Chapter I: W. W (9)

Defn: An intoxicating fermented or distilled liquor originally made by the Tartars from mare's or camel's milk. It can be obtained from any kind of milk, and is now largely made in Europe. [Written also koumyss, kumiss, kumish, and kumys.] Koumiss has from time immemorial served the Tartar instead of wine or spirits. J. H. Newman.

KOUSSO Kous"so, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An Abyssinian rosaceous tree (Brayera anthelmintica), the flowers of which are used as a vermifuge. [Written also cusso and kosso.]

KOWTOW Kow*tow", n. & v. i.

Defn: The same as Kotow. I have salaamed and kowtowed to him. H. James.

KRA Kra, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A long-tailed ape (Macacus cynomolgus) of India and Sumatra. It is reddish olive, spotted with black, and has a black tail.

KRAAL Kraal, n. Etym: [D., a village, inclosure, park, prob. fr. Pg. curral a cattle pen; the same word as Sp. corral. See Corral.]

1. A collection of huts within a stockade; a village; sometimes, a single hut. [South Africa]

2. An inclosure into which are driven wild elephants which are to be tamed and educated. [Ceylon]

KRAIT Krait, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very venomous snake of India (Bungarus coeruleus), allied to the cobra. Its upper parts are bluish or brownish black, often with narrow white streaks; the belly is whitish.

KRAKEN Kra"ken, n. Etym: [Prob. from OSw. krake, or ODan. krage the trunk of a tree, the branches of which are not entirely cut off, to which it was likened by the Norwegian mariners.]

Defn: A fabulous Scandinavian sea monster, often represented as resembling an island, but sometimes as resembling an immense octopus. To believe all that has been said of the sea serpent or kraken, would be credulity; to reject the possibility of their existence, would be presumption. Goldsmith. Like a kraken huge and black. Longfellow.

KRAKOWIAK Kra*ko"wi*ak, n. (Mus.)

Defn: A lively Polish dance. See Cracovienne.

KRAMERIA Kra*me"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. So called after the German botanists, J. G. H. & W. H. Kramer.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of spreading shrubs with many stems, from one species of which (K. triandra), found in Peru, rhatany root, used as a medicine, is obtained.

KRAMERIC Kra*mer"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, Krameria (rhatany); as, krameric acid, usually called ratanhia-tannic acid.

KRANG Krang, n. Etym: [Cf. D. kreng a carcass.]

Defn: The carcass of a whale after the blubber has been removed. [Written also crang and kreng.]

KRANGING HOOK Krang"ing hook`. (Whaling)

Defn: A hook for holding the blubber while cutting it away. [Written also cranging hook.]

KREATIC Kre*at"ic, a.

Defn: See Creatic.

KREATIN Kre"a*tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Creatin.

KREATININ Kre*at"i*nin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Creatinin.

KREEL Kreel, n.

Defn: See Creel.

KREMLIN Krem"lin, n. Etym: [Russ. kremle.]

Defn: The citadel of a town or city; especially, the citadel of Moscow, a large inclosure which contains imperial palaces, cathedrals, churches, an arsenal, etc. [Russia]

KREMS Krems, n.

Defn: A variety of white lead. See Krems lead, under Lead, n.

KRENG Kreng, n.

Defn: See Krang.

KREOSOTE Kre"o*sote, n.

Defn: See Creosote.

KREUTZER Kreut"zer, n. Etym: [G. kreuzer.]

Defn: A small copper coin formerly used in South Germany; also, a small Austrian copper coin. [Written also kreuzer.]

KRIEGSSPIEL Kriegs"spiel` (, n. Etym: [G., fr. krieg war + spiel play.]

Defn: A game of war, played for practice, on maps. Farrow.

KRIS Kris, n.

Defn: A Malay dagger. See Creese.

KRISHNA Krish"na (, n. Etym: [Skr. (Hindoo Myth.)

Defn: The most popular of the Hindoo divinities, usually held to be the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu.

KRITARCHY Kri"tarch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The rule of the judges over Israel. Samson, Jephthah, Gideon, and other heroes of the kritarchy. Southey.

KROKIDOLITE Kro*kid"o*lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Crocidolite.

KRONE Kro"ne, n.Etym: [Dan.]

Defn: A coin of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, of the value of about twenty-eight cents. See Crown, n., 9.

KROOMAN Kroo"man, n.; pl. Kroomen (.

Defn: One of a negro tribe of Liberia and the adjacent coast, whose members are much employed on shipboard.

KRULLER Krul"ler, n.

Defn: See Cruller.

KRUMMHORN; KRUMHORN Krumm"horn`, Krum"horn`, n. Etym: [G. krummhorn horn.] (Mus.) (a) A reed instrument of music of the cornet kind, now obsolete (see Cornet, 1, a.) (b) A reed stop in the organ; -- sometimes called cremona.

KRUPP GUN Krupp" gun"

Defn: . A breech-loading steel cannon manufactured at the works of Friedrich Krupp, at Essen in Prussia. Guns of over eight-inch bore are made up of several concentric cylinders; those of a smaller size are forged solid. Knight.

KRUPPIZE Krupp"ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kruppized; p. pr. & vb. n. Kruppizing.] (Metal.)

Defn: To treat by, or subject to, the Krupp process.

KRUPP PROCESS Krupp process. (Iron Metal.) (a) A process practiced by Friedrich Krupp, Essen, Germany, for washing pig iron, differing from the Bell process in using manganese as well as iron oxide, and performed in a Pernot furnace. Called also the Bell-Krupp process. (b) A process for the manufacture of steel armor plates, invented or practiced by Krupp, the details of which are secret. It is understood to involve the addition of chromium as well as nickel to the metal, and to include a treatment like that of the Harvey process with unknown variations or additions. The product is mentioned by some authors, as improved Harvey, or Harvey-Krupp armor plate.

KRYOLITE Kry"o*lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Cryolite.

KRYPTON Kryp"ton, n. [NL., fr. Gr. , neut. of hidden.] (Chem.)

Defn: An inert gaseous element of the argon group, occurring in air to the extent of about one volume in a million. It was discovered by Ramsay and Travers in 1898. Liquefying point, -- 152º C.; symbol, Kr; atomic weight, 83.0.

KSAR Ksar, n.

Defn: See Czar.

KSHATRIYA; KSHATRUYA Ksha"tri*ya, Ksha"tru*ya, n.Etym: [Skr. kshatriya one belonging to the military caste.]

Defn: The military caste, the second of the four great Hindoo castes; also, a member of that caste. See Caste. [India]

KUDA Ku"da, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The East Indian tapir. See Tapir.

KUDOS Ku"dos, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ky^dos glory.]

Defn: Glory; fame; renown; praise. W. H. Russel.

KUDOS Ku"dos, v. t.

Defn: To praise; to extol; to glorify. "Kudos'd egregiously." [R.] Southey.

KUDU Ku"du, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Koodoo.

KUFIC Ku"fic, a.

Defn: See Cufic.

KUKANG Ku*kang", n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Native name.]

