upon.
"On me, me only, as the source and spring
Of all corruption, all the blame light. due." Milton.
5. To come by chance; to happen; — with on or upon; formerly with into.
"The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive." Locke.
"They shall light into atheistical company." South.
"And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth,
And Lilia with the rest." Tennyson.
Light-armed
Light´-armed (-ärmd•), a. Armed with light weapons or accouterments.
Lighte
Light´e (lit"e), obs. imp. of Light, to alight. Chaucer.
Lighten
Light´en (lit"’n), v. i. [See Light to alight.] To descend; to light.
"O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us." Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].
Lighten
Light´en (lit"’n), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lightened (-’nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening.] [OE. lightenen. See Light to kindle, illuminate.]
1. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash.
"This dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion." Shak.
2. To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.
Lighten
Light´en, v. t. [See Light to illuminate.]
1. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets. [In this sense less common than light. ]
"A key of fire ran all along the shore,
And lightened all the river with a blaze." Dryden.
2. To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense less common than enlighten.]
"Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray." Sir J. Davies.
3. To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
"His eye … lightens forth
Controlling majesty." Shak.
4. To free from trouble and fill with joy.
"They looked unto him, and were lightened." Ps. xxxiv. 5.
Lighten
Light´en, v. t. [See Light not heavy.]
1. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.
2. To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.
3. To cheer; to exhilarate.
"Lightens my humor with his merry jests." Shak.
Lighter
Light´er (lit"er), n. One who, or that which, lights; as a lighter of lamps.
Lighter
Light´er, n. [D. ligter, fr. ligt light. See Light not heavy.] (Naut.) A large boat or barge, mainly used in unloading or loading vessels which can not reach the wharves at the place of shipment or delivery. Lighter screw (Mach.), a screw for adjusting the distance between the stones in a grinding mill by raising or lowering the bridgetree.
Lightful
Light´ful (lit"ful), a. Full of light; bright. [R.] "Lightful presence." Marston.
Light-heeled
Light´-heeled (-held•), a. Lively in walking or running; brisk; light-footed.
Light-horseman
Light´-horse•man (-hôrs•m an), n. ; pl. -men (- m en).
1. A soldier who serves in the light horse. See under 5th Light.
2. (Zoöl.) A West Indian fish of the genus Ephippus, remarkable for its high dorsal fin and brilliant colors.
Lighting
Light´ing, n. (Metal.) A name sometimes applied to the process of annealing metals.
Light-legged
Light´-legged (lit"legd•), a. Nimble; swift of foot. Sir P. Sidney.
Lightness
Light´ness, n. [From Light not heavy.] The state, condition, or quality, of being light or not heavy; buoyancy; levity; fickleness; nimbleness; delicacy; grace.
Syn. — Levity; volatility; instability; inconstancy; unsteadiness; giddiness; flightiness; airiness; gayety; liveliness; agility; nimbleness; sprightliness; briskness; swiftness; ease; facility.
Lightness
Light´ness, n. [From Light bright.]
1. Illumination, or degree of illumination; as the lightness of a room. Chaucer.
2. Absence of depth or of duskiness in color; as the lightness of a tint; lightness of complexion.
Lightning
Light´ning (lit"ning), n. [For lightening, fr. lighten to flash.]
1. A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.
2. The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [R.] Ball lightning, a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth. — Chain lightning, lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes. — Heat lightning, more or less vivid and extensive flashes of electric light, without thunder, seen near the horizon, esp. at the close of a hot day. — Lightning arrester (Telegraphy), a device, at the place where a wire enters a building, for preventing injury by lightning to an operator or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also lightning discharger. — Lightning bug (Zoöl.), a luminous beetle. See Firefly. — Lightning conductor, a lightning rod. - - Lightning glance, a quick, penetrating glance of a brilliant eye. — Lightning rod, a metallic rod set up on a building, or on the mast of a vessel, and connected with the earth or water below, for the purpose of protecting the building or vessel from lightning. — Sheet lightning, a diffused glow of electric light flashing out from the clouds, and illumining their outlines. The appearance is sometimes due to the reflection of light from distant flashes of lightning by the nearer clouds.
Light-winged
Light´-winged (-wingd•), a. Having light and active wings; volatile; fleeting. Shak.
Lign-aloes
Lign•-al´oes (lin•al"oz or lig•nal"oz), n. [OE. ligne aloes, fr. L. lignum wood + aloe aloe.]
1. Aloes wood, or agallochum. See Agallochum.
2. A fragrant tree mentioned in the Bible. Num. xxiv. 6.
Ligneous
Lig´ne•ous (lig"ne•us), a. [L. ligneus, fr. lignum wood. Cf. Lignous.] Made of wood; consisting of wood; of the nature of, or resembling, wood; woody.
"It should be tried with shoots of vines and roots of red roses; for it may be they, being of a more ligneous nature, will incorporate with the tree itself." Bacon. Ligneous marble, wood coated or prepared so as to resemble marble.
Lignification
Lig•ni•fi•ca´tion (lig•ni•fi•ka"shun), n. [Cf. F. lignification. See Lignify.] (Bot.) A change in the character of a cell wall, by which it becomes harder. It is supposed to be due to an incrustation of lignin.
Ligniform
Lig´ni•form (lig"ni•fôrm), a. [L. lignum wood + -form: cf. F. ligniforme.] Like wood.
Lignify
Lig´ni•fy (-fi), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lignified (-fid); p. pr. & vb. n. Lignifying (- fi•ing).] [L. lignum wood + -fy: cf. F. lignifier.] (Bot.) To convert into wood or into a ligneous substance.
Lignireose
Lig•nir´e•ose (lig•nir"e•os•), n. (Bot.) See Lignin.
Lignitic
Lig•nit´ic (lig•nit"ik), a. Containing lignite; resembling, or of the nature of, lignite; as lignitic clay. Lignitic group. See Laramie Group.
Lignone
Lig´none (lig"non•), n. (Bot.) See Lignin. { Lig•nose´ (lig•nos"), Lig´nous (lig"nus), } a. [L. lignosus, fr. lignum wood: cf. F. ligneux. Cf. Ligneous.] Ligneous. [R.] Evelyn.
Lignose
Lig´nose (lig"nos•), n.
1. (Bot.) See Lignin.
2. (Chem.) An explosive compound of wood fiber and nitroglycerin. See Nitroglycerin.
Lignum-vitae
Lig´num-vi´tae (-vi"te), n. [L., wood of life; lignum wood + vita, genitive vitae, life.] (Bot.) A tree ( Guaiacum officinale) found in the warm latitudes of America, from which the guaiacum of medicine is procured. Its wood is very hard and heavy, and is used for various mechanical purposes, as for the wheels of ships’ blocks, cogs, bearings, and the like. See Guaiacum. In New Zealand the Metrosideros buxifolia is called lignum-vitae, and in Australia a species of Acacia. The bastard lignum-vitae is a West Indian tree ( Sarcomphalus laurinus).
Ligsam
Lig´sam (lig"s am), n. [Cf. D. liggen to lie, E. lie to be prostrate, and E. flotsam, jetsam, or ligan.] Same as Ligan. Brande & C.
Ligula
Lig´u•la (lig"u•la), n. ; pl. L. Ligulae (- le), E. Ligulas (-laz). [L., a little tongue. See Ligule.]
1. (Bot.) See Ligule.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The central process, or front edge, of the labium of insects. It sometimes serves as a tongue or proboscis, as in bees. [See Illust. under Labium, and Hymenoptera.] (b) A tongue-shaped lobe of the parapodia of annelids. See Parapodium. { Lig´u•late (lig"u•lat), Lig´u•la•ted (-la•ted), } a. [Cf. F. ligule. See Ligule, and cf. Lingulate.]
1. (Bot.) Like a bandage, or strap; strap-shaped.
2. Composed of ligules. Ligulate flower, a species of compound flower, the florets of which have their corollets flat, spreading out toward the end, with the base only tubular.
Like (lik), a. [ Compar. Liker (lik"er); superl. Likest.] [OE. lik, ilik, gelic, AS. gelic, fr. pref. ge- + lic body, and orig. meaning, having the same body, shape, or appearance, and hence, like; akin to OS. gilik, D. gelijk, G. gleich, OHG. gilih, Icel. likr, glikr, Dan. lig, Sw. lik, Goth. galeiks, OS. lik body, D. lijk, G. leiche, Icel. lik, Sw. lik, Goth. leik. The English adverbial ending -ly is from the same adjective. Cf. Each, Such, Which.]
1. Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; — often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character.
"’T is as like you
As cherry is to cherry." Shak.
"Like master, like man." Old Prov.
"He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes." Ps. cxlvii. 16. To, which formerly often followed like, is now usually omitted.
2. Equal, or nearly equal; as fields of like extent.
"More clergymen were impoverished by the late war than ever in the like space before." Sprat.
3. Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely. [ Likely is more used now.] Shak.
"But it is like the jolly world about us will scoff at the paradox of these practices." South.
"Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to conform themselves to strict rules." Clarendon.
4. Inclined toward; disposed to; as to feel like taking a walk. Had like (followed by the infinitive), had nearly; came little short of.
"Had like to have been my utter overthrow." Sir W. Raleigh
"Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, … but recollected herself in time." Mrs. H. H. Jackson.Like figures (Geom.), similar figures. Like is used as a suffix, converting nouns into adjectives expressing resemblance to the noun; as man like, like a man; child like, like a child; god like, like a god, etc. Such compounds are readily formed whenever convenient, and several, as crescentlike, serpentlike, hairlike, etc., are used in this book, although, in some cases, not entered in the vocabulary. Such combinations as bell-like, ball- like, etc., are hyphened.
Like, adv. [AS. gelice. See Like, a. ]
1. In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as do not act like him.
"He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man." Job xii. 25. Like, as here used, is regarded by some grammarians as a preposition.
2. In a like or similar manner. Shak.
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Ps. ciii. 13.
3. Likely; probably. "Like enough it will." Shak.
Like, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liked (likt); p. pr. & vb. n. Liking.] [OE. liken to please, AS. lician, gelician, fr. gelic. See Like, a. ]
1. To suit; to please; to be agreeable to. [Obs.]
"Cornwall him liked best, therefore he chose there." R. of Gloucester.
"I willingly confess that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature." Sir P. Sidney.
2. To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy.
"He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving." Sir P. Sidney.
3. To liken; to compare.[Obs.]
"Like me to the peasant boys of France." Shak.
Like (lik), v. i.
1. To be pleased; to choose.
"He may either go or stay, as he best likes." Locke.
2. To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition). [Obs.]
"You like well, and bear your years very well." Shak.
3. To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly; as he liked to have been too late. Cf. Had like, under Like, a. [Colloq.]
"He probably got his death, as he liked to have done two years ago, by viewing the troops for the expedition from the wall of Kensington Garden." Walpole. To like of, to be pleased with. [Obs.] Massinger.
Likeliness
Like´li•ness, n.
1. Likelihood; probability.
2. Suitableness; agreeableness. [Obs.]
Likely
Like´ly, a. [ Compar. Likelier (lik"li•er); superl. Likeliest.] [That is, like- like. See Like, a. ]
1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as a likely story.
"It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous." Johnson.
2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; — followed by the infinitive; as it is likely to rain.
3. Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] Spenser.
4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome. Shak. Milton.
5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as a likely young man; a likely servant.
Liken
Lik´en (lik"’n), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Likened (-’nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Likening.] [OE. liknen. See Like, a. ]
1. To allege, or think, to be like; to represent as like; to compare; as to liken life to a pilgrimage.
"Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock." Matt. vii. 24.
2. To make or cause to be like. [R.] Brougham.
Likeness
Like´ness, n. [AS. gelicnes.]
1. The state or quality of being like; similitude; resemblance; similarity; as the likeness of the one to the other is remarkable.
2. Appearance or form; guise.
"An enemy in the likeness of a friend." L’Estrange.
3. That which closely resembles; a portrait.
"[How he looked] the likenesses of him which still remain enable us to imagine." Macaulay.
4. A comparison; parable; proverb. [Obs.]
"He said to them, Soothly ye shall say to me this likeness, Leech, heal thyself." Wyclif (Luke iv. 23).
Syn. — Similarity; parallel; similitude; representation; portrait; effigy. {Lik´er•ous (lik"er•us), a. , Lik´er•ous•ness, n. } [Obs.] See Lickerish, Lickerishness. Chaucer.
Likewise
Like´wise (lik"wiz•), adv. & conj. [See Wise, n. ] In like manner; also; moreover; too. See Also.
"Go, and do thou likewise." Luke x. 37.
"For he seeth that wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish person perish." Ps. xlix. 10.
Liking
Lik´ing (lik"ing), p. a. Looking; appearing; as better or worse liking. See Like, to look. [Obs.] Chaucer.
"Why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort ?" Dan. i. 10.
Lilac
Li´lac (li"l ak), n. [Also lilach.] [Sp. lilac, lila, Ar. lilak, fr. Per. lilaj, lilanj, lilang, nilaj, nil, the indigo plant, or from the kindred lilak bluish, the flowers being named from the color. Cf. Anil.]
