Chapter I: W. W (16)

3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend one's name or influence. Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. Addison. Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his compositions. J. A. Symonds.

4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig.

Note: This use of the word is rare in the United States, except with reference to money. To lend a hand, to give assistance; to help. [Colloq.] -- To lend an ear or one's ears, to give attention.

LENDABLE Lend"a*ble, a.

Defn: Such as can be lent. Sherwood.

LENDER Lend"er, n.

Defn: One who lends. The borrower is servant to the lender. Prov. xxii. 7.

LENDES Lend"es, n. pl.

Defn: See Lends. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LENDING Lend"ing, n.

1. The act of one who lends.

2. That which is lent or furnished.

LENDS Lends, n. pl. Etym: [AS. lend, lenden; akin to D. & G. lende, OHG. lenti, Icel. lend, and perh to E. loin.]

Defn: Loins. [Obs.] Wyclif.

LENE Lene, v. i. Etym: [See Lend.]

Defn: To lend; to grant; to permit. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LENE Le"ne, a. Etym: [L. lenis smooth.] (Phonetics) (a) Smooth; as, the lene breathing. (b) Applied to certain mute consonants, as p, k, and t. (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.

LENE Le"ne, n. (Phonetics) (a) The smooth breathing (spiritus lenis). (b) Any one of the lene consonants, as p, k, or i (or Gr. p, k, t.). W. E. Jelf.

LENGER; LENGEST Leng"er, Leng"est, a.

Defn: Longer; longest; -- obsolete compar. and superl. of long. Chaucer.

LENGTH Length, n. Etym: [OE. lengthe, AS. leng, fr. land, long, long; akin to D. lengte, Dan. længde, Sw. längd, Icel. lengd. See Long, a. ]

1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.

2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; -- often in the plural. Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak. The future but a length behind the past. Dryden.

3. The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.

4. A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.

5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length. May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss. With length of days and every day like this. Dryden.

6. Distance.[Obs.] He had marched to the length of Exeter. Clarendon. At length. (a) At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length. (b) At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See Syn. of At last, under Last. -- At arm's length. See under Arm.

LENGTH Length, v. i.

Defn: To lengthen. [Obs.] Shak.

LENGTHEN Length"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lengthenel; p. pr. & vb. n. Lengthening.]

Defn: To extent in length; to make longer in extent or duration; as, to lengthen a line or a road; to lengthen life; -- sometimes followed by out. What if I please to lengthen out his date. Dryden.

LENGTHEN Length"en, v. i.

Defn: To become longer. Locke.

LENGTHFUL Length"ful, a.

Defn: Long. [Obs.] Pope.

LENGTHILY Length"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a lengthy manner; at great length or extent.

LENGTHINESS Length"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being lengthy; prolixity.

LENGTHWAYS; LENGTHWISE Length"ways`, Length"wise`, adv.

Defn: In the direction of the length; in a longitudinal direction.

LENGTHY Length"y, a. [Compar. Lengthier; superl. Lengthiest.]

Defn: Having length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; -- said chiefly of discourses, writings, and the like. "Lengthy periods." Washington. "Some lengthy additions." Byron. "These would be details too lengthy." Jefferson. "To cut short lengthy explanations." Trench.

LENIENCE; LENIENCY Le"ni*ence, Le"ni*en*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being lenient; lenity; clemency.

LENIENT Le"ni*ent, a. Etym: [L. leniens, -entis, p. pr. of lenire to soften, fr. lenis soft, mild. Cf. Lithe.]

1. Relaxing; emollient; softening; assuasive; -- some "Lenient of grief." Milton. Of relax the fibers, are lenient, balsamic. Arbuthnot. Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand. Pope.

2. Mild; clement; merciful; not rigorous or severe; as, a lenient disposition; a lenient judge or sentence.

LENIENT Le"ni*ent, n. (Med.)

Defn: A lenitive; an emollient.

LENIENTLY Le"ni*ent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a lenient manner.

LENIFY Len"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. lenis soft, mild + -fy: cf. F.lénifier.]

Defn: To assuage; to soften; to Bacon. Dryden.

LENIMENT Len"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. lenimentum: cf. OF. leniment. See Lenient.]

Defn: An assuasive. [Obs.]

LENITIVE Len"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lénitif. See Lenient.]

Defn: Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.

LENITIVE Len"i*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lénitif.]

1. (Med.) (a) A medicine or application that has the quality of easing pain or protecting from the action of irritants. (b) A mild purgative; a laxative.

2. That which softens or mitigates; that which tends to allay passion, excitement, or pain; a palliative. There is one sweet Lenitive at least for evils, which Nature holds out; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep. Sterne.

LENITIVENESS Len"i*tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being lenitive.

LENITUDE Len"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. lenitudo.]

Defn: The quality or habit of being lenient; lenity. [Obs.] Blount.

LENITY Len"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. lenitas, fr. lenis soft, mild: cf. OF. lenité. See Lenient.]

Defn: The state or quality of being lenient; mildness of temper or disposition; gentleness of treatment; softness; tenderness; clemency; -- opposed to severity and rigor. His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity; clemency; mercy.

LENNI-LENAPE Len`ni-Len*a"pe, n. pl. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A general name for a group of Algonquin tribes which formerly occupied the coast region of North America from Connecticut to Virginia. They included the Mohicans, Delawares, Shawnees, and several other tribes.

LENO Le"no, n. Etym: [Cf. It. leno weak, flexible.]

Defn: A light open cotton fabric used for window curtains.

LENOCINANT Le*noc"i*nant, a. Etym: [L. lenocinans, p. pr. of lenocinari to pander, cajole; akin to leno pimp.]

Defn: Given to lewdness. [Obs.]

LENS Lens, n.; pl. Lenses (-êz). Etym: [L. lens a lentil. So named from the resemblance in shape of a double convex lens to the seed of a lentil. Cf. Lentil.] (Opt.)