Defn: The slow lemur. See Lemur.

KUKLUX Ku`klux", n.

Defn: The name adopted in the southern part of the United States by a secret political organization, active for several years after the close of the Civil War, and having for its aim the repression of the political power of the freedmen; -- called also Kuklux Klan.

KULAN Ku"lan, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Koulan.

KULTURKAMPF Kul*tur"kampf`, n. [G., fr. kultur, cultur, culture + kampf fight.] (Ger. Hist.)

Defn: Lit., culture war; -- a name, originating with Virchow (1821 -- 1902), given to a struggle between the the Roman Catholic Church and the German government, chiefly over the latter's efforts to control educational and ecclesiastical appointments in the interest of the political policy of centralization. The struggle began with the passage by the Prussian Diet in May, 1873, of the so-called May laws, or Falk laws, aiming at the regulation of the clergy. Opposition eventually compelled the government to change its policy, and from 1880 to 1887 laws virtually nullifying the May laws were enacted.

KUMISH; KUMISS Ku"mish, Ku"miss, n.

Defn: See Koumiss.

KUMMEL Kum"mel, n. Etym: [G. kümmel cumin, caraway seed, L. cuminum. Cf. Cumin.]

Defn: A Russian and German liqueur, consisting of a sweetened spirit flavored with caraway seeds.

KUMQUAT Kum"quat, n. Etym: [Chin. kin keu.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small tree of the genus Citrus (C. Japonica) growing in China and Japan; also, its small acid, orange-colored fruit used for preserves.

KUPFERNICKEL Kup"fer*nick"el, n. Etym: [G. See Copper, and Nickel.] (Min.)

Defn: Copper-nickel; niccolite. See Niccolite.

KURD Kurd, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of a mountainous region of Western Asia belonging to the Turkish and Persian monarchies. [Written also Koord.]

KURDISH Kurd"ish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Kurds. [Written also Koordish.]

KURILIAN Ku*ril"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Kurile Islands, a chain of islands in the Pacific ocean, extending from the southern extremity of Kamschatka to Yesso. -- n.

Defn: A native or an inhabitant of the Kurile Islands. [Written also Koorilian.]

KURO-SIWO Ku"ro-Siwo, n. [Jap. kuroshio; kuro black + shio tide.]

Defn: See Japan Current, above.

KURSAAL Kur"saal`, n.Etym: [G.]

Defn: A public hall or room, for the use of visitors at watering places and health resorts in Germany.

KUSIMANSE Ku`si*man"se, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A carnivorous animal (Crossarchus obscurus) of tropical Africa. It its allied to the civets. Called also kusimansel, and mangue.

KUSKUS Kus"kus, Etym: [Per. & Hind. khaskhas.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Vetiver.

KUSSIER Kus"si*er, n.

Defn: (Mus.) A Turkish instrument of music, with a hollow body covered with skin, over which five strings are stretched. [Written also kussir.]

KUTAUSS Ku*tauss", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The India civet (Viverra zibetha).

KUTCH Kutch, n. (Goldbeating)

Defn: The packet of vellum leaves in which the gold is first beaten into thin sheets.

KUTCH Kutch, n.

Defn: See Catechu.

KY Ky, n. pl.

Defn: Kine. [Scot.] See Kee, Kie, and Kine.

KYABOCA WOOD Ky`a*bo"ca wood`. (Bot.) (a) Amboyna wood. (b) Sandalwood (Santalum album).

KYACK Ky"ack, n.

Defn: A pack sack to be swung on either side of a packsaddle. [Western U. S.]

KYANITE Ky"an*ite, n.

Defn: See Cyanite.

KYANIZE Ky"an*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Kyanized; p. pr. & vb. n. Kyanizing.] Etym: [From Mr. Kyan, the inventor of the process.]

Defn: To render (wood) proof against decay by saturating with a solution of corrosive sublimate in open tanks, or under pressure.

KYANOL Ky"a*nol, n. Etym: [See Cyanite.] (Chem.) (a) Aniline. [Obs.] (b) A base obtained from coal tar. Ure.

KYANOPHYLL Ky*an"o*phyll, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Cyanophyll.

KYAR Kyar, n.

Defn: Cocoanut fiber, or the cordage made from it. See Coir.

KYAW Kyaw, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A daw. [Scot.]

KYD Kyd,

Defn: p. p. of Kythe.

KYDDE Kyd"de (,

Defn: imp. of Kythe, to show. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Note: Spenser erroneously uses kydst to mean "knowest."

KYKE Kyke, v. i. Etym: [See 1st Kike.]

Defn: To look steadfastly; to gaze. [Obs.] [Written also kike, keke.] This Nicholas sat ever gaping upright, As he had kyked on the newe moon. Chaucer.

KYLEY Ky"ley, n.

Defn: A variety of the boomerang.

KYLOES Ky"loes, n. pl.

Defn: The cattle of the Hebrides, or of the Highlands. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

KYMNEL Kym"nel, n.

Defn: See Kimnel. [Obs.] Chapman.

KYMOGRAPH Ky"mo*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument for measuring, and recording graphically, the pressure of the blood in any of the blood vessels of a living animal; -- called also kymographion.

KYMOGRAPHIC Ky`mo*graph"ic, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a kymograph; as, a kymographic tracing.

KYMRIC Kym"ric, a & n.

Defn: See Cymric, a. & n.

KYMRY Kym"ry, n.

Defn: See Cymry.

KYNREDE Kyn"rede, n.

Defn: Kindred. [Obs.] Chaucer.

KYNURENIC Ky`nu*ren"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from the urine of dogs. By decomposition the acid yields a nitrogenous base (called kynurin) and carbonic acid. [Written also cynurenic.]

KYRIE Kyr"i*e, n.

Defn: See Kyrie eleison.

KYRIE ELEISON Kyr"i*e e*lei"son. Etym: [Gr. ky`rie 'elei^son .]

1. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: Greek words, meaning "Lord, have mercy upon us," used in the Mass, the breviary offices, the litany of the saints, etc. Addis & Arnold.

2. The name given to the response to the Commandments, in the service of the Church of England and of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

KYRIELLE Kyr`i*elle, n. Etym: [Cf. F. kyrielle.]

Defn: A litany beginning with the words. "Kyrie eleison." Shipley.

KYRIOLEXY; KYRIOLOGY Kyr"i*o*lex`y, Kyr`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. Curiologic.]

Defn: The use of literal or simple expressions, as distinguished from the use of figurative or obscure ones. Krauth-Fleming.

KYRIOLOGICAL Kyr`i*o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Curiologic.]

Defn: Serving to denote objects by conventional signs or alphabetical characters; as, the original Greek alphabet of sixteen letters was called kyriologic, because it represented the pure elementary sounds. See Curiologic. [Written also curiologic and kuriologic.]

Note: The term is also applied, as by Warburton, to those Egyptian hieroglyphics, in which a part is put conventionally for the whole, as in depicting a battle by two hands, one holding a shield and the other a bow.

