Lubbard
Lub´bard, n. [See Lubber.] A lubber. [Obs.] Swift.
Lubber
Lub´ber, n. [Cf. dial. Sw. lubber. See Looby, Lob.] A heavy, clumsy, or awkward fellow; a sturdy drone; a clown.
"Lingering lubbers lose many a penny." Tusser. Land lubber, a name given in contempt by sailors to a person who lives on land. — Lubber grasshopper (Zoöl.), a large, stout, clumsy grasshopper; esp., Brachystola magna, from the Rocky Mountain plains, and Romalea microptera, which is injurious to orange trees in Florida. — Lubber’s hole (Naut.), a hole in the floor of the "top," next the mast, through which sailors may go aloft without going over the rim by the futtock shrouds. It is considered by seamen as only fit to be used by lubbers. Totten. — Lubber’s line, point, or mark, a line or point in the compass case indicating the head of the ship, and consequently the course which the ship is steering.
Lubberly
Lub´ber•ly, a. Like a lubber; clumsy.
"A great lubberly boy." Shak.
Lubricant
Lu´bri•cant, a. [L. lubricans, p. pr. of lubricare, See Lubricate.] Lubricating.
Lubricate
Lu´bri•cate, v. t. [L. lubricatus, p. p. of lubricare to lubricate. See Lubric.]
1. To make smooth or slippery; as mucilaginous and saponaceous remedies lubricate the parts to which they are applied. S. Sharp.
"Supples, lubricates, and keeps in play,
The various movements of this nice machine." Young.
2. To apply a lubricant to, as oil or tallow.
Lubrication
Lu•bri•ca´tion, n. The act of lubricating; the act of making slippery.
Lucarne
Lu•carne´, n. [F., fr. L. lucerna a lamp. See Luthern.] (Arch.) A dormer window.
Luce, n. [OF. lus, L. lucius a kind of fish.] (Zoöl.) A pike when full grown. Halliwell.
Lucernarida
Lu•cer•nar´i•da, n. pl. [NL. See Lucernaria.] (Zoöl.) (a) A division of acalephs, including Lucernaria and allied genera; — called also Calycozoa. (b) A more extensive group of acalephs, including both the true Lucernarida and the Discophora.
Lucerne
Lu´cerne, n. (Bot.) See Lucern, the plant.
Lucid
Lu´cid, a. [L. lucidus, fr. lux, lucis, light. See Light, n. ]
1. Shining; bright; resplendent; as the lucid orbs of heaven.
"Lucid, like a glowworm." Sir I. Newton.
"A court compact of lucid marbles." Tennyson.
2. Clear; transparent. " Lucid streams." Milton.
3. Presenting a clear view; easily understood; clear.
"A lucid and interesting abstract of the debate." Macaulay.
4. Bright with the radiance of intellect; not darkened or confused by delirium or madness; marked by the regular operations of reason; as a lucid interval.
Syn. — Luminous; bright; clear; transparent; sane; reasonable. See Luminous.
Lucidity
Lu•cid´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. lucidite. See Lucid.] The quality or state of being lucid.
Lucidness
Lu´cid•ness, n. The quality of being lucid; lucidity.
Lucifer
Lu´ci•fer, n. [L., bringing light, n. , the morning star, fr. lux, lucis, light + ferre to bring.]
1. The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; — applied in Isaiah by a metaphor to a king of Babylon.
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations !" Is. xiv. 12.
"Tertullian and Gregory the Great understood this passage of Isaiah in reference to the fall of Satan; in consequence of which the name Lucifer has since been applied to Satan." Kitto.
2. Hence, Satan.
"How wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes’ favors! …
When he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
Never to hope again." Shak.
3. A match made of a sliver of wood tipped with a combustible substance, and ignited by friction; — called also lucifer match, and locofoco. See Locofoco.
4. (Zoöl.) A genus of free- swimming macruran Crustacea, having a slender body and long appendages.
Luciferous
Lu•cif´er•ous, a. [See Lucifer.] Giving light; affording light or means of discovery. Boyle.
Lucific
Lu•cif´ic, a. [L. lucificus; lux, lucis, light + facere to make.] Producing light. Grew.
Lucifrian
Lu•cif´ri•an, a. Luciferian; satanic. [Obs.] Marston.
Luck, n. [Akin to D. luk, geluk, G. glück, Icel. lukka, Sw. lycka, Dan. lykke, and perh. to G. locken to entice. Cf. 3d Gleck.] That which happens to a person; an event, good or ill, affecting one’s interests or happiness, and which is deemed casual; a course or series of such events regarded as occurring by chance; chance; hap; fate; fortune; often, one’s habitual or characteristic fortune; as good, bad, ill, or hard luck. Luck is often used for good luck; as luck is better than skill.
"If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck,
He beats thee ’gainst the odds." Shak. Luck penny, a small sum given back for luck to one who pays money. [Prov. Eng.] — To be in luck, to receive some good, or to meet with some success, in an unexpected manner, or as the result of circumstances beyond one’s control; to be fortunate.