Defn: A piece of glass, or other transparent substance, ground with two opposite regular surfaces, either both curved, or one curved and the other plane, and commonly used, either singly or combined, in optical instruments, for changing the direction of rays of light, and thus magnifying objects, or otherwise modifying vision. In practice, the curved surfaces are usually spherical, though rarely cylindrical, or of some other figure. Lenses

Note: Of spherical lenses, there are six varieties, as shown in section in the figures herewith given: viz., a plano-concave; b double-concave; c plano-convex; d double-convex; converging concavo- convex, or converging meniscus; f diverging concavo-convex, or diverging meniscus. Crossed lens (Opt.), a double-convex lens with one radius equal to six times the other. -- Crystalline lens. (Anat.) See Eye. -- Fresnel lens (Opt.), a compound lens formed by placing around a central convex lens rings of glass so curved as to have the same focus; used, especially in lighthouses, for concentrating light in a particular direction; -- so called from the inventor. -- Multiplying lens or glass (Opt.), a lens one side of which is plane and the other convex, but made up of a number of plane faces inclined to one another, each of which presents a separate image of the object viewed through it, so that the object is, as it were, multiplied. -- Polyzonal lens. See Polyzonal.

LENT Lent,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Lend.

LENT Lent, n. Etym: [OE. lente, lenten, leynte, AS. lengten, lencten, spring, lent, akin to D. lente, OHG. lenzin, langiz, G. lenz, and perh. fr. AS. lang long, E. long, because at this season of the year the days lengthen.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian churches as commemorative of the fast of our Savior.

LENT Lent, a. Etym: [L. lentus; akin to lenis soft, mild: cf. F. lent. See Lenient.]

1. Slow; mild; gentle; as, lenter heats. [Obs.] B.Jonson.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: See Lento.

LENTAMENTE Len`ta*men"te; adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Slowly; in slow time.

LENTANDO Len*tan"do, a. Etym: [It., p. pr. of lentare to make slow. See Lent, a.] (Mus.)

Defn: Slackening; retarding. Same as Rallentando.

LENTEN Lent"en, n.

Defn: Lent. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

LENTEN Lent"en, a. Etym: [From OE. lenten lent. See Lent, n. ]

1. Of or pertaining to the fast called Lent; used in, or suitable to, Lent; as, the Lenten season. She quenched her fury at the flood. And with a Lenten salad cooled her blood. Dryden.

2. Spare, meager; plain; somber; unostentatious; not abundant or showy. "Lenten entertainment." " Lenten answer." Shak. " Lenten suit." Beau. & Fl. Lenten color, black or violet. F. G. Lee.

LENTENTIDE Lent"en*tide`, n.

Defn: The season of Lenten or Lent.

LENTICEL Len"ti*cel, n. Etym: [F. lenticelle, dim. fr. L. lens, lentis, a lentil. Cf. Lentil.] (Bot.) (a) One of the small, oval, rounded spots upon the stem or branch of a plant, from which the underlying tissues may protrude or roots may issue, either in the air, or more commonly when the stem or branch is covered with water or earth. (b) A small, lens-shaped gland on the under side of some leaves.

LENTICELLATE Len`ti*cel"late, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Producing lenticels; dotted with lenticels.

LENTICELLE Len`ti*celle", n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)

Defn: Lenticel.

LENTICULA Len*tic"u*la, n.; pl. E. Lenticulas, L. Lenticulæ. Etym: [L. See Lenticel.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A kind of eruption upon the skin; lentigo; freckle.

2. (Opt.)

Defn: A lens of small size.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A lenticel.

LENTICULAR Len*tic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. lenticularis: cf. F. lenticulaire. See Lenticel.]

Defn: Resembling a lentil in size or form; having the form of a double-convex lens.

LENTICULARLY Len*tic"u*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a lens; with a curve.

LENTIFORM Len"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. lens, lentis, lentil + -form: cf. F. lentifarme,]

Defn: Lenticular.

LENTIGINOSE Len*tig"i*nose`, a. Etym: [See Lentiginous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Bearing numerous dots resembling freckles.

LENTIGINOUS Len*tig"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. lentiginosus. See Lentigo.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to lentigo; freckly; scurfy; furfuraceous.

LENTIGO Len*ti"go, n. Etym: [L., fr. lens, lentis, lentil.] (Med.)

Defn: A freckly eruption on the skin; freckles.

LENTIL Len"til, n. Etym: [F. lentille, fr. L. lenticula, dim. of lens, lentis, lentil. Cf. Lens.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous plant of the genus Ervum (Ervum Lens), of small size, common in the fields in Europe. Also, its seed, which is used for food on the continent.

Note: The lentil of the Scriptures probably included several other vetchlike plants. Lentil shell (Zoöl.), a small bivalve shell of the genus Ervillia, family Tellinidæ.

LENTISCUS; LENTISK Len*tis"cus, Len"tisk,, n. Etym: [L. lentiscus, lentiscum: cf. F. lentisque.] (Bot.)

Defn: A tree; the mastic. See Mastic.

LENTITUDE Len"ti*tude, n. Etym: [L. lentitudo, fr. lentus slow: cf. OF. lentitude. See Lent, a.]

Defn: Slowness; sluggishness. [Obs.]

LENT LILY Lent lily (Bot.),

Defn: the daffodil; -- so named from its blossoming in spring.

LENTO Len"to, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Slow; in slow time; slowly; -- rarely written lente.

LENTOID Len"toid, a. Etym: [Lens + -oid.]

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

LENTOR Len"tor, n. Etym: [L. fr. lentus pliant, tough, slow. See Lent, a.]

1. Tenacity; viscidity; viscidity, as of fluids.

2. Slowness; delay; sluggishness. Arbuthnot.

LENTOUS Len"tous, a. Etym: [L. lentus. See Lentor.]

Defn: Viscid; viscous; tenacious. Spawn of a lentous and transparent body. Sir T. Browne.

L'ENVOI; L'ENVOY L'en`voi", or; L'en`voy" (, n. Etym: [F. le the + envei a sending. See Envoy.]

1. One or more detached verses at the end of a literary composition, serving to convey the moral, or to address the poem to a particular person; -- orig. employed in old French poetry. Shak.

2. A conclusion; a result. Massinger.

LEO Le"o, n. Etym: [L. See Lion.] (Astron.)