KYTHE; KITHE Kythe, Kithe, v. t. [imp. Kydde, Kidde (kîd"de); p. p. Kythed, Kid; p. pr. & vb. n. Kything.] Etym: [OE. kythen, kithen, cu, to make known, AS. c, fr. c known. Uncouth, Ca to be able, and cf. Kith.]

Defn: To make known; to manifest; to show; to declare. [Obs: or Scot.] For gentle hearte kytheth gentilesse. Chaucer.

KYTHE Kythe, v. t.

Defn: To come into view; to appear. [Scot.] It kythes bright . . . because all is dark around it. Sir W. Scott.

KYTOMITON Ky*tom"i*ton, n.Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: See Karyomiton.

KYTOPLASMA Ky`to*plas"ma, n.Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: See Karyoplasma.

L

1. L is the twelfth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonant. It is usually called a semivowel or liquid. Its form and value are from the Greek, through the Latin, the form of the Greek letter being from the Phoenician, and the ultimate origin prob. Egyptian. Etymologically, it is most closely related to r and u; as in pilgrim, peregrine, couch (fr. collocare), aubura (fr. LL. alburnus).

Note: At the end of monosyllables containing a single vowel, it is often doubled, as in fall, full, bell; but not after digraphs, as in foul, fool, prowl, growl, foal. In English words, the terminating syllable le is unaccented, the e is silent, and l is preceded by a voice glide, as in able, eagle, pronounced a''b'l, ''g'l. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 241.

2. As a numeral, L stands for fifty in the English, as in the Latin language. For 50 the Romans used the Chalcidian chi, I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

L L, n.

1. An extension at right angles to the length of a main building, giving to the ground plan a form resembling the letter L; sometimes less properly applied to a narrower, or lower, extension in the direction of the length of the main building; a wing. [Written also ell.]

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A short right-angled pipe fitting, used in connecting two pipes at right angles. [Written also ell.]

LA La, n. (Mus.) (a) A syllable applied to the sixth tone of the scale in music in solmization. (b) The tone A; -- so called among the French and Italians.

LA La, interj. Etym: [Cf. Lo.]

1. Look; see; behold; -- sometimes followed by you. [Obs.] Shak.

2. An exclamation of surprise; -- commonly followed by me; as, La me! [Low]

LAAGER Laa"ger (lal"ger or lä"ger), n. [D., also leger. Cf. 2d Leaguer, Lair.]

Defn: A camp, esp. one with an inclosure of travelers' wagons for temporary defense. [South Africa]

Wagons . . . can be readily formed into a laager, a camp, by being drawn into a circle, with the oxen placed inside and so kept safe from the attacks of wild beasts. James Bryce.

LAAGER Laa"ger, v. t. & i. [From Laager, n.]

Defn: To form into, or camp in, a laager, or protected camp.

LAAS Laas, n.

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

LAB Lab, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OD. labben to babble.]

Defn: To prate; to gossip; to babble; to blab. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LAB Lab, n.

Defn: A telltale; a prater; a blabber. [Obs.] "I am no lab." Chaucer.

LABADIST Lab"a*dist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A follower of Jean de Labadie, a religious teacher of the 17th century, who left the Roman Catholic Church and taught a kind of mysticism, and the obligation of community of property among Christians.

LABARRAQUE'S SOLUTION La`bar`raque's" so*lu"tion. Etym: [From Labarraque, a Parisian apothecary.] (Med.)

Defn: An aqueous solution of hypochlorite of sodium, extensively used as a disinfectant.

LABARUM Lab"a*rum (, n.; pl. Labara. Etym: [L.]

Defn: The standard adopted by the Emperor Constantine after his conversion to Christianity. It is described as a pike bearing a silk banner hanging from a crosspiece, and surmounted by a golden crown. It bore a monogram of the first two letters (CHR) of the name of Christ in its Greek form. Later, the name was given to various modifications of this standard.

LABDANUM Lab"da*num, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Ladanum.

LABEFACTION Lab`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [See Labefy.]

Defn: The act of labefying or making weak; the state of being weakened; decay; ruin. There is in it such a labefaction of all principles as may be injurious to morality. Johnson.

LABEFY Lab"e*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. labefacere; labare to totter + facere to make.]

Defn: To weaken or impair. [R.]

LABEL La"bel, n. Etym: [OF. label sort of ribbon or fringe, label in heraldry, F. lambeau shred, strip, rag; of uncertain origin; cf. L.labellum, dim. of labrum lip, edge, margin, G. lappen flap, patch, rag, tatter (cf. Lap of a dress), W. llab, llabed, label, flap, Gael. leab, leob, slice, shred, hanging lip.]

1. A tassel. [Obs.] Huloet. Fuller.

2. A slip of silk, paper, parchment, etc., affixed to anything, usually by an inscription, the contents, ownership, destination, etc.; as, the label of a bottle or a package.

3. A slip of ribbon, parchment, etc., attached to a document to hold the appended seal; also, the seal.

4. A writing annexed by way of addition, as a codicil added to a will.

5. (Her.)

Defn: A barrulet, or, rarely, a bendlet, with pendants, or points, usually three, especially used as a mark of cadency to distinguish an eldest or only son while his father is still living.

6. A brass rule with sights, formerly used, in connection with a circumferentor, to take altitudes. Knight.

7. (Gothic Arch.)

Defn: The name now generally given to the projecting molding by the sides, and over the tops, of openings in mediæval architecture. It always has a Arch. Pub. Soc.

8. In mediæval art, the representation of a band or scroll containing an inscription. Fairholt.

LABEL La"bel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Labeled or Labelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Labeling or Labelling.]

1. To affix a label to; to mark with a name, etc.; as, to label a bottle or a package.

2. To affix in or on a label. [R.]

LABELER La"bel*er, n.

Defn: One who labels. [Written also labeller.]

LABELLUM La*bel"lum, n.; pl. L. Labella, E. Labellums. Etym: [L., dim. of labrum lip.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The lower or apparently anterior petal of an orchidaceous flower, often of a very curious shape.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small appendage beneath the upper lip or labrum of certain insects.

LABENT La"bent, a. Etym: [L. labens, p. pr. of labi to slide, glide.]

Defn: Slipping; sliding; gliding. [R.]

LABIA La"bi*a, n. pl.

Defn: See Labium.

LABIAL La"bi*al, a. Etym: [LL. labialis, fr. L. labium lip: cf. F. labial. See Lip.]

1. Of or pertaining to the lips or labia; as, labial veins.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: Furnished with lips; as, a labial organ pipe.

3. (Phonetics) (a) Articulated, as a consonant, mainly by the lips, as b, p, m, w. (b) Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, as oo (food), o (old), etc., and as eu and u in French, and ö, ü in German. See Guide to Pronunciation,

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the labium; as, the labial palpi of insects. See Labium.

LABIAL La"bi*al, n.

1. (Phonetics)

Defn: A letter or character representing an articulation or sound formed or uttered chiefly with the lips, as b, p, w.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: An organ pipe that is furnished with lips; a flue pipe.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the scales which border the mouth of a fish or reptile.