Luckily
Luck´i•ly, adv. [From Lucky.] In a lucky manner; by good fortune; fortunately; — used in a good sense; as they luckily escaped injury.
Lucky
Luck´y, a. [ Compar. Luckier superl. Luckiest.]
1. Favored by luck; fortunate; meeting with good success or good fortune; — said of persons; as a lucky adventurer. " Lucky wight." Spenser.
2. Producing, or resulting in, good by chance, or unexpectedly; favorable; auspicious; fortunate; as a lucky mistake; a lucky cast; a lucky hour.
"We doubt not of a fair and lucky war." Shak.
Syn. — Successful; fortunate; prosperous; auspicious.
Lucrative
Lu´cra•tive, a. [L. lucrativus, fr. lucrari to gain, fr. lucrum gain: cf. F. lucratif. See Lucre.]
1. Yielding lucre; gainful; profitable; making increase of money or goods; as a lucrative business or office.
"The trade of merchandise being the most lucrative, may bear usury at a good rate." Bacon.
2. Greedy of gain. [Obs.]
"Such diligence as the most part of our lucrative lawyers do use, in deferring and prolonging of matters and actions from term to term." Latimer.
Lucriferous
Lu•crif´er•ous, a. [L. lucrum gain + -ferous.] Gainful; profitable. [Obs.] Boyle.
Lucubrate
Lu´cu•brate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lucubrated p. pr. & vb. n. Lucubrated ] [L. lucubratus, p. p. of lucubrare to work by lamplight, fr. lux light. See Light, n. ] To study by candlelight or a lamp; to study by night.
Lucubrator
Lu´cu•bra•tor, n. One who studies by night; also one who produces lucubrations.
Luculently
Lu´cu•lent•ly, adv. In a luculent manner; clearly.
Ludibund
Lu´di•bund, a. [L. ludibundus.] Sportive. [Obs.] — Lu´di•bund•ness, n. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Ludicrous
Lu´di•crous, a. [L. ludicrus, or ludicer, from ludus play, sport, fr. ludere to play.] Adapted to excite laughter, without scorn or contempt; sportive. Broome.
"A chapter upon German rhetoric would be in the same ludicrous predicament as Van Troil’s chapter on the snakes of Iceland, which delivers its business in one summary sentence, announcing, that snakes in Iceland — there are none." De Quincey.
Syn. — Laughable; sportive; burlesque; comic; droll; ridiculous. — Ludicrous, Laughable, Ridiculous. We speak of a thing as ludicrous when it tends to produce laughter; as laughable when the impression is somewhat stronger; as ridiculous when more or less contempt is mingled with the merriment created. — Lu´di•crous•ly, adv. — Lu´di•crous•ness, n.
Ludification
Lu•di•fi•ca´tion, n. [L. ludificatio, fr. ludificare to make sport of; ludus sport + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See - fy.] The act of deriding.
Ludlow group
Lud"low group (Geol.) A subdivision of the British Upper Silurian lying below the Old Red Sandstone; — so named from the Ludlow, in Western England. See the Chart of Geology.
Luff, n. [OE. lof, prob. a sort of timber by which the course of a ship was directed, perh. a sort of paddle; cf. D. loef luff, loeven to luff. The word is perh. akin to E. glove. Cf. Aloof.] (Naut.) (a) The side of a ship toward the wind. (b) The act of sailing a ship close to the wind. (c) The roundest part of a ship’s bow. (d) The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and- aft sails. Luff tackle, a purchase composed of a double and single block and fall, used for various purposes. Totten. — Luff upon luff, a luff tackle attached to the fall of another luff tackle. R. H. Dana, Jr.
Luff (luf), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Luffed p. pr. & vb. n. Luffing.] (Naut.) To turn the head of a vessel toward the wind; to sail nearer the wind; to turn the tiller so as to make the vessel sail nearer the wind. To luff round, or To luff alee, to make the extreme of this movement, for the purpose of throwing the ship’s head into the wind.
Lug, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lugged p. pr. & vb. n. Lugging ] [OE. luggen, Sw. lugga to pull by the hair, fr. lugg the forelock.] To pull with force; to haul; to drag along; to carry with difficulty, as something heavy or cumbersome. Dryden.
"They must divide the image among them, and so lug off every one his share." Collier.
Luggage
Lug´gage, n. [From 4th Lug.] That which is lugged; anything cumbrous and heavy to be carried; especially, a traveler’s trunks, baggage, etc., or their contents.
"I am gathering up my luggage, and preparing for my journey." Swift.
"What do you mean,
To dote thus on such luggage!" Shak.
Syn. — Plunder; baggage. Luggage van, a vehicle for carrying luggage; a railway car, or compartment of a car, for carrying luggage. [Eng.]
Lugmark
Lug´mark, n. [From Lug an ear.] A mark cut into the ear of an animal to identify it; an earmark.