1. The Lion, the fifth sign of the zodiac, marked thus

2. A northern constellation east of Cancer, containing the bright star Regulus at the end of the handle of the Sickle. Leo Minor, a small constellation between Leo and the Great Bear.

LEOD Le"od, n. Etym: [AS.leód people, nation, man, chief; akin to OS. liud, OHG. liut, pl. liuti, G.leute, pl., fr. AS.leódan to grow, akin to Goth. liudan, OS. liodan, OHG. liotan to grow; cf. Skr. ruh. ]

Defn: People; a nation; a man. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Bp. Gibson.

LEON Le"on, n.

Defn: A lion. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LEONCED Le"onced, a. (Her.)

Defn: See Lionced.

LEONESE Le`o*nese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Leon, in Spain. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or natives of Leon.

LEONID Le"o*nid, n. Etym: [From Leo: cf. F. léonides, pl.] (Astron.)

Defn: One of the shooting stars which constitute the star shower that recurs near the fourteenth of November at intervals of about thirty- three years; so called because shooting stars appear on the heavens to move in lines directed from the constellation Leo.

LEONINE Le"o*nine, a. Etym: [L. leoninus, fr. leo, leonis, lion: cf. F. léonin. See Lion.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the lion; as, a leonine look; leonine repacity. -- Le"o*nine*ly, adv. Leonine verse, a kind of verse, in which the end of the line rhymes with the middle; -- so named from Leo, or Leoninus, a Benedictine and canon of Paris in the twelfth century, who wrote largely in this measure, though he was not the inventor. The following line is an example: Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum.

LEONTODON Le*on"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. Lion's-tooth, Dandelion.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of liguliflorous composite plants, including the fall dandelion (L. autumnale), and formerly the true dandelion; -- called also lion's tooth.

LEOPARD Leop"ard, n. Etym: [OE. leopart, leparde, lebarde, libbard, OF. leopard, liepart, F. léopard, L. leopardus, fr. Gr. Lion, and Pard.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large, savage, carnivorous mammal (Felis leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is regarded as a variety of leopard. Hunting leopard. See Cheetah. Leopard cat (Zoöl.) any one of several species or varieties of small, spotted cats found in Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies; esp., Felis Bengalensis. -- Leopard marmot. See Gopher, 2.

LEOPARD'S BANE Leop"ard's bane`. (Bot.)

Defn: A name of several harmless plants, as Arnica montana, Senecio Doronicum, and Paris quadrifolia.

LEOPARDWOOD Leop"ard*wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Letterwood.

LEP Lep, obs. strong imp.

Defn: of Leap. Leaped. Chaucer.

LEPADITE Lep"a*dite, n. Etym: [L. lepas, lepadis, limpet, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Lepadoid.

LEPADOID Lep"a*doid, n. Etym: [Lepas + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A stalked barnacle of the genus Lepas, or family Lepadidæ; a goose barnacle. Also used adjectively.

LEPAL Lep"al, n. Etym: [Gr. lépale.] (Bot.)

Defn: A sterile transformed stamen.

LEPAS Le"pas, n. Etym: [L., a limpet, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of various species of Lepas, a genus of pedunculated barnacles found attached to floating timber, bottoms of ships, Gulf weed, etc.; -- called also goose barnacle. See Barnacle.

LEPER Lep"er, n. Etym: [OE. lepre leprosy, F. lèpre, L. leprae, lepra, fr. Gr.

Defn: A person affected with leprosy.

LEPERED Lep"ered, a.

Defn: Affected or tainted with leprosy.

LEPERIZE Lep"er*ize, v. t.

Defn: To affect with leprosy.

LEPEROUS Lep"er*ous, a.

Defn: Leprous; infectious; corrupting; poisonous. "The leperous distillment." Shak.

LEPID Lep"id, a. Etym: [L. lepidus.]

Defn: Pleasant; jocose. [R.] The joyous and lepid consul. Sydney Smith.

LEPIDINE Lep"i*dine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An organic base, C9H6.N.CH3, metameric with quinaldine, and obtained by the distillation of cinchonine.

LEPIDODENDRID Lep`i*do*den"drid, n. (Paleon.)

Defn: One of an extinct family of trees allied to the modern club mosses, and including Lepidodendron and its allies.

LEPIDODENDROID Lep`i*do*den"droid, a. (Paleon.)

Defn: Allied to, or resembling, Lepidodendron. -- n.

Defn: A lepidodendrid.

LEPIDODENDRON Lep`i*do*den"dron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fossil trees of the Devonian and Carboniferous ages, having the exterior marked with scars, mostly in quincunx order, produced by the separation of the leafstalks.

LEPIDOGANOID Lep`i*do*ga"noid, n. Etym: [Gr. ganoid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of a division (Lepidoganoidei) of ganoid fishes, including those that have scales forming a coat of mail. Also used adjectively.

LEPIDOLITE Le*pid"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. lépidolithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A species of mica, of a lilac or rose-violet color, containing lithia. It usually occurs in masses consisting of small scales. See Mica.

LEPIDOMELANE Lep`i*dom"e*lane, n. Etym: [Fr. (Min.)

Defn: An iron-potash mica, of a raven-black color, usually found in granitic rocks in small six-sided tables, or as an aggregation of minute opaque scales. See Mica.

LEPIDOPTER Lep`i*dop"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. lépidoptère.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Lepidoptera.

LEPIDOPTERA Lep`i*dop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of insects, which includes the butterflies and moths. They have broad wings, covered with minute overlapping scales, usually brightly colored.

Note: They have a tubular proboscis, or haustellum, formed by the two slender maxillæ. The labial palpi are usually large, and the proboscis, when not in use, can be coiled up spirally between them. The mandibles are rudimentary. The larvæ, called caterpillars, are often brightly colored, and they commonly feed on leaves. The adults feed chiefly on the honey of flowers.

LEPIDOPTERAL; LEPIDOPTEROUS Lep`i*dop"ter*al, Lep`i*dop"ter*ous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Lepidoptera.

LEPIDOPTERIST Lep`i*dop"ter*ist, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One who studies the Lepidoptera.

LEPIDOSAURIA Lep`i*do*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of reptiles, including the serpents and lizards; the Plagiotremata.

