Chapter LI: Bella (1)

Li *bel"la, n. Etym: [L., dim. of libra balance. See Level, n.]

1. A small balance.

2. A level, or leveling instrument.

LIBELLEE Li`bel*lee", n. (Law) (a) The party against whom a libel has been filed; -- corresponding to defendant in a common law action. (b) The defendant in an action of libel.

LIBELLULID Li*bel"lu*lid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A dragon fly.

LIBELLULOID Li*bel"lu*loid, a. Etym: [NL. Libellula, the name of the typical genus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the dragon fi

LIBELOUS Li"bel*ous, a.

Defn: Containing or involving a libel; defamatory; containing that which exposes some person to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule; as, a libelous pamphlet. [Written also libellous.] -- Li"bel*ous*ly, adv.

LIBER Li"ber, n. Etym: [L. See Libel.] (Bot.)

Defn: The inner bark of plants, lying next to the wood. It usually contains a large proportion of woody, fibrous cells, and is, therefore, the part from which the fiber of the plant is obtained, as that of hemp, etc. Liber cells, elongated woody cells found in the liber.

LIBERAL Lib"er*al, a. Etym: [F. libéral, L. liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet,it pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.]

1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies. " Liberal education." Macaulay. " A liberal tongue." Shak.

2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. " Liberal of praise." Bacon. Infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite. Milton.

3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water. His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. Shak.

4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.

5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.

6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. " Most like a liberal villain." Shak.

7. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party. I confess I see nothing liberal in this " order of thoughts," as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it. Hazlitt.

Note: Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to before a person or object on which anything is bestowed; as, to be liberal of praise or censure; liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the poor. The liberal arts. See under Art. -- Liberal education, education that enlarges and disciplines the mind and makes it master of its own powers, irrespective of the particular business or profession one may follow.

Syn. -- Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample; large; profuse; free. -- Liberal, Generous. Liberal is freeborn, and generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc. The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, -- a spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment in consulting the feelings and happiness of others. Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which it manifests.

LIBERAL Lib"er*al, n.

Defn: One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.

LIBERALISM Lib"er*al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. libéralisme.]

Defn: Liberal principles; the principles and methods of the liberals in politics or religion; specifically, the principles of the Liberal party.

LIBERALIST Lib"er*al*ist, n.

Defn: A liberal.

LIBERALISTIC Lib`er*al*is"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, liberalism; as, liberalistic opinions.

LIBERALITY Lib`er*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Liberalities. Etym: [L. liberalitas: cf. F. libéralité.]

1. The quality or state of being liberal; liberal disposition or practice; freedom from narrowness or prejudice; generosity; candor; charity. That liberality is but cast away Which makes us borrow what we can not pay. Denham.

2. A gift; a gratuity; -- sometimes in the plural; as, a prudent man is not impoverished by his liberalities.

LIBERALIZATION Lib`er*al*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of liberalizing.

LIBERALIZE Lib"er*al*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Liberalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Liberalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. libéraliser.]

Defn: To make liberal; to free from narrow views or prejudices. To open and to liberalize the mind. Burke.

LIBERALIZER Lib"er*al*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, liberalizes. Emerson.

LIBERALLY Lib"er*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a liberal manner.

LIBERATE Lib"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liberated; p. pr. & vb. n. Liberating.] Etym: [L. liberatus, p. p. of liberare to free, fr. liber free. See Liberal, a., and cf. Deliver.]

Defn: To release from restraint or bondage; to set at liberty; to free; to manumit; to disengage; as, to liberate a slave or prisoner; to liberate the mind from prejudice; to liberate gases.

Syn. -- To deliver; free; release. See Deliver.

LIBERATION Lib`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. liberatio: cf. F. libération. Cf. Livraison.]

Defn: The act of liberating or the state of being liberated. This mode of analysis requires perfect liberation from all prejudged system. Pownall.

LIBERATOR Lib"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who, or that which, liberates; a deliverer.

LIBERATORY Lib"er*a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Tending, or serving, to liberate. [R.]

LIBERTARIAN Lib`er*ta"ri*an, a. Etym: [See Liberty.]

Defn: Pertaining to liberty, or to the doctrine of free will, as opposed to the doctrine of necessity.

LIBERTARIAN Lib`er*ta"ri*an, n.

Defn: One who holds to the doctrine of free will.

LIBERTARIANISM Lib`er*ta"ri*an*ism, n.

Defn: Libertarian principles or doctrines.

LIBERTICIDE Lib"er*ti*cide, n. Etym: [L. libertas liberty + caedere to kill: cf. (for sense 2) F. liberticide.]

1. The destruction of civil liberty.

2. A destroyer of civil liberty. B. F. Wade.

LIBERTINAGE Lib"er*tin*age n. Etym: [Cf. F. libertinage. See Libertine.]

Defn: Libertinism; license. [R.]

LIBERTINE Lib"er*tine, n. Etym: [L. libertinus freedman, from libertus one made free, fr. liber free: cf. F. libertin. See Liberal.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A manumitted slave; a freedman; also, the son of a freedman.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect of Anabaptists, in the fifteenth and early part of the sixteenth century, who rejected many of the customs and decencies of life, and advocated a community of goods and of women.

3. One free from restraint; one who acts according to his impulses and desires; now, specifically, one who gives rein to lust; a rake; a debauchee. Like a puffed and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads. Shak.

4. A defamatory name for a freethinker. [Obsoles.]

LIBERTINE Lib"er*tine, a. Etym: [L. libertinus of a freedman: cf. F. libertin. See Libertine, n. ]

1. Free from restraint; uncontrolled. [Obs.] You are too much libertine. Beau. & Fl.

2. Dissolute; licentious; profligate; loose in morals; as, libertine principles or manners. Bacon.

LIBERTINISM Lib"er*tin*ism, n.