Lukewarm
Luke´warm, a. [See Luke.] Moderately warm; neither cold nor hot; tepid; not ardent; not zealous; cool; indifferent. " Lukewarm blood." Spenser. " Lukewarm patriots." Addison.
"An obedience so lukewarm and languishing that it merits not the name of passion." Dryden. — Luke´warm•ly, adv. — Luke´warm•ness, n.
Lull (lul), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lulled (luld); p. pr. & vb. n. Lulling.] [Akin to OD. lullen to sing to sleep, G. lullen, Dan. lulle, Sw. lulla; all of imitative origin. Cf. Loll, Lollard.] To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm; to soothe; to quiet. " To lull him soft asleep." Spenser.
"Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie,
To lull the daughters of necessity." Milton.
Lull, v. i. To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate for a time; as the storm lulls.
Lullaby
Lull´a•by, n. [From Lull, v. t. ]
1. A song to quiet babes or lull them to sleep; that which quiets. Shak.
2. Hence: Good night; good-by. [Obs.] Shak.
Lumbago
Lum•ba´go, n. [L., fr. lumbus loin. See Lumbar.] (Med.) A rheumatic pain in the loins and the small of the back. { Lum´bar, Lum´bal } a. [L. lumbus loin. See Loin.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or near, the loins; as the lumbar arteries. Lumbar region (Anat.), the region of the loin; specifically, a region between the hypochondriac and iliac regions, and outside of the umbilical region.
Lumber
Lum´ber, n. [Prob. fr. Lombard, the Lombards being the money lenders and pawnbrokers of the Middle Ages. A lumber room was according to Trench, originally a Lombard room, or room where the Lombard pawnbroker stored his pledges. See Lombard.]
1. A pawnbroker’s shop, or room for storing articles put in pawn; hence, a pledge, or pawn. [Obs.]
"They put all the little plate they had in the lumber, which is pawning it, till the ships came." Lady Murray.
2. Old or refuse household stuff; things cumbrous, or bulky and useless, or of small value.
3. Timber sawed or split into the form of beams, joists, boards, planks, staves, hoops, etc.; esp., that which is smaller than heavy timber. [U.S.] Lumber kiln, a room in which timber or lumber is dried by artificial heat. [U.S.] — Lumber room, a room in which unused furniture or other lumber is kept. [U.S.] — Lumber wagon, a heavy rough wagon, without springs, used for general farmwork, etc.
Lumber
Lum´ber, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lumbered p. pr. & vb. n. Lumbering.]
1. To heap together in disorder. " Stuff lumbered together." Rymer.
2. To fill or encumber with lumber; as to lumber up a room.
Lumbric
Lum´bric, n. [L. lumbricus.] (Zoöl.) An earthworm, or a worm resembling an earthworm.
Lumbrical
Lum´bric•al, a. [Cf. F. lombrical. See Lumbric.] (Anat.) Resembling a worm; as the lumbrical muscles of the hands of the hands and feet. — n. A lumbrical muscle.
Lumbricus
Lum´bri•cus, n. [L. See Lumbric.] (Zoöl.) A genus of annelids, belonging to the Oligochaeta, and including the common earthworms. See Earthworm.
Luminary
Lu´mi•na•ry, n. ; pl. Luminaries (#), [F. luminaire, L. luminare a light or lamp, which was lighted in the churches, a luminary, fr. lumen, luminis, light, fr. lucere to be light, to shine, lux, lucis, light. See Light.]
1. Any body that gives light, especially one of the heavenly bodies. " Radiant luminary." Skelton.
"Where the great luminary …
Dispenses light from far." Milton.
2. One who illustrates any subject, or enlightens mankind; as Newton was a distinguished luminary.
Luminate
Lu´mi•nate, v. t. [L. luminatus, p. p. of luminare to illumine, fr. lumen light. See Limn.] To illuminate. [Obs.]
Luminescence
Lu•mi•nes´cence, n. [See Luminescent.]
1. (Physics) Any emission of light not ascribable directly to incandescence, and therefore occurring at low temperatures, as in phosphorescence and fluorescence or other luminous radiation resulting from vital processes, chemical action, friction, solution, or the influence of light or of ultraviolet or cathode rays, etc.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The faculty or power of voluntarily producing light, as in the firefly and glowworm. (b) The light thus produced; luminosity; phosphorescence.
Luminosity
Lu•mi•nos´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being luminous; luminousness.
Luminous
Lu´mi•nous, a. [L. luminosus, fr. lumen light: cf. F. lumineux. See Luminary, Illuminate.]
1. Shining; emitting or reflecting light; brilliant; bright; as the is a luminous body; a luminous color.
"Fire burneth wood, making it … luminous." Bacon.
"The mountains lift … their lofty and luminous heads." Longfellow.
2. Illuminated; full of light; bright; as many candles made the room luminous.
"Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the darkness." Longfellow.
3. Enlightened; intelligent; also clear; intelligible; as a luminous mind. " Luminous eloquence." Macaulay. " A luminous statement." Brougham. Luminous paint, a paint made up with some phosphorescent substance, as sulphide of calcium, which after exposure to a strong light is luminous in the dark for a time.