1. (Bot.) A shrub of the genus Syringa. There are six species, natives of Europe and Asia. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, and S. Persica, the Persian lilac, are frequently cultivated for the fragrance and beauty of their purplish or white flowers. In the British colonies various other shrubs have this name.
2. A light purplish color like that of the flower of the purplish lilac. California lilac (Bot.), a low shrub with dense clusters of purplish flowers ( Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).
Liliaceous
Lil•i•a´ceous (lil•i•a"shus), a. [L. liliaceus, fr. lilium lily. See Lily.] (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to a natural order of which the lily, tulip, and hyacinth are well-known examples. (b) Like the blossom of a lily in general form.
Lily
Lil´y (lil"y), n. ; pl. Lilies (-iz). [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. lei•rion. Cf. Flower-de- luce.]
1. (Bot.) A plant and flower of the genus Lilium, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three- celled ovary. There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. Lilium candidum and L. longiflorum are the common white lilies of gardens; L. Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States; L. Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the "lily of the field" in our Lord’s parable; L. auratum is the great gold-banded lily of Japan.
2. (Bot.) A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as Pancratium, Crinum, Amaryllis, Nerine, etc.
3. That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; — so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis.
"But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west." Sir T. Browne.African lily (Bot.), the blue- flowered Agapanthus umbellatus. — Atamasco lily (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zephyranthes ( Z. Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily. Gray. — Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry. — Bourbon lily (Bot.), Lilium candidum. See Illust. — Butterfly lily. (Bot.) Same as Mariposa lily, in the Vocabulary. — Lily beetle (Zool.), a European beetle ( Crioceris merdigera) which feeds upon the white lily. — Lily daffodil (Bot.), a plant of the genus Narcissus, and its flower. — Lily encrinite (Paleon.), a fossil encrinite, esp. Encrinus liliiformis. See Encrinite. — Lily hyacinth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hyacinthus. — Lily iron, a kind of harpoon with a detachable head of peculiar shape, used in capturing swordfish. — Lily of the valley (Bot.), a low perennial herb ( Convallaria majalis), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers. — Lily pad, the large floating leaf of the water lily. [U. S.] Lowell. — Tiger lily (Bot.), Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black. — Turk’s-cap lily (Bot.), Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also the similar American lily, L. superbum. — Water lily (Bot.), the Nymphaea, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymphaea.]
Lily
Lil´y, n. (Auction Bridge) A royal spade; — usually in pl. See Royal spade, below. {Lim"burg cheese, Lim´burg•er, n. , Lim"burg•er cheese} A soft cheese made in the Belgian province of Limburg (Limbourg), and usually not eaten until the curing has developed a peculiar and, to most people, unpleasant odor.
Lily-handed
Lil´y-hand•ed (-hand•ed), a. Having white, delicate hands.
Lily-livered
Lil´y-liv•ered (-liv•erd), a. White-livered; cowardly.
Lilywort
Lil´y•wort (-wûrt•), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the Lily family or order. Lindley.
Lim (lim), n. [See Limb.] A limb. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Limaille
Li´maille (li"mal; F. le•mä"y’), n. [F., fr. limer to file. See Limation.] Filings of metal. [Obs.] "An ounce … of silver lymaille." Chaucer.
Limature
Li´ma•ture (li"ma•tur; 135), n. [L. limatura. See Limation.]
1. The act of filing.
2. That which is filed off; filings. Johnson.
Limax
Li´max (li"maks), n. [L.] (Zoöl.) A genus of airbreathing mollusks, including the common garden slugs. They have a small rudimentary shell. The breathing pore is on the right side of the neck. Several species are troublesome in gardens. See Slug.
Limb (lim), n. [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS. lið, OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. liþus. Cf. Lith, Limber.]
1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.
2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.
"A second Hector for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs." Shak.
3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else. Shak.
"That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows." Sir W. Scott.
4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock. Limb of the law, a lawyer or an officer of the law. [Colloq.] Landor.
Limb, v. t.
1. To supply with limbs. [R.] Milton.
2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.
Limb, n. [L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.] A border or edge, in certain special uses. (a) (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade. (b) (Astron.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon. (c) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.
Limbat
Lim´bat (lim"bat), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A cooling periodical wind in the Isle of Cyprus, blowing from the northwest from eight o’clock, A. M., to the middle of the day or later.
Limbate
Lim´bate (lim"bat), a. [L. limbatus, fr. limbus border, edge. See Limbus.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Bordered, as when one color is surrounded by an edging of another.
Limbec
Lim´bec (-bek), n. [Abbrev. of alembic.] An alembic; a still. [Obs.] Spenser. Shak.
Limber
Lim´ber (lim"ber), n. [For limmer, Icel. limar branches, boughs, pl. of lim; akin to E. limb. See Limb a branch.]
1. pl. The shafts or thills of a wagon or carriage. [Prov. Eng.]
2. (Mil.) The detachable fore part of a gun carriage, consisting of two wheels, an axle, and a shaft to which the horses are attached. On top is an ammunition box upon which the cannoneers sit.
3. pl. (Naut.) Gutters or conduits on each side of the keelson to afford a passage for water to the pump well. Limber boards (Naut.), short pieces of plank forming part of the lining of a ship’s floor immediately above the timbers, so as to prevent the limbers from becoming clogged. — Limber box or chest (Mil.), a box on the limber for carrying ammunition. — Limber rope, Limber chain, or Limber clearer (Naut.), a rope or chain passing through the limbers of a ship, by which they may be cleared of dirt that chokes them. Totten. — Limber strake (Shipbuilding), the first course of inside planking next the keelson.
Limber
Lim´ber, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Limbered (-berd); p. pr. & vb. n. Limbering.] (Mil.) To attach to the limber; as to limber a gun. To limber up, to change a gun carriage into a four-wheeled vehicle by attaching the limber.
Limber
Lim´ber, a. [Akin to limp, a. rad.125. See Limp, a. ] Easily bent; flexible; pliant; yielding. Milton.
"The bargeman that doth row with long and limber oar." Turbervile.
Limber
Lim´ber, v. t. To cause to become limber; to make flexible or pliant. Richardson.
Limberness
Lim´ber•ness, n. The quality or state of being limber; flexibleness. Boyle.
Limbmeal
Limb´meal (-mel•), adv. [See Limb, and Piecemeal.] Piecemeal. [Obs.] "To tear her limbmeal." Shak. { Lim´bo (lim"bo), Lim´bus (- bus), } n. [L. limbus border, edge, in limbo on the border. Cf. Limb border.]
1. (Scholastic Theol.) An extramundane region where certain classes of souls were supposed to await the judgment.
"As far from help as Limbo is from bliss." Shak.
"A Limbo large and broad, since called
The Paradise of fools." Milton. The limbus patrum was considered as a place for the souls of good men who lived before the coming of our Savior. The limbus infantium was said to be a similar place for the souls of unbaptized infants. To these was added, in the popular belief, the limbus fatuorum, or fool’s paradise, regarded as a receptacle of all vanity and nonsense.
2. Hence: Any real or imaginary place of restraint or confinement; a prison; as to put a man in limbo.
3. (Anat.) A border or margin; as the limbus of the cornea.
Limbous
Lim´bous (lim"bus), a. [See Limbus.] (Anat.) With slightly overlapping borders; — said of a suture.
Lime (lim), n. [See Leam a string.] A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. Halliwell.
Lime, n. [Formerly line, for earlier lind. See Linden.] (Bot.) The linden tree. See Linden.
Lime, n. [F. lime; of Persian origin. See Lemon.] (Bot.) A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also the tree which bears it. There are two kinds; Citrus Medica, var. acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime ( C. Medica, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour.
Lime, n. [AS. lim; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG. lim, Icel. lim, Sw. lim, Dan. liim, L. limus mud, linere to smear, and E. loam. rad.126. Cf. Loam, Liniment.]
1. Birdlime.
"Like the lime
That foolish birds are caught with." Wordsworth.
2. (Chem.) Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic substance, usually called quicklime, obtained by calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when treated with water, forming slacked lime, and is an essential ingredient of cement, plastering, mortar, etc. Lime is the principal constituent of limestone, marble, chalk, bones, shells, etc. Caustic lime, calcium hydrate or slacked lime; also in a less technical sense, calcium oxide or quicklime. — Lime burner, one who burns limestone, shells, etc., to make lime. — Lime light. See Calcium light, under Calcium. — Lime pit, a limestone quarry. — Lime rod, Lime twig, a twig smeared with birdlime; hence, that which catches; a snare. Chaucer.
Lime, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Limed (limd); p. pr. & vb. n. Liming.] [Cf. AS. geliman to glue or join together. See Lime a viscous substance.]
1. To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime.
"These twigs, in time, will come to be limed." L’Estrange.
2. To entangle; to insnare.
"We had limed ourselves
With open eyes, and we must take the chance." Tennyson.
3. To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to manure with lime; as to lime hides for removing the hair; to lime sails in order to whiten them.
"Land may be improved by draining, marling, and liming." Sir J. Child.
4. To cement. "Who gave his blood to lime the stones together." Shak.
Lime-twigged
Lime´-twigged (-twigd•), a. Beset with snares; insnared, as with birdlime. L. Addison.
Limicoline
Li•mic´o•line (-lin), a. (Zoöl.) Shore-inhabiting; of or pertaining to the Limicolae.
Liminess
Lim´i•ness (lim"i•nes), n. The state or quality of being limy.
Limit
Lim´it (lim"it), n. [From L. limes, limitis: cf. F. limite; or from E. limit, v. See Limit, v. t.]
1. That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent; as the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the limits of human knowledge or endeavor.
"As eager of the chase, the maid
Beyond the forest’s verdant limits strayed." Pope.
2. The space or thing defined by limits.
"The archdeacon hath divided it
Into three limits very equally." Shak.
3. That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period itself; the full time or extent.
"The dateless limit of thy dear exile." Shak.
"The limit of your lives is out." Shak.
4. A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance.
"I prithee, give no limits to my tongue." Shak.
5. (Logic & Metaph.) A determining feature; a distinguishing characteristic; a differentia.
6. (Math.) A determinate quantity, to which a variable one continually approaches, and may differ from it by less than any given difference, but to which, under the law of variation, the variable can never become exactly equivalent. Elastic limit. See under Elastic. — Prison limits, a definite extent of space in or around a prison, within which a prisoner has liberty to go and come.
Syn. — Boundary; border; edge; termination; restriction; bound; confine.
Limit
Lim´it (lim"it), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Limited; p. pr. & vb. n. Limiting.] [F. limiter, L. limitare, fr. limes, limitis, limit; prob. akin to limen threshold, E. eliminate; cf. L. limus sidelong.] To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate, circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as to limit the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to limit one’s ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of a word. Limiting parallels (Astron.), those parallels of latitude between which only an occultation of a star or planet by the moon, in a given case, can occur.
Limitable
Lim´it•a•ble (-a•b’l), a. Capable of being limited.
Limitaneous
Lim•i•ta´ne•ous (lim•i•ta"ne•us), a. [L. limitaneus. See Limit, v. t.] Of or pertaining to a limit. [Obs.]
Limitary
Lim´i•ta•ry (lim"i•ta•ry), a. [L. limitaris. See Limit, v. t.]
1. Placed at the limit, as a guard. "Proud limitary cherub." Milton.
2. Confined within limits; limited in extent, authority, power, etc. "The limitary ocean." Trench.
"The poor, limitary creature calling himself a man of the world." De Quincey.
3. Limiting, or tending to limit; restrictive.
"Doctrines limitary, if not subversive of the papal power." Milman.
Limitary
Lim´i•ta•ry, n. ; pl. - ries (-riz).
1. That which serves to limit; a boundary; border land. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. A limiter. See Limiter, 2.
Limitate
Lim´i•tate (-i•tat), a. [L. limitatus, p. p. of limitare to limit. See Limit, v. t. ] Bounded by a distinct line.
Limitation
Lim•i•ta´tion (-ta"shun), n. [L. limitatio: cf. F. limitation. See Limit, v. t.]
1. The act of limiting; the state or condition of being limited; as the limitation of his authority was approved by the council.
"They had no right to mistake the limitation … of their own faculties, for an inherent limitation of the possible modes of existence in the universe." J. S. Mill.
2. That which limits; a restriction; a qualification; a restraining condition, defining circumstance, or qualifying conception; as limitations of thought.
"The cause of error is ignorance what restraints and limitations all principles have in regard of the matter whereunto they are applicable." Hooker.
3. A certain precinct within which friars were allowed to beg, or exercise their functions; also the time during which they were permitted to exercise their functions in such a district. Chaucer. Latimer.
4. A limited time within or during which something is to be done.
"You have stood your limitation, and the tribunes
Endue you with the people’s voice." Shak.
5. (Law) (a) A certain period limited by statute after which the claimant shall not enforce his claims by suit. (b) A settling of an estate or property by specific rules. (c) A restriction of power; as a constitutional limitation. Wharton. Bouvier.To know one’s own limitations, to know the reach and limits of one’s abilities. A. R. Wallace.