1. The state of a libertine or freedman. [R.] Hammond.

2. Licentious conduct; debauchery; lewdness.

3. Licentiousness of principle or opinion. That spirit of religion and seriousness vanished all at once, and a spirit of liberty and libertinism, of infidelity and profaneness, started up in the room of it. Atterbury.

LIBERTY Lib"er*ty, n.; pl. Liberties (. Etym: [OE. liberte, F. liberté, fr. L. libertas, fr. liber free. See Liberal.]

1. The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; -- opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection. But ye . . . caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection. Jer. xxxiv. 16. Delivered fro the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Bible, 1551. Rom. viii. 21.

2. Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion. Being pent from liberty, as I am now. Shak.

3. A privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as, liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like.

4. Privilege; exemption; franchise; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; as, the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe. His majesty gave not an entire county to any; much less did he grant . . . any extraordinary liberties. Sir J. Davies.

5. The place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised. [Eng.] Brought forth into some public or open place within the liberty of the city, and there . . . burned. Fuller.

6. A certain amount of freedom; permission to go freely within certain limits; also, the place or limits within which such freedom is exercised; as, the liberties of a prison.

7. A privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette or propriety; as, to permit, or take, a liberty. He was repeatedly provoked into striking those who had taken liberties with him. Macaulay.

8. The power of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing. The idea of liberty is the idea of a power in any agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, whereby either of them is preferred to the other. Locke. This liberty of judgment did not of necessity lead to lawlessness. J. A. Symonds.

9. (Manege)

Defn: A curve or arch in a bit to afford room for the tongue of the horse.

10. (Naut.)

Defn: Leave of absence; permission to go on shore. At liberty. (a) Unconfined; free. (b) At leisure. -- Civil liberty, exemption from arbitrary interference with person, opinion, or property, on the part of the government under which one lives, and freedom to take part in modifying that government or its laws. -- Liberty bell. See under Bell. -- Liberty cap. (a) The Roman pileus which was given to a slave at his manumission. (b) A limp, close-fitting cap with which the head of representations of the goddess of liberty is often decked. It is sometimes represented on a spear or a liberty pole. -- Liberty of the press, freedom to print and publish without official supervision. Liberty party, the party, in the American Revolution, which favored independence of England; in more recent usage, a party which favored the emancipation of the slaves. -- Liberty pole, a tall flagstaff planted in the ground, often surmounted by a liberty cap. [U. S.] -- Moral liberty, that liberty of choice which is essential to moral responsibility. -- Religious liberty, freedom of religious opinion and worship.

Syn. -- Leave; permission; license. -- Liberty, Freedom. These words, though often interchanged, are distinct in some of of their applications. Liberty has reference to previous restraint; freedom, to the simple, unrepressed exercise of our powers. A slave is set at liberty; his master had always been in a state of freedom. A prisoner under trial may ask liberty (exemption from restraint) to speak his sentiments with freedom (the spontaneous and bold utterance of his feelings), The liberty of the press is our great security for freedom of thought.

LIBETHENITE Li*beth"en*ite, n. Etym: [From Libethen, in Hungary, where it was first found.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of an olive-green color, commonly in orthorhombic crystals. It is a hydrous phosphate of copper.

LIBIDINIST Li*bid"i*nist, n. Etym: [See Libidinous.]

Defn: One given to lewdness.

LIBIDINOSITY Li*bid`i*nos"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being libidinous; libidinousness. Skelton.

LIBIDINOUS Li*bid"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. libidinosus, fr. libido, libidinis, pleasure, desire, lust, fr. libet, lubet, it pleases: cf. F. libidineux. See Lief.]

Defn: Having lustful desires; characterized by lewdness; sensual; lascivious. -- Li*bid"i*nous*ly, adv. -- Li*bid"i*nous*ness, n.

Syn. -- Lewd; lustful; lascivious; unchaste; impure; sensual; licentious; lecherous; salacious.

LIBKEN; LIBKIN Lib"ken, Lib"kin, n. Etym: [AS. libban, F. live, v. i. + -kin.]

Defn: A house or lodging. [Old Slang] B. Jonson.

LIBRA Li"bra, n.; pl. Libræ. Etym: [L., a balance.] (Astron.) (a) The Balance; the seventh sign in the zodiac, which the sun enters at the autumnal equinox in September, marked thus libra in almanacs, etc. (b ) A southern constellation between Virgo and Scorpio.

LIBRAL Li"bral, a. Etym: [L. libralis, fr. libra the Roman pound.]

Defn: Of a pound weight. [Obs.] Johnson.

LIBRARIAN Li*bra"ri*an, n. Etym: [See Library.]

1. One who has the care or charge of a library.

2. One who copies manuscript books. [Obs.] Broome.

LIBRARIANSHIP Li*bra"ri*an*ship, n.

Defn: The office of a librarian.

LIBRARY Li"bra*ry, n.; pl. Libraries. Etym: [OE. librairie, F. librairie bookseller's shop, book trade, formerly, a library, fr. libraire bookseller, L. librarius, from liber book; cf. libraria bookseller's shop, librarium bookcase, It. libreria. See Libel.]

1. A considerable collection of books kept for use, and not as merchandise; as, a private library; a public library.

2. A building or apartment appropriated for holding such a collection of books. Holland.

LIBRATE Li"brate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Librated p. pr. & & vb. n. Librating.] Etym: [L. libratus, p. p. of librare to balance, to make even, fr. libra.Cf. Level, Deliberate, Equilibrium.]

Defn: To vibrate as a balance does before resting in equilibrium; hence, to be poised. Their parts all liberate on too nice a beam. Clifton.

LIBRATE Li"brate, v. i.

Defn: To poise; to balance.

LIBRATION Li*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. libratio: cf. F. libration.]