Syn. — Lucid; clear; shining; perspicuous. — Lu´mi•nous•ly, adv. — Lu´mi•nous•ness, n.
Lummox
Lum´mox, n. A fat, ungainly, stupid person; an awkward bungler. [Low.]
Lump, n. [Cf. OD. lompe piece, mass. Cf. Lunch.]
1. A small mass of matter of irregular shape; an irregular or shapeless mass; as a lump of coal; a lump of iron ore. " A lump of cheese." Piers Plowman. " This lump of clay." Shak.
2. A mass or aggregation of things.
3. (Firearms) A projection beneath the breech end of a gun barrel. In the lump, In a lump, the whole together; in gross.
"They may buy them in the lump." Addison. — Lump coal, coal in large lumps; — the largest size brought from the mine. — Lump sum, a gross sum without a specification of items; as to award a lump sum in satisfaction of all claims and damages.
Lump, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lumped p. pr. & vb. n. Lumping.]
1. To throw into a mass; to unite in a body or sum without distinction of particulars.
"The expenses ought to be lumped together." Ayliffe.
2. To take in the gross; to speak of collectively.
"Not forgetting all others, … whom for brevity, but out of no resentment to you, I lump all together." Sterne.
3. To get along with as one can, although displeased; as if he does n’t like it, he can lump it. [Low]
Lumper
Lump´er, n. [Cf. Lamper eel.] (Zoöl.) The European eelpout; — called also lumpen.
Lumpfish
Lump´fish, n. [From Lump, on account of its bulkiness: cf. G. & D. lump, F. lompe.] (Zoöl.) A large, thick, clumsy, marine fish ( Cyclopterus lumpus) of Europe and America. The color is usually translucent sea green, sometimes purplish. It has a dorsal row of spiny tubercles, and three rows on each side, but has no scales. The ventral fins unite and form a ventral sucker for adhesion to stones and seaweeds. Called also lumpsucker, cock-paddle, sea owl.
Lumpy
Lump´y, a. [ Compar. Lumpier superl. Lumpiest.] Full of lumps, or small compact masses.
Luna
Lu´na, n. [L.; akin to lucere to shine. See Light, n. , and cf. Lune.]
1. The moon.
2. (Alchemy) Silver. Luna cornea (Old Chem.), horn silver, or fused silver chloride, a tough, brown, translucent mass; — so called from its resemblance to horn. — Luna moth (Zoöl.), a very large and beautiful American moth ( Actias luna). Its wings are delicate light green, with a stripe of purple along the front edge of the anterior wings, the other margins being edged with pale yellow. Each wing has a lunate spot surrounded by rings of light yellow, blue, and black. The caterpillar commonly feeds on the hickory, sassafras and maple.
Lunacy
Lu´na•cy, n. ; pl. Lunacies (#). [See Lunatic.]
1. Insanity or madness; properly, the kind of insanity which is broken by intervals of reason, — formerly supposed to be influenced by the changes of the moon; any form of unsoundness of mind, except idiocy; mental derangement or alienation. Brande. Burrill.
"Your kindred shuns your house
As beaten hence by your strange lunacy." Shak.
2. A morbid suspension of good sense or judgment, as through fanaticism. Dr. H. More.
Syn. — Derangement; craziness; mania. See Insanity.
Lunar
Lu´nar (lu"ner), a. [L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See Luna, and cf. Lunary.]
1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as lunar observations.
2. Resembling the moon; orbed. Dryden.
3. Measured by the revolutions of the moon; as a lunar month.
4. Influenced by the moon, as in growth, character, or properties; as lunar herbs. Bacon. Lunar caustic (Med. Chem.), silver nitrate prepared to be used as a cautery; — so named because silver was called luna by the ancient alchemists. — Lunar cycle. Same as Metonic cycle. See under Cycle. — Lunar distance, the angular distance of the moon from the sun, a star, or a planet, employed for determining longitude by the lunar method. - - Lunar method, the method of finding a ship’s longitude by comparing the local time of taking (by means of a sextant or circle) a given lunar distance, with the Greenwich time corresponding to the same distance as ascertained from a nautical almanac, the difference of these times being the longitude. — Lunar month. See Month. — Lunar observation, an observation of a lunar distance by means of a sextant or circle, with the altitudes of the bodies, and the time, for the purpose of computing the longitude. — Lunar tables. (a) (Astron.) Tables of the moon’s motions, arranged for computing the moon’s true place at any time past or future. (b) (Navigation) Tables for correcting an observed lunar distance on account of refraction and parallax. — Lunar year, the period of twelve lunar months, or 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34.38 seconds.
Lunarian
Lu•na´ri•an, n. [See Lunar, Luna.] An inhabitant of the moon.
Lunary
Lu´na•ry, a. [Cf. F. lunaire. See Lunar.] Lunar. [Obs.] Fuller.