LEPIDOSIREN Lep`i*do*si"ren, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An eel-shaped ganoid fish of the order Dipnoi, having both gills and lungs. It inhabits the rivers of South America. The name is also applied to a related African species (Protopterus annectens). The lepidosirens grow to a length of from four to six feet. Called also doko.

LEPIDOTE; LEPIDOTED Lep"i*dote, Lep"i*do`ted, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having a coat of scurfy scales, as the leaves of the oleaster.

LEPISMA Le*pis"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by seven unequal bristles. A common species (Lepisma saccharina) is found in houses, and often injures books and furniture. Called also shiner, silver witch, silver moth, and furniture bug.

LEPISMOID Le*pis"moid, a. Etym: [Lepisma + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the Lepisma.

LEPORINE Lep"o*rine, a. Etym: [L. leporinus, fr. lepus, leporis, hare. See Leveret.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a hare; like or characteristic of, a hare.

LEPRA Le"pra, n. Etym: [L. See Leper.] (Med.)

Defn: Leprosy.

Note: The term lepra was formerly given to various skin diseases, the leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. See Leprosy.

LEPRE Lep"re, n.

Defn: Leprosy.[Obs.] Wyclif.

LEPROSE Lep"rose`, a. Etym: [See Leprous.] (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Covered with thin, scurfy scales.

LEPROSITY Le*pros"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being leprous or scaly; also, a scale. Bacon.

LEPROSY Lep"ro*sy, n. Etym: [See Leprous.] (Med.)

Defn: A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease, anæsthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious.Mycobacterium leprae, curable in most cases by therapy with a combination of antibiotics, but cases resistant to therapy are increasing.

Note: The disease now called leprosy, also designated as Lepra or Lepra Arabum, and Elephantiasis Græcorum, is not the same as the leprosy of the ancients. The latter was, indeed, a generic name for many varieties of skin disease (including our modern leprosy, psoriasis, etc.), some of which, among the Hebrews, rendered a person ceremonially unclean. A variety of leprosy of the Hebrews (probably identical with modern leprosy) was characterized by the presence of smooth, shining, depressed white patches or scales, the hair on which participated in the whiteness while the skin and adjacent flesh became insensible. It was incurable disease.

LEPROUS Lep"rous, a. Etym: [OF. leprous, lepros, F. lépreux, fr. L. leprosus, fr. lepra, leprae, leprosy. See Leper.]

1. Infected with leprosy; pertaining to or resembling leprosy. "His hand was leprous as snow." Ex. iv. 6.

2. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Leprose. -- Lep"rous*ly, adv. -- Lep"rous*ness, n.

LEPRY Lep"ry, n.

Defn: Leprosy. [Obs.] Holland.

LEPTIFORM Lep"ti*form, a. Etym: [Leptus + -form.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a form somewhat like leptus; -- said of active insect larvæ having three pairs of legs. See Larva.

LEPTOCARDIA Lep`to*car"di*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lowest class of Vertebrata, including only the Amphioxus. The heart is represented only by a simple pulsating vessel. The blood is colorless; the brain, renal organs, and limbs are wanting, and the backbone is represented only by a simple, unsegmented notochord. See Amphioxus. [Written also Leptocardii.]

LEPTOCARDIAN Lep`to*car"di*an a. (Zoöl.)

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

Defn: One of the Leptocardia.

LEPTODACTYL Lep`to*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bird or other animal having slender toes. [Written also lepodactyle.]

LEPTODACTYLOUS Lep`to*dac"tyl*ous

Defn: , Having slender toes.

LEPTOLOGY Lep*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.

LEPTOMENINGITIS Lep`to*men`in*gi"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. meningitis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the pia mater or of the arachnoid membrane.

LEPTORHINE Lep"to*rhine, a. Etym: [Gr. , , the nose.] (Anat.)

Defn: Having the nose narrow; -- said esp. of the skull. Opposed to platyrhine.

LEPTOSTRACA Lep*tos"tra*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Crustacea, including Nebalia and allied forms.

LEPTOTHRIX Lep"to*thrix, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A genus of bacteria, characterized by having their filaments very long, slender, and indistinctly articulated.

LEPTOTHRIX Lep"to*thrix, a. Etym: [See Leptothrix, n. ] (Biol.)

Defn: Having the form of a little chain; -- applied to bacteria when, as in multiplication by fission, they form chain of filiform individuals.

LEPTUS Lep"tus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The six-legged young, or larva, of certain mites; -- sometimes used as a generic name. See Harvest mite, under Harvest.

LEPTYNITE Lep"ty*nite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Granulite.

LERE Lere, n. Etym: [See Lore knowledge.]

Defn: Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.] Spenser.

LERE Lere, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. leeren, leren, AS. l. See Lore, Learn.]

Defn: To learn; to teach. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LERE Lere, a.

Defn: Empty. [Obs.] See Lere, a.

LERE Lere, n. Etym: [AS. lira flesh; cf. Icel lær thigh.]

Defn: Flesh; skin. [Obs.] "His white leer." Chaucer.

LERED Ler"ed, a. Etym: [From lere, v. t.]

Defn: Learned. [Obs.] " Lewed man or lered." Chaucer.

LERNAEA Ler*næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Lernaeus Lernæan, fr. Lerna, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A Linnæan genus of parasitic Entomostraca, -- the same as the family Lernæidæ.

Note: The genus is restricted by modern zoölogists to a limited number of species similar to Lernæa branchialis found on the gills of the cod.

LERNAEACEA Ler`næ*a"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Lernæa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A suborder of copepod Crustacea, including a large number of remarkable forms, mostly parasitic on fishes. The young, however, are active and swim freely. See Illustration in Appendix.

LERNEAN Ler*ne"an, n. Etym: [See Lernæa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a family (Lernæidæ) of parasitic Crustacea found attached to fishes and other marine animals. Some species penetrate the skin and flesh with the elongated head, and feed on the viscera. See Illust. in Appendix.

LEROT Lé`rot", n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European rodent (Eliomys nitela), allied to the dormouse.

LES Les, n.

Defn: A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LESBIAN Les"bi*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos, now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.

LESBIANISM Les"bi*an*ism, n. (Med.)