LABIALISM La"bi*al*ism, n. (Phonetics)

Defn: The quality of being labial; as, the labialism of an articulation; conversion into a labial, as of a sound which is different in another language. J. Peile.

LABIALIZATION La`bi*al*i*za"tion, n. (Phonetics)

Defn: The modification of an articulation by contraction of the lip opening.

LABIALIZE La"bi*al*ize, v. t. (Phonetics)

Defn: To modify by contraction of the lip opening.

LABIALLY La"bi*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a labial manner; with, or by means of, the lips.

LABIATE La"bi*ate, v. t.

Defn: To labialize. Brewer.

LABIATE La"bi*ate, a. Etym: [NL. labiatus, fr. L. labium lip.] (Bot.) (a) Having the limb of a tubular corolla or calyx divided into two unequal parts, one projecting over the other like the lips of a mouth, as in the snapdragon, sage, and catnip. (b) Belonging to a natural order of plants (Labiatæ), of which the mint, sage, and catnip are examples. They are mostly aromatic herbs.

LABIATE La"bi*ate, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the order Labiatæ.

LABIATED La"bi*a`ted, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Labiate, a. (a).

LABIATIFLORAL; LABIATIFLORAL La`bi*a`ti*flo"ral, La`bi*a`ti*flo"ral, a. Etym: [Labiate + L. flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having labiate flowers, as the snapdragon.

LABIDOMETER Lab`i*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr.meter: cf. F. labidometre.] (Med.)

Defn: A forceps with a measuring attachment for ascertaining the size of the fetal head.

LABILE La"bile, a. Etym: [L. labilis apt to slip, fr. labi to slip.]

Defn: Liable to slip, err, fall, or apostatize. [Obs.] Cheyne.

LABILITY La*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Liability to lapse, err, or apostatize. [Archaic] Coleridge.

LABIMETER La*bim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. labimetre.] (Med.)

Defn: See Labidometer.

LABIODENTAL La`bi*o*den"tal, a. Etym: [Labium + dental.] (Phonetics)

Defn: Formed or pronounced by the cooperation of the lips and teeth, as f and v. -- n.

Defn: A labiodental sound or letter.

LABIONASAL La`bi*o*na"sal, a. Etym: [Labium + nasal.] (Phonetics)

Defn: Formed by the lips and the nose. -- n.

Defn: A labionasal sound or letter.

LABIOPLASTY La"bi*o*plas`ty (la"bi*o*plas`ty), n. [Labium + -plasty.] (Surg.)

Defn: A plastic operation for making a new lip, or for replacing a lost tissue of a lip.

LABIOSE La"bi*ose`, a. Etym: [From Labium.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the appearance of being labiate; -- said of certain polypetalous corollas.

LABIPALP La"bi*palp, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A labial palp.

LABIPALPUS La`bi*pal"pus, n.; pl. Labipalpi (. Etym: [NL. See Labium, and Palpus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the labial palpi of an insect. See Illust. under Labium.

LABIUM La"bi*um, n. ; pl. L. Labia, E. Labiums. Etym: [L.]

1. A lip, or liplike organ.

2. The lip of an organ pipe.

3. pl. (Anat.)

Defn: The folds of integument at the opening of the vulva.

4. (Zoöl.) (a) The organ of insects which covers the mouth beneath, and serves as an under lip. It consists of the second pair of maxillæ, usually closely united in the middle line, but bearing a pair of palpi in most insects. It often consists of a thin anterior part (ligula or palpiger) and a firmer posterior plate (mentum). (b) Inner margin of the aperture of a shell.

LABLAB Lab"lab, n. (Bot.)

Defn: an East Indian name for several twining leguminous plants related to the bean, but commonly applied to the hyacinth bean (Delichos Lablab).

LABOR La"bor, n. Etym: [OE. labour, OF. labour, laber, labur, F. labeur, L. labor; cf. Gr. labh to get, seize.] [Written also labour.]

1. Physical toil or bodily exertion, especially when fatiguing, irksome, or unavoidable, in distinction from sportive exercise; hard, muscular effort directed to some useful end, as agriculture, manufactures, and like; servile toil; exertion; work. God hath set Labor and rest, as day and night, to men Successive. Milton.

2. Intellectual exertion; mental effort; as, the labor of compiling a history.

3. That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which demands effort. Being a labor of so great a difficulty, the exact performance thereof we may rather wish than look for. Hooker.

4. Travail; the pangs and efforts of childbirth. The queen's in labor, They say, in great extremity; and feared She'll with the labor end. Shak.

5. Any pang or distress. Shak.

6. (Naut.)

Defn: The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the straining of timbers and rigging.

7. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A measure of land in Mexico and Texas, equivalent to an area of 177 Bartlett.

Syn. -- Work; toil; drudgery; task; exertion; effort; industry; painstaking. See Toll.

LABOR La"bor, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Labored; p. pr. & vb. n. Laboring.] Etym: [OE. labouren, F. labourer, L. laborare. See Labor, n.] [Written also labour.]

1. To exert muscular strength; to exert one's strength with painful effort, particularly in servile occupations; to work; to toil. Adam, well may we labor still to dress This garden. Milton.

2. To exert one's powers of mind in the prosecution of any design; to strive; to take pains.

3. To be oppressed with difficulties or disease; to do one's work under conditions which make it especially hard, wearisome; to move slowly, as against opposition, or under a burden; to be burdened; -- often with under, and formerly with of. The stone that labors up the hill. Granville. The line too labors,and the words move slow. Pope. To cure the disorder under which he labored. Sir W. Scott. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. xi. 28

4. To be in travail; to suffer the pangs of childbirth.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: To pitch or roll heavily, as a ship in a turbulent sea. Totten.

LABOR La"bor, v. t. Etym: [F. labourer, L. laborare.]

1. To work at; to work; to till; to cultivate by toil. The most excellent lands are lying fallow, or only labored by children. W. Tooke.

2. To form or fabricate with toil, exertion, or care. "To labor arms for Troy." Dryden.

3. To prosecute, or perfect, with effort; to urge streas, to labor a point or argument.

4. To belabor; to beat. [Obs.] Dryden.

LABORANT Lab"o*rant, n. Etym: [L.laborans, p. pr. of laborare to labor.]

Defn: A chemist. [Obs.] Boyle.

LABORATORY Lab"o*ra*to*ry, n.; pl. Laboratories. Etym: [Shortened fr. elaboratory; cf. OF. elaboratoire, F. laboratoire. See Elaborate, Labor.] [Formerly written also elaboratory.]

Defn: The workroom of a chemist; also, a place devoted to experiments in any branch of natural science; as, a chemical, physical, or biological laboratory. Hence, by extension, a place where something is prepared, or some operation is performed; as, the liver is the laboratory of the bile.

LABOR DAY Labor Day.

Defn: In most of the States and Territories of the United States, a day, usually the first Monday of September, set aside as a legal holiday, in honor of, or in the interest of, workingmen as a class. Also, a similar holiday in Canada, Australia, etc.

LABORED La"bored, a.