Lunatic
Lu´na•tic, a. [F. lunatique, L. lunaticus, fr. luna the moon. See Lunar.]
1. Affected by lunacy; insane; mad.
"Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic." Wyclif (Matt. xvii. 15).
2. Of or pertaining to, or suitable for, an insane person; evincing lunacy; as lunatic gibberish; a lunatic asylum.
Lunation
Lu•na´tion, n. [Cf. Lunated.] The period of a synodic revolution of the moon, or the time from one new moon to the next; varying in length, at different times, from about 29¼ to 29⅚ days, the average length being 29 d., 12h., 44m., 2.9s.
Lunch, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lunched p. pr. & vb. n. Lunching.] To take luncheon. Smart.
Luncheon
Lunch´eon, n. [Prov. E. luncheon, lunchion, lunshin, a large lump of food, fr. lunch. See Lunch.]
1. A lump of food. [Prov. Eng.]
2. A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast, as between breakfast and dinner.
Lune, n. [L. luna moon: cf. F. lune. See Luna.]
1. Anything in the shape of a half moon. [R.]
2. (Geom.) A figure in the form of a crescent, bounded by two intersecting arcs of circles.
3. A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak. [Obs.]
"These dangerous, unsafe lunes i’ the king." Shak.
Lunet
Lu´net, n. [See Lunette.] A little moon or satellite. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Lunette
Lu•nette´, n. [F., dim. of lune moon, L. luna. See Lune a crescent.]
1. (Fort.) A fieldwork consisting of two faces, forming a salient angle, and two parallel flanks. See Bastion.
2. (Far.) A half horseshoe, which wants the sponge.
3. A kind of watch crystal which is more than ordinarily flattened in the center; also a species of convexoconcave lens for spectacles.
4. A piece of felt to cover the eye of a vicious horse.
5. (Arch.) Any surface of semicircular or segmental form; especially, the piece of wall between the curves of a vault and its springing line.
6. An iron shoe at the end of the stock of a gun carriage. Lunette window (Arch.), a window which fills or partly fills a lunette.
Lung (lung), n. [OE. lunge, AS. lunge, pl. lungen; akin to D. long, G. lunge, Icel. & Sw. lunga, Dan. lunge, all prob. from the root of E. light. rad.125. See Light not heavy.] (Anat.) An organ for aërial respiration; — commonly in the plural.
"My lungs began to crow
like chanticleer." Shak. In all air-breathing vertebrates the lungs are developed from the ventral wall of the esophagus as a pouch which divides into two sacs. In amphibians and many reptiles the lungs retain very nearly this primitive saclike character, but in the higher forms the connection with the esophagus becomes elongated into the windpipe and the inner walls of the sacs become more and more divided, until, in the mammals, the air spaces become minutely divided into tubes ending in small air cells, in the walls of which the blood circulates in a fine network of capillaries. In mammals the lungs are more or less divided into lobes, and each lung occupies a separate cavity in the thorax. See Respiration. Lung fever (Med.), pneumonia. — Lung flower (Bot.), a species of gentian ( G. Pneumonanthe). — Lung lichen (Bot.), tree lungwort. See under Lungwort. — Lung sac (Zoöl.), one of the breathing organs of spiders and snails.
Lunge, n. [Also spelt longe, fr. allonge. See Allonge, Long.] A sudden thrust or pass, as with a sword.
Lunge, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lunged p. pr. & vb. n. Lunging ] To make a lunge.
Lunge, v. t. To cause to go round in a ring, as a horse, while holding his halter. Thackeray.
Lunged, a. Having lungs, or breathing organs similar to lungs.
Lung-grown
Lung´-grown, a. (Med.) Having lungs that adhere to the pleura.
Lungie
Lun´gie, n. (Zoöl.) A guillemot. [Written also longie.] [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
Lungis
Lun´gis, n. [OF. longis. See Lounge.] A lingerer; a dull, drowsy fellow. [Obs.]
Luniform
Lu´ni•form, a. [L. luna moon + -form: cf. F. luniforme.] Resembling the moon in shape.
Lunistice
Lu´ni•stice, n. [L. luna moon + sistere to cause to stand. Cf. Solstice.] (Astron.) The farthest point of the moon’s northing and southing, in its monthly revolution. [Obs.]
Lunitidal
Lu´ni•tid•al, a. Pertaining to tidal movements dependent on the moon. Bache. Lunitidal interval. See Retard, n.
Lunt, n. [D. lont; akin to Dan. & G. lunte, Sw. lunta. Cf. Link a torch.]
1. The match cord formerly used in firing cannon.
2. A puff of smoke. [Scotch.] Burns.
Lunula
Lu´nu•la, n. ; pl. Lunulae (#). [L., prop., a little moon. See Lunule.] (Anat. & Zoöl.) Same as Lunule.
Lunular
Lu´nu•lar, a. [Cf. F. lunulaire. See Lunula.] (Bot.) Having a form like that of the new moon; shaped like a crescent. { Lu´nu•late, Lu´nu•la•ted } a. [See Lunula.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Resembling a small crescent. Gray.