Defn: Unnatural sexual relations between women.

LESBIAN LOVE Lesbian love.

Defn: See Lesbianism.

LESE Lese, v. t.

Defn: To lose. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LESE-MAJESTY Lese`-maj"es*ty, n.

Defn: See Leze majesty.

LESION Le"sion, n. Etym: [F. lesion, L. laesio, fr. laedere, laesum, to hurt, injure.]

Defn: A hurt; an injury. Specifically: (a) (Civil Law) Loss sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract. Burrill. (b) (Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of organs. Dunglison.

-LESS -less. Etym: [AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS. l loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. sq. root127. See Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.]

Defn: A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.

LESS Less (lês), conj.

Defn: Unless. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

LESS Less, a. Etym: [OE. lesse, AS. læssa; akin to OFries. lessa; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has the sense of the comparative degree of little.]

Defn: Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.

Note: The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n. Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.

LESS Less, adv. Etym: [AS. l. See Less, adj., and cf. Lest.]

Defn: Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.

LESS Less, n.

1. A smaller portion or quantity. The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. Ex. xvi. 17.

2. The inferior, younger, or smaller. The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.

LESS Less, v. t.

Defn: To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] Gower.

LESSEE Les*see", n. Etym: [F. laissé, p. p. of laisser. See Lease, v. t.] (Law)

Defn: The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease. Blackstone.

LESSEN Less"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening.] Etym: [From Less, a. ]

Defn: To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune. Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. Calamy. St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. Atterbury.

Syn. -- To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade.

LESSEN Less"en, v. i.

Defn: To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened. The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.

LESSENER Less"en*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, lessens. His wife . . . is the lessener of his pain, and the augmenter of his pleasure. J. Rogers (1839).

LESSER Less"er, a. Etym: [This word is formed by adding anew the compar. suffix -er (in which r is from an original s) to less. See Less, a.]

Defn: Less; smaller; inferior. God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 15.

Note: Lesser is used for less, now the compar. of little, in certain special instances in which its employment has become established by custom; as, Lesser Asia (i. e., Asia Minor), the lesser light, and some others; also in poetry, for the sake of the meter, and in prose where its use renders the passage more euphonious. The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Shak. The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. Pope. By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law. Locke.

LESSER Less"er, adv.

Defn: Less. [Obs.] Shak.

LESSES Les"ses, n. pl. Etym: [F. laissées, from laisser to leave. See Lease, v. t.]

Defn: The leavings or dung of beasts.

LESSON Les"son, n. Etym: [OE. lessoun, F. le lesson, reading, fr. L. lectio a reading, fr. legere to read, collect. See Legend, and cf. Lection.]

1. Anything read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner; something, as a portion of a book, assigned to a pupil to be studied or learned at one time.

2. That which is learned or taught by an express effort; instruction derived from precept, experience, observation, or deduction; a precept; a doctrine; as, to take or give a lesson in drawing." A smooth and pleasing lesson." Milton. Emprinteth well this lesson in your mind. Chaucer.

3. A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction; as, here endeth the first lesson.

4. A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning. She would give her a lesson for walking so late. Sir. P. Sidney.

5. (Mus.) An exercise; a composition serving an educational purpose; a study.

LESSON Les"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessoning.]

Defn: To teach; to instruct. Shak. To rest the weary, and to soothe the sad, Doth lesson happier men, and shame at least the bad. Byron.

LESSOR Les"sor, n. Etym: [See Lessee, Lease, v. t. ] (Law)

Defn: One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease. Blackstone.

LEST Lest, v. i.

Defn: To listen. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

LEST Lest, n. Etym: [See List to choose.]

Defn: Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LEST Lest, a.

Defn: Last; least. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LEST Lest, conj. Etym: [OE.leste, fr. AS. l the less that, where that, who, which. See The, Less, a.]

1. For Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Prov. xx. 18. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth he standeth take heed lest he fall. I Cor. x. 12.

2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension. I feared Lest I might anger thee. Shak.

LESTER Les"ter, n. [Pg., prob. fr. Fr. l'est the east.] (Meteor.)

Defn: A dry sirocco in the Madeira Islands.

-LET -let.Etym: [From two French dim. endings -el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in bracelet.]

Defn: A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in streamlet, armlet.

LET Let, v. t. Etym: [OE.letten, AS. lettan to delay, to hinder, fr. læt slow; akin to D. letten to hinder, G. verletzen to hurt, Icel. letja to hold back, Goth. latjan. See Late.]

Defn: To retard; to hinder; to impede; to oppose. [Archaic] He was so strong that no man might him let. Chaucer. He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2. Thess. ii. 7. Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And lets me from the saddle. Tennyson.

LET Let, n.

1. A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; -- common in the phrase without let or hindrance, but elsewhere archaic. Keats. Consider whether your doings be to the let of your salvation or not. Latimer.

2. (Lawn Tennis)

Defn: A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net in passing over.

LET Let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Let (Letted, [Obs].); p. pr. & vb. n. Letting.] Etym: [OE. leten, læten (past tense lat, let, p. p. laten, leten, lete), AS. lætan (past tense let, p. p. læten); akin to OFries. leta, OS. latan, D. laten, G. lessen, OHG. lazzan, Icel. lata, Sw. låta, Dan. lade, Goth. letan, and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. Alas, Late, Lassitude, Let to hinder.]

1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.] He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let Chaucer. Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. Spenser. Let me alone in choosing of my wife. Chaucer.

2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e., cause to be made; let bring, i. e., cause to be brought. [Obs.] This irous, cursed wretch Let this knight's son anon before him fetch. Chaucer. He . . . thus let do slay hem all three. Chaucer. Anon he let two coffers make. Gower.

4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; -- either affirmatively, by positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent.

Note: In this sense, when followed by an infinitive, the latter is commonly without the sign to; as to let us walk, i. e., to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose. Pharaoh said, I will let you go Ex. viii. 28. If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. Shak.

5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to rent; to hire out; -- often with out; as, to let a farm; to let a house; to let out horses.

6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; -- often with out; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering.