Defn: Bearing marks of labor and effort; elaborately wrought; not easy or natural; as, labored poetry; a labored style.

LABOREDLY La"bored*ly, adv.

Defn: In a labored manner; with labor.

LABORER La"bor*er, n. Etym: [Written also labourer.]

Defn: One who labors in a toilsome occupation; a person who does work that requires strength rather than skill, as distinguished from that of an artisan.

LABORING La"bor*ing, a.

1. That labors; performing labor; esp., performing coarse, heavy work, not requiring skill also, set apart for labor; as, laboring days. The sleep of a laboring man is sweet. eccl. v. 12.

2. Suffering pain or grief. Pope. Laboring oar, the oar which requires most strength and exertion; often used figuratively; as, to have, or pull, the laboring oar in some difficult undertaking.

LABORIOUS La*bo"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. laboriosus,fr. labor labor: cf. F. laborieux.]

1. Requiring labor, perseverance, or sacrifices; toilsome; tiresome. Dost thou love watchings, abstinence, or toil, Laborious virtues all Learn these from Cato. Addison.

2. Devoted to labor; diligent; industrious; as, a laborious mechanic. -- La*bo"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- La*bo"ri*ous*ness, n.

LABORLESS La"bor*less, a.

Defn: Not involving labor; not laborious; easy.

LABOROUS La"bor*ous, a.

Defn: Laborious. [Obs.] Wyatt. -- La"bor*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

LABOR-SAVING La"bor-sav`ing, a.

Defn: Saving labor; adapted to supersede or diminish the labor of men; as, laborsaving machinery.

LABORSOME La"bor*some, a.

1. Made with, or requiring, great labor, pains, or diligence. [Obs.] Shak.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Likely or inclined to roll or pitch, as a ship in a heavy sea; having a tendency to labor.

LABRADOR Lab`ra*dor", n.

Defn: A region of British America on the Atlantic coast, north of Newfoundland. Labrador duck (Zoöl.), a sea duck (Camtolaimus Labradorius) allied to the eider ducks. It was formerly common on the coast of New England, but is now supposed to be extinct, no specimens having been reported since 1878. -- Labrador feldspar. See Labradorite. -- Labrador tea (Bot.), a name of two low, evergreen shrubs of the genus Ledum (L. palustre and L. latifolium), found in Northern Europe and America. They are used as tea in British America, and in Scandinavia as a substitute for hops.

LABRADORITE Lab"ra*dor`ite (, n. (Min.)

Defn: A kind of feldspar commonly showing a beautiful play of colors, and hence much used for ornamental purposes. The finest specimens come from Labrador. See Feldspar.

LABRAS La"bras, n. pl. Etym: [L.labrum; cf. It. labbro, pl. labbra.]

Defn: Lips. [Obs. & R.] Shak.

LABRET La"bret, n. [L. labrum lip.] (Anthropology)

Defn: A piece of wood, shell, stone, or other substance, worn in a perforation of the lip or cheek by many savages.

LABROID La"broid, a. Etym: [Labrus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like the genus Labrus; belonging to the family Labridæ, an extensive family of marine fishes, often brilliantly colored, which are very abundant in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The tautog and cunner are American examples.

LABROSE La"brose`, a. Etym: [L. labrosus, fr. labrum lip.]

Defn: Having thick lips.

LABRUM La"brum, n.; pl. L. Labra, E. Labrums. Etym: [L.]

1. A lip or edge, as of a basin.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) An organ in insects and crustaceans covering the upper part of the mouth, and serving as an upper lip. See Illust. of Hymenoptera. (b) The external margin of the aperture of a shell. See Univalve.

LABRUS La"brus, n.; pl. Labri (-bri). Etym: [L., a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine fishes, including the wrasses of Europe. See Wrasse.

LABURNIC La*bur`nic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the laburnum.

LABURNINE La*bur`nine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A poisonous alkaloid found in the unripe seeds of the laburnum.

LABURNUM La*bur"num, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small leguminous tree (Cytisus Laburnum), native of the Alps. The plant is reputed to be poisonous, esp. the bark and seeds. It has handsome racemes of yellow blossoms.

Note: Scotch laburnum (Cytisus alpinus) is similar, but has smooth leaves; purple laburnum is C. purpureus.

LABYRINTH Lab"y*rinth, n. Etym: [L. labyrinthus, Gr. laby`rinthos: cf. F. labyrinthe.]

1. An edifice or place full of intricate passageways which render it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance; as, the Egyptian and Cretan labyrinths.

2. Any intricate or involved inclosure; especially, an ornamental maze or inclosure in a park or garden.

3. Any object or arrangement of an intricate or involved form, or having a very complicated nature. The serpent . . . fast sleeping soon he found, In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled. Milton. The labyrinth of the mind. Tennyson.

4. An inextricable or bewildering difficulty. I' the maze and winding labyrinths o' the world. Denham.

5. (Anat.)

Defn: The internal ear. See Note under Ear.

6. (Metal.)

Defn: A series of canals through which a stream of water is directed for suspending, carrying off, and depositing at different distances, the ground ore of a metal. Ure.

7. (Arch.)

Defn: A pattern or design representing a maze, -- often inlaid in the tiled floor of a church, etc.

Syn. -- Maze; confusion; intricacy; windings. -- Labyrinth, Maze. Labyrinth, originally; the name of an edifice or excavation, carries the idea of design, and construction in a permanent form, while maze is used of anything confused or confusing, whether fixed or shifting. Maze is less restricted in its figurative uses than labyrinth. We speak of the labyrinth of the ear, or of the mind, and of a labyrinth of difficulties; but of the mazes of the dance, the mazes of political intrigue, or of the mind being in a maze.

LABYRINTHAL Lab`y*rin"thal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a labyrinth; intricate; labyrinthian.

LABYRINTHIAN Lab`y*rin"thi*an (, a.

Defn: Intricately winding; like a labyrinth; perplexed; labyrinthal.

LABYRINTHIBRANCH Lab`y*rin"thi*branch, a. Etym: [See Labyrinth, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Labyrinthici. -- n.

Defn: One of the Labyrinthici.

LABYRINTHIC; LABYRINTHICAL Lab`y*rin"thic, Lab`y*rin`thic*al, a. Etym: [L. labyrinthicus: cf. F. labyrinthique.]

Defn: Like or pertaining to a labyrinth.

LABYRINTHICI Lab`y*rin"thi*ci, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Labyrinth.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of teleostean fishes, including the Anabas, or climbing perch, and other allied fishes.

Note: They have, connected with the gill chamber, a special cavity in which a labyrinthiform membrane is arranged so as to retain water to supply the gills while the fish leaves the water and travels about on land, or even climbs trees.

LABYRINTHIFORM Lab`y*rin"thi*form, a. Etym: [Labyrinth + -form: cf. F. labyrinthiforme.]

Defn: Having the form of a labyrinth; intricate.

LABYRINTHINE Lab`y*rin"thine, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or like, a labyrinth; labyrinthal.