1. The act or state of librating. Jer. Taylor.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A real or apparent libratory motion, like that of a balance before coming to rest. Libration of the moon, any one of those small periodical changes in the position of the moon's surface relatively to the earth, in consequence of which narrow portions at opposite limbs become visible or invisible alternately. It receives different names according to the manner in which it takes place; as: (a) Libration in longitude, that which, depending on the place of the moon in its elliptic orbit, causes small portions near the eastern and western borders alternately to appear and disappear each month. (b) Libration in latitude, that which depends on the varying position of the moon's axis in respect to the spectator, causing the alternate appearance and disappearance of either pole. (c) Diurnal or parallactic libration, that which brings into view on the upper limb, at rising and setting, some parts not in the average visible hemisphere.

LIBRATORY Li"bra*to*ry, a.

Defn: Balancing; moving like a balance, as it tends to an equipoise or level.

LIBRETTIST Li*bret"tist, n.

Defn: One who makes a libretto.

LIBRETTO Li*bret"to, n.; pl. E. Librettos, It. Libretti. Etym: [It., dim. of libro book, L. liber. See Libel.] (Mus.) (a) A book containing the words of an opera or extended piece of music. (b) The words themselves.

LIBRIFORM Li"bri*form, a. Etym: [Liber + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of liber, or resembling liber. Libriform cells, peculiar wood cells which are very slender and relatively thick- walled, and occasionally are furnished with bordered pits. Goodale.

LIBYAN Lib"y*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Libya, the ancient name of that part of Africa between Egypt and the Atlantic Ocean, or of Africa as a whole.

LICE Lice, n.;

Defn: pl. of Louse.

LICENSABLE Li"cens*a*ble, a.

Defn: That can be licensed.

LICENSE Li"cense, n. [Written also licence.] Etym: [F. licence, L. licentia, fr. licere to be permitted, prob. orig., to be left free to one; akin to linquere to leave. See Loan, and cf. Illicit, Leisure.]

1. Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; especially, a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach, to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating liquors. To have a license and a leave at London to dwell. P. Plowman.

2. The document granting such permission. Addison.

3. Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety. License they mean when they cry liberty. Milton.

4. That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.

Syn. -- Leave; liberty; permission.

LICENSE Li"cense, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Licensed; p. pr. & vb. n. Licensing.]

Defn: To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as, to license a man to preach. Milton. Shak.

LICENSED Li"censed, a.

Defn: Having a license; permitted or authorized by license; as, a licensed victualer; a licensed traffic. Licensed victualer, one who has a license to keep an in or eating house; esp., a victualer who has a license to sell intoxicating liquors.

LICENSEE Li`cen*see", n. (Law)

Defn: The person to whom a license is given.

LICENSER Li"cens*er, n.

Defn: One who gives a license; as, a licenser of the press.

LICENSURE Li"cen*sure, n.

Defn: A licensing. [R.]

LICENTIATE Li*cen"ti*ate, n. Etym: [LL. licentiatus, fr. licentiare to allow to do anything, fr. L. licentia license. See License, n.]

1. One who has a license to exercise a profession; as, a licentiate in medicine or theology. The college of physicians, in July, 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighboring poor. Johnson.

2. A friar authorized to receive confessions and grant absolution in all places, independently of the local clergy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. One who acts without restraint, or takes a liberty, as if having a license therefor. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

4. On the continent of Europe, a university degree intermediate between that of bachelor and that of doctor.

LICENTIATE Li*cen"ti*ate, v. t.

Defn: To give a license to. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

LICENTIOUS Li*cen"tious, a. Etym: [L. licentiosus: cf. F. licencieux. See License.]

1. Characterized by license; passing due bounds; excessive; abusive of freedom; wantonly offensive; as, a licentious press. A wit that no licentious pertness knows. Savage.

2. Unrestrained by law or morality; lawless; immoral; dissolute; lewd; lascivious; as, a licentious man; a licentious life. "Licentious wickedness." Shak.

Syn. -- Unrestrained; uncurbed; uncontrolled; unruly; riotous; ungovernable; wanton; profligate; dissolute; lax; loose; sensual; impure; unchaste; lascivious; immoral. -- Li*cen"tious*ly, adv. -- Li*cen"tious*ness, n.

LICH Lich, a.

Defn: Like. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

LICH Lich, n. Etym: [AS.lic body. See Like, a.]

Defn: A dead body; a corpse. [Obs.] Lich fowl (Zoöl.), the European goatsucker; -- called also lich owl. -- Lich gate, a covered gate through which the corpse was carried to the church or burial place, and where the bier was placed to await clergyman; a corpse gate. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. -- Lich wake, the wake, or watching, held over a corpse before burial. [Prov Eng.] Chaucer. -- Lich wall, the wall of a churchyard or burying ground. -- Lich way, the path by which the dead are carried to the grave. [Prov. Eng.]

LICHEN Li"chen, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: One of a class of cellular, flowerless plants, (technically called Lichenes), having no distinction of leaf and stem, usually of scaly, expanded, frond-like forms, but sometimes erect or pendulous and variously branched. They derive their nourishment from the air, and generate by means of spores. The species are very widely distributed, and form irregular spots or patches, usually of a greenish or yellowish color, upon rocks, trees, and various bodies, to which they adhere with great tenacity. They are often improperly called rock moss or tree moss.

Note: A favorite modern theory of lichens (called after its inventor the Schwendener hypothesis), is that they are not autonomous plants, but that they consist of ascigerous fungi, parasitic on algæ. Each lichen is composed of white filaments and green, or greenish, rounded cells, and it is argued that the two are of different nature, the one living at the expense of the other. See Hyphæ, and Gonidia.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A name given to several varieties of skin disease, esp. to one characterized by the eruption of small, conical or flat, reddish pimples, which, if unchecked, tend to spread and produce great and even fatal exhaustion.

LICHENED Li"chened, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or covered with, lichens. Tennyson.

LICHENIC Li*chen"ic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, lichens. Lichenic acid. (a) An organic acid, C14H24O3 obtained from Iceland moss. (b) An old name of fumaric acid.

LICHENIFORM Li*chen"i*form, a.