Lunule
Lu´nule, n. [F., fr. L. lunula, dim. of luna moon.]
1. (Anat.) Anything crescent-shaped; a crescent-shaped part or mark; a lunula; a lune.
2. (Chem.) A lune. See Lune.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) A small or narrow crescent. (b) A special area in front of the beak of many bivalve shells. It sometimes has the shape of a double crescent, but is oftener heart-shaped. See Illust. of Bivalve.
Lunulite
Lu´nu•lite, n. [ Lunule + -life: cf. F. lunulithe. See Lunula.] (Paleon.) Any bryozoan of the genus Lunulites, having a more or less circular form.
Luny
Lu´ny, a. [Shortened fr. lunatic.] Crazy; mentally unsound. [Written also loony.] [Low, U.S.]
Lupercal
Lu•per´cal, a. Of or pertaining to the Lupercalia.
Lupercal
Lu•per´cal, n. A grotto on the Palatine Hill sacred to Lupercus, the Lycean Pan.
Lupine
Lu´pine, n. [L. lupinus, lupinum, apparently fr. lupinus belonging to a wolf, fr. lupus a wolf; perh. so called because it was supposed to exhaust the soil: cf. F. lupin. Cf. Wolf.] (Bot.) A leguminous plant of the genus Lupinus, especially L. albus, the seeds of which have been used for food from ancient times. The common species of the Eastern United States is L. perennis. There are many species in California.
Lupine
Lu´pine, a. [See Lupine, n. ] Wolfish; ravenous. Gauden.
Lupulin
Lu´pu•lin, n. [Cf. F. lupulin. See Lupuline.]
1. (Chem.) A bitter principle extracted from hops.
2. The fine yellow resinous powder found upon the strobiles or fruit of hops, and containing this bitter principle. [Written also lupuline.]
Lupus
Lu´pus, n. [L., a wolf. See Wolf.]
1. (Med.) A cutaneous disease occurring under two distinct forms. Lupus erythematosus is characterized by an eruption of red patches, which become incrusted, leaving superficial scars. L. vulgaris is marked by the development of nodules which often ulcerate deeply and produce great deformity. Formerly the latter was often confounded with cancer, and some varieties of cancer were included under Lupus.
2. (Astron.) The Wolf, a constellation situated south of Scorpio.
Lurcation
Lur•ca´tion, n. [See its Lurch.] Gluttony; gormandizing. [Obs.]
Lurch, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lurched p. pr. & vb. n. Lurching.] To roll or sway suddenly to one side, as a ship or a drunken man.
Lurcher
Lurch´er, n. [See Lurch to lurk.]
1. One that lurches or lies in wait; one who watches to pilfer, or to betray or entrap; a poacher.
2. (Zoöl.) One of a mongrel breed of dogs said to have been a cross between the sheep dog, greyhound, and spaniel. It hunts game silently, by scent, and is often used by poachers.
Lurcher
Lurch´er, n. [L. lurco, lurcho, a glutton. See 1st Lurch.] A glutton; a gormandizer. [Obs.]
Lurchline
Lurch´line, n. The line by which a fowling net was pulled over so as to inclose the birds.
Lurdan
Lur´dan, a. Stupid; blockish. [Obs.]
Lurdan
Lur´dan, n. [OF. lourdin, fr. lourd heavy, dull, thick-headed. See Lord.] A blockhead. [Obs.]
Lure, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lured p. pr. & vb. n. Luring.] [OF. loirer, loirier, F. leurrer. See Lure, n. ] To draw to the lure; hence, to allure or invite by means of anything that promises pleasure or advantage; to entice; to attract.
"I am not lured with love." Piers Plowman.
"And various science lures the learned eye." Gay.
Lurk (lûrk), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lurked (lûrkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lurking.] [OE. lurken, lorken, prob. a dim. from the source of E. lower to frown. See Lower, and cf. Lurch, a sudden roll, Lurch to lurk.]
1. To lie hid; to lie in wait.
"Like wild beasts, lurking in loathsome den." Spenser.
"Let us … lurk privily for the innocent." Prov. i. 11.
2. To keep out of sight.
"The defendant lurks and wanders about in Berks." Blackstone.
Lurker
Lurk´er, n.
1. One who lurks.
2. A small fishing boat. [Prov. Eng.]
Luscious
Lus´cious, a. [Prob. for lustious, fr. lusty, or perh. a corruption of luxurious. Cf. Lush, Lusty.]
1. Sweet; delicious; very grateful to the taste; toothsome; excessively sweet or rich.
"And raisins keep their luscious, native taste." Dryden.
2. Cloying; fulsome.
"He had a tedious, luscious way of talking." Jeffrey.
3. Gratifying a depraved sense; obscene. [R.] Steele. — Lus´cious•ly, adv. — Lus´cious•ness, n.
Lusern
Lu´sern, n. [F. loup- cervier, L. lupus cervarius.] (Zoöl.) A lynx. See 1st Lucern and Loup-cervier.