Note: The active form of the infinitive of let, as of many other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house to let (i. e., for letting, or to be let). This form of expression conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See Gerund, 2. " Your elegant house in Harley Street is to let." Thackeray. In the imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a hortative force. " Rise up, let us go." Mark xiv. 42. " Let us seek out some desolate shade." Shak. To let alone, to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering with. -- To let blood, to cause blood to flow; to bleed. -- To let down. (a) To lower. (b) To soften in tempering; as to let down tools, cutlery, and the like. -- To let drive or fly, to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under Drive, and Fly. -- To let in or into. (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface for the purpose. To let loose, to remove restraint from; to permit to wander at large. -- To let off (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun. (b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation. [Colloq.] To let out. (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord. (c) To lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job. (d) To divulge. -- To let slide, to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] " Let the world slide." Shak.

LET Let, v. i.

1. To forbear. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. To be let or leased; as, the farm lets for $500 a year. See note under Left, v. i. To let on, to tell; to tattle; to divulge something. [Low] -- To let up, to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm lets up. [Colloq.]

LET-ALONE Let"-a*lone", a.

Defn: Letting alone. The let-alone principle, doctrine, or policy. (Polit. Econ.) See Laissez faire.

LETCH Letch, v. & n.

Defn: See Leach.

LETCH Letch, n. Etym: [See Lech, Lecher.]

Defn: Strong desire; passion. (Archaic.) Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others. De Quincey.

LETCHY Letch"y, a.

Defn: See Leachy.

LETE Lete, v. t.

Defn: To let; to leave. [Obs.]

LETEN Let"en, obs. p. p.

Defn: of Lete. Chaucer.

LETHAL Leth"al, n. Etym: [Lauric + ether + alcohol.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.

LETHAL Le"thal, a. Etym: [L. lethalis, letalis, fr. lethum, letum, death: cf. F. léthal.]

Defn: Deadly; mortal; fatal. "The lethal blow." W. Richardson. -- Le"thal*ly, adv.

LETHALITY Le*thal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. léthalité.]

Defn: The quality of being lethal; mortality.

LETHARGIC; LETHARGICAL Le*thar"gic, Le*thar"gic*al, a. Etym: [L. lethargicus, Gr. léthargique. See Lethargy.]

Defn: Pertaining to, affected with, or resembling, lethargy; morbidly drowsy; dull; heavy. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ly, v. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ness, n. -- Le*thar"gic*ness, n.

LETHARGIZE Leth"ar*gize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lethargized; p. pr. & vb. n. Lethargizing.]

Defn: To make lethargic. All bitters are poison, and act by stilling, and depressing, and lethargizing the irritability. Coleridge.

LETHARGY Leth"ar*gy, n.; pl. -gies. Etym: [F. léthargie, L. letgargia, Gr. Lethe.]

1. Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked.

2. A state of inaction or indifference. Europe lay then under a deep lethargy. Atterbury.

LETHARGY Leth"ar*gy, v. t.

Defn: To lethargize. [Obs.] Shak.

LETHE Le"the, n. Etym: [See Lethal.]

Defn: Death.[Obs.] Shak.

LETHE Le"the (le"the), n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A river of Hades whose waters when drunk caused forgetfulness of the past.

2. Oblivion; a draught of oblivion; forgetfulness.

LETHEAN Le*the"an, a. Etym: [L. Letha, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Lethe; resembling in effect the water of Lethe. Milton. Barrow.

LETHEED Le"theed, a.

Defn: Caused by Lethe. " Letheed dullness." [Obs.] Shak.

LETHEON Le"the*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Sulphuric ether used as an anæsthetic agent. [R.]

LETHEONIZE Le"the*on*ize, v. t.

Defn: To subject to the influence of letheon. [R. or Obs.]

LETHIFEROUS Le*thif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. lethifer, letifer, fr. lethum, letum, death + ferre to bear, to bring: cf. F. léthifère.]

Defn: Deadly; bringing death or destruction.

LETHY Le"thy, a.

Defn: Lethean. [Obs.] Marston.

LET-OFF Let"-off`, n. (Mach.)

Defn: A device for letting off, releasing, or giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom.

LETTE Let"te, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Letted.]

Defn: To let; to hinder. See Let, to hinder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LETTER Let"ter, n. Etym: [From Let to permit.]

Defn: One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire.

LETTER Let"ter, n. Etym: [From Let to hinder.]

Defn: One who retards or hinders. [Archaic.]

LETTER Let"ter, n. Etym: [OE. lettre, F. lettre, OF. letre, fr. L.littera, litera, a letter; pl., an epistle, a writing, literature, fr. linere, litum, to besmear, to spread or rub over; because one of the earliest modes of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or covered with wax. Pliny, xiii. 11. See Leniment, and cf. Literal.]

1. A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew. Luke xxiii. 38.

2. A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle. The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural. Walsh.

3. A writing; an inscription. [Obs.] None could expound what this letter meant. Chaucer.

4. Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement. We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver. Jer. Taylor. I broke the letter of it to keep the sense. Tennyson.

5. (Print.)

Defn: A single type; type, collectively; a style of type. Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed. Evelyn.

6. pl.

Defn: Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.

7. pl.

Defn: A letter; an epistle. [Obs.] Chaucer. Dead letter, Drop letter, etc. See under Dead, Drop, etc. -- Letter book, a book in which copies of letters are kept. -- Letter box, a box for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered. -- Letter carrier, a person who carries letters; a postman; specif., an officer of the post office who carries letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, and collects letters to be mailed. -- Letter cutter, one who engraves letters or letter punches. -- Letter lock, a lock that can not be opened when fastened, unless certain movable lettered rings or disks forming a part of in are in such a position (indicated by a particular combination of the letters) as to permit the bolt to be withdrawn. A strange lock that opens with AMEN. Beau. & Fl. -- Letter paper, paper for writing letters on; especially, a size of paper intermediate between note paper and foolscap. See Paper. -- Letter punch, a steel punch with a letter engraved on the end, used in making the matrices for type. -- Letters of administration (Law), the instrument by which an administrator or administratrix is authorized to administer the goods and estate of a deceased person. -- Letter of attorney, Letter of credit, etc. See under Attorney, Credit, etc. -- Letter of license, a paper by which creditors extend a debtor's time for paying his debts. -- Letters close or clause (Eng. Law.), letters or writs directed to particular persons for particular purposes, and hence closed or sealed on the outside; -- distinguished from letters patent. Burrill. -- Letters of orders (Eccl.), a document duly signed and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc. -- Letters patent, overt, or open (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do some act, or enjoy some right; as, letters patent under the seal of England. -- Letter-sheet envelope, a stamped sheet of letter paper issued by the government, prepared to be folded and sealed for transmission by mail without an envelope. -- Letters testamentary (Law), an instrument granted by the proper officer to an executor after probate of a will, authorizing him to act as executor. -- Letter writer. (a) One who writes letters. (b) A machine for copying letters. (c) A book giving directions and forms for the writing of letters.