Limitless
Lim´it•less, a. Having no limits; unbounded; boundless. Davies (Wit’s Pilgr.).
Limmer
Lim´mer (-mer), a. Limber. [Obs.] Holland.
Limmer
Lim´mer, n. [F. limier. See Leamer.]
1. A limehound; a leamer.
2. (Zoöl.) A mongrel, as a cross between the mastiff and hound.
3. A low, base fellow; also a prostitute. [Scot.]
"Thieves, limmers, and broken men of the Highlands." Sir W. Scott.
4. (Naut.) A man rope at the side of a ladder.
Limn (lim), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Limned (limd); p. pr. & vb. n. Limning (lim"ning or lim"ing).] [OE. limnen, fr. luminen, for enluminen, F. enluminer to illuminate, to limn, LL. illuminare to paint. rad.122. See Illuminate, Luminous.]
1. To draw or paint; especially, to represent in an artistic way with pencil or brush.
"Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different." Sir T. Browne.
2. To illumine, as books or parchments, with ornamental figures, letters, or borders.
Limner
Lim´ner (lim"ner), n. [F. enlumineur, LL. illuminator. See Limn, and cf. Alluminor.] A painter; an artist; esp.: (a) One who paints portraits. (b) One who illuminates books. [Archaic]
Limniad
Lim´ni•ad (-ni•ad), n. [Gr. li•mh a pool.] (Myth.) See Limoniad.
Limous
Li´mous (li"mus), a. [L. limosus, fr. limus slime, mud.] Muddy; slimy; thick. Sir T. Browne.
Limp (limp), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Limped (limt; 215); p. pr. & vb. n. Limping.] [Cf. AS. lemphealt lame, OHG. limphen to limp, be weak; perh. akin to E. lame, or to limp, a rad.120.] To halt; to walk lamely. Also used figuratively. Shak.
Limp, n. A halt; the act of limping.
Limp, n. (Ore Washing) A scraper for removing poor ore or refuse from the sieve.
Limp, a. [Cf. Icel. limpa limpness, weakness, and E. lap, n. , lop, v. t. Cf. Limber, a. ]
1. Flaccid; flabby, as flesh. Walton.
2. Lacking stiffness; flimsy; as a limp cravat.
Limpet
Lim´pet (lim"pet), n. [Prob. through French fr. L. lepas, -adis, Gr. lepa•s, -a•dos.] (Zoöl.)
1. In a general sense, any hatshaped, or conical, gastropod shell.
2. Any one of many species of marine shellfish of the order Docoglossa, mostly found adhering to rocks, between tides. The common European limpets of the genus Patella (esp. P. vulgata) are extensively used as food. The common New England species is Acmaea testudinalis. Numerous species of limpets occur on the Pacific coast of America, some of them of large size.
3. Any species of Siphonaria, a genus of limpet-shaped Pulmonifera, living between tides, on rocks.
4. A keyhole limpet. See Fissurella.
Limpid
Lim´pid (-pid), a. [L. limpidus; akin to Gr. la•mpein to shine: cf. F. limpide. Cf. Lamp.] Characterized by clearness or transparency; clear; as a limpid stream.
"Springs which were clear, fresh, and limpid." Woodward.
Syn. — Clear; transparent; pellucid; lucid; pure; crystal; translucent; bright.
Limpidness
Lim´pid•ness (lim"pid•nes), n. Quality of being limpid; limpidity.
Limpness
Limp´ness, n. The quality or state of being limp. { Limp´sy (-sy), Lim´sy (lim"sy), } a. [See Limp, a. , and cf. W. llymsi having a fickle motion, weak. Cf. Flimsy.] Limp; flexible; flimsy. [Local, U. S.]
Limuloidea
Lim•u•loi´de•a (lim•u•loi"de•a), n. pl. [NL. See Limulus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) An order of Merostomata, including among living animals the genus Limulus, with various allied fossil genera, mostly of the Carboniferous period. Called also Xiphosura. There are six pairs of leglike organs, surrounding the mouth, most of which terminate in claws; those of the first pair (probably mandibles) are the smallest; the others have the basal joints thickened and spinose, to serve as jaws, while the terminal joints serve as legs.
This group is intermediate, in some characteristics, between crustaceans and certain arachnids (scorpions), but the respiration is by means of lamellate gills borne upon the five posterior abdominal appendages, which are flat and united in pairs by their inner edges, and are protected by the lidlike anterior pair, which also bear the genital orifices.
Limy
Lim´y (lim"y), a. [See 4th Lime.]
1. Smeared with, or consisting of, lime; viscous. "Limy snares." Spenser.
2. Containing lime; as a limy soil.
3. Resembling lime; having the qualities of lime.
Lin (lin), v. i. [AS. linnan. See Lithe.] To yield; to stop; to cease. [Obs. or Scot.] Marston.
Lin, v. t. To cease from. [Obs. or Scot.]
Lin, n. [Ir. linn, or Gael. linne; akin to W. llyn a pool, pond, lake, but in senses 2 and 3 prob. from AS. hlynn torrent. Cf. Dunlin.]
1. A pool or collection of water, particularly one above or below a fall of water.
2. A waterfall, or cataract; as a roaring lin.
3. A steep ravine. Written also linn and lyn.
Linage
Lin´age (lin"aj), n. See Lineage. [Obs.] Holland.
Linch (linch), n. [AS. hlinc a hill.] A ledge; a right-angled projection.
Linchi
Lin´chi (lin"chi), n. [Native Chinese name.] (Zoöl.) An esculent swallow.
Lind (lind), n. The linden. See Linden. Chaucer.
Linden
Lin´den (lin"d en), n. [Orig. an adj. from lind linden tree, AS. lind; akin to D. & G. linde, OHG. linta, Icel., Sw., & Dan. lind. Cf. Lime linden.] (Bot.) (a) A handsome tree ( Tilia Europaea), having cymes of light yellow flowers, and large cordate leaves. The tree is common in Europe. (b) In America, the basswood, or Tilia Americana.
Lindiform
Lin´di•form (-di•fôrm), a. [ Lindia + -form.] (Zoöl.) Resembling the genus Lindia; — said of certain apodous insect larvae. [See Illust. under Larva.]
Line (lin), n. [OE. lin. See Linen.]
1. Flax; linen. [Obs.] "Garments made of line." Spenser.
2. The longer and finer fiber of flax.
Line, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lined (lind); p. pr. & vb. n. Lining.] [See Line flax.]
1. To cover the inner surface of; as to line a cloak with silk or fur; to line a box with paper or tin.
"The inside lined with rich carnation silk." W. Browne.
2. To put something in the inside of; to fill; to supply, as a purse with money.
"The charge amounteth very high for any one man’s purse, except lined beyond ordinary, to reach unto." Carew.
"Till coffee has her stomach lined." Swift.
3. To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding anything; to fortify; as to line works with soldiers.
"Line and new repair our towns of war
With men of courage and with means defendant." Shak.
4. To impregnate; — applied to brute animals. Creech. Lined gold, gold foil having a lining of another metal.
Line, n. [OE. line, AS. line cable, hawser, prob. from L. linea a linen thread, string, line, fr. linum flax, thread, linen, cable; but the English word was influenced by F. ligne line, from the same L. word linea. See Linen.]
1. A linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also a cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as a fishing line; a line for snaring birds; a clothes line; a tow line.
"Who so layeth lines for to latch fowls." Piers Plowman.
2. A more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver; any long mark; as a chalk line.
3. The course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road or route; as the arrow descended in a curved line; the place is remote from lines of travel.
4. Direction; as the line of sight or vision.
5. A row of letters, words, etc., written or printed; esp., a row of words extending across a page or column.
6. A short letter; a note; as a line from a friend.
7. (Poet.) A verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure.
"In the preceding line Ulysses speaks of Nausicaa." Broome.
8. Course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity.
"He is uncommonly powerful in his own line, but it is not the line of a first-rate man." Coleridge.
9. (Math.) That which has length, but not breadth or thickness.
10. The exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory; boundary; contour; outline.
"Eden stretched her line
From Auran eastward to the royal towers
Of great Seleucia." Milton.
11. A threadlike crease marking the face or the hand; hence, characteristic mark.
"Though on his brow were graven lines austere." Byron.
"He tipples palmistry, and dines
On all her fortune-telling lines." Cleveland.
12. Lineament; feature; figure. "The lines of my boy’s face." Shak.
13. A straight row; a continued series or rank; as a line of houses, or of soldiers; a line of barriers.
"Unite thy forces and attack their lines." Dryden.
14. A series or succession of ancestors or descendants of a given person; a family or race; as the ascending or descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings.
"Of his lineage am I, and his offspring
By very line, as of the stock real." Chaucer.
15. A connected series of public conveyances, and hence, an established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc.; as a line of stages; an express line.
16. (Geog.) (a) A circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map. (b) The equator; — usually called the line, or equinoctial line; as to cross the line.
17. A long tape, or a narrow ribbon of steel, etc., marked with subdivisions, as feet and inches, for measuring; a tapeline.
18. (Script.) (a) A measuring line or cord.
"He marketh it out with a line." Is. xliv. 13. (b) That which was measured by a line, as a field or any piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of abode.
"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Ps. xvi. 6. (c) Instruction; doctrine.
"Their line is gone out through all the earth." Ps. xix. 4.
19. (Mach.) The proper relative position or adjustment of parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference to smooth working; as the engine is in line or out of line.
20. The track and roadbed of a railway; railroad.
21. (Mil.) (a) A row of men who are abreast of one another, whether side by side or some distance apart; — opposed to column. (b) The regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery, etc.
22. (Fort.) (a) A trench or rampart. (b) pl. Dispositions made to cover extended positions, and presenting a front in but one direction to an enemy.
23. pl. (Shipbuilding) Form of a vessel as shown by the outlines of vertical, horizontal, and oblique sections.
24. (Mus.) One of the straight horizontal and parallel prolonged strokes on and between which the notes are placed.
25. (Stock Exchange) A number of shares taken by a jobber.
26. (Trade) A series of various qualities and values of the same general class of articles; as a full line of hosiery; a line of merinos, etc. McElrath.
27. The wire connecting one telegraphic station with another, or the whole of a system of telegraph wires under one management and name.
28. pl. The reins with which a horse is guided by his driver. [U. S.]
29. A measure of length; one twelfth of an inch. Hard lines, hard lot. C. Kingsley. [See Def. 18.] — Line breeding (Stockbreeding), breeding by a certain family line of descent, especially in the selection of the dam or mother. — Line conch (Zoöl.), a spiral marine shell ( Fasciolaria distans), of Florida and the West Indies. It is marked by narrow, dark, revolving lines. — Line engraving. (a) Engraving in which the effects are produced by lines of different width and closeness, cut with the burin upon copper or similar material; also a plate so engraved. (b) A picture produced by printing from such an engraving. — Line of battle. (a) (Mil. Tactics) The position of troops drawn up in their usual order without any determined maneuver. (b) (Naval) The line or arrangement formed by vessels of war in an engagement. — Line of battle ship. See Ship of the line, below. — Line of beauty (Fine Arts), an abstract line supposed to be beautiful in itself and absolutely; — differently represented by different authors, often as a kind of elongated S (like the one drawn by Hogarth). — Line of centers. (Mach.) (a) A line joining two centers, or fulcra, as of wheels or levers. (b) A line which determines a dead center. See Dead center, under Dead. — Line of dip (Geol.), a line in the plane of a stratum, or part of a stratum, perpendicular to its intersection with a horizontal plane; the line of greatest inclination of a stratum to the horizon. — Line of fire (Mil.), the direction of fire. — Line of force (Physics), any line in a space in which forces are acting, so drawn that at every point of the line its tangent is the direction of the resultant of all the forces. It cuts at right angles every equipotential surface which it meets. Specifically (Magnetism), a line in proximity to a magnet so drawn that any point in it is tangential with the direction of a short compass needle held at that point. Faraday. — Line of life (Palmistry), a line on the inside of the hand, curving about the base of the thumb, supposed to indicate, by its form or position, the length of a person’s life. — Line of lines. See Gunter’s line. — Line of march. (Mil.) (a) Arrangement of troops for marching. (b) Course or direction taken by an army or body of troops in marching. — Line of operations, that portion of a theater of war which an army passes over in attaining its object. H. W. Halleck. — Line of sight (Firearms), the line which passes through the front and rear sight, at any elevation, when they are sighted at an object. — Line tub (Naut.), a tub in which the line carried by a whaleboat is coiled. — Mason and Dixon’s line, the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, as run before the Revolution (1764-1767) by two English astronomers named Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. In an extended sense, the line between the free and the slave States. — On the line, on a level with the eye of the spectator; — said of a picture, as hung in an exhibition of pictures. — Right line, a straight line; the shortest line that can be drawn between two points. — Ship of the line, formerly, a ship of war large enough to have a place in the line of battle; a vessel superior to a frigate; usually, a seventy-four, or three- decker; — called also line of battle ship. Totten. — To cross the line, to cross the equator, as a vessel at sea. — To give a person line, to allow him more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line. — Water line (Shipbuilding), the outline of a horizontal section of a vessel, as when floating in the water.