Lushburg
Lush´burg, n. See Lussheburgh. [Obs.]
Lusk, a. Lazy; slothful. [Obs.]
Luskish
Lusk´ish, a. Inclined to be lazy. Marston. — Lusk´ish•ly, adv. -Lusk´ish•ness, n. [Obs.] Spenser. { Lu•so´ri•ous, Lu´so•ry } a. [L. lusorius. See Illusory.] Used in play; sportive; playful. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson.
Lust, n. [AS. lust, lust, pleasure, longing; akin to OS., D., G., & Sw. lust, Dan. & Icel. lyst, Goth lustus, and perh. tom Skr. lush to desire, or to E. loose. Cf. List to please, Listless.]
1. Pleasure. [Obs.] " Lust and jollity." Chaucer.
2. Inclination; desire. [Obs.]
"For little lust had she to talk of aught." Spenser.
"My lust to devotion is little." Bp. Hall.
3. Longing desire; eagerness to possess or enjoy; — in a had sense; as the lust of gain.
"The lust of reigning." Milton.
4. Licentious craving; sexual appetite. Milton.
5. Hence: Virility; vigor; active power. [Obs.] Bacon.
Lust, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lusting.] [AS. lystan. See Lust, n. , and cf. List to choose.]
1. To list; to like. [Obs.] Chaucer. " Do so if thou lust. " Latimer. In earlier usage lust was impersonal.
"In the water vessel he it cast
When that him luste." Chaucer.
2. To have an eager, passionate, and especially an inordinate or sinful desire, as for the gratification of the sexual appetite or of covetousness; — often with after.
"Whatsoever thy soul lusteth after." Deut. xii. 15.
"Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matt. v. 28.
"The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy." James iv. 5.
Luster
Lust´er, n. One who lusts.
Luster
Lus´terLus´tre, n. [L. lustrum: cf. F. lustre.] A period of five years; a lustrum.
"Both of us have closed the tenth luster." Bolingbroke. { Lus´ter, Lus´tre } n. [F. lustre; cf. It. lustro; both fr. L. lustrare to purify, go about (like the priests at the lustral sacrifice), traverse, survey, illuminate, fr. lustrum a purificatory sacrifice; perh. akin to E. loose. But lustrare to illuminate is perh. a different word, and akin to L. lucere to be light or clear, to shine. See Lucid, and cf. Illustrious, Lustrum.]
1. Brilliancy; splendor; brightness; glitter.
"The right mark and very true luster of the diamond." Sir T. More.
"The scorching sun was mounted high,
In all its luster, to the noonday sky." Addison. There is a tendency to limit the use of luster, in this sense, to the brightness of things which do not shine with their own light, or at least do not blaze or glow with heat. One speaks of the luster of a diamond, or of silk, or even of the stars, but not often now of the luster of the sun, a coal of fire, or the like.
2. Renown; splendor; distinction; glory.
"His ancestors continued about four hundred years, rather without obscurity than with any great luster." Sir H. Wotton.
3. A candlestick, chandelier, girandole, or the like, generally of an ornamental character. Pope.
4. (Min.) The appearance of the surface of a mineral as affected by, or dependent upon, peculiarities of its reflecting qualities. The principal kinds of luster recognized are: metallic, adamantine, vitreous, resinous, greasy, pearly, and silky. With respect to intensity, luster is characterized as splendent, shining, glistening, glimmering, and dull.
5. A substance which imparts luster to a surface, as plumbago and some of the glazes.
6. A fabric of wool and cotton with a lustrous surface, — used for women’s dresses. Luster ware, earthenware decorated by applying to the glazing metallic oxides, which acquire brilliancy in the process of baking. { Lus´ter, Lus´tre } v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lustred p. pr. & vb. n. Lustering, or Lustring.] To make lustrous. [R. & Poetic]
"Flooded and lustered with her loosened gold." Lowell.
Lustihead
Lus´ti•head, n. [ Lusty + -head.] See Lustihood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lustiness
Lus´ti•ness, n. State of being lusty; vigor; strength.
Lustless
Lust´less, a. [CF. Listless.]
1. Lacking vigor; weak; spiritless. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Free from sexual lust.
Lustral
Lus´tral, a. [L. lustralis, fr. lustrum: cf. F. lustral. See Lustrum.]
1. Of or pertaining to, or used for, purification; as lustral days; lustral water.
2. Of or pertaining to a lustrum.
Lustrate
Lus´trate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lustrated p. pr. & vb. n. Lustrating ] [L. lustratus, p. p. of lustrare to lustrate, fr. lustrum. See Lustrum.] To make clear or pure by means of a propitiatory offering; to purify.
"We must purge, and cleanse, and lustrate the whole city." Hammond.
Lustrical
Lus´tri•cal, a. [L. lustricus, fr. lustrum. See Lustrum.] Pertaining to, or used for, purification.