LETTER Let"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lettering.]

Defn: To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered.

LETTERED Let"tered, a.

1. Literate; educated; versed in literature. " Are you not lettered" Shak. The unlettered barbarians willingly accepted the aid of the lettered clergy, still chiefly of Roman birth, to reduce to writing the institutes of their forefathers. Milman.

2. Of or pertaining to learning or literature; learned. " A lettered education." Collier.

3. Inscribed or stamped with letters. Addison.

LETTERER Let"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who makes, inscribes, or engraves, alphabetical letters.

LETTERGRAM Let"ter*gram, n.

Defn: See Letter, above.

LETTERING Let"ter*ing, n.

1. The act or business of making, or marking with, letters, as by cutting or painting.

2. The letters made; as, the lettering of a sign.

LETTERLESS Let"ter*less, a.

1. Not having a letter.

2. Illiterate. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.

LETTERN Let"tern, n.

Defn: See Lecturn.

LETTERPRESS Let"ter*press", n.

Defn: Print; letters and words impressed on paper or other material by types; -- often used of the reading matter in distinction from the illustrations. Letterpress printing, printing directly from type, in distinction from printing from plates.

LETTERURE Let"ter*ure, n.

Defn: Letters; literature. [Obs.] "To teach him letterure and courtesy." Chaucer.

LETTERWOOD Let"ter*wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The beautiful and highly elastic wood of a tree of the genus Brosimum (B. Aubletii), found in Guiana; -- so called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to hieroglyphics; also called snakewood, and leopardwood. It is much used for bows and for walking sticks.

LETTIC Let"tic, a. (a) Of or pertaining to the Letts; Lettish. (b) Of or pertaining to a branch of the Slavic family, subdivided into Lettish, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian. -- n. (a) The language of the Letts; Lettish. (b) The language of the Lettic race, including Lettish, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian.

LETTISH Let"tish, a.

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

Defn: The language spoken by the Letts. See Lettic.

LETTRURE Let"trure, n.

Defn: See Letterure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LETTS Letts, n. pl.; sing. Lett (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: An Indo-European people, allied to the Lithuanians and Old Prussians, and inhabiting a part of the Baltic provinces of Russia.

LETTUCE Let"tuce, n. Etym: [OE. letuce, prob. through Old French from some Late Latin derivative of L. lactuca lettuce, which, according to Varro, is fr. lac, lactis, milk, on account of the milky white juice which flows from it when it is cut: cf. F. laitue. Cf. Lacteal, Lactucic.] (Bot.)

Defn: A composite plant of the genus Lactuca (L. sativa), the leaves of which are used as salad. Plants of this genus yield a milky juice, from which lactucarium is obtained. The commonest wild lettuce of the United States is L. Canadensis. Hare's lettuce, Lamb's lettuce. See under Hare, and Lamb. -- Lettuce opium. See Lactucarium. -- Sea lettuce, certain papery green seaweeds of the genus Ulva.

LETUARY Let"u*a*ry, n.

Defn: Electuary. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LET-UP Let"-*up`, n. Etym: [See Let to forbear.]

Defn: Abatement; also, cessation; as, it blew a gale for three days without any let-up. [Colloq.]

LEUC- Leuc-

Defn: . Same as Leuco-.

LEUCADENDRON Leu`ca*den"dron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of evergreen shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope, having handsome foliage. Leucadendron argenteum is the silverboom of the colonists.

LEUCANILINE Leu*can"i*line, n. Etym: [Leuc- + aniline.] (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless, crystalline, organic base, obtained from rosaniline by reduction, and also from other sources. It forms colorless salts.

LEUCHAEMIA Leu*chæ"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: See Leucocythæmia. -- Leu*chæm"ic, a. [Written also leukæmia, leukæmic.]

LEUCIC; LEUCINIC Leu"cic, Leu*cin"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from leucin, and called also oxycaproic acid.

LEUCIN Leu"cin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance formed in the decomposition of albuminous matter by pancreatic digestion, by the action of boiling dilute sulphuric acid, and by putrefaction. It is also found as a constituent of various tissues and organs, as the spleen, pancreas, etc., and likewise in the vegetable kingdom. Chemically it is to be considered as amido-caproic acid. (CH3)2CH.CH2.CH(NH2)-COOH. L-leucine, the natural form, is present in most proteins.

LEUCITE Leu"cite, n. Etym: [Gr.leucite.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral having a glassy fracture, occurring in translucent trapezohedral crystals. It is a silicate of alumina and potash. It is found in the volcanic rocks of Italy, especially at Vesuvius.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A leucoplast.

LEUCITIC Leu*cit"ic, a. (Min.)

Defn: Containing leucite; as, leucitic rocks.

LEUCITOID Leu"ci*toid, n. Etym: [Leucite + -oid.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: The trapezohedron or tetragonal trisoctahedron; -- so called as being the form of the mineral leucite.

LEUCO-; LEUC- Leu"co-, Leuc-.Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A combining form signifying white, colorless; specif. (Chem.), denoting an extensive series of colorless organic compounds, obtained by reduction from certain other colored compounds; as, leucaniline, leucaurin, etc.

LEUCOCYTE Leu"co*cyte, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Cr. (Physiol.)

Defn: A colorless corpuscle, as one of the white blood corpuscles, or those found in lymph, marrow of hone, connective tissue, etc.