Line (lin), v. t.
1. To mark with a line or lines; to cover with lines; as to line a copy book.
"He had a healthy color in his cheeks, and his face, though lined, bore few traces of anxiety." Dickens.
2. To represent by lines; to delineate; to portray. [R.] "Pictures fairest lined." Shak.
3. To read or repeat line by line; as to line out a hymn.
"This custom of reading or lining, or, as it was frequently called, "deaconing" the hymn or psalm in the churches, was brought about partly from necessity." N. D. Gould.
4. To form into a line; to align; as to line troops. To line bees, to track wild bees to their nest by following their line of flight. — To line up (Mach.), to put in alignment; to put in correct adjustment for smooth running. See 3d Line, 19.
Lineage
Lin´e•age (lin"e•aj; 48), n. [OE. linage, F. lignage, fr. L. linea line. See 3d Line.] Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; race; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage.
"Both the lineage and the certain sire
From which I sprung, from me are hidden yet." Spenser.
Lineal
Lin´e•al (lin"e• al), a. [L. linealis belonging to a line, fr. linea line: cf. F. lineal. See 3d Line.]
1. Descending in a direct line from an ancestor; hereditary; derived from ancestors; — opposed to collateral; as a lineal descent or a lineal descendant.
"The prime and ancient right of lineal succession." Locke.
2. Inheriting by direct descent; having the right by direct descent to succeed ( to).
"For only you are lineal to the throne." Dryden.
3. Composed of lines; delineated; as lineal designs.
4. In the direction of a line; of or pertaining to a line; measured on, or ascertained by, a line; linear; as lineal magnitude. Lineal measure, the measure of length; — usually written linear measure.
Lineality
Lin•e•al´i•ty (-al"i•ty), n. The quality of being lineal.
Lineament
Lin´e•a•ment (-a•m ent), n. [L. lineamentum, fr. linea line: cf. F. lineament. See 3d Line.] One of the outlines, exterior features, or distinctive marks, of a body or figure, particularly of the face; feature; form; mark; — usually in the plural. "The lineaments of the body." Locke. "Lineaments in the character." Swift.
"Man he seems
In all his lineaments." Milton.
Linear
Lin´e•ar (-e•er), a. [L. linearis, linearius, fr. linea line: cf. F. lineaire. See 3d Line.]
1. Of or pertaining to a line; consisting of lines; in a straight direction; lineal.
2. (Bot.) Like a line; narrow; of the same breadth throughout, except at the extremities; as a linear leaf. Linear differential equation (Math.), an equation which is of the first degree, when the expression which is equated to zero is regarded as a function of the dependent variable and its differential coefficients. — Linear equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree between two variables; — so called because every such equation may be considered as representing a right line. — Linear measure, the measurement of length. — Linear numbers (Math.), such numbers as have relation to length only: such is a number which represents one side of a plane figure. If the plane figure is a square, the linear figure is called a root. — Linear problem (Geom.), a problem which may be solved geometrically by the use of right lines alone. — Linear transformation (Alg.), a change of variables where each variable is replaced by a function of the first degree in the new variable.
Linear-shaped
Lin´e•ar-shaped (-shapt•), a. Of a linear shape.
Lineature
Lin´e•a•ture (lin"e•a•tur; 135), n. Anything having outline. [R.] Holland.
Linen
Lin´en (lin"en), a. [OE., fr. lin linen. See Linen, n. ]
1. Made of linen; as linen cloth; a linen stocking.
2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.
Linen
Lin´en, n. [Prop. an adj. from OE. lin flax, AS. lin flax, whence linen made of flax; akin to OS., Icel., & MHG. lin flax and linen, G. lein, leinen, linen, Sw. lin flax, Goth. lein linen, L. linum flax, linen, Gr. li•non. Cf. Line, Linseed.]
1. Thread or cloth made of flax or (rarely) of hemp; — used in a general sense to include cambric, shirting, sheeting, towels, tablecloths, etc. "In linen white as milk." Robert of Brunne.
2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times, chiefly made of linen. Linen draper, a dealer in linen. — Linen prover, a small microscope for counting the threads in a given space in linen fabrics. — Linen scroll, Linen pattern (Arch.), an ornament for filling panels, copied from the folds of a piece of stuff symmetrically disposed.
Linener
Lin´en•er (-er), n. A dealer in linen; a linen draper. [Obs.]
Ling (ling), n. [OE. lenge; akin to D. leng, G. länge, Dan. lange, Sw. långa, Icel. langa. So named from its being long. See Long, a. ] (Zoöl.) (a) A large, marine, gadoid fish ( Molva vulgaris) of Northern Europe and Greenland. It is valued as a food fish and is largely salted and dried. Called also drizzle. (b) The burbot of Lake Ontario. (c) An American hake of the genus Phycis. [Canada] (d) A New Zealand food fish of the genus Genypterus. The name is also locally applied to other fishes, as the cultus cod, the mutton fish, and the cobia.
Ling-bird
Ling´-bird (ling"berd•), n. (Zoöl.) The European meadow pipit; — called also titling.
Lingence
Lin´gence (lin"j ens), n. [L. lingere to lick.] A linctus. [Obs.] Fuller.
Linger
Lin´ger (lin"ger), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lingered (- gerd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lingering.] [OE. lengen to tarry, AS. lengan to prolong, put off, fr. lang long. rad.125. See Long, a. ] To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow or reluctant in parting or moving; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense; to hesitate.
"Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind." Gray.
"Perhaps thou linger’st, in deep thoughts detained." Milton.
Syn. — To loiter; lag; saunter; delay; tarry; stop; hesitate.
Lingeringly
Lin´ger•ing•ly, adv. With delay; slowly; tediously.
Linget
Lin´get (lin"get), n. [F. lingot, perh. fr. L. lingua tongue (see Tongue). Cf. Ingot.] An ingot. [Written also lingot.]
Lingism
Ling´ism (ling"iz’m), n. A mode of treating certain diseases, as obesity, by gymnastics; — proposed by Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swede. See Kinesiatrics.
Lingo
Lin´go (lin"go), n. [L. lingua tongue, language. See Lingual.] Language; speech; dialect. [Slang]
Lingot
Lin´got (lin"got), n. A linget or ingot; also a mold for casting metals. See Linget.
Lingual
Lin´gual (lin"gw al), a. [L. lingua tongue: cf. F. lingual. See Tongue, and cf. Language.] Of or pertaining to the tongue; uttered by the aid of the tongue; glossal; as the lingual nerves; a lingual letter. Lingual ribbon. (Zoöl.) See Odontophore.
Linguality
Lin•gual´i•ty (lin•gwal"i•ty), n. The quality of being lingual.
Linguatulida
Lin•gua•tu´li•da (lin•gwa•tu"li•da), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. lingua tongue.] (Zoöl.) Same as Linguatulina.
Linguidental
Lin•gui•den´tal (lin•gwi•den"t al), a. & n. Linguadental.
Lingula
Lin´gu•la (lin"gu•la), n. ; pl. -lae (- le). [L., a little tongue.]
1. (Anat.) A tonguelike process or part.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of brachiopod shells belonging to the genus Lingula, and related genera. See Brachiopoda, and Illustration in Appendix. Lingula flags (Geol.), a group of strata in the lower Silurian or Cambrian system of Wales, in which some of the layers contain vast numbers of a species of Lingula.
Lingulate
Lin´gu•late (-lat), a. [L. lingulatus, fr. lingula a little tongue. Cf. Ligulate.] Shaped like the tongue or a strap; ligulate.
Linigerous
Li•nig´er•ous (li•nij"er•us), a. [L. linum flax + -gerous.] Bearing flax; producing linen.
Liniment
Lin´i•ment (lin"i•m ent), n. [L. linimentum, fr. linire, linere, to besmear, anoint : cf. F. liniment. Cf. Letter, Lime a viscous substance.] A liquid or semiliquid preparation of a consistence thinner than an ointment, applied to the skin by friction, esp. one used as a sedative or a stimulant.
Lining
Lin´ing (lin"ing), n. [See Line to cover the inside.]
1. The act of one who lines; the act or process of making lines, or of inserting a lining.
2. That which covers the inner surface of anything, as of a garment or a box; also the contents of anything.
"The lining of his coffers shall make coats
To deck our soldiers." Shak.
Link (link), n. [Prob. corrupted from lint and this for lunt a torch, match, D. lont match; akin to G. lunte, cf. MHG. lünden to burn. Cf. Lunt, Linstock.] A torch made of tow and pitch, or the like. Shak.
Link, n. [OE. linke, AS. hlence; akin to Sw. länk ring of a chain, Dan. laenke chain, Icel. hlekkr; cf. G. gelenk joint, link, ring of a chain, lenken to bend.]
1. A single ring or division of a chain.
2. Hence: Anything, whether material or not, which binds together, or connects, separate things; a part of a connected series; a tie; a bond. "Links of iron." Shak.
"The link of brotherhood, by which
One common Maker bound me to the kind." Cowper.
"And so by double links enchained themselves in lover’s life." Gascoigne.
3. Anything doubled and closed like a link; as a link of horsehair. Mortimer.
4. (Kinematics) Any one of the several elementary pieces of a mechanism, as the fixed frame, or a rod, wheel, mass of confined liquid, etc., by which relative motion of other parts is produced and constrained.
5. (Mach.) Any intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion, especially a short connecting rod with a bearing at each end; specifically (Steam Engine), the slotted bar, or connecting piece, to the opposite ends of which the eccentric rods are jointed, and by means of which the movement of the valve is varied, in a link motion.
6. (Surveying) The length of one joint of Gunter’s chain, being the hundredth part of it, or 7.92 inches, the chain being 66 feet in length. Cf. Chain, n. , 4.
7. (Chem.) A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; — applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.
8. pl. Sausages; — because linked together. [Colloq.]
Link (link), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Linked (linkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Linking.] To connect or unite with a link or as with a link; to join; to attach; to unite; to couple.
"All the tribes and nations that composed it [the Roman Empire] were linked together, not only by the same laws and the same government, but by all the facilities of commodious intercourse, and of frequent communication." Eustace.
Link, v. i. To be connected.
"No one generation could link with the other." Burke.
Link, n. [See Linch.]
1. A hill or ridge, as a sand hill, or a wooded or turfy bank between cultivated fields, etc. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
2. A winding of a river; also the ground along such a winding; a meander; — usually in pl. [Scot.]
"The windings or "links" of the Forth above and below Stirling are extremely tortuous." Encyc. Brit.
3. pl. Sand hills with the surrounding level or undulating land, such as occur along the seashore, a river bank, etc. [Scot.]
"Golf may be played on any park or common, but its original home is the "links" or common land which is found by the seashore, where the short close tuft, the sandy subsoil, and the many natural obstacles in the shape of bents, whins, sand holes, and banks, supply the conditions which are easential to the proper pursuit of the game." Encyc. of Sport.
4. pl. Hence, any such piece of ground where golf is played.
Linkage
Link´age (link"aj; 48), n.
1. The act of linking; the state of being linked; also a system of links.
2. (Chem.) Manner of linking or of being linked; — said of the union of atoms or radicals in the molecule.
3. (Geom.) A system of straight lines or bars, fastened together by joints, and having certain of their points fixed in a plane. It is used to describe straight lines and curves in the plane. { Link´boy• (-boi•), Link´man (-man), } n. [See 1st Link.] A boy or man that carried a link or torch to light passengers.
Links, n. [The pl. form of Link, but often construed as a sing.] A tract of ground laid out for the game of golf; a golfing green.
"A second links has recently been opened at Prestwick, and another at Troon, on the same coast." P. P. Alexander.
Linnaeite
Lin•nae´ite (-it), n. [See Linnaean.] (Min.) A mineral of pale steel- gray color and metallic luster, occurring in isometric crystals, and also massive. It is a sulphide of cobalt containing some nickel or copper.
Linne (lin), n. Flax. See Linen. [Obs.]
Linnet
Lin´net (lin"net), n. [F. linot, linotte, from L. linum flax; or perh. shortened from AS. linetwige, fr. AS. lin flax; — so called because it feeds on the seeds of flax and hemp. See Linen.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of fringilline birds of the genera Linota, Acanthis, and allied genera, esp. the common European species ( L. cannabina), which, in full summer plumage, is chestnut brown above, with the breast more or less crimson. The feathers of its head are grayish brown, tipped with crimson. Called also gray linnet, red linnet, rose linnet, brown linnet, lintie, lintwhite, gorse thatcher, linnet finch, and greater redpoll. The American redpoll linnet ( Acanthis linaria) often has the crown and throat rosy. See Redpoll, and Twite. Green linnet (Zoöl.), the European green finch.
Linoleate
Li•no´le•ate (li•no"le•at), n. (Chem.) A salt of linoleic acid.