LABYRINTHODON Lab`y*rin"tho*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of very large fossil amphibians, of the Triassic period, having bony plates on the under side of the body. It is the type of the order Labyrinthodonta. Called also Mastodonsaurus.

LABYRINTHODONT Lab`y*rin"tho*dont, a. (Paleon.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Labyrinthodonta. -- n.

Defn: One of the Labyrinthodonta.

LABYRINTHODONTA Lab`y*rin`tho*don"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Labyrinthodon.] (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct order of Amphibia, including the typical genus Labyrinthodon, and many other allied forms, from the Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic formations. By recent writers they are divided into two or more orders. See Stegocephala.

LAC; LAKH Lac, Lakh (, n. Etym: [Hind. lak, lakh, laksh, Skr. laksha a mark, sign, lakh.]

Defn: One hundred thousand; also, a vaguely great number; as, a lac of rupees. [Written also lack.] [East Indies]

LAC Lac, n. Etym: [Per. lak; akin to Skr. laksha: cf. F. lague, It. & NL. lacca. Cf. Lake a color, Lacquer, Litmus.]

Defn: A resinous substance produced mainly on the banyan tree, but to some extent on other trees, by the Coccus lacca, a scale-shaped insect, the female of which fixes herself on the bark, and exudes from the margin of her body this resinous substance.

Note: Stick-lac is the substance in its natural state, incrusting small twigs. When broken off, and the coloring matter partly removed, the granular residuum is called seed-lac. When melted, and reduced to a thin crust, it is called shell-lac or shellac. Lac is an important ingredient in sealing wax, dyes, varnishes, and lacquers. Ceylon lac, a resinous exudation of the tree Croton lacciferum, resembling lac. -- Lac dye, a scarlet dye obtained from stick-lac. -- Lac lake, the coloring matter of lac dye when precipitated from its solutions by alum. -- Mexican lac, an exudation of the tree Croton Draco.

LACCIC Lac"cic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. laccique.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to lac, or produced from it; as, laccic acid.

LACCIN Lac"cin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. laccine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow amorphous substance obtained from lac.

LACCOLITE; LACCOLITH Lac"co*lite, Lac"co*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite, -lith.] (Geol.)

Defn: A mass of igneous rock intruded between sedimentary beds and resulting in a mammiform bulging of the overlying strata. -- Lac`co*lit"ic, a.

LACE Lace (las), n. Etym: [OE. las, OF. laz, F. lacs, dim. lacet, fr. L. laqueus noose, snare; prob. akin to lacere to entice. Cf. Delight, Elicit, Lasso, Latchet.]

1. That which binds or holds, especially by being interwoven; a string, cord, or band, usually one passing through eyelet or other holes, and used in drawing and holding together parts of a garment, of a shoe, of a machine belt, etc. His hat hung at his back down by a lace. Chaucer. For striving more, the more in laces strong Himself he tied. Spenser.

2. A snare or gin, especially one made of interwoven cords; a net. [Obs.] Fairfax. Vulcanus had caught thee [Venus] in his lace. Chaucer.

3. A fabric of fine threads of linen, silk, cotton, etc., often ornamented with figures; a delicate tissue of thread, much worn as an ornament of dress. Our English dames are much given to the wearing of costlylaces. Bacon.

4. Spirits added to coffee or some other beverage. [Old Slang] Addison. Alencon lace, a kind of point lace, entirely of needlework, first made at Alencon in France, in the 17th century. It is very durable and of great beauty and cost. -- Bone lace, Brussels lace, etc. See under Bone, Brussels, etc. -- Gold lace, or Silver lace, lace having warp threads of silk, or silk and cotton, and a weft of silk threads covered with gold (or silver), or with gilt. -- Lace leather, thin, oil-tanned leather suitable for cutting into lacings for machine belts. -- Lace lizard (Zoöl.), a large, aquatic, Australian lizard (Hydrosaurus giganteus), allied to the monitors. -- Lace paper, paper with an openwork design in imitation of lace. -- Lace piece (Shipbuilding), the main piece of timber which supports the beak or head projecting beyond the stem of a ship. -- Lace pillow, and Pillow lace. See under Pillow.

LACE Lace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laced (ast); p. pr. & vb. n. Lacing.]

1. To fasten with a lace; to draw together with a lace passed through eyelet holes; to unite with a lace or laces, or, figuratively. with anything resembling laces. Shak. When Jenny's stays are newly laced. Prior.

2. To adorn with narrow strips or braids of some decorative material; as, cloth laced with silver. Shak.

3. To beat; to lash; to make stripes on. [Colloq.] I'll lace your coat for ye. L'Estrange.

4. To add spirits to (a beverage). [Old Slang]

LACE Lace, v. i.

Defn: To be fastened with a lace, or laces; as, these boots lace.

LACE-BARK Lace"-bark`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A shrub in the West Indies (Lagetta Iintearia); -- so called from the lacelike layers of its inner bark.

LACED Laced, a.

1. Fastened with a lace or laces; decorated with narrow strips or braid. See Lace, v. t.

2. Decorated with the fabric lace. A shirt with laced ruffles. Fielding. Laced mutton, a prostitute. [Old slang] -- Laced stocking, a strong stocking which can be tightly laced; -- used in cases of weak legs, varicose veins, etc. Dunglison.

LACEDAEMONIAN Lac`e*dæ*mo"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Lacedamonius, Gr. Lakedaimo`nios, fr. Lakedai`mwn Lacedæmon.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Lacedæmon or Sparta, the chief city of Laconia in the Peloponnesus. -- n.

Defn: A Spartan. [Written also Lacedemonian.]

LACEMAN Lace"man, n.; pl. Lacemen (.

Defn: A man who deals in lace.

LACERABLE Lac"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. lacerabilis: cf. F. lacérable.]Etym:

Defn: That can be lacerated or torn.

LACERATE Lac"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacerating ().] Etym: [L. laceratus, p. p. of lacerare to lacerate, fr. lacer mangled, lacerated; cf. Gr. slay.]

Defn: To tear; to rend; to separate by tearing; to mangle; as, to lacerate the flesh. Hence: To afflict; to torture; as, to lacerate the heart.

LACERATE; LACERATED Lac"er*ate, Lac"er*a`ted, p. a. Etym: [L. laceratus, p. p.]

1. Rent; torn; mangled; as, a lacerated wound. By each other's fury lacerate Southey.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Jagged, or slashed irregularly, at the end, or along the edge.

LACERATION Lac`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L.laceratio: cf. F. lacération.]

1. The act of lacerating.

2. A breach or wound made by lacerating. Arbuthnot.

LACERATIVE Lac"er*a*tive, a.

Defn: Lacerating, or having the power to lacerate; as, lacerative humors. Harvey.

LACERT La"cert, n. Etym: [OE. lacerte. See Lacertus.]

Defn: A muscle of the human body. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LACERTA La*cer"ta, n. Etym: [L. lacertus the arm.]

Defn: A fathom. [Obs.] Domesday Book.

LACERTA La*cer"ta, n. Etym: [L. a lizard. See Lizard.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of lizards. See Lizard.