Note: They all consist of more or less spherical masses of protoplasm, without any surrounding membrane or wall, and are capable of motion.

LEUCOCYTHAEMIA; LEUCOCYTHEMIA Leu`co*cy*thæ"mi*a, Leu`co*cy*the"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A disease in which the white corpuscles of the blood are largely increased in number, and there is enlargement of the spleen, or the lymphatic glands; leuchæmia.

LEUCOCYTOGENESIS Leu`co*cy`to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Leucocyte + genesis.] (Physiol.)

Defn: The formation of leucocytes.

LEUCOETHIOPIC Leu`co*e`thi*op"ic, a. Etym: [Leuco- + Ethiopic.]

Defn: White and black; -- said of a white animal of a black species, or the albino of the negro race.

LEUCOETHIOPS Leu`co*e"thi*ops, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Aethiops.]

Defn: An albino. [Also written leucoethiops.]

LEUCOLINE Leu"co*line, n. Etym: [Leuc- + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous organic base from coal tar, and identical with quinoline. Cf. Quinoline.

LEUCOMA Leu*co"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A white opacity in the cornea of the eye; -- called also albugo.

LEUCOMAINE Leu*co"ma*ine, n. Etym: [Leuco- + -maine, as in ptomaine.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: An animal base or alkaloid, appearing in the tissue during life; hence, a vital alkaloid, as distinguished from a ptomaine or cadaveric poison.

LEUCONIC Leu*con"ic, a. Etym: [Leuc- + croconic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a complex organic acid, obtained as a yellowish white gum by the oxidation of croconic acid.

LEUCOPATHY Leu*cop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr.

Defn: The state of an albino, or of a white child of black parents.

LEUCOPHANE Leu"co*phane, n. Etym: [Gr. leukophan.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a greenish yellow color; it is a silicate of glucina, lime, and soda with fluorine. Called also leucophanite.

LEUCOPHLEGMACY Leu`co*phleg"ma*cy, n. Etym: [Gr. leucophlegmasie.] (Med.)

Defn: A dropsical habit of body, or the commencement of anasarca; paleness, with viscid juices and cold sweats.

LEUCOPHLEGMATIC Leu`co*phleg*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. leucophlegmatique, Gr.

Defn: Having a dropsical habit of body, with a white bloated skin.

LEUCOPHYLL Leu"co*phyll, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless substance isomeric with chlorophyll, contained in parts of plants capable of becoming green. Watts.

LEUCOPHYLLOUS Leu*coph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having white or silvery foliage.

LEUCOPLAST; LEUCOPLASTID Leu"co*plast, Leu`co*plas"tid, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: One of certain very minute whitish or colorless granules occurring in the protoplasm of plants and supposed to be the nuclei around which starch granules will form.

LEUCOPYRITE Leu*cop"y*rite, n. Etym: [Leuco- + pyrites.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a color between white and steel-gray, with a metallic luster, and consisting chiefly of arsenic and iron.

LEUCORRHOEA Leu`cor*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. "rei^n to flow.] (Med.)

Defn: A discharge of a white, yellowish, or greenish, viscid mucus, resulting from inflammation or irritation of the membrane lining the genital organs of the female; the whites. Dunglison.

LEUCORYX Leu"co*ryx, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large antelope of North Africa (Oryx leucoryx), allied to the gemsbok.

LEUCOSCOPE Leu"co*scope, n. Etym: [Leuco- + -scope.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument, devised by Professor Helmholtz, for testing the color perception of the eye, or for comparing different lights, as to their constituent color or their relative whiteness.

LEUCOSOID Leu"co*soid, a. Etym: [NL. Leucosia, the typical genus (fr. Gr. - oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the Leucosoidea, a tribe of marine crabs including the box crab or Calappa.

LEUCOSPHERE Leu"co*sphere, n. Etym: [Leuco- + sphere.] (Astron.)

Defn: The inner corona. [R.]

LEUCOTURIC Leu`co*tu"ric, a. Etym: [Leuco- + allantoic + uric.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous organic substance of the uric acid group, called leucoturic acid or oxalantin. See Oxalantin.

LEUCOUS Leu"cous, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: White; -- applied to albinos, from the whiteness of their skin and hair.

LEUCOXENE Leu*cox"ene, n. Etym: [Leuco- + Gr. xe`nos stranger.] (Min.)

Defn: A nearly opaque white mineral, in part identical with titanite, observed in some igneous rocks as the result of the alteration of titanic iron.

LEUKAEMIA Leu*kæ"mi*a, n.

Defn: Leucocythæmia.

LEUKE; LEUKENESS Leuke, a., Leuke"ness, n.

Defn: See Luke, etc.

LEUKOPLAST Leu"ko*plast, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Leucoplast.

LEUKOPLAST Leu"ko*plast (lu"ko*plast), n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Leucoplast.

LEVANA Le*va"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. levare to raise.] (Rom. Myth.)

Defn: A goddess who protected newborn infants.

LEVANT Le"vant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of lever to raise.] (Law)

Defn: Rising or having risen from rest; -- said of cattle. See Couchant and levant, under Couchant.

LEVANT Le*vant", n. Etym: [It. levante the point where the sum rises, the east, the Levant, fr.levare to raise, levarsi to rise: cf. F. levant. See Lever.]

1. The countries washed by the eastern part of the Mediterranean and its contiguous waters.

2. A levanter (the wind so called).

LEVANT Le"vant, a.

Defn: Eastern. [Obs.] Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds. Milton.

LEVANT Le*vant", v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sp. levantar to raise, go from one place to another.]

Defn: To run away from one's debts; to decamp. [Colloq. Eng.] Thackeray.

LEVANTER Le*vant"er, n. Etym: [From Levant, v.]

Defn: One who levants, or decamps. [Colloq. Eng.]

LEVANTER Le*vant"er, n. Etym: [From Levant, n.]

Defn: A strong easterly wind peculiar to the Mediterranean. W. H. Russell.

LEVANTINE Le*vant"ine, a. Etym: [F. levantin, or It. levantino. See Levant, n.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Levant. J. Spencer.

LEVANTINE Le*vant"ine, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of the Levant.

2. Etym: [F. levantine, or It. levantina.]