Linotype
Lin´o•type, n. [See Line ; Type.] (Print.) (a) A kind of typesetting machine which produces castings, each of which corresponds to a line of separate types. By pressing upon keys like those of a typewriter the matrices for one line are properly arranged; the stereotype, or slug, is then cast and planed, and the matrices are returned to their proper places, the whole process being automatic. (b) The slug produced by the machine, or matter composed in such lines. — Lin´o•typ•ist (#), n.
Linseed
Lin´seed (lin"sed•), n. [OE. lin flax + seed. See Linen.] (Bot.) The seeds of flax, from which linseed oil is obtained. [Written also lintseed.] Linseed cake, the solid mass or cake which remains when oil is expressed from flaxseed. — Linseed meal, linseed cake reduced to powder. — Linseed oil, oil obtained by pressure from flaxseed.
Linsey
Lin´sey (lin"sy), n. [See Linen.] Linsey-woolsey.
Linstock
Lin´stock (lin"stok), n. [Corrupt. fr. luntstock, D. lontstok; lont lunt + stok stock, stick. See Link a torch, Lunt, and Stock.] A pointed forked staff, shod with iron at the foot, to hold a lighted match for firing cannon. [Written also lintstock.]
Lint (lint), n. [AS. linet flax, hemp, fr. lin flax; or, perh. borrowed fr. L. linteum a linen cloth, linen, from linteus linen, a., fr. linum flax, lint. See Linen.]
1. Flax.
2. Linen scraped or otherwise made into a soft, downy or fleecy substance for dressing wounds and sores; also fine ravelings, down, fluff, or loose short fibers from yarn or fabrics. Lint doctor (Calico-printing Mach.), a scraper to remove lint from a printing cylinder.
Lintel
Lin´tel (lin"tel), n. [OF. lintel, F. linteau, LL. lintellus, for limitellus, a dim. fr. L. limes limit. See Limit.] (Arch.) A horizontal member spanning an opening, and carrying the superincumbent weight by means of its strength in resisting crosswise fracture. { Lin´tie (lin"ti), Lint´white• (lint"hwit•) }, n. [AS. linetwige. See Linnet.] (Zoöl.) See Linnet. Tennyson.
Lion
Li´on (li"un), n. [F. lion, L. leo, -onis, akin to Gr. le•wn. Cf. Chameleon, Dandelion, Leopard.]
1. (Zoöl.) A large carnivorous feline mammal ( Felis leo), found in Southern Asia and in most parts of Africa, distinct varieties occurring in the different countries. The adult male, in most varieties, has a thick mane of long shaggy hair that adds to his apparent size, which is less than that of the largest tigers. The length, however, is sometimes eleven feet to the base of the tail. The color is a tawny yellow or yellowish brown; the mane is darker, and the terminal tuft of the tail is black. In one variety, called the maneless lion, the male has only a slight mane.
2. (Astron.) A sign and a constellation; Leo.
3. An object of interest and curiosity, especially a person who is so regarded; as he was quite a lion in London at that time.
"Such society was far more enjoyable than that of Edinburgh, for here he was not a lion, but a man." Prof. Wilson.American lion (Zoöl.), the puma or cougar. — Lion ant (Zoöl.), the ant-lion. — Lion dog (Zoöl.), a fancy dog with a flowing mane, usually clipped to resemble a lion’s mane. — Lion lizard (Zoöl.), the basilisk. — Lion’s share, all, or nearly all; the best or largest part; — from AEsop’s fable of the lion hunting in company with certain smaller beasts, and appropriating to himself all the prey.
Lion’s tooth
Li"on’s tooth (tooth•); pl. Lions’ teeth (teth•). (Bot.) See Leontodon.
Lionel
Li´on•el (-el), n. [OF., dim. of lion.] (Zoöl.) The whelp of a lioness; a young lion.
Lionet
Li´on•et (-et), n. [OF., dim. of lion.] (Zoöl.) A young or small lion.
Lion-hearted
Li´on-heart•ed (-härt•ed), a. Very brave; brave and magnanimous. Sir W. Scott.
Lionhood
Li´on•hood (-hood), n. State of being a lion. Carlyle.
Lionize
Li´on•ize (-iz), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lionized (-izd), p. pr. & vb. n. Lionizing (- i•zing).]
1. To treat or regard as a lion or object of great interest. J. D. Forbes.
2. To show the lions or objects of interest to; to conduct about among objects of interest. Macaulay.
Lionlike
Li´on•like (-lik•), a. Like a lion; brave as a lion.
Lionship
Li´on•ship (li"un•ship), n. The state of being a lion.
Lip (lip), n. [OE. lippe, AS. lippa; akin to D. lip, G. lippe, lefze, OHG. lefs, Dan. laebe, Sw. läpp, L. labium, labrum. Cf. Labial.]
1. One of the two fleshy folds which surround the orifice of the mouth in man and many other animals. In man the lips are organs of speech essential to certain articulations. Hence, by a figure they denote the mouth, or all the organs of speech, and sometimes speech itself.
"Thine own lips testify against thee." Job xv. 6.
2. An edge of an opening; a thin projecting part of anything; a kind of short open spout; as the lip of a vessel.
3. The sharp cutting edge on the end of an auger.
4. (Bot.) (a) One of the two opposite divisions of a labiate corolla. (b) The odd and peculiar petal in the Orchis family. See Orchidaceous.
5. (Zoöl.) One of the edges of the aperture of a univalve shell. Lip bit, a pod auger. See Auger. — Lip comfort, comfort that is given with words only. — Lip comforter, one who comforts with words only. — Lip labor, unfelt or insincere speech; hypocrisy. Bale. — Lip reading, the catching of the words or meaning of one speaking by watching the motion of his lips without hearing his voice. Carpenter. — Lip salve, a salve for sore lips. — Lip service, expression by the lips of obedience and devotion without the performance of acts suitable to such sentiments. — Lip wisdom, wise talk without practice, or unsupported by experience. — Lip work. (a) Talk. (b) Kissing. [Humorous] B. Jonson. — To make a lip, to drop the under lip in sullenness or contempt. Shak. — To shoot out the lip (Script.), to show contempt by protruding the lip.
Lip, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lipped (lipt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lipping (-ping).]
1. To touch with the lips; to put the lips to; hence, to kiss.
"The bubble on the wine which breaks
Before you lip the glass." Praed.
"A hand that kings
Have lipped and trembled kissing." Shak.
2. To utter; to speak. [R.] Keats.
Lipocephala
Lip•o•ceph´a•la (lip•o•sef"a•la), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. lei•pesqai to be lacking + kefalh• head.] (Zoöl.) Same as Lamellibranchia.
Liquable
Liq´ua•ble (lik"wa•b’l), a. [L. liquabilis. See Liquate, v. i.] Capable of being melted.
Liquefacient
Liq•ue•fa´cient (lik•we•fa"sh ent), n. [L. liquefaciens, p. pr. of liquefacere. See Liquefy.]
1. That which serves to liquefy.
2. (Med.) An agent, as mercury, iodine, etc., which promotes the liquefying processes of the system, and increases the secretions.
Liquefaction
Liq•ue•fac´tion (-fak"shun), n. [L. liquefactio: cf. F. liquefaction. See Liquefy.]
1. The act or operation of making or becoming liquid; especially, the conversion of a solid into a liquid by the sole agency of heat.
2. The state of being liquid.
3. (Chem. Physics) The act, process, or method, of reducing a gas or vapor to a liquid by means of cold or pressure; as the liquefaction of oxygen or hydrogen.
Liquefiable
Liq´ue•fi•a•ble (lik"we•fi•a•b’l), a. [Cf. F. liquefiable. See Liquefy.] Capable of being changed from a solid to a liquid state.
Liquefy
Liq´ue•fy (-fi), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liquefied (-fid); p. pr. & vb. n. Liquefying (- fi•ing).] [F. liquefier, L. liquere to be liquid + facere, -ficare (in comp.), to make. See Liquid, and -fy.] To convert from a solid form to that of a liquid; to melt; to dissolve; and technically, to melt by the sole agency of heat.
Liquescency
Li•ques´cen•cy (li•kwes"s en•sy), n. [See Liquescent.] The quality or state of being liquescent. Johnson.
Liqueur
Li•queur´ (le•ker"), n. [F. See Liquor.] An aromatic alcoholic cordial. Some liqueurs are prepared by infusing certain woods, fruits, or flowers, in either water or alcohol, and adding sugar, etc. Others are distilled from aromatic or flavoring agents.
Liquid
Liq´uid (lik"wid), a. [L. liquidus, fr. liquere to be fluid or liquid; cf. Skr. ri to ooze, drop, li to melt.]
1. Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid.
"Yea, though he go upon the plane and liquid water which will receive no step." Tyndale.
2. (Physics) Being in such a state that the component parts move freely among themselves, but do not tend to separate from each other as the particles of gases and vapors do; neither solid nor aëriform; as liquid mercury, in distinction from mercury solidified or in a state of vapor.
3. Flowing or sounding smoothly or without abrupt transitions or harsh tones. "Liquid melody." Crashaw.
4. Pronounced without any jar or harshness; smooth; as l and r are liquid letters.
5. Fluid and transparent; as the liquid air.
6. Clear; definite in terms or amount.[Obs.] "Though the debt should be entirely liquid." Ayliffe. Liquid glass. See Soluble glass, under Glass.
Liquidate
Liq´ui•date (lik"wi•dat), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liquidated (- da•ted); p. pr. & vb. n. Liquidating.] [LL. liquidatus, p. p. of liquidare to liquidate, fr. L. liquidus liquid, clear. See Liquid.]
1. (Law) To determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness); or, where there is an indebtedness to more than one person, to determine the precise amount of (each indebtedness); to make the amount of (an indebtedness) clear and certain.
"A debt or demand is liquidated whenever the amount due is agreed on by the parties, or fixed by the operation of law." 15 Ga. Rep. 321.
"If our epistolary accounts were fairly liquidated, I believe you would be brought in considerable debtor." Chesterfield.
2. In an extended sense: To ascertain the amount, or the several amounts, of, and apply assets toward the discharge of (an indebtedness). Abbott.
3. To discharge; to pay off, as an indebtedness.
"Friburg was ceded to Zurich by Sigismund to liquidate a debt of a thousand florins." W. Coxe.
4. To make clear and intelligible.
"Time only can liquidate the meaning of all parts of a compound system." A. Hamilton.
5. To make liquid. [Obs.] Liquidated damages (Law), damages the amount of which is fixed or ascertained. Abbott.
Liquidize
Liq´uid•ize (lik"wid•iz), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liquidized (- izd); p. pr. & vb. n. Liquidizing (- i•zing).] To render liquid.
Liquidness
Liq´uid•ness, n. The quality or state of being liquid; liquidity; fluency.
Liquor
Liq´uor (lik"er), n. [OE. licour, licur, OF. licur, F. liqueur, fr. L. liquor, fr. liquere to be liquid. See Liquid, and cf. Liqueur.]
1. Any liquid substance, as water, milk, blood, sap, juice, or the like.
2. Specifically, alcoholic or spirituous fluid, either distilled or fermented, as brandy, wine, whisky, beer, etc.
3. (Pharm.) A solution of a medicinal substance in water; — distinguished from tincture and aqua. The U. S. Pharmacopœia includes, in this class of preparations, all aqueous solutions without sugar, in which the substance acted on is wholly soluble in water, excluding those in which the dissolved matter is gaseous or very volatile, as in the aquae or waters. U. S. Disp.Labarraque’s liquor (Old Chem.), a solution of an alkaline hypochlorite, as sodium hypochlorite, used in bleaching and as a disinfectant. — Liquor of flints, or Liquor silicum (Old Chem.), soluble glass; — so called because formerly made from powdered flints. See Soluble glass, under Glass. — Liquor of Libavius. (Old Chem.) See Fuming liquor of Libavius, under Fuming. — Liquor sanguinis (san"gwin•is) (Physiol.), the blood plasma. — Liquor thief, a tube for taking samples of liquor from a cask through the bung hole. — To be in liquor, to be intoxicated.
Liquor
Liq´uor, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Liquored (-erd); p. pr. & vb. n. Liquoring.]
1. To supply with liquor. [R.]
2. To grease. [Obs.] Bacon.
"Liquor fishermen’s boots." Shak.
Liquorish
Liq´uor•ish, a. See Lickerish. [Obs.] Shak.
Liquorous
Liq´uor•ous (-us), a. Eagerly desirous. See Lickerish. [Obs.] Marston.
Lira
Li´ra (le"ra), n. ; pl. Lire (-ra). [It., fr. L. libra the Roman pound. Cf. Livre.] An Italian coin equivalent in value to the French franc.
Lisne (lin), n. [Prov. E. lissen, lisne, a cleft in a rock.] A cavity or hollow.[Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Lisp (lisp), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lisped (lispt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lisping.] [OE. lispen, lipsen, AS. wlisp stammering, lisping; akin to D. & OHG. lispen to lisp, G. lispeln, Sw. läspa, Dan. lespe.]
1. To pronounce the sibilant letter s imperfectly; to give s and z the sound of th; — a defect common among children.
2. To speak with imperfect articulation; to mispronounce, as a child learning to talk.
"As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame,
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came." Pope.