Defn: Having the form of a lichen.

LICHENIN Li"chen*in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A substance isomeric with starch, extracted from several species of moss and lichen, esp. from Iceland moss.

LICHENOGRAPHIC; LICHENOGRAPHICAL Li"chen*o*graph"ic, Li`chen*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. lichénographique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to lichenography.

LICHENOGRAPHIST Li`chen*og"ra*phist, n.

Defn: One who describes lichens; one versed in lichenography.

LICHENOGRAPHY Li`chen*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Lichen + -graphy: cf. F. lichénographie.]

Defn: A description of lichens; the science which illustrates the natural history of lichens.

LICHENOLOGIST Li`chen*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One versed in lichenology.

LICHENOLOGY Li`chen*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Lichen + -logy.]

Defn: The science which treats of lichens.

LICHENOUS Li"chen*ous, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, lichens; abounding in lichens; covered with lichens. G. Eliot.

LICHI Li"chi`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Litchi.

LICHWALE Lich"wale`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The gromwell.

LICHWORT Lich"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An herb, the wall pellitory. See Pellitory.

LICIT Lic"it, a. Etym: [L.licitus permitted, lawful, from licere: cf. F. licite. See License.]

Defn: Lawful. "Licit establishments." Carlyle. -- Lic"it*ly, adv. -- Lic"it*ness, n.

LICITATION Lic`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. licitatio, fr. licitari, liceri, to bid, offer a price.]

Defn: The act of offering for sale to the highest bidder. [R.]

LICK Lick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Licked; p. pr. & vb. n. Licking.] Etym: [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk, D. likken, OHG. lecch, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laig, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lih, rih. . Cf. Lecher, Relish.]

1. To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand. Addison.

2. To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk. Shak. To lick the dust, to be slain; to fall in battle. "His enemies shall lick the dust." Ps. lxxii. 9. -- To lick into shape, to give proper form to; -- from a notion that the bear's cubs are born shapeless and subsequently formed by licking. Hudibras. -- To lick the spittle of, to fawn upon. South. -- To lick up, to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely. Shak. Num. xxii. 4.

LICK Lick, n. Etym: [See Lick, v.]

1. A stroke of the tongue in licking. "A lick at the honey pot." Dryden.

2. A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied. [Colloq.] A lick of court white wash. Gray.

3. A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs. [U. S.]

LICK Lick, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OSw. lägga to place, strike, prick.]

Defn: To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. [Colloq. or Low] Carlyle. Thackeray.

LICK Lick, n.

Defn: A slap; a quick stroke.[Colloq.] "A lick across the face." Dryden.

LICKER Lick"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Lecher.]

Defn: One who, or that which, licks. Licker in (Carding Machine), the drum, or cylinder, by which the lap is taken from the feed rollers.

LICKERISH Lick"er*ish, a. Etym: [Cf. Lecherous.]

1. Eager; craving; urged by desire; eager to taste or enjoy; greedy. "The lickerish palate of the glutton." Bp. Hall.

2. Tempting the appetite; dainty. "Lickerish baits, fit to insnare a brute." Milton.

3. lecherous; lustful. Robert of Brunne. -- Lick"er*ish*ly, adv. -- Lick"er*ish*ness, n.

LICKEROUS Lick"er*ous, a.

Defn: Lickerish; eager; lustful. [Obs.] -- Lick"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LICKING Lick"ing, n.

1. A lapping with the tongue.

2. A flogging or castigation. [Colloq. or Low]

LICKPENNY Lick"pen`ny, n.

Defn: A devourer or absorber of money. "Law is a lickpenny." Sir W. Scott.

LICK-SPIGOT Lick"-spig`ot, n.

Defn: A tapster. [Obs.]

LICK-SPITTLE Lick"-spit`tle, n.

Defn: An abject flatterer or parasite. Theodore Hook.

LICORICE Lic"o*rice, n. Etym: [OE. licoris, though old French, fr. L. liquiritia, corrupted fr. glycyrrhiza, Gr. Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza, Wort.] [Written also liquorice.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza (G. glabra), the root of which abounds with a juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions.

2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and medicinal purposes. Licorice fern (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor. -- Licorice sugar. (Chem.) See Glycyrrhizin. -- Licorice weed (Bot.), the tropical plant Scapania aulcis. -- Mountain licorice (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium alpinum), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock. -- Wild licorice. (Bot.) (a) The North American perennial herb Glycyrrhiza lepidota. (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers (Galium circæzans and G. lanceolatum). (c) The leguminous climber Abrus precatorius, whose scarlet and black seeds are called black-eyed Susans. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

LICOROUS Lic"o*rous, a.

Defn: See Lickerish. -- Lic"o*rous*ness, n. [Obs.] Herbert.

LICOUR Lic"our, n.

Defn: Liquor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LICTOR Lic"tor, n. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: An officer who bore an ax and fasces or rods, as ensigns of his office. His duty was to attend the chief magistrates when they appeared in public, to clear the way, and cause due respect to be paid to them, also to apprehend and punish criminals. Lictors and rods, the ensigns of their power. Milton.

LID Lid, n. Etym: [AS. hlid, fr. hlidan (in comp.) to cover, shut; akin to OS. hlidan (in comp.), D. lid, OHG. hlit, G. augenlid eyelid, Icel. hli gate, gateway.

1. That which covers the opening of a vessel or box, etc. ; a movable cover; as, the lid of a chest or trunk.

2. The cover of the eye; an eyelid. Shak. Tears, big tears, gushed from the rough soldier's lid. Byron.

3. (Bot.) (a) The cover of the spore cases of mosses. (b) A calyx which separates from the flower, and falls off in a single piece, as in the Australian Eucalypti. (c) The top of an ovary which opens transversely, as in the fruit of the purslane and the tree which yields Brazil nuts.

LIDDED Lid"ded, a.

Defn: Covered with a lid. Keats.