Note: Formerly it included nearly all the known lizards. It is now restricted to certain diurnal Old World species, like the green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and the sand lizard (L. agilis), of Europe.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The Lizard, a northern constellation.

LACERTIAN La*cer"tian, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lacertien.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like a lizard; of or pertaining to the Lacertilia. -- n.

Defn: One of the Lacertilia.

LACERTILIA Lac`er*til"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L.lacertus a lizard.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Reptilia, which includes the lizards.

Note: They are closely related to the snakes, and life the latter, usually have the body covered with scales or granules. They usually have eyelids, and most of then have well-formed legs; but in some groups (amphisbæna, glass-snake, etc.) the legs are wanting and the body is serpentlike. None are venomous, unless Heloderma be an exception. The order includes the chameleons, the Cionocrania, or typical lizards, and the amphisbænas. See Amphisbæna, Gecko, Gila monster, and Lizard.

LACERTILIAN Lac`er*til"i*an (-an), a. & n.

Defn: Same as Lacertian.

LACERTILOID La*cer"ti*loid, a. Etym: [Lacertilia + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or belonging to the Lacertilia.

LACERTINE La*cer"tine, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Lacertian.

LACERTUS La*cer"tus, n.; pl. Lacerti (-ti). Etym: [L., the upper arm.] (Anat.)

Defn: A bundle or fascicle of muscular fibers.

LACEWING Lace"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Chrysopa and allied genera. They have delicate, lacelike wings and brilliant eyes. Their larvæ are useful in destroying aphids. Called also lace-winged fly, and goldeneyed fly.

LACE-WINGED Lace"-winged`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having thin, transparent, reticulated wings; as, the lace- winged flies.

LACHES; LACHE Lach"es, Lache, n. Etym: [OF. lachesse, fr. lache lax, indolent, F. lâche, ultimately fr. L. laxus loose, lax. See Lax.] (Law)

Defn: Neglect; negligence; remissness; neglect to do a thing at the proper time; delay to assert a claim. It ill became him to take advantage of such a laches with the eagerness of a shrewd attorney. Macaulay.

LACHRYMABLE Lach"ry*ma*ble, a. Etym: [L. lacrimabilis, fr. lacrima a tear.]

Defn: Lamentable. Martin Parker.

LACHRYMAE CHRISTI Lach"ry*mæ Chris"ti. Etym: [L., lit., Christ's tears.]

Defn: A rich, sweet, red Neapolitan wine.

LACHRYMAL Lach"ry*mal (, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lacrymal. See Lachrymose.]

1. Of or pertaining to tears; as, lachrymal effusions.

2. (Anat.) (a) Pertaining to, or secreting, tears; as, the lachrymal gland. (b) Pertaining to the lachrymal organs; as, lachrymal bone; lachrymal duct.

LACHRYMAL Lach"ry*mal, n.

Defn: See Lachrymatory.

LACHRYMALS Lach"ry*mals, n. pl. [See Lachrymal.]

Defn: Tears; also, lachrymal feelings or organs. [Colloq.]

People go to the theaters to have . . . their risibles and lachrymals set agoing. The Lutheran.

LACHRYMARY Lach"ry*ma*ry, a.

Defn: Containing, or intended to contain, tears; lachrymal. Addison.

LACHRYMATE Lach"ry*mate (-mat), v. i.

Defn: To weep. [R.] Blount.

LACHRYMATION Lach`ry*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. lacrimatio, from lacrimare to shed tears, fr. lacrima tear.]

Defn: The act of shedding tears; weeping.

LACHRYMATORY Lach"ry*ma*to*ry, n.; pl. -ries. Etym: [Cf. F. lacrymatoire.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A "tear-bottle;" a narrow-necked vessel found in sepulchers of the ancient Romans; -- so called from a former notion that the tears of the deceased person's friends were collected in it. Called also lachrymal or lacrymal.

LACHRYMIFORM Lach"ry*mi*form, a, Etym: [L.lacrima tear + -form; cf. F. lacrymiforme.]

Defn: Having the form of a tear; tear-shaped.

LACHRYMOSE Lach"ry*mose`, a. Etym: [L. lacrymosus, better lacrimosus, fr. lacrima, lacruma (also badly spelt lachryma) a tear, for older dacrima, akin to E. tear. See Tear the secretion.]

Defn: Generating or shedding tears; given to shedding tears; suffused with tears; tearful. You should have seen his lachrymose visnomy. Lamb. -- Lach"ry*mose`ly, adv.

LACING La"cing, n.

1. The act of securing, fastening, or tightening, with a lace or laces.

2. A lace; specifically (Mach.), a thong of thin leather for uniting the ends of belts.

3. A rope or line passing through eyelet holes in the edge of a sail or an awning to attach it to a yard, gaff, etc.

4. (Bridge Building)

Defn: A system of bracing bars, not crossing each other in the middle, connecting the channel bars of a compound strut. Waddell.

LACINIA La*cin"i*a, n.; pl. L. Laciniæ. Etym: [L., the lappet or flap of a garment.]

1. (Bot.) (a) One of the narrow, jagged, irregular pieces or divisions which form a sort of fringe on the borders of the petals of some flowers. (b) A narrow, slender portion of the edge of a monophyllous calyx, or of any irregularly incised leaf.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The posterior, inner process of the stipes on the maxillæ of insects.

LACINIATE; LACINIATED La*cin"i*ate, La*cin"i*a"ted, a. Etym: [See Lacinia.]

1. Fringed; having a fringed border.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Cut into deep, narrow, irregular lobes; slashed.

LACINIOLATE La*cin"i*o*late, a. Etym: [See Lacinia.] (Bot.)

Defn: Consisting of, or abounding in, very minute laciniæ.

LACINULA La*cin"u*la, n.; pl. Lacinulæ, E. Lacinulas. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: A diminutive lacinia.

LACK Lack, n. Etym: [OE. lak; cf. D. lak slander, laken to blame, OHG. lahan, AS. leán.]

1. Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack of sufficient food. She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood. Chaucer. Let his lack of years be no impediment. Shak.

LACK Lack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacking.]

1. To blame; to find fault with. [Obs.] Love them and lakke them not. Piers Plowman.

2. To be without or destitute of; to want; to need. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i. 5.

LACK Lack, v. i.

1. To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc. What hour now I think it lacks of twelve. Shak. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty. Gen. xvii. 28.

2. To be in want. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger. Ps. xxxiv. 10.

LACK Lack, interj. Etym: [Cf. Alack.]

Defn: Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov. Eng.] Cowper.

LACKADAISICAL Lack`a*dai"si*cal, a. Etym: [From Lackadaisy, interj.]

Defn: Affectedly pensive; languidly sentimental. -- Lack`a*dai"si*cal*ly, adv.

LACKADAISY Lack"a*dai`sy, interj. Etym: [From Lackaday, interj.]

Defn: An expression of languor.

LACKADAISY Lack"a*dai`sy, a.

Defn: Lackadaisical.

LACKADAY Lack"a*day`, interj. Etym: [Abbreviated from alackaday.]