3. To speak hesitatingly with a low voice, as if afraid.
"Lest when my lisping, guilty tongue should halt." Drayton.
Lisp, n. The habit or act of lisping. See Lisp, v. i., 1.
"I overheard her answer, with a very pretty lisp, "O! Strephon, you are a dangerous creature."" Tatler.
Lispingly
Lisp´ing•ly, adv. With a lisp; in a lisping manner.
List, v. t. To inclose for combat; as to list a field.
List, v. i. [See Listen.] To hearken; to attend; to listen. [Obs. except in poetry.]
"Stand close, and list to him." Shak.
List, v. i. [OE. listen, lusten, AS. lystan, from lust pleasure. See Lust.]
1. To desire or choose; to please.
"The wind bloweth where it listeth." John iii. 8.
"Them that add to the Word of God what them listeth." Hooker.
"Let other men think of your devices as they list." Whitgift.
2. (Naut.) To lean; to incline; as the ship lists to port.
List, n. [AS. list a list of cloth; akin to D. lijst, G. leiste, OHG. lista, Icel. lista, listi, Sw. list, Dan. liste. In sense 5 from F. liste, of German origin, and thus ultimately the same word.]
1. A strip forming the woven border or selvedge of cloth, particularly of broadcloth, and serving to strengthen it; hence, a strip of cloth; a fillet. "Gartered with a red and blue list. " Shak.
2. A limit or boundary; a border.
"The very list, the very utmost bound,
Of all our fortunes." Shak.
3. The lobe of the ear; the ear itself. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. A stripe. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
5. A roll or catalogue, that is, a row or line; a record of names; as a list of names, books, articles; a list of ratable estate.
"He was the ablest emperor of all the list." Bacon.
6. (Arch.) A little square molding; a fillet; — called also listel.
7. (Carp.) A narrow strip of wood, esp. sapwood, cut from the edge of a plank or board.
8. (Rope Making) A piece of woolen cloth with which the yarns are grasped by a workman.
9. (Tin-plate Manuf.) (a) The first thin coat of tin. (b) A wirelike rim of tin left on an edge of the plate after it is coated. Civil list (Great Britain & U.S.), the civil officers of government, as judges, ambassadors, secretaries, etc. Hence, the revenues or appropriations of public money for the support of the civil officers. More recently, the civil list, in England, embraces only the expenses of the reigning monarch’s household. — Free list. (a) A list of articles admitted to a country free of duty. (b) A list of persons admitted to any entertainment, as a theater or opera, without payment, or to whom a periodical, or the like, is furnished without cost.
Syn. — Roll; catalogue; register; inventory; schedule. — List, Roll, Catalogue, Register, Inventory, Schedule. A list is properly a simple series of names, etc., in a brief form, such as might naturally be entered in a narrow strip of paper. A roll was originally a list containing the names of persons belonging to a public body (as Parliament, etc.), which was rolled up and laid aside among its archives. A catalogue is a list of persons or things arranged in order, and usually containing some description of the same, more or less extended. A register is designed for record or preservation. An inventory is a list of articles, found on hand in a store of goods, or in the estate of a deceased person, or under similar circumstances. A schedule is a formal list or inventory prepared for legal or business purposes.
List (list), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Listed; p. pr. & vb. n. Listing.] [From list a roll.]
1. To sew together, as strips of cloth, so as to make a show of colors, or form a border. Sir H. Wotton.
2. To cover with list, or with strips of cloth; to put list on; as to list a door; to stripe as if with list.
"The tree that stood white- listed through the gloom." Tennyson.
3. To enroll; to place or register in a list.
"Listed among the upper serving men." Milton.
4. To engage, as a soldier; to enlist.
"I will list you for my soldier." Sir W. Scott.
5. (Carp.) To cut away a narrow strip, as of sapwood, from the edge of; as to list a board. To list a stock (Stock Exchange), to put it in the list of stocks called at the meeting of the board.
List, v. i. To engage in public service by enrolling one’s name; to enlist.
Listel
List´el (lis"tel), n. [F. listel, dim. of liste fillet, list. See List the edge.] (Arch.) Same as List, n. , 6.
Listen
Lis´ten (lis"’n), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Listened (-’nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Listening.] [OE. listnen, listen, lustnen, lusten, AS. hlystan; akin to hlyst hearing, OS. hlust, Icel. hlusta to listen, hlust ear, AS. hlosnian to wait in suspense, OHG. hlosen to listen, Gr. kly•ein, and E. loud. rad.41. See Loud, and cf. List to listen.]
1. To give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to hearken; to attend.
"When we have occasion to listen, and give a more particular attention to some sound, the tympanum is drawn to a more than ordinary tension." Holder.
2. To give heed; to yield to advice; to follow admonition; to obey.
"Listen to me, and by me be ruled." Tennyson. To listen after, to take an interest in. [Obs.]
"Soldiers note forts, armories, and magazines; scholars listen after libraries, disputations, and professors." Fuller.
Syn. — To attend; hearken. See Attend.
Lister
List´er (list"er), n. One who makes a list or roll.
Lister
Lis´ter (lis"ter), n. Same as Leister.
Lister
List´er, n. [Cf. List a strip, border, prob. applied to the furrow or the ridge of earth along the furrow.] A double-moldboard plow which throws a deep furrow, and at the same time plants and covers grain in the bottom of the furrow.
Listerian
Lis•te´ri•an (lis•te"ri• an), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to listerism.
Listerize
Lis´ter•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. -ized p. pr. & vb. n. -izing ] (Med.) To make antiseptic.
Listless
List´less, a. [OE. listles, lustles. See Lust.] Having no desire or inclination; indifferent; heedless; spiritless. " A listless unconcern." Thomson.
"Benumbed with cold, and listless of their gain." Dryden.
"I was listless, and desponding." Swift.
Syn. — Heedless; careless; indifferent; vacant; uninterested; languid; spiritless; supine; indolent. — List´less•ly, adv. — List´less•ness, n.
Literacy
Lit´er•a•cy (lit"er•a•sy), n. State of being literate.
Literal
Lit´er•al (- al), a. [F. literal, litteral, L. litteralis, literalis, fr. littera, litera, a letter. See Letter.]
1. According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as the literal meaning of a phrase.
"It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the owls can not abide." Tyndale.
2. Following the letter or exact words; not free.
"A middle course between the rigor of literal translations and the liberty of paraphrasts." Hooker.
3. Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
"The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the ciphers." Johnson.
4. Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative; matter-of-fact; — applied to persons. Literal contract (Law), a contract of which the whole evidence is given in writing. Bouvier. — Literal equation (Math.), an equation in which known quantities are expressed either wholly or in part by means of letters; — distinguished from a numerical equation.
Literalize
Lit´er•al•ize (lit"er• al•iz), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Literalized (-izd); p. pr. & vb. n. Literalizing (-i•zing).] To make literal; to interpret or put in practice according to the strict meaning of the words; — opposed to spiritualize; as to literalize Scripture.
Literalness
Lit´er•al•ness, n. The quality or state of being literal; literal import.
Literary
Lit´er•a•ry (lit"er•a•ry), a. [L. litterarius, literarius, fr. littera, litera, a letter: cf. F. litteraire. See Letter.]
1. Of or pertaining to letters or literature; pertaining to learning or learned men; as literary fame; a literary history; literary conversation.
"He has long outlived his century, the term commonly fixed as the test of literary merit." Johnson.
2. Versed in, or acquainted with, literature; occupied with literature as a profession; connected with literature or with men of letters; as a literary man.
"In the literary as well as fashionable world." Mason. Literary property. (a) Property which consists in written or printed compositions. (b) The exclusive right of publication as recognized and limited by law.
Literate
Lit´er•ate (-at), a. [L. litteratus, literatus. See Letter.] Instructed in learning, science, or literature; learned; lettered.
"The literate now chose their emperor, as the military chose theirs." Landor.
Literati
Lit•e•ra´ti (lit•e•ra"ti), n. pl. [See Literatus.] Learned or literary men. See Literatus.
"Shakespearean commentators, and other literati." Craik.
Literatim
Lit•e•ra´tim (-tim), adv. [LL., fr. L. littera, litera, letter.] Letter for letter.
Literator
Lit´er•a•tor (lit"er•a•ter), n. [L. litterator, literator. See Letter.]
1. One who teaches the letters or elements of knowledge; a petty schoolmaster. Burke.
2. A person devoted to the study of literary trifles, esp. trifles belonging to the literature of a former age.
"That class of subjects which are interesting to the regular literator or black-letter " bibliomane," simply because they have once been interesting." De Quincey.
3. A learned person; a literatus. Sir W. Hamilton.
Literature
Lit´er•a•ture (lit"er•a•tur; 135), n. [F. litterature, L. litteratura, literatura, learning, grammar, writing, fr. littera, litera, letter. See Letter.]
1. Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.
2. The collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing; also the whole body of literary productions or writings upon a given subject, or in reference to a particular science or branch of knowledge, or of a given country or period; as the literature of Biblical criticism; the literature of chemistry.
3. The class of writings distinguished for beauty of style or expression, as poetry, essays, or history, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge; belles-lettres.
4. The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work. Lamb.
Syn. — Science; learning; erudition; belles-lettres. See Science. — Literature, Learning, Erudition. Literature, in its widest sense, embraces all compositions in writing or print which preserve the results of observation, thought, or fancy; but those upon the positive sciences (mathematics, etc.) are usually excluded. It is often confined, however, to belles-lettres, or works of taste and sentiment, as poetry, eloquence, history, etc., excluding abstract discussions and mere erudition. A man of literature (in this narrowest sense) is one who is versed in belles-lettres; a man of learning excels in what is taught in the schools, and has a wide extent of knowledge, especially in respect to the past; a man of erudition is one who is skilled in the more recondite branches of learned inquiry.
"The origin of all positive science and philosophy, as well as of all literature and art, in the forms in which they exist in civilized Europe, must be traced to the Greeks." Sir G. C. Lewis.
"Learning thy talent is, but mine is sense." Prior.
"Some gentlemen, abounding in their university erudition, fill their sermons with philosophical terms." Swift.
Lith (lith), obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Lie, to recline, for lieth. Chaucer.
Lithargyrum
Li•thar´gy•rum (li•thär"ji•rum), n. [NL. See Litharge.] (Old Chem.) Crystallized litharge, obtained by fusion in the form of fine yellow scales.
Lithe (lith), v. t. & i. [Icel hlyða. See Listen.] To listen or listen to; to hearken to. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
Lithe, a. [AS. liðe, for linðe tender, mild, gentle; akin to G. lind, gelind, OHG. lindi, Icel. linr, L. lenis soft, mild, lentus flexible, and AS. linnan to yield. Cf. Lenient.]
1. Mild; calm; as lithe weather. [Obs.]
2. Capable of being easily bent; pliant; flexible; limber; as the elephant’s lithe proboscis. Milton.
Lithe, v. t. [AS. liðian. See Lithe, a. ] To smooth; to soften; to palliate. [Obs.]
Lithely
Lithe´ly, adv. In a lithe, pliant, or flexible manner.
Litheness
Lithe´ness, n. The quality or state of being lithe; flexibility; limberness.
Lithesome
Lithe´some (lith"sum), a. [See Lithe, a. , and cf. Lissom.] Pliant; limber; flexible; supple; nimble; lissom. — Lithe´some•ness, n.
Lithia
Lith´i•a (lith"i•a), n. [NL., from Gr. li•qos stone.] (Chem.) The oxide of lithium; a strong alkaline caustic similar to potash and soda, but weaker. See Lithium. Lithia emerald. See Hiddenite.
lithic
lith´ic, n. (Med.) A medicine which tends to prevent stone in the bladder.
Lithic
Lith´ic (lith"ik), a. [Gr. liqiko•s of or belonging to stones, fr. li•qos stone: cf. F. lithique.]
1. Of or pertaining to stone; as lithic architecture.
2. (Med.) Pertaining to the formation of uric-acid concretions (stone) in the bladder and other parts of the body; as lithic diathesis. Lithic acid (Old Med. Chem.), uric acid. See Uric acid, under Uric.
Lithic
Lith´ic, a. [From Lithium.] (Chem.) Pertaining to or denoting lithium or some of its compounds. Frankland.
Litho
Lith´o (lith"o) A combining form from Gr. li•qos, stone.
Lithochromatics
Lith•o•chro•mat´ics (-kro•mat"iks), n. See Lithochromics.
Lithodomous
Li•thod´o•mous, a. (Zoöl.) Like, or pertaining to, Lithodomus; lithophagous.
Lithodomus
Li•thod´o•mus, n. [NL. See Lithodome.] (Zoöl.) A genus of elongated bivalve shells, allied to the mussels, and remarkable for their ability to bore holes for shelter, in solid limestone, shells, etc. Called also Lithophagus. These holes are at first very small and shallow, but are enlarged with the growth of the shell, sometimes becoming two or three inches deep and nearly an inch diameter.