LIDGE Lidge, n.

Defn: Same Ledge.[Obs.] Spenser.

LIDLESS Lid"less, a.

Defn: Having no lid, or not covered with the lids, as the eyes; hence, sleepless; watchful. A lidless watcher of the public weal. Tennyson.

LIE Lie, n.

Defn: See Lye.

LIE Lie, n. Etym: [AS. lyge; akin to D. leugen, OHG. lugi, G. lüge, lug, Icel. lygi, Dan. & Sw. lögn, Goth. liugn. See Lie to utter a falsehood.]

1. A falsehood uttered or acted for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth; an untruth spoken with the intention to deceive. It is willful deceit that makes a lie. A man may act a lie, as by pointing his finger in a wrong direction when a traveler inquires of him his road. Paley.

2. A fiction; a fable; an untruth. Dryden.

3. Anything which misleads or disappoints. Wishing this lie of life was o'er. Trench. To give the lie to. (a) To charge with falsehood; as, the man gave him the lie. (b) To reveal to be false; as, a man's actions may give the lie to his words. -- White lie, a euphemism for such lies as one finds it convenient to tell, and excuses himself for telling.

Syn. -- Untruth; falsehood; fiction; deception. -- lie, Untruth. A man may state what is untrue from ignorance or misconception; hence, to impute an untruth to one is not necessarily the same as charging him with a lie. Every lie is an untruth, but not every untruth is a lie. Cf. Falsity.

LIE Lie, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lied; p. pr. & vb. n. Lying.] Etym: [OE. lien, li, le, leo, AS. leógan; akin to D. liegen, OS. & OHG. liogan, G. lügen, Icel. lj, Sw. ljuga, Dan.lyve, Goth. liugan, Russ. lgate.]

Defn: To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive; to say or do that which is intended to deceive another, when he a right to know the truth, or when morality requires a just representation.

LIE Lie, v. i. [imp. Lay; p. p. Lain, (Lien (, [Obs.]); p. pr. & vb. n. Lying.] Etym: [OE. lien, liggen, AS. licgan; akin to D. liggen, OHG. ligen, licken, G. liegen, Icel. liggja, Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, Goth. ligan, Russ. lejate, L. lectus bed, Gr. Lair, Law, Lay, v. t., Litter, Low, adj.]

1. To rest extended on the ground, a bed, or any support; to be, or to put one's self, in an horizontal position, or nearly so; to be prostate; to be stretched out; -- often with down, when predicated of living creatures; as, the book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin. The watchful traveler . . . Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes. Dryden.

2. To be situated; to occupy a certain place; as, Ireland lies west of England; the meadows lie along the river; the ship lay in port.

3. To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition; as, to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hid; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves; the paper does not lie smooth on the wall.

4. To be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist; -- with in. Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances. Collier. He that thinks that diversion may not lie in hard labor, forgets the early rising and hard riding of huntsmen. Locke.

5. To lodge; to sleep. Whiles I was now trifling at home, I saw London, . . . where I lay one night only. Evelyn. Mr. Quinion lay at our house that night. Dickens.

6. To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest. The wind is loud and will not lie. Shak.

7. (Law)

Defn: To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained. "An appeal lies in this case." Parsons.

Note: Through ignorance or carelessness speakers and writers often confuse the forms of the two distinct verbs lay and lie. Lay is a transitive verb, and has for its preterit laid; as, he told me to lay it down, and I laid it down. Lie is intransitive, and has for its preterit lay; as, he told me to lie down, and I lay down. Some persons blunder by using laid for the preterit of lie; as, he told me to lie down, and I laid down. So persons often say incorrectly, the ship laid at anchor; they laid by during the storm; the book was laying on the shelf, etc. It is only necessary to remember, in all such cases, that laid is the preterit of lay, and not of lie. To lie along the shore (Naut.), to coast, keeping land in sight. -- To lie at the door of, to be imputable to; as, the sin, blame, etc., lies at your door. -- To lie at the heart, to be an object of affection, desire, or anxiety. Sir W. Temple. -- To lie at the mercy of, to be in the power of. -- To lie by. (a) To remain with; to be at hand; as, he has the manuscript lying by him. (b) To rest; to intermit labor; as, we lay by during the heat of the day. -- To lie hard or heavy, to press or weigh; to bear hard. -- To lie in, to be in childbed; to bring forth young. -- To lie in one, to be in the power of; to belong to. "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Rom. xii. 18. -- To lie in the way, to be an obstacle or impediment. -- To lie in wait , to wait in concealment; to lie in ambush. -- To lie on or upon. (a) To depend on; as, his life lies on the result. (b) To bear, rest, press, or weigh on. -- To lie low, to remain in concealment or inactive. [Slang] -- To lie on hand, To lie on one's hands, to remain unsold or unused; as, the goods are still lying on his hands; they have too much time lying on their hands. -- To lie on the head of, to be imputed to. What he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head. Shak. -- To lie over. (a) To remain unpaid after the time when payment is due, as a note in bank. (b) To be deferred to some future occasion, as a resolution in a public deliberative body. -- To lie to (Naut.), to stop or delay; especially, to head as near the wind as possible as being the position of greatest safety in a gale; -- said of a ship. Cf. To bring to, under Bring. -- To lie under, to be subject to; to suffer; to be oppressed by. -- To lie with. (a) To lodge or sleep with. (b) To have sexual intercourse with. (c) To belong to; as, it lies with you to make amends.

LIE Lie, n.

Defn: The position or way in which anything lies; the lay, as of land or country. J. H. Newman. He surveyed with his own eyes . . . the lie of the country on the side towards Thrace. Jowett (Thucyd.).

LIEBERKUHN; LIEBERKUEHN Lie"ber*kühn, n. Etym: [Named after a German physician and instrument maker, J. n. Lieberkühn.] (Optics)

Defn: A concave metallic mirror attached to the object-glass end of a microscope, to throw down light on opaque objects; a reflector.