Lustring
Lus´tring, n. [F. lustrine, It. lustrino, fr. lustrare to polish, L. lustrare. See 3d Luster, and cf. Lutestring.] A kind of glossy silk fabric. See Lutestring.
Lustrous
Lus´trous, a. [Cf. F. lustreux. See 3d Luster.] Bright; shining; luminous. " Good sparks and lustrous." Shak. — Lus´trous•ly, adv.
Lustrum
Lus´trum, n. ; pl. E. Lustrums (#), L. Lustra (#). [L. Cf. 2d & 3d Luster.] A lustration or purification, especially the purification of the whole Roman people, which was made by the censors once in five years. Hence: A period of five years.
Lusty
Lust´y, a. [ Compar. Lustier superl. Lustiest.] [From Lust. See Lust, and cf. Luscious.]
1. Exhibiting lust or vigor; stout; strong; vigorous; robust; healthful; able of body.
"Neither would their old men, so many as were yet vigorous and lusty, be left at home." Milton.
2. Beautiful; handsome; pleasant. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. Of large size; big. [Obs.] " Three lusty vessels." Evelyn. Hence, sometimes, pregnant. [Obs. or Prov.]
4. Lustful; lascivious. [Obs.] Milton.
Lutanist
Lut´a•nist, n. [LL. lutanista, fr. lutana lute. See Lute the instrument.] A person that plays on the lute. Johnson.
Lute, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Luted; p. pr. & vb. n. Luting.] To close or seal with lute; as to lute on the cover of a crucible; to lute a joint.
Luteo-
Lu´te•o- [L. luteus.] (Chem.) A combining form signifying orange yellow or brownish yellow.
Luteocobaltic
Lu´te•o•co•balt´ic, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, certain compounds of cobalt having a yellow color. Cf. Cobaltic. Luteocobaltic chloride (Chem.), a brilliant reddish yellow crystalline compound, Co2Cl6(NH3)12, obtained by the action of ammonium chloride on an ammoniacal solution of cobaltic chloride.
Luteolin
Lu´te•o•lin, n. [From NL. Reseda luteola, fr. L. luteolus yellowish, fr. luteus: cf. F. luteoline. See Luteous.] (Chem.) A yellow dyestuff obtained from the foliage of the dyer’s broom ( Reseda luteola).
Luter
Lut´er, n. [From 3d Lute.] One who plays on a lute.
Luter
Lut´er, n. [From Ist Lute.] One who applies lute.
Lutescent
Lu•tes´cent, a. [L. luteus yellow.] Of a yellowish color.
Luthern
Lu´thern, n. [F. lucarne a dormer, dormer window, garret window, L. lucerna lamp, fr. lucere to be light or clear, fr. lux light. See Light, n. , and cf. Lucarne.] (Arch.) A dormer window. See Dormer.
Luting
Lut´ing, n. (Chem.) See Lute, a cement.
Lutose
Lu•tose´, a. [L. lutosus, fr. lutum mud.] Covered with clay; miry.
Lutulence
Lu´tu•lence, n. The state or quality of being lutulent.
Lutulent
Lu´tu•lent, a. [L. lutulentus, fr. lutum mud.] Muddy; turbid; thick. [Obs.]
Lux, v. t. [Cf. F. luxer. See Luxate.] To put out of joint; to luxate. [Obs.]
Luxate
Lux´ate, a. [L. luxatus, p. p. of luxare to dislocate.] Luxated. [Obs.]
Luxate
Lux´ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Luxated p. pr. & vb. n. Luxating ] To displace, or remove from its proper place, as a joint; to put out of joint; to dislocate.
Luxuriant
Lux•u´ri•ant, a. [L. luxurians, p. pr. of luxuriare: cf. F. luxuriant. See Luxuriate.] Exuberant in growth; rank; excessive; very abundant; as a luxuriant growth of grass; luxuriant foliage.
"Prune the luxuriant, the uncouth refine." Pope. Luxuriant flower (Bot.), one in which the floral envelopes are overdeveloped at the expense of the essential organs.
Luxuriate
Lux•u´ri•ate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Luxuriated p. pr. & vb. n. Luxuriating.] [L. luxuriatus, p. p. of luxuriari, -are, to luxuriate. See Luxury.]
1. To grow exuberantly; to grow to superfluous abundance. " Corn luxuriates in a better mold." Burton.
2. To feed or live luxuriously; as the herds luxuriate in the pastures.
3. To indulge with unrestrained delight and freedom; as to luxuriate in description.
Luxuriation
Lux•u•ri•a´tion, n. The act or process of luxuriating.
Luxurious
Lux•u´ri•ous, a. [L. luxuriosus: cf. F. luxurieux. See Luxury.] Of or pertaining to luxury; ministering to luxury; supplied with the conditions of luxury; as a luxurious life; a luxurious table; luxurious ease. " Luxurious cities. " Milton. — Lux•u´ri•ous•ly, adv. — Lux•u´ri•ous•ness, n.
Luxurist
Lux´u•rist, n. One given to luxury. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.