Lithofracteur
Lith•o•frac´teur, n. [F., fr. li•qos stone + L. frangere, fractum, to break.] An explosive compound of nitroglycerin. See Nitroglycerin.
Lithogenesy
Lith•o•gen´e•sy, n. [ Litho- Gr. ge•nesis origin, generation: cf. F. lithogenesie. See Genesis.] The doctrine or science of the origin of the minerals composing the globe.
Lithoglypher
Li•thog´ly•pher (li•thog"li•fer), n. One who curs or engraves precious stones.
Lithoglyptics
Lith•o•glyp´tics (-glip"tiks), n. The art of cutting and engraving gems.
Lithograph
Lith´o•graph, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lithographed p. pr. & vb. n. Lithographing ] [ Litho- + - graph: cf. F. lithographier.] To trace on stone by the process of lithography so as to transfer the design to paper by printing; as to lithograph a design; to lithograph a painting. See Lithography.
Lithography
Li•thog´ra•phy, n. [Cf. F. lithographie.] The art or process of putting designs or writing, with a greasy material, on stone, and of producing printed impressions therefrom. The process depends, in the main, upon the antipathy between grease and water, which prevents a printing ink containing oil from adhering to wetted parts of the stone not covered by the design. See Lithographic limestone, under Lithographic. { Lith´oidLi•thoid´al } a. [ Litho- + -oid: cf. F. lithoïde.] Like a stone; having a stony structure.
Lithologist
Li•thol´o•gist, n. One who is skilled in lithology.
Lithomancy
Lith´o•man•cy, n. [ Litho- + -mancy: cf. F. lithomancie.] Divination by means of stones.
Lithomarge
Lith´o•marge, n. [ Litho- + L. marga marl.] A clay of a fine smooth texture, and very sectile. { Lith•on•thrip´tic, Lith•on•thryp´tic }, a. & n. [ Litho- + Gr. to crush.] Same as Lithontriptic.
Lithophagous
Li•thoph´a•gous, a. [ Litho- + Gr. to eat.] (Zoöl.) (a) Eating or swallowing stones or gravel, as the ostrich. (b) Eating or destroying stone; — applied to various animals which make burrows in stone, as many bivalve mollusks, certain sponges, annelids, and sea urchins. See Lithodomus.
Lithophosphor
Lith´o•phos•phor, n. [ Litho- + phosphor.] A stone that becomes phosphoric by heat.
Lithophosphoric
Lith•o•phos•phor´ic, a. Pertaining to lithophosphor; becoming phosphoric by heat.
Lithophotography
Lith•o•pho•tog´ra•phy, n. [ Litho- + photography.] Same as Photolithography.
Lithophytic
Lith•o•phyt´ic, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to lithophytes.
Lithotriptic
Lith•o•trip´tic (-trip"tik), a. & n. Same as Lithontriptic.
Lithotriptor
Lith´o•trip•tor, n. (Surg.) An instrument for triturating the stone in the bladder; a lithotrite. { Lith´o•trite, Lith´o•tri´tor } [See Lithotrity.] (Surg.) A lithotriptor.
Lithotype
Lith´o•type, n. A kind of stereotype plate made by lithotypy; also that which in printed from it. See Lithotypy.
Lithotype
Lith´o•type, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lithotyped p. pr. & vb. n. Lithotyping ] To prepare for printing with plates made by the process of lithotypy. See Lithotypy.
Lithotypic
Lith•o•typ´ic, a. Of, pertaining to, or produced by, lithotypy.
Lithy
Lith´y a. [See Lithe.] Easily bent; pliable. Lithy tree (Bot.), a European shrub ( Viburnum Lantana); — so named from its tough and flexible stem.
Litigant
Lit´i•gant, a. [L. litigans, -antis, p. pr. of litigare: cf. F. litigant. See Litigate.] Disposed to litigate; contending in law; engaged in a lawsuit; as the parties litigant. Ayliffe.
Litigate
Lit´i•gate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Litigated p. pr. & vb. n. Litigating.] [See Litigation.] To make the subject of a lawsuit; to contest in law; to prosecute or defend by pleadings, exhibition of evidence, and judicial debate in a court; as to litigate a cause.
Litigate
Lit´i•gate, v. i. To carry on a suit by judicial process.
Litigation
Lit•i•ga´tion, n. [L. litigatio, fr. litigare to dispute, litigate; lis, litis, dispute, lawsuit (OL. stlis) + agere to carry on. See Agent.] The act or process of litigating; a suit at law; a judicial contest.
Litigious
Li•ti´gious, a. [L. litigiosus, fr. litigium dispute, quarrel, fr. litigare: cf. F. litigieux. See Litigation.]
1. Inclined to judicial contest; given to the practice of contending in law; quarrelsome; contentious; fond of litigation. " A pettifogging attorney or a litigious client." Macaulay.
"Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still Litigious men, who quarrels move." Donne.
2. Subject to contention; disputable; controvertible; debatable; doubtful; precarious. Shak.
"No fences, parted fields, nor marks, nor bounds,
Distinguished acres of litigious grounds." Dryden.
3. Of or pertaining to legal disputes.
"Nor brothers cite to the litigious bar." Young.
Litmus
Lit´mus, n. [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See Lac a resinous substance.] (Chem.) A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens ( Roccella tinctoria, Lecanora tartarea, etc.), as a blue amorphous mass which consists of a compound of the alkaline carbonates with certain coloring matters related to orcin and orcein. Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity. Litmus paper (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, — used in testing for acids or alkalies.
Litraneter
Li•tran´e•ter, n. [Gr. li•tra + -meter. See Liter] An instrument for ascertaining the specific gravity of liquids.
Litter
Lit´ter (lit"ter), n. [F. litière, LL. lectaria, fr. L. lectus couch, bed. See Lie to be prostrated, and cf. Coverlet.]
1. A bed or stretcher so arranged that a person, esp. a sick or wounded person, may be easily carried in or upon it.
"There is a litter ready; lay him in ’t." Shak.
2. Straw, hay, etc., scattered on a floor, as bedding for animals to rest on; also a covering of straw for plants.
"To crouch in litter of your stable planks." Shak.
"Take off the litter from your kernel beds." Evelyn.
3. Things lying scattered about in a manner indicating slovenliness; scattered rubbish.
"Strephon, who found the room was void.
Stole in, and took a strict survey
Of all the litter as it lay." Swift.
4. Disorder or untidiness resulting from scattered rubbish, or from thongs lying about uncared for; as a room in a state of litter.
5. The young brought forth at one time, by a sow or other multiparous animal, taken collectively. Also Fig.
"A wolf came to a sow, and very kindly offered to take care of her litter." D. Estrange.
"Reflect upon that numerous litter of strange, senseless opinions that crawl about the world." South.
Litter
Lit´ter, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Littered p. pr. & vb. n. Littering.]
1. To supply with litter, as cattle; to cover with litter, as the floor of a stall.
"Tell them how they litter their jades." Bp. Hacke.
"For his ease, well littered was the floor." Dryden.
2. To put into a confused or disordered condition; to strew with scattered articles; as to litter a room.
"The room with volumes littered round." Swift.
3. To give birth to; to bear; — said of brutes, esp. those which produce more than one at a birth, and also of human beings, in abhorrence or contempt.
"We might conceive that dogs were created blind, because we observe they were littered so with us." Sir T. Browne.
"The son that she did litter here,
A freckled whelp hagborn." Shak.
Littery
Lit´ter•y, a. Covered or encumbered with litter; consisting of or constituting litter.
Little
Lit´tle, a. [The regular comparative of this word is wanting, its place being supplied by less, or, rarely, lesser. See Lesser. For the superlative least is used, the regular form, littlest, occurring very rarely, except in some of the English provinces, and occasionally in colloquial language. " Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear." Shak. ] [OE. litel, lutel, AS. ltel, litel, lt; akin to OS. littil, D. luttel, LG. lütt, OHG. luzzil, MHG. lützel; and perh. to AS. lytig deceitful, lot deceit, Goth. liuts deceitful, lutn to deceive; cf. also Icel. litill little, Sw. liten, Dan. liden, lille, Goth. leitils, which appear to have a different root vowel.]
1. Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; — opposed to big or large; as a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill; a little distance; a little child.
"He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature." Luke xix. 3.
2. Short in duration; brief; as a little sleep.
"Best him enough: after a little time,
I’ll beat him too." Shak.
3. Small in quantity or amount; not much; as a little food; a little air or water.
"Conceited of their little wisdoms, and doting upon their own fancies." Barrow.
4. Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible.
"When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes?" I Sam. xv. 17.
5. Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as little attention or exertion; little effort; little care or diligence.
"By sad experiment I know
How little weight my words with thee can find." Milton.
6. Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.
"The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise,
Because their natures are little." Tennyson. Little chief. (Zoöl.) See Chief hare. — Little finger, the fourth and smallest finger of the hand. — Little go (Eng. Universities), a public examination about the middle of the course, which is less strict and important than the final one; — called also smalls. Cf. Great go, under Great. Thackeray. — Little hours (R. C. Ch.), the offices of prime, tierce, sext, and nones. Vespers and compline are sometimes included. — Little ones, young children.
"The men, and the women, and the little ones." Deut. ii. 34.
Little
Lit´tle, a. — Little Englander, an Englishman opposed to territorial expansion of the British Empire. See Antiimperialism, above. Hence: Little Englandism. — Little-neck clam, or Little neck (Zoöl.), the quahog, or round clam. — Little peach, a disease of peaches in which the fruit is much dwarfed, and the leaves grow small and thin. The cause is not known. — Little Rhod"y, Rhode Island; — a nickname alluding to its small size. It is the smallest State of the United States. — Little Sisters of the Poor (R. C. Ch.), an order of women who care for old men and women and infirm poor, for whom special houses are built. It was established at St. Servan, Britany, France, in 1840, by the Abbe Le Pailleur. — Little slam (Bridge Whist), the winning of 12 out of the 13 tricks. It counts 20 points on the honor score.
Littorina
Lit´to•ri´na, n. [NL. See Littoral.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small pectinibranch mollusks, having thick spiral shells, abundant between tides on nearly all rocky seacoasts. They feed on seaweeds. The common periwinkle is a well-known example. See Periwinkle.
Littress
Lit´tress (lit"tres), n. A smooth kind of cartridge paper used for making cards. Knight.
Lituate
Lit´u•ate (lit"u•at; 135), a. [See Lituus.] (Bot.) Forked, with the points slightly curved outward.
Lituiform
Lit´u•i•form, a. [ Lituus + -form.] Having the form of a lituus; like a lituite.
Lituite
Lit´u•ite (lit"u•it; 135), n. [See Lituus.] (Paleon.) Any species of ammonites of the genus Lituites. They are found in the Cretaceous formation.
Liturgically
Li•tur´gic•al•ly, adv. In the manner of a liturgy.
Liturgics
Li•tur´gics, n. The science of worship; history, doctrine, and interpretation of liturgies.
Liturgiologist
Li•tur•gi•ol´o•gist, n. One versed in liturgiology.
Liturgist
Lit´ur•gist (lit"ur•jist), n. One who favors or adheres strictly to a liturgy. Milton.
Liturgy
Lit´ur•gy (lit"ur•jy), n. ; pl. Liturgies (- jiz). [F. liturgie, LL. liturgia, Gr. leitoyrgi•a a public service, the public service of God, public worship; (assumed) le•i:tos, lei^tos, belonging to the people, public (fr. lao•s, lew•s, the people) + the root of ’e•rgon work. See Lay, a. , and Work.] An established formula for public worship, or the entire ritual for public worship in a church which uses prescribed forms; a formulary for public prayer or devotion. In the Roman Catholic Church it includes all forms and services in any language, in any part of the world, for the celebration of Mass.
Live (liv), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lived (livd); p. pr. & vb. n. Living.] [OE. liven, livien, AS. libban, lifian; akin to OS. libbian, D. leven, G. leben, OHG. leben, Dan. leve, Sw. lefva, Icel. lifa to live, to be left, to remain, Goth. liban to live; akin to E. leave to forsake, and life, Gr. liparei^n to persist, liparo•s oily, shining, sleek, li•pos fat, lard, Skr. lip to anoint, smear; — the first sense prob. was to cleave to, stick to; hence, to remain, stay; and hence, to live.]
1. To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity.
"Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will … lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live." Ezek. xxxvii. 5, 6.
2. To pass one’s time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully.
"O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions!" Ecclus. xli. 1.
3. To make one’s abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside.
"Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." Gen. xlvii. 28.
4. To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; — said of inanimate objects, ideas etc.
"Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues
We write in water." Shak.
5. To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness.
"What greater curse could envious fortune give
Than just to die when I began to live?" Dryden.
6. To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; — with on; as horses live on grass and grain.
7. To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith.
"The just shall live by faith." Gal. iii. ll.
8. To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; — with on or by; as to live on spoils.
"Those who live by labor." Sir W. Temple.
9. To outlast danger; to float; — said of a ship, boat, etc.; as no ship could live in such a storm.
"A strong mast that lived upon the sea." Shak. To live out, to be at service; to live away from home as a servant. [U. S.] — To live with. (a) To dwell or to be a lodger with. (b) To cohabit with; to have intercourse with, as male with female.