LIEBERKUHN'S GLANDS; LIEBERKUEHN'S GLANDS Lie"ber*kühn's glands`. Etym: [See Lieberkühn.] (Anat.)

Defn: The simple tubular glands of the small intestines; -- called also crypts of Lieberkühn.

LIED Lied, n. ; pl. Lieder. Etym: [G.] (Mus.)

Defn: A lay; a German song. It differs from the French chanson, and the Italian canzone, all three being national. The German Lied is perhaps the most faithful reflection of the national sentiment. Grove.

LIEDERKRANZ Lie"der*kranz, n. [G. See Lied, and Grants.] (Mus.)

Defn: Lit., wreath of songs; -- used as the title of a group of songs, and esp. as the common name for German vocal clubs of men.

LIEDERTAFEL Lie"der*ta`fel, n. Etym: [G., lit., a song table.] (Mus.)

Defn: A popular name for any society or club which meets for the practice of male part songs.

LIEF Lief, n.

Defn: Same as Lif.

LIEF Lief, a. [Written also lieve.] Etym: [OE. leef, lef, leof, AS. leóf; akin to OS.liof, OFries. liaf, D. lief, G. lieb, OHG. liob, Icel. lj, Sw.ljuf, Goth. liubs, and E. love. sq. root124. See Love, and cf. Believe, Leave, n., Furlough, Libidinous.]

1. Dear; beloved. [Obs., except in poetry.] "My liefe mother." Chaucer. "My liefest liege." Shak. As thou art lief and dear. Tennyson.

2.

Note: (Used with a form of the verb to be, and the dative of the personal pronoun.)

Defn: Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable. [Obs.] See Lief, adv., and Had as lief, under Had. Full lief me were this counsel for to hide. Chaucer. Death me liefer were than such despite. Spenser.

3. Willing; disposed. [Obs.] I am not lief to gab. Chaucer. He up arose, however lief or loth. Spenser.

LIEF Lief, n.

Defn: A dear one; a sweetheart. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LIEF Lief, adv.

Defn: Gladly; willingly; freely; -- now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief; as, I had, or would, as lief go as not. All women liefest would Be sovereign of man's love. Gower. I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines. Shak. Far liefer by his dear hand had I die. Tennyson.

Note: The comparative liefer with had or would, and followed by the infinitive, either with or without the sign to, signifies prefer, choose as preferable, would or had rather. In the 16th century rather was substituted for liefer in such constructions in literary English, and has continued to be generally so used. See Had as lief, Had rather, etc. , under Had.

LIEFSOME Lief"some, a.

Defn: Pleasing; delightful. [Obs.]

LIEGANCE Lieg"ance, n.

Defn: Same as Ligeance.

LIEGE Liege, a. Etym: [OE. lige, lege, F. lige, LL. ligius, legius, liege, unlimited, complete, prob. of German origin; cf. G. ledig free from bonds and obstacles, MHG. ledec, ledic, lidic, freed, loosed, and Charta Ottonis de Benthem, ann. ligius homo quod Teutonicè dicitur ledigman," i. e., uni soli homagio obligatus, free from all obligations to others; influenced by L.ligare to bind. G. ledig perh. orig. meant, free to go where one pleases, and is perh. akin to E.lead to conduct. Cf. Lead to guide.]

1. Sovereign; independent; having authority or right to allegiance; as, a liege lord. Chaucer. She looked as grand as doomsday and as grave; And he, he reverenced his liege lady there. Tennyson.

2. serving an independent sovereign or master; bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, as a vassal to his lord; faithful; loyal; as, a liege man; a liege subject.

3. (Old Law)

Defn: Full; perfect; complete; pure. Burrill. Liege homage (Feudal Custom), that homage of one sovereign or prince to another which acknowledged an obligation of fealty and services. -- Liege poustie Etym: [L. legitima potestas] (Scots Law), perfect, i. e., legal, power; specif., having health requisite to do legal acts. -- Liege widowhood, perfect, i. e., pure, widowhood. [Obs.]

LIEGE Liege, n.

1. A free and independent person; specif., a lord paramount; a sovereign. Mrs. Browning. The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans, Liege of all loiterers and malcontents. Shak.

2. The subject of a sovereign or lord; a liegeman. A liege lord seems to have been a lord of a free band; and his lieges, though serving under him, were privileged men, free from all other obligations, their name being due to their freedom, not to their service. Skeat.

LIEGEMAN Liege"man, n.; pl. Liegemen (.

Defn: Same as Liege, n., 2. Chaucer. Spenser.

LIEGER Lie"ger, n. Etym: [See Leger, Ledger.]

Defn: A resident ambassador. [Obs.] See Leger. Denham.

LIEGIANCY Lie"gian*cy, n.

Defn: See Ligeance.

LIEN Li"en, obs. p. p.

Defn: of Lie. See lain. Ps. lxviii. 13.

LIEN Lien, n. Etym: [F. lien band, bond, tie, fr. L. ligamen, fr. ligare to bind. Cf. League a union, Leam a string, Leamer, Ligament.] (Law)

Defn: A legal claim; a charge upon real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty; a right in one to control or hold and retain the property of another until some claim of the former is paid or satisfied.

LIENAL Li*e"nal, a. Etym: [L. lien the spleen.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the spleen; splenic.

LIENCULUS Li*en"cu*lus, n.; pl. Lienculi. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. lien the spleen.] (Anat.)

Defn: One of the small nodules sometimes found in the neighborhood of the spleen; an accessory or supplementary spleen.

LIENO-INTESTINAL Li*e`no-in*tes"ti*nal, a. Etym: [l. lien the spleen + E. intestinal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the spleen and intestine; as, the lieno- intestinal vein of the frog.

LIENTERIC Li`en*ter"ic, a. Etym: [L. lientericus, Gr. lientérique. See Lientery.] (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of, a lientery. -- n. (Med.)