Defn: Alack the day; alas; -- an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or surprise.

LACKBRAIN Lack"brain`, n.

Defn: One who is deficient in understanding; a witless person. Shak.

LACKER Lack"er, n.

Defn: One who lacks or is in want.

LACKER Lack"er, n. & v.

Defn: See Lacquer.

LACKEY Lack"ey, n.; pl. Lackeys. Etym: [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E.lick, v.]

Defn: An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower. Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey. Shak. Lackey caterpillar (Zoöl.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called from its party- colored markings. The common European species (C. neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species (C. Americana and C. sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar,under Tent. -- Lackey moth (Zoöl.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.

LACKEY Lack"ey, v. t.

Defn: To attend as a lackey; to wait upon. A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.

LACKEY Lack"ey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lackeyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Lackeying.]

Defn: To act or serve as lackey; to pay servile attendance.

LACKLUSTER; LACKLUSTRE Lack"lus`ter, Lack"lus`tre, n.

Defn: A want of luster. -- a.

Defn: Wanting luster or brightness. "Lackluster eye." Shak.

LACMUS Lac"mus, n.

Defn: See Litmus.

LACONIAN La*co"ni*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Laconia, a division of ancient Greece; Spartan. -- n.

Defn: An inhabitant of Laconia; esp., a Spartan.

LACONIC; LACONICAL La*con"ic, La*con"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. Laconicus Laconian, Gr. laconique.]

1. Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; brusque; epigrammatic. In this sense laconic is the usual form. I grow laconic even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard long. Pope. His sense was strong and his style laconic. Welwood.

2. Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence, stern or severe; cruel; unflinching. His head had now felt the razor, his back the rod; all that laconical discipline pleased him well. Bp. Hall.

Syn. -- Short; brief; concise; succinct; sententious; pointed; pithy. -- Laconic, Concise. Concise means without irrelevant or superfluous matter; it is the opposite of diffuse. Laconic means concise with the additional quality of pithiness, sometimes of brusqueness.

LACONIC La*con"ic, n.

Defn: Laconism. [Obs.] Addison.

LACONICAL La*con"ic*al, a.

Defn: See Laconic, a.

LACONICALLY La*con"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a laconic manner.

LACONICISM La*con"I*cism, n.

Defn: Same as Laconism. Pope.

LACONISM Lac"o*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. laconisme.]

1. A vigorous, brief manner of expression; laconic style.

2. An instance of laconic style or expression.

LACONIZE Lac"o*nize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laconized; p. pr. & vb. n. Laconizing.] Etym: [Gr. Laconic.]

Defn: To imitate the manner of the Laconians, especially in brief, pithy speech, or in frugality and austerity.

LACQUER Lac"quer, n. Etym: [F. lacre a sort of sealing wax, Pg. lacte, fr. laca lac. See Lac the resin.] [Written also lacker.]

Defn: A varnish, consisting of a solution of shell-lac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge, saffron, or the like; -- used for varnishing metals, papier-maché, and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made.

LACQUER Lac"quer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacquered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacquering.]

Defn: To cover with lacquer. "Lacquer'd chair." Pope.

LACQUERER Lac"quer*er, n.

Defn: One who lacquers, especially one who makes a business of lacquering.

LACQUERING Lac"quer*ing, n.

Defn: The act or business of putting on lacquer; also, the coat of lacquer put on.

LACRIMOSO La`cri*mo"so, a. Etym: [It. See Lachrymose.] (Mus.)

Defn: Plaintive; -- a term applied to a mournful or pathetic movement or style. Moore.

LACROSSE La*crosse", n. Etym: [F. la crosse, lit., the crosier, hooked stick. Cf. Crosier.]

Defn: A game of ball, originating among the North American Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled racket, called a "crosse". The ball is not handled but caught with the crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the field.

LACRYMAL Lac"ry*mal, n. & a.

Defn: See Lachrymatory, n., and Lachrymal, a.

LACRYMARY; LACRYTORY; LACRYMOSE Lac"ry*ma*ry, Lac"ry*to*ry, Lac"ry*mose.

Defn: See Lachrymary, Lachrymatory, Lachrymose.

LACTAGE Lac"tage, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. laitage. See Lacteal.]

Defn: The produce of animals yielding milk; milk and that which is made from it.

LACTAM Lac"tam, n. Etym: [Lactone + amido.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of anhydrides of an amido type, analogous to the lactones, as oxindol.

LACTAMIC Lac*tam"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an amido acid related to lactic acid, and called also amido-propionic acid.

LACTAMIDE Lac*tam"ide, n. Etym: [Lactic + amide.] (Chem.)

Defn: An acid amide derived from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.

LACTANT Lac"tant, a. Etym: [L. lactans, p. pr. of lactare to suck, fr. lac, lactis, milk.]

Defn: Suckling; giving suck.

LACTARENE Lac"ta*rene, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk.]

Defn: A preparation of casein from milk, used in printing calico.

LACTARY Lac"ta*ry, a. Etym: [l. lactarius, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactaire.]

Defn: Milky; full of white juice like milk. [Obs.] "Lactary or milky plants." Sir T. Browne.

LACTARY Lac"ta*ry, n.

Defn: a dairyhouse. [R.]

LACTATE Lac"tate, n. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of lactic acid.

LACTATION Lac*ta"tion, n.

Defn: A giving suck; the secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland.

LACTEAL Lac"te*al, a. Etym: [L. lacteus milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk. Cf. Galaxy, Lettuce.]

1. Pertaining to, or resembling, milk; milky; as, the lacteal fluid.

2. (Anat. & Physiol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, chyle; as, the lacteal vessels.

LACTEAL Lac"te*al, n. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic duct; a chyliferous vessel.

LACTEALLY Lac"te*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Milkily; in the manner of milk.

LACTEAN Lac"te*an, a. Etym: [See Lacteal.]

1. Milky; consisting of, or resembling, milk. "This lactean whiteness." Moxon.

2. (Anat. & Physiol.)

Defn: Lacteal; conveying chyle.

LACTEOUS Lac"te*ous, a. Etym: [See Lacteal.]

1. Milky; resembling milk. "The lacteous circle." Sir T. Browne.

2. Lacteal; conveying chyle; as, lacteous vessels.

LACTEOUSLY Lac"te*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a lacteous manner; after the manner of milk.

LACTESCENCE Lac*tes"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lactescence.]

1. The state or quality of producing milk, or milklike juice; resemblance to milk; a milky color. This lactescence does commonly ensue when . . . fair water is suddenly poured upon the solution. Boyle.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The latex of certain plants. See Latex.

LACTESCENT Lac*tes"cent, a. Etym: [L. lactescens, p. pr. of lactescere to turn to milk, incho. fr. lactere to be milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactescent.]

1. Having a milky look; becoming milky. [Obs.]

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Producing milk or a milklike juice or fluid, as the milkweed. See Latex.

LACTIC Lac"tic, a. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactique. See Lacteal, and cf. Galactic.] (Physiol. Chem.)