Live, a. [Abbreviated from alive. See Alive, Life.]
1. Having life; alive; living; not dead.
"If one man’s ox hurt another’s, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it." Ex. xxi. 35.
2. Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as a live coal; live embers. " The live ether." Thomson.
3. Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as a live man, or orator.
4. Vivid; bright. " The live carnation." Thomson.
5. (Engin.) Imparting power; having motion; as the live spindle of a lathe. Live birth, the condition of being born in such a state that acts of life are manifested after the extrusion of the whole body. Dunglison. — Live box, a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. P. H. Gosse. — Live feathers, feathers which have been plucked from the living bird, and are therefore stronger and more elastic. — Live gang. (Sawing) See under Gang. — Live grass (Bot.), a grass of the genus Eragrostis. — Live load (Engin.), a suddenly applied load; a varying load; a moving load; as a moving train of cars on a bridge, or wind pressure on a roof. Live oak (Bot.), a species of oak ( Quercus virens), growing in the Southern States, of great durability, and highly esteemed for ship timber. In California the Q. chrysolepis and some other species are also called live oaks. — Live ring (Engin.), a circular train of rollers upon which a swing bridge, or turntable, rests, and which travels around a circular track when the bridge or table turns. — Live steam, steam direct from the boiler, used for any purpose, in distinction from exhaust steam. — Live stock, horses, cattle, and other domestic animals kept on a farm.
Live, n. Life. [Obs.] Chaucer. On live, in life; alive. [Obs.] See Alive. Chaucer.
Lived, a. Having life; — used only in composition; as long- lived; short- lived.
Livelihood
Live´li•hood, n. [OE. livelode, liflode, prop., course of life, life’s support, maintenance, fr. AS. lif life + lad road, way, maintenance. Confused with livelihood liveliness. See Life, and Lode.] Subsistence or living, as dependent on some means of support; support of life; maintenance.
"The opportunities of gaining an honest livelihood." Addison.
"It is their profession and livelihood to get their living by practices for which they deserve to forfeit their lives." South.
Livelihood
Live´li•hood, n. [ Lively + - hood.] Liveliness; appearance of life. [Obs.] Shak.
Liveliness
Live´li•ness, n. [From Lively.]
1. The quality or state of being lively or animated; sprightliness; vivacity; animation; spirit; as the liveliness of youth, contrasted with the gravity of age. B. Jonson.
2. An appearance of life, animation, or spirit; as the liveliness of the eye or the countenance in a portrait.
3. Briskness; activity; effervescence, as of liquors.
Syn. — Sprightliness; gayety; animation; vivacity; smartness; briskness; activity. — Liveliness, Gayety, Animation, Vivacity. Liveliness is an habitual feeling of life and interest; gayety refers more to a temporary excitement of the animal spirits; animation implies a warmth of emotion and a corresponding vividness of expressing it, awakened by the presence of something which strongly affects the mind; vivacity is a feeling between liveliness and animation, having the permanency of the one, and, to some extent, the warmth of the other. Liveliness of imagination; gayety of heart; animation of countenance; vivacity of gesture or conversation.
Livelode
Live´lode, n. [See 1st Livelihood.] Course of life; means of support; livelihood. [Obs.]
Livelong
Live´long, a. [For lifelong. Cf. Lifelong.]
1. Whole; entire; long in passing; — used of time, as day or night, in adverbial phrases, and usually with a sense of tediousness.
"The obscure bird
Clamored the livelong night." Shak.
"How could she sit the livelong day,
Yet never ask us once to play?" Swift.
2. Lasting; durable. [Obs.]
"Thou hast built thyself a livelong monument." Milton.
Lively
Live´ly, a. [ Compar. Livelier superl. Liveliest.] [For lifely. Cf. Lifelike.]
1. Endowed with or manifesting life; living.
"Chaplets of gold and silver resembling lively flowers and leaves." Holland.
2. Brisk; vivacious; active; as a lively youth.
"But wherefore comes old Manoa in such haste,
With youthful steps ? Much livelier than erewhile
He seems." Milton.
3. Gay; airy; animated; spirited.
"From grave to gay, from lively to severe." Pope.
4. Representing life; lifelike. [Obs.]
"I spied the lively picture of my father." Massinger.
5. Bright; vivid; glowing; strong; vigorous.
"The colors of the prism are manifestly more full, intense, and lively that those of natural bodies." Sir I. Newton.
"His faith must be not only living, but lively too." South. Lively stones (Script.), saints, as being quickened by the Spirit, and active in holiness.
Syn. — Brisk; vigorous; quick; nimble; smart; active; alert; sprightly; animated; spirited; prompt; earnest; strong; energetic; vivid; vivacious; blithe; gleeful; airy; gay; jocund.
Liver
Liv´er, n. [AS. lifer; akin to D. liver, G. leber, OHG. lebara, Icel. lifr, Sw. lefver, and perh. to Gr. fat, E. live, v.] (Anat.) A very large glandular and vascular organ in the visceral cavity of all vertebrates. Most of the venous blood from the alimentary canal passes through it on its way back to the heart; and it secretes the bile, produces glycogen, and in other ways changes the blood which passes through it. In man it is situated immediately beneath the diaphragm and mainly on the right side. See Bile, Digestive, and Glycogen. The liver of invertebrate animals is usually made up of caecal tubes, and differs materially, in form and function, from that of vertebrates. Floating liver. See Wandering liver, under Wandering. — Liver of antimony, Liver of sulphur. (Old Chem.) See Hepar. — Liver brown, Liver color, the color of liver, a dark, reddish brown. — Liver shark (Zoöl.), a very large shark ( Cetorhinus maximus), inhabiting the northern coasts both of Europe and North America. It sometimes becomes forty feet in length, being one of the largest sharks known; but it has small simple teeth, and is not dangerous. It is captured for the sake of its liver, which often yields several barrels of oil. It has gill rakers, resembling whalebone, by means of which it separates small animals from the sea water. Called also basking shark, bone shark, hoemother, homer, and sailfish. — Liver spots, yellowish brown patches or spots of chloasma.
Liver-colored
Liv´er-col•ored (-kul•erd), a. Having a color like liver; dark reddish brown.
Livered
Liv´ered (liv"erd), a. Having (such) a liver; used in composition; as white- livered.
Liver-grown
Liv´er-grown, a. Having an enlarged liver. Dunglison.
Liveried
Liv´er•ied, a. Wearing a livery. See Livery, 3.
"The liveried servants wait." Parnell.
Livering
Liv´er•ing, n. A kind of pudding or sausage made of liver or pork. [Obs.] Chapman.
Liverwort
Liv´er•wort, n. (Bot.)
1. A ranunculaceous plant ( Anemone Hepatica) with pretty white or bluish flowers and a three-lobed leaf; — called also squirrel cups.
2. A flowerless plant ( Marchantia polymorpha), having an irregularly lobed, spreading, and forking frond. From this plant many others of the same order ( Hepaticae) have been vaguely called liverworts, esp. those of the tribe Marchantiaceae. See Illust. of Hepatica.
Livery
Liv´er•y, n. ; pl. Liveries (#). [OE. livere, F. livree, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See Liberate.]
1. (Eng. Law) (a) The act of delivering possession of lands or tenements. (b) The writ by which possession is obtained. It is usual to say, livery of seizin, which is a feudal investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of a rod, or twig, from the feoffor to the feoffee. In the United States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient.
2. Release from wardship; deliverance.
"It concerned them first to sue out their livery from the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative." Milton.
3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as clothing, food, etc.; especially: (a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to their retainers and serving as a badge when in military service. (b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman or gentleman are distinguished; as a claret-colored livery. (c) Hence, also the peculiar dress or garb appropriated by any association or body of persons to their own use; as the livery of the London tradesmen, of a priest, of a charity school, etc.; also the whole body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and entitled to the privileges of the association; as the whole livery of London.
"A Haberdasher and a Carpenter,
A Webbe, a Dyer, and a Tapicer,
And they were clothed all in one livery
Of a solempne and a gret fraternite." Chaucer.
"From the periodical deliveries of these characteristic articles of servile costume (blue coats) came our word livery." De Quincey. (d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance. " April’s livery." Sir P. Sidney.
"Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad." Milton. (e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as to a family, to servants, to horses, etc.
"The emperor’s officers every night went through the town from house to house whereat any English gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their liveries for all night: first, the officers brought into the house a cast of fine manchet [white bread], and of silver two great pots, and white wine, and sugar." Cavendish. (f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for compensation; boarding; as to keep one’s horses at livery.
"What livery is, we by common use in England know well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which word, I guess, is derived of livering or delivering forth their nightly food." Spenser.
"It need hardly be observed that the explanation of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly correct, but … it is no longer applied to the ration or stated portion of food delivered at stated periods." Trench. (g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being so kept.
"Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the largest establishment in Moorfields." Lowell.
4. A low grade of wool. Livery gown, the gown worn by a liveryman in London.
Livery stable
Liv"er•y sta•ble A stable where horses are kept for hire, and where stabling is provided. See Livery, n. , 3 (e) (f) & (g).
Lividity
Li•vid´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. lividite.] The state or quality of being livid.
Living
Liv´ing (liv"ing), a. [From Live, v. i.]
1. Being alive; having life; as a living creature.
2. Active; lively; vigorous; — said esp. of states of the mind, and sometimes of abstract things; as a living faith; a living principle. " Living hope. " Wyclif.
3. Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as a living spring; — opposed to stagnant.
4. Producing life, action, animation, or vigor; quickening. "Living light." Shak.
5. Ignited; glowing with heat; burning; live.
"Then on the living coals wine they pour." Dryden. Living force. See Vis viva, under Vis. — Living gale (Naut.), a heavy gale. — Livingrock or stone, rock in its native or original state or location; rock not quarried. " I now found myself on a rude and narrow stairway, the steps of which were cut out of the living rock." Moore. — The living, those who are alive, or one who is alive.
Livonian
Li•vo´ni•an, a. Of or pertaining to Livonia, a district of Russia near the Baltic Sea.
Livraison
Li•vrai•son´, n. [F., fr. L. liberatio a setting free, in LL., a delivering up. See Liberation.] A part of a book or literary composition printed and delivered by itself; a number; a part.
Livre
Li´vre, n. [F., fr. L. libra a pound of twelve ounces. Cf. Lira.] A French money of account, afterward a silver coin equal to 20 sous. It is not now in use, having been superseded by the franc.
Lixivial
Lix•iv´i•al, a. [L. lixivius, fr. lix ashes, lye ashes, lye: cf. F. lixiviel.]
1. Impregnated with, or consisting of, alkaline salts extracted from wood ashes; impregnated with a salt or salts like a lixivium. Boyle.
2. Of the color of lye; resembling lye.
3. Having the qualities of alkaline salts extracted from wood ashes. Lixivial salts (Old Chem.), salts which are obtained by passing water through ashes, or by pouring it on them. { Lix•iv´i•ate, Lix•iv´i••ted } a. [From Lixivium.]
1. Of or pertaining to lye or lixivium; of the quality of alkaline salts.
2. Impregnated with salts from wood ashes. Boyle.
Lixiviate
Lix•iv´i•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lixiviated p. pr. & vb. n. Lixiviating ] To subject to a washing process for the purpose of separating soluble material from that which is insoluble; to leach, as ashes, for the purpose of extracting the alkaline substances.
Lixivium
Lix•iv´i•um, n. [L. lixivium, lixivia. See Lixivial.] A solution of alkaline salts extracted from wood ashes; hence, any solution obtained by lixiviation.
Lixt (likst), obs. 2d pers. sing. pres. of Lige, to lie, to tell lies, — contracted for ligest. Chaucer.
Liza
Li´za, n. (Zoöl.) The American white mullet ( Mugil curema).
Lizard
Liz´ard, n. [OE. lesarde, OF. lesarde, F. lezard, L. lacerta, lacertus. Cf. Alligator, Lacerta.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of the numerous species of reptiles belonging to the order Lacertilia; sometimes, also applied to reptiles of other orders, as the Hatteria. Most lizards have an elongated body, with four legs, and a long tail; but there are some without legs, and some with a short, thick tail. Most have scales, but some are naked; most have eyelids, but some do not. The tongue is varied in form and structure. In some it is forked, in others, as the chameleons, club-shaped, and very extensible. See Amphisbaena, Chameleon, Gecko, Gila monster, Horned toad, Iguana, and Dragon, 6.
2. (Naut.) A piece of rope with thimble or block spliced into one or both of the ends. R. H. Dana, Ir.
3. A piece of timber with a forked end, used in dragging a heavy stone, a log, or the like, from a field. Lizard fish (Zoöl.), a marine scopeloid fish of the genus Synodus, or Saurus, esp. S. fœtens of the Southern United States and West Indies; — called also sand pike. — Lizard snake (Zoöl.), the garter snake ( Eutaenia sirtalis). — Lizard stone (Min.), a kind of serpentine from near Lizard Point, Cornwall, England, — used for ornamental purposes.