Defn: A lientery. Grew.

LIENTERY Li"en*ter*y, n. Etym: [Gr. lientérie.] (Med.)

Defn: A diarrhea, in which the food is discharged imperfectly digested, or with but little change. Dunglison.

LIER Li"er, n. Etym: [From Lie. ]

Defn: One who lies down; one who rests or remains, as in concealment. There were liers in a ambush against him. Josh. viii. 14.

LIERNE RIB Lierne" rib`. Etym: [F. lierne.] (Arch.)

Defn: In Gothic vaulting, any rib which does not spring from the impost and is not a ridge rib, but passes from one boss or intersection of the principal ribs to another.

LIEU Lieu, n. Etym: [F., OF. also liu, leu, lou, fr. L. locus place. See Local, Locus.]

Defn: Place; room; stead; -- used only in the phrase in lieu of, that is, instead of. The plan of extortion had been adopted in lieu of the scheme of confiscation. Burke.

LIEUTENANCY Lieu*ten"an*cy, n.

1. The office, rank, or commission, of a lieutenant.

2. The body of lieutenants or subordinates. [Obs.] The list of the lieutenancy of our metropolis. Felton.

LIEUTENANT Lieu*ten"ant, n. Etym: [F., fr. lieu place + tenant holding, p. pr. of tenir to hold, L. tenere. See Lieu, and Tenant, and cf. Locum tenens.]

1. An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his absence; a representative of, or substitute for, another in the performance of any duty. The lawful magistrate, who is the vicegerent or lieutenant of God. Abp. Bramhall.

2. (a) A commissioned officer in the army, next below a captain. (b) A commissioned officer in the British navy, in rank next below a commander. (c) A commissioned officer in the United States navy, in rank next below a lieutenant commander.

Note: Lieutenant is often used, either adjectively or in hyphened compounds, to denote an officer, in rank next below another, especially when the duties of the higher officer may devolve upon the lower one; as, lieutenant general, or lieutenant-general; lieutenant colonel, or lieutenant-colonel; lieutenant governor, etc. Deputy lieutenant, the title of any one of the deputies or assistants of the lord lieutenant of a county. [Eng.] -- Lieutenant colonel, an army officer next in rank above major, and below colonel. -- Lieutenant commander, an officer in the United States navy, in rank next below a commander and next above a lieutenant. -- Lieutenant general. See in Vocabulary. -- Lieutenant governor. (a) An officer of a State, being next in rank to the governor, and in case of the death or resignation of the latter, himself acting as governor. [U. S.] (b) A deputy governor acting as the chief civil officer of one of several colonies under a governor general. [Eng.]

LIEUTENANT GENERAL Lieu*ten"ant gen"er*al

Defn: . An army officer in rank next below a general and next above a major general.

Note: In the United States, before the civil war, this rank had been conferred only on George Washington and (in brevet) on Winfield Scott. In 1864 it was revived by Congress and conferred on Ulysses S. Grant, and subsequently, by promotion, on William T. Sherman and Philip H. Sheridan, each of whom was advanced to the rank of general of the army. When Sheridan was made general (in 1888) the rank of lieutenant general was suffered to lapse. See General.

LIEUTENANTRY Lieu*ten"ant*ry, n.

Defn: See Lieutenancy. [Obs.]

LIEUTENANTSHIP Lieu*ten"ant*ship, n.

Defn: Same as Lieutenancy, 1.

LIEVE Lieve, a.

Defn: Same as Lief.

LIF Lif, n. Etym: [Written also lief.]

Defn: The fiber by which the petioles of the date palm are bound together, from which various kinds of cordage are made.

LIFE Life, n.; pl. Lives. Etym: [AS. l; akin to D. lijf body, G. leib body, MHG. l life, body, OHG. l life, Icel. l, life, body, Sw. lif, Dan. liv, and E. live, v. Live, and cf. Alive.]

1. The state of being which begins with generation, birth, or germination, and ends with death; also, the time during which this state continues; that state of an animal or plant in which all or any of its organs are capable of performing all or any of their functions; -- used of all animal and vegetable organisms.

2. Of human being: The union of the soul and body; also, the duration of their union; sometimes, the deathless quality or existence of the soul; as, man is a creature having an immortal life. She shows a body rather than a life. Shak.

3. (Philos)

Defn: The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and plants are started and continued in the performance of their several and coöperative functions; the vital force, whether regarded as physical or spiritual.

4. Figuratively: The potential or animating principle, also, the period of duration, of anything that is conceived of as resembling a natural organism in structure or functions; as, the life of a state, a machine, or a book; authority is the life of government.

5. A certain way or manner of living with respect to conditions, circumstances, character, conduct, occupation, etc.; hence, human affairs; also, lives, considered collectively, as a distinct class or type; as, low life; a good or evil life; the life of Indians, or of miners. That which before us lies in daily life. Milton. By experience of life abroad in the world. Ascham. Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. Longfellow. 'T is from high life high characters are drawn. Pope

6. Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy. No notion of life and fire in fancy and in words. Felton. That gives thy gestures grace and life. Wordsworth.

7. That which imparts or excites spirit or vigor; that upon which enjoyment or success depends; as, he was the life of the company, or of the enterprise.

8. The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as, a picture or a description from, the life.

9. A person; a living being, usually a human being; as, many lives were sacrificed.

10. The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively. Full nature swarms with life. Thomson.

11. An essential constituent of life, esp: the blood. The words that I speak unto you . . . they are life. John vi. 63. The warm life came issuing through the wound. Pope

12. A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as, Johnson wrote the life of Milton.

13. Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of God; heavenly felicity.

14. Something dear to one as one's existence; a darling; -- used as a term of endearment.

Note: Life forms the first part of many compounds, for the most part of obvious meaning; as, life-giving, life-sustaining, etc. Life annuity, an annuity payable during one's life. -- Life arrow, Life rocket, Life shot, an arrow, rocket, or shot, for carrying an attached line to a vessel in distress in order to save life. -- Life assurance. See Life insurance, below. -- Life buoy. See Buoy. -- Life car, a water-tight boat or box, traveling on a line from a wrecked vessel to the shore. In it person are hauled through the waves and surf. -- Life drop, a drop of vital blood. Byron. -- Life estate (Law), an estate which is held during the term of some certain person's life, but does not pass by inheritance. -- Life everlasting (Bot.), a plant with white or yellow persistent scales about the heads of the flowers, as Antennaria, and Gnaphalium; cudweed. -- Life of an execution (Law), the period when an execution is in force, or before it expires. -- Life guard. (Mil.) See under Guard. -- Life insurance, the act or system of insuring against death; a contract by which the insurer undertakes, in consideration of the payment of a premium (usually at stated periods), to pay a stipulated sum in the event of the death of the insured or of a third person in whose life the insured has an interest. -- Life interest, an estate or interest which lasts during one's life, or the life of another person, but does not pass by inheritance. -- Life land (Law), land held by lease for the term of a life or lives. -- Life line. (a) (Naut.) A line along any part of a vessel for the security of sailors. (b) A line attached to a life boat, or to any life saving apparatus, to be grasped by a person in the water. -- Life rate, rate of premium for insuring a life. -- Life rent, the rent of a life estate; rent or property to which one is entitled during one's life. -- Life school, a school for artists in which they model, paint, or draw from living models. -- Lifetable, a table showing the probability of life at different ages. -- To lose one's life, to die. -- To seek the life of, to seek to kill. -- To the life, so as closely to resemble the living person or the subject; as, the portrait was drawn to the life.

LIFEBLOOD Life"blood`, n.

1. The blood necessary to life; vital blood. Dryden.

2. Fig.: That which gives strength and energy. Money [is] the lifeblood of the nation. Swift.

LIFEBOAT Life"boat`, n.

Defn: A strong, buoyant boat especially designed for saving the lives of shipwrecked people.

LIFEFUL Life"ful, a.

Defn: Full of vitality. Spenser.

LIFE-GIVING Life"-giv`ing, a.

Defn: Giving life or spirit; having power to give life; inspiriting; invigorating.

LIFEHOLD Life"hold`, n.

Defn: Land held by a life estate.

LIFELESS Life"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of life, or deprived of life; not containing, or inhabited by, living beings or vegetation; dead, or apparently dead; spiritless; powerless; dull; as, a lifeless carcass; lifeless matter; a lifeless desert; a lifeless wine; a lifeless story. -- Life"less*ly, adv. -- Life"less*ness, n.

Syn. -- Dead; soulless; inanimate; torpid; inert; inactive; dull; heavy; unanimated; spiritless; frigid; pointless; vapid; flat; tasteless. -- Lifeless, Dull, Inanimate, Dead. In a moral sense, lifeless denotes a want of vital energy; inanimate, a want of expression as to any feeling that may be possessed; dull implies a torpor of soul which checks all mental activity; dead supposes a destitution of feeling. A person is said to be lifeless who has lost the spirits which he once had; he is said to be inanimate when he is naturally wanting in spirits; one is dull from an original deficiency of mental power; he who is dead to moral sentiment is wholly bereft of the highest attribute of his nature.

LIFELIKE Life"like`, a. Etym: [Cf. Lively.]

Defn: Like a living being; resembling life; giving an accurate representation; as, a lifelike portrait. -- Life"like`ness, n. Poe.

LIFELONG Life"long, a. Etym: [Life + long. Cf. Livelong.]

Defn: Lasting or continuing through life. Tennyson.

LIFELY Life"ly, adv. Etym: [Cf. Lively, a.]

Defn: In a lifelike manner. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LIFEMATE Life"mate`, n.

Defn: Companion for life. Hawthorne.

LIFEN Lif"en, v. t.

Defn: To enliven. [Obs.] Marston.

LIFE-PRESERVER Life"-pre*serv`er, n.

Defn: An apparatus, made in very various forms, and of various materials, for saving one from drowning by buoying up the body while in the water. -- Life"-pre*serv`ing, a.

LIFE-SAVING Life"-sav`ing, a.

Defn: That saves life, or is suited to save life, esp. from drowning; as, the life-saving service; a life-saving station.

LIFE-SIZE Life"-size`, a.

Defn: Of full size; of the natural size.

LIFESOME Life"some, a.

Defn: Animated; sprightly. [Poetic] Coleridge. -- Life"some*ness, n.

LIFESPRING Life"spring`, n.

Defn: Spring or source of life.

LIFESTRING Life"string", n.

Defn: A nerve, or string, that is imagined to be essential to life. Daniel.

LIFETIME Life"time` (, n.

Defn: The time that life continues.

LIFE-WEARY Life"-wea`ry, a.

Defn: Weary of living. Shak.

LIFLODE Lif"lode, n.

Defn: Livelihood. [Obs.] Chaucer.

LIFT Lift, n.Etym: [AS.lyft air. See Loft.]

Defn: The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament. [Obs. or Scot.]

LIFT Lift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lifting.] Etym: [Icel. lypta, fr. lopt air; akin to Sw.lyfta to lift, Dan. löfte, G. lüften; -- prop., to raise into the air. See Loft, and cf. 1st Lift.]

1. To move in a direction opposite to that of gravitation; to raise; to elevate; to bring up from a lower place to a higher; to upheave; sometimes implying a continued support or holding in the higher place; -- said of material things; as, to lift the foot or the hand; to lift a chair or a burden.

2. To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; -- often with up. The Roman virtues lift up mortal man. Addison. Lest, being lifted up with pride. I Tim. iii. 6.

3. To bear; to support. [Obs.] Spenser.

4. To collect, as moneys due; to raise.

5. Etym: [Perh. a different word, and akin to Goth. hliftus thief, hlifan to steal, L. clepere, Gr. Shoplifter.]

Defn: To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle.