Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/L Law



the twelfth letter in our alphabet, usually termed a liquid, but more correctly designated as a front palatal: (chem.) the symbol for lithium: in Roman numerals, for 50, but L =50,000.

La, lä, interj. lo! see! behold! ah! indeed!—n. (mus.) in solmisation, the syllable used for the sixth tone of the scale. [A.S. lá.]

Laager, lä′gėr, n. in South African campaigning, a camp made by a ring of ox-wagons set close together, the spaces beneath being filled up with the baggage of the company.—v.t. to arrange in such a defensive enclosure. [Dut., a variant of leger, a camp.]



Labarum, lab′a-rum, n. a Roman military standard adopted as the imperial standard after Constantine's conversion. It bore the Greek letters XP (Chr), joined in a monogram, to signify the name of Christ: a similar ecclesiastical banner borne in processions: any moral standard or guide. [Late Gr. labaron, origin unknown. Some make bold to derive from Basque labaria, a standard.]

Labdanum. See Ladanum.

Labefaction, lab-e-fak′shun, n. a weakening decay—also '.—v.t. ', to impair. [L. labefacĕre, to shake.]

Label, lā′bel, n. a small slip of writing affixed to anything to denote its contents, ownership, &c.: (law) a paper annexed to a will, as a codicil: (her.) a fillet with pendants: (archit.) the dripstone over a Gothic window or doorway arch.—v.t. to affix a label to: to describe by or on a label:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p.  [O. Fr. label (Fr. lambeau); perh. from Old High Ger. lappa (Ger. lappen).]

Labellum, la-bel′um, n. the lower petal of a flower, esp. an orchis. [L., dim. of labium, a lip.]

Labial, lā′bi-al, adj. pertaining to the lips: formed by the lips.—n. a sound formed by the lips: a letter representing a sound formed either by both the lips, or by the upper lip and under teeth—p, b, m, f, v.—v.t. '.—adv. '.—n.pl. ', a natural order of gamopetalous plants, the mint family having four-cornered stems and opposite branches.—adjs. ', ' (bot.), having two unequal divisions, as in the monopetalous corolla of the mints.—adj. and n. ', of a sound pronounced both by the lips and teeth: a letter representing such (f, v.).—n. ', a lip or lip-like part:—pl. '. [Fr.,—L. labium, labrum, a lip.]

Labis, lā′bis, n. the cochlear or eucharistic spoon. [Late Gr. from lambanein, to take.]

Laboratory, lab′or-a-tor-i, n. a chemist's workroom: a place where scientific experiments are systematically carried on: a place for the manufacture of arms and war material: a place where anything is prepared for use. [L. laborāre—labor, work.]

Labour, lā′bur, n. toil or exertion, esp. when fatiguing: work: pains: duties: a task requiring hard work: the pangs of childbirth.—v.i. to undergo labour: to work: to take pains: to be oppressed: to move slowly: to be in travail: (naut.) to pitch and roll heavily.—adj. ', full of labour: toilsome: wearisome: devoted to labour: industrious.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ', bearing marks of labour or effort in the execution.—ns. ', one who labours: one who does work requiring little skill; ', one who contends for the interests of workmen.—adjs. ', intended to supersede or lessen the labour of men; ' (Shak.), made with labour and diligence.—Labour Day, a legal holiday in some parts of the United States, as in New York (the first Monday in September); Labour market, the supply of unemployed labour in relation to the demand for it; Labour of love, work undertaken merely as an act of friendliness, and without hope of emolument; Labour with, to take pains to convince.—Hard labour, compulsory work imposed on certain criminals in addition to imprisonment. [O. Fr. labour, labeur—L. labor.]

Labradorite, lab′ra-dōr-īt, n. one of the group of the Feldspars, and a very important rock-forming mineral. [Labrador.]

Labret, lā′bret, n. a piece of bone, shell, &c. inserted into the lip by savages for ornament.—adj. ', having thick lips.—n. a lip or lip-like part:—pl. '. [L. labrum, labium, a lip.]

Laburnum, la-bur′num, n. a small tree with large pendulous racemes of beautiful yellow flowers, a native of the Alps. [L.]

Labyrinth, lab′i-rinth, n. a place full of inextricable windings: (orig.) a building consisting of halls connected by intricate passages: an arrangement of tortuous passages in which it is difficult to find the way out: an inexplicable difficulty, a perplexity: (anat.) the cavities of the internal ear.—adjs. ', ', ', pertaining to or like a labyrinth: winding: intricate: perplexing; ', having the form of a labyrinth: intricate.—n. , a race of extinct gigantic amphibians found in the Permian, Carboniferous, and Triassic strata, so called from the mazy pattern exhibited on a transverse section of the teeth of some genera. [Fr. labyrinthe—L. labyrinthus—Gr. labyrinthos; akin to laura, a passage.]

Lac, lak, n. the term used in India for 100,000 rupees, the nominal value of which is £10,000.—Also Lakh. [Hind. lak—Sans. laksha, 100,000, a mark.]

Lac, lak, n. a dark-red transparent resin produced on the twigs of trees in the East by the lac insect, used in dyeing.—adj. Laccic —ns. Laccine a brittle, translucent, yellow substance, obtained from shell-lac; ', ', scarlet colouring matters obtained from ', the twigs, with attached resin, enclosed insects, and ova; ', the granular portion remaining after removing the resin, triturating with water, and drying; ', ', thin plates of resin prepared by melting the seed-lac in cotton-cloth bags, straining, and allowing it to drop on to sticks or leaves. [Pers. lak—Sans. lákshá, the lac insect—rañj, to dye.]

Lace, lās, n. a plaited string for fastening: an ornamental fabric of linen, cotton, silk, or gold and silver threads, made by looping, knotting, plaiting, or twisting the thread into definite patterns, of contrasted open and close structure; three distinct varieties are made, two by handiwork, known respectively as Needle or Point lace and Pillow or Bobbin Lace, and one by machinery.—v.t. to fasten with a lace: to adorn with lace: to streak: to mark with the lash: to intermix, as coffee with brandy, &c.: to intertwine.—v.i. to be fastened with a lace.—ns.  tree, a lofty West Indies tree, the inner bark like coarse lace; ', a boot fastened by a lace.—p.adj. Laced, fastened or adorned with lace.—ns. ', a machine used in lace-making; ' (see Lattice-leaf); ', one who deals in lace; ', one who repairs lace; ', paper stamped or cut by hand with an open-work pattern like lace; ', a cushion on which many various kinds of lace are made, held on the knees.—adj. ', like lace.—Alençon lace, a very fine point-lace, the most important made in France; Appliqué lace, lace having sprigs or flowers sewed on net; Balloon-net lace, a form of woven lace in which the freeing threads are peculiarly twisted about the warps; Brussels lace, an extremely fine lace with sprigs applied on a net ground; Duchesse lace, a Belgian pillow-lace having beautiful designs with cord outlines, often in relief; Guipure lace, any lace without a net ground, the pattern being held together by bars or brides; Honiton lace, a lace made at Honiton in Devonshire, remarkable for the beauty of its figures and sprigs; Imitation lace, any lace made by machinery; Mechlin lace, a lace with bobbin ground and designs outlined by thread or flat cord; Spanish lace, needle-point lace brought from Spanish convents since their dissolution—but probably of Flemish origin: cut and drawn work made in convents in Spain, of patterns usually confined to simple sprigs and flowers: a modern black-silk lace with large flower-patterns, mostly of Flemish make: a modern needle-point lace with large square designs; Tambour lace, a modern kind of lace made with needle-embroidery on machine-made net; Torchon lace, peasants' bobbin laces of loose texture and geometrical designs, much imitated by machinery; Valenciennes lace, a fine bobbin lace having the design made with the ground and of the same thread. [O. Fr. las, a noose—L. laqueus, a noose.]

Lacerate, las′ėr-āt, v.t. to tear: to rend: to wound: to afflict.—adjs. ', that may be lacerated; ', harrowing; ', ', rent, torn: (bot.) having the edges cut into irregular segments.—n. ', act of lacerating: the rent made by tearing.—adj. ', tearing: having power to tear. [L. lacerāre, -ātum, to tear—lacer, torn.]

Lacerta, la-sėr′ta, n. a genus of saurian reptiles, the name properly restricted to slender, active lizards.—n. and adj. ', an animal belonging to the genus Lacerta.—n. ', an order of reptiles, including the lizards proper, &c.—adjs. '; '; . [L.]

Laches, läsh′ēz, n. (law) negligence or undue delay, such as to disentitle a person to a certain remedy, any negligence. [O. Fr. lachesse.]

Lachesis, lak′e-sis, n. the one of the three Fates who assigned to each mortal his destiny—she spun the thread of life from the distaff held by Clotho. [Gr.]

Lachrymal, Lacrymal, lak′ri-mal, adj. of or pertaining to tears, secreting tears, as in 'lachrymal duct,' the nasal duct, conveying tears from the eye to the nose.—n. one of the bones of the face, the os unguis, or nail-bone, in man.—adj. ', containing tears.—n. ', a small slender glass vessel found in ancient sepulchres, apparently filled with the tears of mourners.—adj. ', ', shedding tears, or given to do so: lugubrious, mournful.—adv. .—Lachryma Christi, a wine of a sweet but piquant taste, produced from grapes grown on Mount Vesuvius, the best light red. [L. lacryma (properly lacrima), a tear; Gr. dakru, Eng. tear.]

Lacing, lās′ing, n. a fastening with a lace or cord through eyelet-holes: a cord used in fastening: in bookbinding, the cords by which the boards of a book are fastened to the back: in shipbuilding, the knee of the head, or lace-piece, a piece of compass or knee timber secured to the back of the figure-head: in mining, lagging, or cross-pieces of timber or iron placed to prevent ore from falling into a passage.

Lacinia, lā-sin′i-a, n. a long incision in a leaf, &c.—also a narrow lobe resulting from such: in entomology, the apex of the maxilla.—adjs. ', ', cut into narrow lobes, fringed; ', fringe-like; ', finely fringed. [L., a flap.]

Lack, lak, v.t. and v.i. to want: to be in want: to be destitute of: to miss.—n. want: destitution.—ns. ', one who is destitute; ' (Shak.), a fool.—adjs. ' (Shak.), wanting linen; ', wanting brightness.—n. a want of brightness. [From an old Low Ger. root found in Dut. lak, blemish; cf. Ice. lakr, defective.]

Lackadaisical, lak-a-dā′zi-kal, adj. affectedly pensive, sentimental.—interj. =Lack-a-day. [Alack-a-day. See Alack.]

Lack-a-day, lak-a-dā′, interj. See Alack-a-day.

Lacker. See Lacquer.

Lackey, lak′i, n. a menial attendant: a footman or footboy.—v.t. and v.i. to pay servile attendance: to act as a footman. [O. Fr. laquay (Fr. laquais)—Sp. lacayo, a lackey; perh. Ar. luka‛, servile.]

Lacmus, lak′mus, n. the same as Litmus (q.v.).

Laconic, -al, la-kon′ik, -al, adj. expressing in few words after the manner of the Laconians, Lacedæmonians, or Spartans: concise: pithy.—adv. '.—ns. ', , a concise style: a short, pithy phrase. [L.,—Gr.]

Lacquer, Lacker, lak′ėr, n. a varnish made of lac and alcohol.—v.t. to cover with lacquer: to varnish.—ns. ', one who varnishes or covers with lacquer; ', the act of varnishing with lacquer: a coat of lacquer varnish. [Fr. lacre—Port. lacre, laca—Pers. lac, lac.]

Lacrosse, la-kros′, n. a Canadian game of ball, played by two sets of eleven, the ball driven through the opponents' goal by means of the Crosse, a bent stick, 5-6 ft. long, with a shallow net at one end. [Fr.]

Lacteal, lak′te-al, adj. pertaining to or resembling milk: conveying chyle.—n. one of the absorbent vessels of the intestines which convey the chyle to the thoracic ducts.—ns. ', ', a preparation of the caseine of milk, used by calico-printers; ', a salt of lactic acid, and a base; ', the act of giving milk: the period of suckling.—adj. ', milky, milk-like.—n. '.—adjs. ', turning to milk: producing milk or white juice: milky; ', pertaining to milk; ', ', producing milk or white juice.—ns. ', a medicine which checks the flow of milk; ', an apparatus for testing the quantity of fatty substance in a sample of milk; ', an instrument for measuring the quality of milk; ', an instrument for testing the purity or richness of milk by its degree of translucency; ', a kind of sugar, only moderately sweet, obtained from milk by evaporating whey—also '; Lactuca a genus of herbs of the aster family, with milky juice.—adj. Lactucic —Lactic acid, an acid obtained from milk. [L. lacteus, milky—lac, lactis, milk; Gr. gala, galaktos, milk.]

Lacuna, la-kū′na, n. a gap or hiatus:—pl. '.—n. ', a sunken panel or coffer in a ceiling or a soffit: a ceiling containing such.—adjs. ', furrowed: pitted; '. [L. lacuna, anything hollow—lacus, a lake.]

Lacustrine, la-kus′trin, adj. pertaining to lakes.—Also ', '. [From L. lacus, a lake.]

Lad, lad, n. a boy: a youth: (Scot.) a lover:—fem. Lass.—n. , a little lad: a boy.—Lad's love, a provincial name of the southernwood. [M. E. ladde—Ir. lath, a youth, champion (W. llawd). Mr H. Bradley suggests that M. E. ladde, a servant, coincides with the adjectival form of the past participle of the verb to lead, the original meaning thus being 'one led in the train of a lord.']

Ladanum, lad′a-num, n. a resinous exudation from the leaves of a shrub growing round the Mediterranean.—Also . [L.,—Gr. lēdanon—Pers. lādan. See Laudanum.]

Ladder, lad′ėr, n. a frame made with steps placed between two upright pieces, by which one may ascend a building, &c.: anything by which one ascends: a gradual rise. [A.S. hlǽder; Ger. leiter.]

Lade, lād, v.t. to burden: to throw in or out, as a fluid, with a ladle or dipper.—n. (Scot.) a load: a water-course: the mouth of a river.—n. , the act of loading: that which is loaded: cargo: freight. [A.S. hladan, pt. hlód, hladen, to load, to draw out water; Dut. laden; Ger. be-laden.]

Ladin, la-dēn′, n. a Romance tongue spoken in the Engadine valley in Switzerland and the upper Inn valley in Tyrol. [L. Latinus, Latin.]

Ladino, la-dē′nō, n. the old Castilian tongue: the Spanish jargon of some Turkish Jews: a Central American of mixed white and Indian blood.

Ladle, lād′l, n. a large spoon for lifting out liquid from a vessel: the float-board of a mill-wheel: an instrument for drawing the charge from a cannon.—v.t. to lift with a ladle.—ns. ', the quantity in a ladle:—pl. '—Ladle furnace, a small gas furnace heated by a Bunsen burner, for melting metals, &c. [A.S. hlædel—hladan, to lade.]

Ladrone, la-drōn′, n. a robber. [Sp.,—L. latro.]

Lady, lā′di, n. the mistress of a house: a wife: a title of the wives of knights, and all degrees above them, and of the daughters of earls and all higher ranks: a title of complaisance to any woman of refined manners:—pl. Ladies —ns. ', a genus of little beetles, usually brilliant red or yellow—also ', '; ', a chapel dedicated to 'Our Lady,' the Virgin Mary, usually behind the high altar, at the extremity of the apse; ', the 25th March, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin; ', one of the prettiest varieties of British ferns, common in moist woods, with bipinnate fronds sometimes two feet long; ' (same as Ladybird); ', condition, character of a lady.—adj. ', having the airs of a fine lady.—ns. ', affectation of the airs of a fine lady; ', a man who fancies his fascinations irresistible to women: a general lover.—adj. ', like a lady in manners: refined: soft, delicate.—ns. Lādy-love, a lady or woman loved: a sweetheart; ', the plant Galium verum; ', the only British species of clematis—also Traveller's joy; ', a name for many plants: a piece of confectionery; ', the title of a lady; ', a female attendant on a lady, esp. in matters relating to the toilet; ', a genus of herbaceous plants having small, yellowish-green flowers; ', a genus of orchidaceous plants, remarkable for the large inflated lip of the corolla; ', the Bitter Cress, a meadow-plant, with whitish, blush-coloured flowers.—Ladies' companion, a small bag used for carrying women's work; Ladies' man, one fond of women's society.—My ladyship, Your ladyship, a form of expression used in speaking to, or of, one who has the rank of a lady. [A.S. hláf-dige—hláf, a loaf, dǽgee, a kneader, or=hláfweardige (i.e. loaf-keeper, see ward), and thus a contr. fem. of Lord.]

Lætare, lē-tā′rē, n. the fourth Sunday in Lent, named from the first word in the service for the festival. [L. lætāre, to rejoice—lætus, joyful.]

Lag, lag, adj. slack: sluggish: coming behind.—n. he who, or that which, comes behind: the fag-end: (slang) an old convict.—v.i. to move or walk slowly: to loiter.—v.t. (slang) to commit to justice:—pr.p. pa.p. lagged.—adj. ', having a drooping belly.—n. ' (Shak.), the last or long-delayed end.—adj. ', lagging: slow: backward.—ns. ', ', one who lags behind: a loiterer: an idler.—adv. ', in a lagging manner. [Celt., as W. llag, loose, Gael. lag, feeble; cf. L. laxus, loose.]

Lagena, la-jē′na, n. a wine-vase, amphora: the terminal part of the cochlea in birds and reptiles:—pl. . [L.]

Lager-beer, lä′ger-bēr, n. a kind of light beer very much used in Germany.—Also . [Ger. lagerbier—lager, a store-house, bier, beer.]

Laggen, lag′en, n. (Burns) the angle between the side and bottom of a wooden dish.

Lagomys, lā-gō′mis, n. a genus of rodents, much resembling hares or rabbits. [Gr. lagōs, a hare, mys, a mouse.]

Lagoon, Lagune, la-gōōn′, n. a shallow pond into which the sea flows. [It. laguna—L. lacuna.]

Lagophthalmia, lag-of-thal′mi-a, n. inability to close the eye.—adj. .

Lagopus, la-gō′pus, n. a genus of grouse, the ptarmigans.—adj. ', having furry feet.—n. ', hare-lip.—adj. , rabbit-eared.

Lagrimoso, lag-ri-mō′sō, adj. (mus.) plaintive. [It.]

Lagthing, läg′ting, n. the upper house of the Norwegian parliament. [Norw. lag, law, thing, parliament.]

Laic, Laical, Laicise. See Lay, adj.

Laid, lād, adj. put down, prostrate: pressed down.—Laid paper, such as shows in its fabric the marks of the close parallel wires on which the paper-pulp was laid in the process of its manufacture:—opp. to Wove-paper, that laid on woven flannels or on felts. [Pa.t. and pa.p. of Lay.]

Laidly, lād′li, adj. (prov.) loathly.

Lain, pa.p. of Lie, to rest.

Lair, lār, n. a lying-place, esp. the den or retreat of a wild beast: (Scot.) the ground for one grave in a burying-place. [A.S. leger, a couch—licgan, to lie down; Dut. leger, Ger. lager.]

Lair, lār, v.i. (Scot.) to sink in mud.—n. mire, a bog, a quagmire. [Ice. leir, mud.]

Laird, lārd, n. (Scot.) a landed proprietor, a landlord.—n. , an estate. [Lord.]

Laissez-faire, lās′ā-fār′, n. a letting alone, a general principle of non-interference with the free action of the individual: the let-alone principle in government, business, &c.—Also . [Fr. laisser—L. laxāre, to relax, faire—L. facĕre, to do.]

Laity, lā-′i-ti, n. the people as distinct from the clergy. [See Lay, adj.]

Lake, lāk, n. a pigment or colour formed by precipitating animal or vegetable colouring matters from their solutions, chiefly with alumina or oxide of tin. [Fr. laque. See Lac (2).]

Lake, lāk, n. a large body of water within land.—ns. ', the whole area drained by a lake; ' (U.S.), the bowfin: burbot; ', a little lake; ', ', one of the Lake school of poetry.—adj. ', pertaining to a lake or lakes.—Lake District, the name applied to the picturesque and mountainous region within the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, and a small portion of Lancashire, containing as many as sixteen lakes or meres; Lake dwellings, settlements in prehistoric times, built on piles driven into a lake; Lake school of poetry, a name applied to the group of illustrious poets who made the Lake District—Wordsworthshire—their home about the beginning of the 19th century. [A.S. lac—L. lacus.]

Lakh, n. See Lac, term used for 100,000.

Lakin, lā′kin, n. (Shak.) a corruption of ladykin, dim. of lady.

Lakshmi, laksh′mē, n. in Hindu mythology, the name of the consort of the god Vishnu (q.v.), considered as his female or creative energy.

Lallan, lal′an, n. the Scotch dialect. [Lowland.]

Lallation, la-lā′shon, n. lambdacism (q.v.).

Lam, lam, v.t. to beat. [Ice. lemja, to beat.]

Lama, n. an animal. [See Llama.]

Lama, lä′ma, n. a Buddhist priest in Tibet.—ns. ', the religion prevailing in Tibet and Mongolia, being Buddhism corrupted by Sivaism, and by Shamanism or spirit-worship; '; , a Tibetan monastery. [Tib.]

Lamantin, la-man′tin, n. the manatee. [Fr.]

Lamarckism, la-mär′kizm, n. the theory of the French naturalist, J. B. P. A. de Monet de Lamarck (1744-1829), that species have developed by the efforts of organisms to adapt themselves to new conditions—also '.— '.

Lamb, lam, n. the young of a sheep: the flesh of the young sheep: one innocent and gentle as a lamb: the Saviour of the world.—v.i. to bring forth young, as sheep.—ns. ', a feast at the time of lamb-shearing; ', ', ' (Scot.), a little lamb.—adj. ', like a lamb: gentle.—ns. ', the skin of a lamb dressed with the wool on, for mats, &c.: the skin of a lamb dressed for gloves: a kind of woollen cloth resembling this; ' (same as Corn-salad); ', fine wool: a wholesome old English beverage composed of ale and the pulp of roasted apples, with sugar and spices.—The Lamb, Lamb of God, the Saviour, typified by the paschal lamb. [A.S. lamb; Ger. lamm, Dut. lam.]

Lambative, lam′ba-tiv, adj. to be taken by licking.—n. a medicine of such a kind.

Lambda, lam′da, n. the Greek letter corresponding to Roman l.—n. ', a too frequent use of words containing l: a defective pronunciation of r, making it like l.—adjs. ', ', shaped like the Greek capital '—applied in anatomy to the suture between the occipital and the two parietal bones of the skull. [Gr.,—Heb. lamedh.]

Lambent, lam′bent, adj. moving about as if touching lightly: gliding over: flickering.—n. , the quality of being lambent: that which is lambent. [L. lambens—lambĕre, to lick.]

Lamboys, lam′boiz, n.pl. kilted flexible steel-plates worn skirt-like from the waist. [O. Fr.]

Lambrequin, lam′bre-kin, n. a strip of cloth, leather, &c., hanging from a window, doorway, or mantelpiece, as a drapery: an ornamental covering, as of cloth, attached to a helmet. [Fr.]

Lame, lām, adj. disabled in the limbs: hobbling: unsatisfactory: imperfect.—v.t. to make lame: to cripple: to render imperfect.—n. ' (slang), a bankrupt.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ', a little lame: hobbling. [A.S. lama, lame; Dut. lam, Ger. lahm.]

Lamella, lä-mel′a, n. a thin plate or scale:—pl. '.—adjs. ', '.—n.pl. ', a class of shell-fishes or molluscs in which the shell consists of two limy plates, lying one on each side of the body.—adjs. '; '.—n.pl. ', a very numerous family of beetles—the cockchafer, &c.—adjs. ', producing lamellæ; ', lamellar in form; ', having a lamellose bill; , full of lamellæ, lamellated in structure. [L.]

Lament, la-ment′, v.i. to utter grief in outcries: to wail: to mourn.—v.t. to mourn for: to deplore.—n. sorrow expressed in cries: an elegy or mournful ballad.—adj. ', deserving or expressing sorrow: sad: pitiful, despicable.—adv. '.—n. ', act of lamenting: audible expression of grief: wailing: (pl., B.) a book of Jeremiah.—p.adj. ', bewailed: mourned.—adv. , with lamentation. [Fr. lamenter—L. lamentāri.]

Lameter, Lamiter, lā′met-ėr, n. a cripple.

Lametta, la-met′a, n. foil of gold, silver, &c. [It.]

Lamia, lā′mi-a, n. in Greek and Roman mythology, a female phantom, a serpent witch who charmed children and youths in order to suck their blood.

Lamiger, lam′i-jėr, n. (prov.) a cripple.

Lamina, lam′i-na, n. a thin plate: a thin layer or coat lying over another:—pl. '.—adjs. '; ', ', in laminæ or thin plates: consisting of, or resembling, thin plates.—n. ', a genus of dark-spored seaweeds, with large expanded leathery-stalked fronds.—adjs. ', ', in laminæ or thin plates: consisting of scales or layers, over one another.—ns. ', the arrangement of stratified rocks in thin laminæ or layers.—adjs. ', consisting of laminæ or layers; ', laminar.—n. , inflammation of the laminæ of a horse's hoof. [L. lamina, a thin plate, a leaf.]

Lammas, lam′as, n. the feast of first-fruits on 1st August.—n. , Lammas-day, 1st August. [A.S. hláf-mæsse and hlammæsse—hláf, loaf, mæsse, feast.]

Lammer, lam′ėr, n. (Scot.) amber. [Fr. l'ambre.]

Lammergeier, lam′mėr-gī-ėr, n. the great bearded vulture of the mountains of southern Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. [Ger. lämmergeier—lämmer, lambs, geier, vulture.]

Lammy, lam′i, n. a thick quilted outside jumper worn in cold weather by sailors.—Also .

Lamp, lamp, n. a vessel for burning oil with a wick, and so giving light: a light of any kind.—v.i. (Spens.) to shine.—ns. ' (rare), a lamp or candlestick, a torch; ', in the Greek Church, one who looks after the lamps and carries a lighted taper before the patriarch; ', an ancient Greek torch-race in honour of Prometheus, &c.; ', one who ran in a torch-race; ', the art of divining by the flame of a lamp or torch; ', the black substance formed by the smoke of a lamp: the soot or amorphous carbon obtained by burning bodies rich in that element, such as resin, petroleum, and tar, or some of the cheap oily products obtained from it; ', that part of a lamp in which the wick is held; ', ', a glass funnel placed round the flame of a lamp; ' (Browning), a firefly.—adj. ', pertaining to, or derived from, a lamp or flame.—ns. ', a kind of small lamp; ', the light shed by a lamp or lamps; ', a person employed to light street-lamps: that by which a lamp is lighted, as a spill or torch; ', the pillar supporting a street-lamp; ', a terebratuloid or related brachiopod having a shell like an antique lamp.—Smell of the lamp, to show signs of great elaboration or study. [Fr. lampe—Gr. lampas, -ados—lampein, to shine.]

Lamp, lamp, v.i. (Scot.) to run wild, to scamper: to go jauntily.

Lampas, lam′pas, n. a material of silk and wool used in upholstery. [Fr.]

Lampass, lam′pas, n. (Shak.) a swelling of the roof of the mouth in horses. [Fr. lampas.]

Lampern, lam′pėrn, n. a river lamprey.

Lampoon, lam-pōōn′, n. a personal satire in writing: low censure.—v.t. to assail with personal satire: to satirise:—pr.p. pa.p. —ns. ', one who writes a lampoon; ', practice of lampooning: written personal abuse or satire. [O. Fr. lampon, orig. a drinking-song, with the refrain lampons=let us drink—lamper (or lapper, to lap), to drink.]

Lamprey, lam′pre, n. a genus of cartilaginous fishes resembling the eel, so called from their attaching themselves to rocks or stones by their mouths. [O. Fr. lamproie—Low L. lampreda, lampetra—L. lambĕre, to lick, petra, rock.]

Lana, lä′na, n. the tough, close-grained wood of a Guiana tree.

Lanate, -d, lā′nāt, -ed, adjs. woolly: (bot.) covered with a substance resembling wool.—n. , a wool-store. [L. lanatus—lana, wool.]

Lancasterian, lang-kas-tē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to Joseph Lancaster (1778-1838), or the method of teaching younger pupils by those more advanced (monitors) in primary schools.

Lancastrian, lang-kas′tri-an, adj. pertaining to the dukes or the royal house of Lancaster.—n. an adherent of the house of Lancaster, as against the Yorkists, in the Wars of the Roses (1455-85).

Lance, lans, n. (Spens.) balance, poise. [L. lanx, lancis, a dish or scale.]

Lance, lans, n. a long shaft of wood, with a spear-head, and bearing a small flag: the bearer of a lance.—v.t. to pierce with a lance: to open with a lancet.—ns. ', a private soldier doing the duties of a corporal; ' (see Amphioxus); ', a light cavalry soldier armed with a lance: (pl.) a popular set of quadrilles, first in England about 1820: the music for such; ', a wood valuable for its strength and elasticity, brought chiefly from Jamaica, Guiana, &c.—adjs. ', bearing a lance; ', lance-shaped. [Fr.,—L. lancea; Gr. longchē, a lance.]

Lancegay, lans′gā, n. (obs.) a kind of spear. [O. Fr.,—lance, a lance, zagaye, a pike. See Assagai.]

Lanceolate, -d, lan′se-o-lāt, -ed, adjs. (bot.) having the form of a lance-head: tapering toward both ends—also '.—adv. '. [L. lanceolatus—lanceola, dim. of lancea.]



Lancet, lan′set, n. a surgical instrument used for opening veins, abscesses, &c.: a high and narrow window, terminating in an arch acutely pointed, often double or triple, common in the first half of the 13th century. [O. Fr. lancette, dim. of lance.]

Lanch. Same as Launch.

Lancinate, lan′sin-āt, v.t. to lacerate.—n. , sharp, shooting pain. [L. lancināre, -ātum, to tear.]

Land, land, n. earth, the solid portion of the surface of the globe: a country: a district: soil: real estate: a nation or people: (Scot.) a group of dwellings or tenements under one roof and having a common entry.—v.t. to set on land or on shore.—v.i. to come on land or on shore.—ns. ', a person employed by the owner of an estate to let farms, collect rents, &c.; ', a breeze setting from the land towards the sea; ', a family of crabs which live much or chiefly on land.—v.t. ' (Shak.), to banish from the land.—adj. ', possessing land or estates: consisting in land or real estate.—ns. ', one who lands; ', a landslip: an approach to land after a voyage, also the land so approached; ' (Shak.), a fish on land, any one acting contrary to his usual character; ', a flooding or overflowing of land by water: inundation; ', a military force serving on land, as distinguished from a naval force; ', one who acquires land by harsh and grasping means: one who is eager to occupy land from which others have been evicted; ', the act of the land-grabber; ', a herd of animals which feed on land; ', a holder or proprietor of land; ', greed for the acquisition of land; ', act of going on land from a vessel: a place for getting on shore: the level part of a staircase between the flights of steps.—adj. relating to the unloading of a vessel's cargo.—ns. ', a kind of scoop-net for landing a fish that has been caught; ', a place for landing, as from a vessel; ', a platform for landing passengers or goods carried by water, often rising and falling with the tide; ', a speculator in land; '; ', a woman who has property in land or houses: the mistress of an inn or lodging-house.—adj. ' (Shak.), without land or property.—v.t. ', to enclose by land.— ', almost shut in by land, protected by surrounding masses of land from the force of wind and waves.—ns. ', the owner of land or houses: the master of an inn or lodging-house; ', the authority or united action of the landholding class; ', a landsman (a term used by sailors); ', anything serving to mark the boundaries of land: any object on land that serves as a guide to seamen: any distinguishing characteristic; ', a system of square measure used in the measurement of land; ', the art of estimating the superficial content of portions of land; ', one who owns land; '.—adj. '.—ns. ', (Milt.), a guide on land; ', a highway robber: a fellow who makes a practice of swindling sailors in port; ', the crake or corncrake, so named from its cry; ' (Shak.), a vagabond; ', the assistant to the land-steward of a great estate; ', a clod-crusher; ' (U.S.), negotiable government certificate entitling to possession of certain public land by individuals or corporate bodies; ', a land-grabber: one who plunders sailors on shore; ' (same as Landscape); ', ', a portion of land that falls down, generally from the side of a hill, usually due to the undermining effect of water; ', ', one who lives or serves on land: one inexperienced in seafaring; ', water lying near the surface, easily drawn upon by shallow wells; ', a person who manages a landed estate; ' (see Surveying); ', a tax upon land; ', a land-breeze; ', a custom-house officer who attends on the landing of goods from ships.—adv. ', toward the land.—adj. lying toward the land, away from the sea-coast: situated in or forming part of the country, as opposed to the town: rural.—n. , a wind blowing off the land.—Land League, an association founded in Ireland by Michael Davitt in 1879, and organised by C. S. Parnell, to procure reduction and rearrangement of rents, and to promote the substitution of peasant-proprietors for landlords—condemned as an illegal conspiracy in 1881; Landed interest, the combined interest of the land-holding class in a community.—Make the land, to discover the land as the ship approaches it; Set the land, to observe by the compass how the shore bears from the ship. [A.S. land; Dut., Ger. land.]

Landamman, lan′dam-man, n. the president of the Swiss Diet: the head official in some Swiss cantons.

Landau, lan′daw, n. a coach or carriage with a top which may be opened and thrown back. [Ger. landauer, from Landau.]

Lande, land, n. an uncultivated healthy plain, esp. a sandy track along the sea-shore in south-western France. [Fr.]

Landgrave, land′grāv, n. a German graf, count, or earl:—fem. Landgravine —n. , the territory of a landgrave. [Dut. landgraaf—land, land, graaf, count.]

Land-louper, land′-lowp′ėr, n. a vagabond or vagrant.—Also . [Dut. landloopen—land, land, loopen, to ramble; cf. Ger. landläufer.]

Landscape, land′-skāp, n. the appearance of that portion of land which the eye can at once view; the aspect of a country, or a picture representing it.—ns. ', the art of laying out grounds and so disposing water, buildings, trees, and other plants as to produce the effect of a picturesque landscape; ', one who practises this form of art; , the art of representing natural scenery by painting. [Dut. landschap, from land and -schap, a suffix=-ship.]

Landsthing, läns′ting, n. the upper house of the Danish Rigsdag or parliament. [Dan., land, land, thing, parliament.]

Landsturm, lant′stōōrm, n. in Germany and Switzerland, a general levy in time of national emergency—in the former including all males between seventeen and forty-five: the force so called out. [Ger., land, land, sturm, alarm.]

Landtag, lant′tahh, n. the legislative assembly of one of the states forming the modern German empire, as Saxony, Bavaria, &c.: the provincial assembly of Bohemia or Moravia. [Ger., land, country, tag, diet, day.]

Landwehr, länt′vār, n. a military force in Germany and Austria forming an army reserve. [Ger., land, land, wehr, defence.]

Lane, lān, n. an open space between corn-fields, hedges, &c.: a narrow passage or road: a narrow street: a fixed route kept by a line of vessels across the ocean.—A blind lane, a cul-de-sac. [A.S. lane; Scot, loan, lonnin.]

Lane, lān, a Scotch form of lone, alone,

Lang, a Scotch form of long.—n. , time long past.—Think lang, to weary.

Langaha, lan-gä′hä, n. a Madagascar wood-snake, with a flexible scaly extension on the snout.

Langet, lang′get, n. a strong lace used in women's dress in Holland.

Langshan, lang′shan, n. a small black Chinese hen.

Langspiel, lang′spēl, n. a Shetland form of harp.

Language, lang′gwāj, n. that which is spoken by the tongue: human speech: speech peculiar to a nation: style or expression peculiar to an individual: diction: any manner of expressing thought.—v.t. to express in language.—adjs. ', skilled in language; ' (Shak.), speechless, silent;  (her.), furnished with a tongue.—Dead language, one no longer spoken, as opp. to Living language, one still spoken; Flash language (see Flash). [Fr. langage—langue—L. lingua (old form dingua), the tongue, akin to L. lingēre, Gr. leichein.]

Langue d'oc, long dok, n. collective name for the Romance dialects spoken in the Middle Ages from the Alps to the Pyrenees—the tongue of the troubadours, often used as synonymous with Provençal, one of its chief branches. The name itself survived in the province Languedoc, giving name to a class of wines.—Langue d'oui (long dwē), also Langue d'oil, the Romance dialect of northern France, the language of the trouvères, the dominant factor in the formation of modern French. [O. Fr. langue—L. lingua, tongue; de, of; Prov. oc, yes—L. hoc, this; O. Fr. oui, oïl, yes—L. hoc illud, this (is) that, yes.]

Languette, lang′get, n. a 16th-century hood worn by women: the tongue of a reed of a harmonium or reed-organ: a key of a wind-instrument. [Fr.]

Languid, lang′gwid, adj. slack or feeble: flagging: exhausted: sluggish: spiritless.—adj. ', growing languid.—adv. '.—n. . [Fr.,—L. languidus—languēre, to be weak.]

Languish, lang′gwish, v.i. to become languid or enfeebled: to lose strength and animation: to pine: to become dull, as of trade.—n. (Shak.) languishment.—adjs. ', sunken in languor; ', expressive of languor, or merely sentimental emotion.—adv. '.—n. ', the act or state of languishing: tenderness of look. [Fr. languir, languiss-,—L. languescĕre—languēre, to be faint.]

Languor, lang′gwur, n. state of being languid or faint: dullness: listlessness: softness.—adj. ', full of languor: tedious: melancholy.—v.t. ' (Spens.), to languish.

Laniard. Same as Lanyard.

Laniary, lā′ni-a-ri, n. a place of slaughter: shambles.—adj. fitted for lacerating or tearing. [L. laniarium—lanius, a butcher.]

Laniferous, lan-if′ėr-us, adj. wool-bearing.—Also . [L. lanifer, laniger—lana, wool, ferre, gerĕre, to bear.]

Lank, langk, adj. languid or drooping: soft or loose: thin: shrunken: straight and flat.—v.i. (Shak.) to become lank.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , lank and tall. [A.S. hlanc; Dut. slank, Ger. schlank, slender.]

Lanner, lan′ėr, n. a kind of falcon.—n. , the male bird. [Fr. lanier—L. laniarius.]

Lanolin, lan′ō-lin, n. an unctuous substance, a mixture of the ethers of cholesterin with fatty acids, used as a basis for ointments, extracted from wool. [L. lana, wool, oleum, oil.]

Lansquenet, lans′ke-net, n. a 16th-17th cent. mercenary pikeman: a game at cards. [Fr.,—Ger. landsknecht—land, country, knecht, a soldier.]

Lant, lant, n. stale urine, used in wool-scouring.

Lanterloo, lant′ėr-lōō, n. a game at cards, commonly Loo. [Dut. lanterlu.]

Lantern, lant′ėrn, n. a case for holding or carrying a light, the light chamber of a lighthouse: an ornamental structure surmounting a dome to give light and to crown the fabric: the upper square cage which illuminates a corridor or gallery—obs. form, ', from the use of horn for the sides of lanterns.—v.t. to furnish with a lantern.—n. ', any insect of family Fulgoridæ, supposed to emit a strong light in the dark.—adj. ', thin-faced.—n.pl. ', thin long jaws.—Lantern of the dead, a tower having a small lighted chamber at the top, once common in French cemeteries; Lantern wheel, a kind of cog-wheel, in which a circle of bars or spindles between two heads engages with the cogs of a spur-wheel.—Chinese lantern, a collapsible paper lantern, generally decorated with flowers; Dark lantern, a lantern having an opaque slide, capable of being partly or wholly shut at pleasure; Magic lantern, an optical instrument by means of which magnified images of small pictures are thrown upon a wall or screen. [Fr. lanterne—L. lanterna—Gr. lamptēr—lampein, to give light.]

Lanthanum, lan′tha-num, n. a metal discovered in 1839 in cerite, a hydrated silicate of cerium.—Also . [Gr. lanthanein, to conceal.]

Lanuginous, la-nū′jin-us, adj. downy: covered with fine soft hair.—n. . [Fr.,—L. lanuginosus—lanugo, down, lana, wool.]

Lanx, lanks, n. a platter or dish for serving meat at a Roman table:—pl. . [L.]

Lanyard, Laniard, lan′yard, n. a short rope used on board ship for fastening or stretching, or for convenience in handling articles. [Fr. lanière, perh. from L. lanarius, made of wool—lana, wool.]

Laocoön, lā-ok′-o-on, n. a famous antique group in marble in the Vatican, representing the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons being crushed in the folds of two enormous serpents.

Laodicean, lā-od-i-sē′an, adj. lukewarm in religion, like the Christians of Laodicea (Rev. iii. 14-16).—n. , lukewarmness in religion.

Lap, lap, v.t. to lick up with the tongue: to wash or flow against.—v.i. to drink by licking up a liquid: to make a sound of such a kind:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. lapped.—n. a motion or sound like lapping. [A.S. lapian; Low Ger. lappen; L. lambĕre, Gr. laptein.]

Lap, lap, n. the loose or overhanging flap of anything: the part of a substance extending over or partly over the rear of another, or the extent of such extension: the part of the clothes lying on the knees when a person sits down: the part of the body thus covered, esp. with reference to nursing, &c.: a fold: a course or round of the track, as in foot-racing, &c.: at euchre, &c., a carrying over to the next game of a surplus of points from the last: the space over which a steam-engine slide-valve travels after the closing of the steam-passage to or from the cylinder: a rotating disc of lead, copper, leather, &c., charged with an abrasive powder, used in cutting gems, &c.—v.t. to lay over or on.—v.i. to be spread on or over: to be turned over or upon.—ns. ', a flat wide board resting on the lap, used by tailors and seamstresses; ', a small dog fondled in the lap: a pet dog; ', as much as fills a lap.—adj. ', having joints formed by overlapping edges.—ns. ', a stone which shoemakers hold in the lap to hammer leather on; ', a clinker-built boat—also adj.; , work containing lap-joints. [A.S. læppa, a loosely hanging part; Ice. lapa, to hang loose, Ger. lappen, a rag.]

Lap, lap, v.t. to wrap, fold, involve.—ns. ', one who wraps or folds: in cotton manufacturing, a machine which compacts the scutched cotton into a fleece upon the surface of a roller called a lap-roller; ', the process of forming a lap or fleece of fibrous material for the carding-machine: the rubbing or polishing of a metal surface: the process of rubbing away the lands, or metal between the grooves of a rifled gun, to increase the bore. [M. E. wlappen, being a form of wrap.]

Lapel, Lappel, Lapelle, n. the part of the breast of a coat which laps over and is folded back.—adj. . [Dim. of lap.]

Lapidary, lap′i-dar-i, adj. pertaining to stones and the cutting of stones: pertaining to inscriptions and monuments.—n. a cutter of stones, esp. precious stones: a dealer in precious stones—also ', ', '.—v.t. ' (rare), to pelt with stones.—n. ', punishment by stoning.—adj. ', stony.—n. '.—adj. ', becoming stone: petrifying.—adj. '.—n. '.—v.t. ', to make into stone.—v.i. to turn into stone:—pr.p. pa.p. —adj. ', having the form of small stones.—ns. ', a fragment of lava ejected from a volcano:—pl. '; ', a kind of calico-printing with indigo, the resists acting as methods for other dyes, as madder or quercitron; ', a mineral of beautiful ultramarine colour, used largely in ornamental and mosaic work, and for sumptuous altars and shrines.—Lapis-lazuli blue, a deep blue, sometimes veined with gold, used in decoration, and in the manufacture of Sèvres and Oriental porcelain; Lapis-lazuli ware, the name given by Josiah Wedgwood to a particular pebble ware veined with gold upon blue. [L. lapidarius—lapis, lapidis, a stone.]

Lapp, lap, n. a Laplander.—n. ', a native or inhabitant of Lapland.—adjs. '; .—n. the language of the Lapps.

Lapper-milk, lap′ėr-milk, n. (Scot.) loppered or curdled milk. [Same word as lopper (obs.)—M. E. loper, curdled, prob. conn. with A.S. hléapan, to leap, run. Cf. rennet, runnet, from run.]

Lappet, lap′et, n. a little lap or flap.—adj. '.—n. ', a head-dress made with lappets for lace pendants. [Dim. of lap.]

Lapse, laps, v.i. to slip or glide: to pass by degrees: to fall from the faith or from virtue: to fail in duty: to pass to another proprietor, &c., by the negligence of a patron, to become void: to lose certain privileges by neglect of the necessary conditions.—n. a slipping or falling: a failing in duty: a fault.—adj. .—The lapsed, the name applied in the early Christian Church to those who, overcome by heathen persecution, fell away from the faith. [L. labi, lapsus, to slip or fall, lapsus, a fall, akin to lap.]

Laputan, la-pū′tan, adj. pertaining to Laputa, a flying island described in Swift's Gulliver's Travels as inhabited by all sorts of ridiculous projectors: absurd: chimerical.

Lapwing, lap′wing, n. the name of a bird of the plover family, also called peewit, from its peculiar cry. [M. E. lappewinke—A.S. hleápewince—hleápan, to leap or run, and root of wink, to turn.]

Lar, lär, n. one of a class of local deities, originally Etruscan, but in Roman usage usually regarded as the tutelary deities of a house:—pl. Lares [L.]

Lar, lär, n. an Etruscan title, really peculiar to the eldest son, but often mistaken for an integral part of the name.—Also Lars. [L.,—Etruscan larth, lord.]

Larboard, lär′bōrd (by sailors, lab′erd), n. an obsolete naval term for the left side of a ship looking from the stern, now, by command of the Admiralty, replaced by the term port, to prevent the mistakes caused by its resemblance in sound to starboard.—adj. pertaining to the port or left side. [Perh. for a conjectural lade-bord, the lading-side—lade, a load, bord, board, side.]

Larceny, lär′sen-i, n. the legal term in England and Ireland for stealing: theft.—n. ', one who commits larceny: a thief.—adj. '.—adv. .—Grand larceny, in England, larceny of property of the value of one shilling or more; Petty larceny, larceny of property less in value than one shilling; Simple larceny, as opposed to Compound larceny, is larceny uncombined with aggravating circumstances. [O. Fr. larrecin (Fr. larcin)—L. latrocinium—latro, a robber.]

Larch, lärch, n. a genus (Larix) of coniferous trees, distinct from firs (Abies), with perfectly erect and regularly tapering stem, small branches, numerous small leaves deciduous and clustered, growing rapidly, and yielding good timber. [L.,—Gr. larix.]

Lard, lärd, n. the melted fat of the hog.—v.t. to smear with lard: to stuff with bacon or pork: to fatten: to mix with anything.—adj. '.—ns. ', a lubricating and illuminating oil expressed from lard; ', ', a strip of bacon used for larding.—adj. . [O. Fr.,—L. laridum, lardum; cf. Gr. larinos, fat, laros, sweet.]

Larder, lärd′ėr, n. a room or place where meat, &c., is kept: stock of provisions.—n. , one who has charge of a larder. [O. Fr. lardier, a bacon-tub—L. lardum.]

Lare, lār, n. obsolete form of lore, and of lair.

Large, larj, adj. great in size: extensive: bulky: wide: long: abundant: liberal: diffuse: (Shak., of language) free, licentious.—adv. (naut.) before the wind.—adjs. ', possessing much land; ', having large hands: grasping, greedy: profuse; ', having a large heart or liberal disposition: generous.—adv. '.—adj. ', characterised by breadth of view.—ns. '; , a length of iron cut from a bar and of proper size to roll into a sheet.—At large, without restraint or confinement: fully: as a whole, altogether. [Fr.,—L. largus.]

Largess, Largesse, lärj′es, n. a present or donation: (arch.) liberality.—n. , giving of largess. [Fr.,—L. largitio—largīri, to give freely—largus.]

Largo, lär′gō, adj. (mus.) slow in time.—n. a movement to be performed in such style.—adj. ', somewhat slow: not so slow as largo.—n. a movement in somewhat slow time.—adj. ', extremely slow. [It.,—L. largus.]

Lariat, lär′i-at, n. a rope for picketing horses while grazing: a lasso. [Sp. la reata—la, the, reata, a rope for tying animals together.]

Lark, lärk, n. a well-known singing-bird.—v.i. to catch larks.—ns. ', the Indian cress; ', a plant with showy flowers, so called from the spur-shaped formation of calyx and petals. [M. E. laverock—A.S. láwerce; Ger. lerche.]

Lark, lärk, n. a game, frolic.—v.i. to frolic, make sport.—adj.  (coll.), frolicsome, sportive. [A.S. lác, play—lácan, to swing, wave, play.]

Larmier, lar′mi-ėr, n. (archit.) another name for the corona (q.v.): a horizontal string-course for preventing rain from trickling down the wall: (zool.) a tear-bag. [Fr. larme, a tear—L. lacrima, a tear.]

Larrikin, lar′i-kin, adj. (Australian) rowdy, disorderly.—n. a rough or rowdy.—n. .

Larrup, lar′up, v.t. (coll.) to flog, thrash. [Prob. from Dut. larpen, thresh with flails.]

Larry, lar′i, n. Same as Lorry.

Larum, lar′um, n. alarm: a noise giving notice of danger.—v.t. (obs.) to alarm. [Alarm.]

Larus, lā′rus, n. a genus of Laridæ, the gulls proper.

Larva, lär′va, n. an insect in its first stage after issuing from the egg—i.e. in the caterpillar state: a ghost, spectre:—pl. Larvæ —adjs. '; ', ', clothed as with a mask; '; , producing young in a larva-form. [L. larva, a spectre, a mask.]

Larynx, lār′ingks, n. the upper part of the windpipe: the throat:—pl. ', ' (rare).—adjs. ', '.—n. ', spasm of the glottis.—adj. '.—n. ', inflammation of the larynx.—adj. '.—ns. '; ', the science of the larynx; ', the sound of the voice as heard through the stethoscope applied over the larynx; ', a mirror for examining the larynx and trachea.—adj. '.—ns. '; '; ', the operation of cutting into the windpipe to remove obstructions and assist respiration; , the operation of cutting into the windpipe through the cricoid cartilage, the cricothyroid membrane, and the upper rings of the trachea. [L.,—Gr. larynx, laryngos.]

Lascar, las′kar, n. a native East Indian sailor or camp-follower. [Hind.,—Pers. lashkari, a soldier.]

Lascivious, las-siv′i-us, adj. lustful: tending to produce lustful emotions.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. lascivus; perh. from the same root as laxus, loose.]

Laser, lā′ser, n. a gum-resin from North Africa, esteemed by the ancients as a deobstruent and diuretic. [L. laser, juice of laserpitium.]

Laserpitium, las-er-pish′i-um, n. a genus of perennial herbs of the parsley family— or herb frankincense.—Also Silphium. [L. laserpicium, a plant yielding laser.]

Lash, lash, n. a thong or cord: the flexible part of a whip: a stroke with a whip or anything pliant: a stroke of satire, a sharp retort: a beating or dashing: an eyelash.—v.t. to strike with a lash: to dash against: to fasten or secure with a rope or cord: to censure severely: to scourge with sarcasm or satire.—v.i. to use the whip.—n. ', one who lashes or whips: a rope for binding one thing to another; ', act of whipping: a rope for making things fast: a great plenty of anything—esp. in pl.—Lash out, to kick out, as a horse: to break out recklessly. [M. E. lasshe; Dut. lasch, Ger. lasche, a joint.]

Lash, lash, adj. (obs.) slow, slack: soft: insipid.—n. , the slack water collected above a weir in a river. [M. E. lasche, slack—O. Fr. lasche (Fr. lâche, cowardly)—L. laxus, lax.]

Lasket, las′ket, n. a loop of line at the foot of a sail, to which to fasten an extra sail.

Lass, las, n. (fem. of Lad) a girl, esp. a country girl: a sweetheart: (Scot.) a maid-servant.—(Diminutives) ', '.—adj.  (Shak.), forsaken by one's mistress. [Prob. a contr. of laddess, formed from lad; or directly from W. llodes, fem. of llawd, a lad. Mr H. Bradley thinks the association with lad merely accidental, the word first appearing about 1300 in northern writings as lasce, evidently representing a Scand. laskw, the fem. of an adj. meaning unmarried; cf. Middle Sw. lösk kona, unmarried woman.]

Lassitude, las′i-tūd, n. faintness: weakness: weariness: languor. [Fr.,—L. lassitudo—lassus, faint.]

Lasso, las′ō, n. a long rope with a running noose for catching wild horses, &c.:—pl. ', '.—v.t. to catch with the lasso:—pr.p. pa.p.  [Port. laço, Sp. lazo—L. laqueus, a noose.]

Last, last, n. a wooden mould of the foot on which boots and shoes are made.—v.t. to fit with a last.—n. , one who fits the parts of shoes to lasts: a tool for doing so. [A.S. lást, a trace.]

Last, last, v.i. to continue, endure: to escape failure: remain fresh, unimpaired.—adj. ', permanent, durable.—n. endurance.—adv. '.—n. . [A.S. lǽstan, to keep a track. See foregoing word.]

Last, last, n. a load, cargo, a weight generally estimated at 4000 lb., but varying in different articles.—n. , the lading of a ship: room for stowing goods in a ship: a duty formerly paid for the right of carrying goods, &c. [A.S. hlæst—hladan, to load; Ger. last, Ice. hlass.]

Last, last, adj. latest: coming after all the others: final: next before the present: utmost: meanest: most improbable or unlikely—also adv.—n. ', a court held by the jurats in the marshes of Kent to fix rates chargeable for the preservation of these—also Last.—adv. '.—Last day (Scot.), yesterday; Last heir (Eng. law), he to whom lands come by escheat for want of lawful heirs.—At last, in conclusion (this from A.S. on lást, therefore not from late at all, but from last (1), which is the A.S. lást, a trace); Breathe one's last, to die; Die in the last ditch, to fight to the bitter end; First and last, altogether; On one's last legs, on the verge of utter failure or exhaustion; Put the last hand to, to finish, put the finishing touch to; The last cast (see Cast); The last day, the Day of Judgment; The last days, times (B.), the period when the end of the world draws near; To the last, to the end: till death. [A contr. of latest.]

Lastery, last′ėr-i, n. (Spens.) a red colour.

Lat, lät, n. in Indian architecture, an isolated pillar.

Latakia, lat-a-kē′a, n. a fine kind of tobacco produced at Latakia (Laodicea ad Mare) in Syria.

Latch, lach, v.t. (Shak.) to moisten. [Leach.]

Latch, lach, n. a small piece of wood or iron to fasten a door.—v.t. to fasten with a latch: to hold, retain: (obs.) to seize.—ns. ', a strap or buckle for fastening a shoe; ', a key to raise the latch of a door.—On the latch, not locked, but opened by a latch. [A.S. læccan, to catch.]

Late, lāt, adj. (comp. Lat′er; superl. ') slow, tardy; behindhand: coming after the expected time: long delayed: far advanced towards the close: last in any place or character: deceased: departed: out of office: not long past—also adv.—adj. ' (Shak.), belated, being too late.—adv. '.—n. ', state of being late.—adv. '.—adj. ', somewhat late. [A.S. læt, slow; Dut. laat, Ice. latr, Ger. lass, weary; L. lassus, tired.]

Latebra, lat′eb-ra, n. the cavity in the food-yolk of a meroblastic ovum.—adj. . [L.—latēre.]

Lateen, la-tēn′, adj. applied to a triangular sail, common in the Mediterranean, the Lake of Geneva, &c. [Fr.,—L. Latinus, Latin.]

Latent, lā′tent, adj. hid: concealed: not visible or apparent: dormant, undeveloped.—ns. ', '.—adv. .—Latent heat (see Heat); Latent life, a phrase describing the physiological condition of organisms in which the functions are for a time suspended without losing the power of future activity; Latent period of a disease, the time that elapses before symptoms show the presence of the disease. [L. latens, pr.p. of latēre, to lie hid; Gr. lanthanein, to be hidden.]

Lateral, lat′ėr-al, adj. belonging to the side: proceeding from or in the direction of the side: (anat. and zool.) situated on one of the sides of the median vertical longitudinal plane of the body: (physics) at right angles to a line of motion or strain.—n. '.—adv. '.—adj.  (bot.), growing by the side of a leaf at its base.—Lateral fin, one of the paired side fins of a fish:—opp. to Vertical fin. [L. lateralis—latus, latĕris, a side.]

Lateran, lat′ėr-an, adj. pertaining to the Church of St John Lateran at Rome, the Pope's cathedral church, on the site of the splendid palace or basilica of Plautius Lateranus (executed 66 A.D.).—Lateran Councils, five general councils of the Western Church, held in the Lateran basilica (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215, and 1512-17), regarded by Roman Catholics as œcumenical: also an important synod against the Monothelites in 649.

Latericeous, lat-ėr-ish′us, adj. of brick, or brick-coloured.—Also . [L. latericius—later, lateris, a brick.]

Laterite, lat′ėr-īt, n. an argillaceous sandstone of a reddish or brick colour found in India, esp. in Ceylon. [L. later, lateris, a brick.]

Latescent, lā-tes′ent, adj. becoming hidden.—n. . [L. latescĕre—latēre, to lie hid.]

Latest, lāt′est, adj. superl. of late.

Latex, lā′teks, n. (bot.) the sap of plants after it has been elaborated in the leaves.—adj. , containing or conveying latex. [L.]

Lath, läth, n. a thin cleft slip of wood used in slating, plastering, &c.:—pl. Laths (läthz).—v.t. to cover with laths.—adj. '.—ns. ', the act or process of covering with laths: a covering of laths; ', one who splits wood into laths.—adj. ', like a lath.—Dagger of lath, any insufficient means of attack or defence. [A.S. lættu; Dut. lat, Ger. latte, a lath.]

Lathe, lāth, n. a machine for turning and shaping articles of wood, metal, &c.: the movable swing-frame of a loom carrying the reed for separating the warp threads and beating up the weft. [Ice. löð.]

Lathe, läth, n. a part or division of a county, now existing only in Kent, and consisting of four or five hundreds. [A.S. lǽth, a district.]

Lather, lath′ėr, n. a foam or froth made with water and soap: froth from sweat.—v.t. to spread over with lather.—v.i. to form a lather: to become frothy. [A.S. leáðor, lather; Ice. lauðr, foam.]

Latibulum, lā-tib′ū-lum, n. a hiding-place, burrow:—pl. '.—v.i. ', to hibernate. [L.]

Laticlave, lat′i-klāv, n. a broad vertical purple stripe running down the front of a Roman senator's tunic. [L. latus, broad, clavus, a stripe.]

Laticostate, lat-i-kos′tāt, adj. broad-ribbed.

Latidentate, lat-i-den′tāt, adj. broad-toothed.

Latifoliate, lat-i-fō′li-āt, adj. broad-leafed.—Also .

Latin, lat′in, adj. pertaining to ancient Latium (esp. Rome) or its inhabitants, also to all races claiming affinity with the Latins by language, race, or civilisation: written or spoken in Latin.—n. an inhabitant of ancient Latium: a member of a modern race ethnically or linguistically related to the ancient Romans or Italians: the language of ancient Rome—the foundation of the modern Romance tongues: a member of the Latin or Roman Catholic Church.—adj. '.—n. ', one who knows Latin: (obs.) an interpreter.—v.t. ', to give Latin forms to: to render into Latin.—ns. ', a Latin idiom; ', one skilled in Latin; ', the Latin tongue, style, or idiom.—Latin Church, the Western Church as distinguished from the Greek or Oriental Church, so named as having employed Latin as its official language: the Roman Catholic Church; Latin Empire, that portion of the Byzantine Empire seized in 1204 by the Crusaders, and overthrown by the Greeks in 1261; Latin kingdom, the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem ruled by French or Latin kings, and lasting from 1099 to 1187.—Classical Latin, the Latin of the writers who flourished from about 75 B.C. to 200 A.D.; Dog Latin, barbarous Latin; Late Latin, the Latin written by authors between 200 and (circ.) 600 A.D.; Middle, Medieval, or Low Latin, the Latin of the middle age between 600 and 1500 A.D.; New, Modern, Latin, Latin as written between 1500 and the present time, mostly used as a scientific medium; Thieves' Latin, thieves' cant. [L. Latinus, belonging to Latium, the district round Rome.]

Latipennate, lat-i-pen′āt, adj. broad-winged.

Latirostral, lat-i-ros′tral, adj. broad-billed.—Also .

Latissimus, lā-tis′i-mus, n. the broadest muscle which lies upon the back.

Latitude, lat′i-tūd, n. the distance of a place north or south from the equator, measured in degrees of the meridian: a place as indicated by latitude: the angular distance of a celestial body above the plane of the ecliptic (apparent when the point of view is on the earth's surface, geocentric when at the earth's centre, heliocentric when at the centre of the sun): (fig.) extent of signification: freedom from restraint: scope: (obs.) width.—adjs. ', pertaining to latitude: in the direction of latitude; ', broad or liberal, esp. in religious belief: lax.—n. a name applied by contemporaries to a member of a school of liberal and philosophical theologians within the English Church in the later half of the 17th century: one who affects to regard specific creeds, methods of church government, &c. with indifference.—n. '.—adj. ', having latitude or large extent.—Latitude by account, in navigation, the latitude calculated from the course and distance sailed since last observation; Latitude by observation, the latitude determined from an observation of a heavenly body; Middle latitude, the latitude of the parallel midway between two places situated in the same hemisphere. [Fr.,—L. latitudo, -inis—latus, broad.]

Latria, lā-trī′a, n. the kind of supreme worship lawfully offered to God alone—opposed to Dulia, that given to saints and angels, and to Hyperdulia, that given to the Virgin. [Gr. latreuein, to serve.]

Latrine, lat′rin, n. a privy or water-closet in barracks, factories, hospitals, &c. [Fr.,—L. lavatrina, latrina—lavāre, to wash.]

Latrobe, la-trōb′, n. a form of stove set into a fireplace, heating the room by radiation, and the rooms above by hot air—from I. Latrobe of Baltimore.

Latrocinium, lat-rō-sin′i-um, n. the Robber-Council, that held at Ephesus in 449, in which the doctrines of the heretic Eutyches were upheld by means of intimidation—its acts revoked at the œcumenical council of Chalcedon in 451: larceny: right of adjudging and executing thieves. [L., robbery.]

Latten, lat′en, n. brass or bronze used for crosses: sheet tin, tinned iron-plate. [O. Fr. laton (Fr. laiton)—Ger. latte, a lath, thin plate.]

Latter, lat′ėr, adj. later: coming or existing after: mentioned the last of two: modern: recent: (Shak.) last.—adjs. ' (Shak.), younger; ', belonging to recent times.—adv. , in latter time: of late.—Latter-day saints (see Mormon); Latter end (see End); Latter-mint, a late kind of mint.—The former and the latter rain (see Rain). [A variant of later.]

Lattice, lat′is, n. a network of crossed laths or bars, called also ': anything of lattice-work, as a window: (her.) a bearing of vertical and horizontal bars crossing each other.—v.t. to form into open work: to furnish with a lattice.—ns. ', a bridge with its sides consisting of cross-framing like lattice-work; ', a girder of which the web consists of diagonal pieces arranged like lattice-work; ', an aquatic plant, native to Madagascar, so called from the singular resemblance of the leaves to open lattice-work—otherwise Lattice-plant, Lace-leaf, Water-yam, or Ouvirandrano.—Red lattice (Shak.), a frame of lattice-work painted red, formerly used to fill the windows of an ale-house. [Fr. lattis—latte, a lath.]

Laud, lawd, v.t. to praise in words or with singing: to celebrate.—n. commendation: praise in divine worship: (pl.) in the R.C. Church, the prayers immediately following matins, constituting with the latter the first of the seven canonical hours.—adj. ', worthy of being praised.—n. '.—adv. '.—ns. ', praise: honour paid; ', a panegyric, a eulogium.—adj. ', containing praise: expressing praise.—n. that which contains praise.—n. . [L. laudāre—laus, laudis, praise.]

Laudanum, lawd′a-num, n. a preparation of opium: tincture of opium. [Same word as ladanum, transferred to a different drug.]

Laugh, läf, v.i. to express mirth or joy by an explosive inarticulate sound of the voice and peculiar facial distortion: to be gay or lively: make merry (with at), to flout.—v.t. to express with a laugh: to affect in some way by laughter.—n. the sound caused by merriment.—adj. ', ludicrous.—n. '.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', a gas which excites laughter, called nitrous oxide, used as an anæsthetic in minor surgical operations, as in dentistry; ', the great kingfisher of Australia.—adv. ', in a laughing manner.—ns. ', an object of ridicule, like something stuck up to be laughed at; , act or noise of laughing.—Laugh a thing off, to treat as if worthy only of a laugh; Laugh in one's sleeve, to laugh inwardly; Laugh one out of, to make a person abandon a habit, &c., by laughing at him for it; Laugh on the wrong side of the mouth, to be made feel disappointment or sorrow, esp. after boasting, &c.; Laugh to scorn, to deride or jeer at.—Have the laugh on one's side, to be able to laugh at another through getting the better of him by superior dexterity, &c. [A.S. hlihan; Ger. lachen, Goth. hlahjan; prob. imit.]

Launce, läns, n. Same as Lance.

Launce, läns, n. (Spens.) a balance. [L. lanx, lancis, a plate, a scale of a balance.]

Launch, Lanch, länsh, v.t. to throw as a lance or spear: (Shak.) to pierce or cut with a lance: to send forth: to cause to slide into the water.—v.i. to go forth, as a ship into the water: to come into new relations, make a transition.—n. act of launching or moving a newly-built ship from the stocks into the water: the largest boat carried by a man-of-war: (Spens.) a lancing.—n.pl. ', the timbers on which a ship is launched.—n. ', a large passenger-boat propelled by steam-power, and used largely on rivers. [O. Fr. lanchier, lancier (Fr. lancer). See Lance.]

Laund, lawnd, n. (Shak.) a park. [O. Fr. lande; prob. Celt. See Lawn.]

Laundress, lawn′dres, n. a woman who washes and irons clothes.—n. ', a washerwoman or washerman: a trough for conveying water.—v.t. to wash and iron, as clothes: (Shak.) to wet, wash.—ns. ', a place where clothes are washed and dressed; , , a male, female, worker in a laundry. [M. E. lavander—O. Fr. lavandier—L., gerundive of lavāre to wash.]

Laura, law′ra, n. an early kind of monastic community, its cells separate structures, the inmates living in solitude, meeting only for common services in the chapel—found only in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. [Most prob. Gr. laura, an alley, lane.]

Laureate, law′re-āt, adj. crowned with laurel.—n. one crowned with laurel: a poet-laureate.—v.t. to crown with laurel, in token of literary merit: to confer a degree upon.—ns. ', office of a laureate; ', act of laureating or conferring a degree; , formerly one who received a degree in grammar (i.e. poetry and rhetoric) at the English universities: a poet bearing that honorary title, a salaried officer in the royal household, appointed to compose annually an ode for the king's birthday and other suitable occasions.

Laurel, law′rel, n. the bay-tree, used by the ancients for making honorary wreaths: a crown of laurel, honours gained (freq. in pl.): any species of the genus Laurus.—adjs. '; ', crowned with laurel.—n. ', a sedative and narcotic water distilled from the leaves of the cherry-laurel.—adjs. ', producing laurel; ', laurel-wearing.—n ', an evergreen shrub. [Fr. laurier—L. laurus.]

Laurentian, law-ren′shi-an, adj. pertaining to Lorenzo or Laurentius dei Medici, or to the Laurentian library founded by him at Florence: of or pertaining to the river St Lawrence: applied to a series of rocks covering a large area in the region of the Upper Lakes of North America.

Lauwine, law′vin, n. (Byron) an avalanche. [Ger., from Low L. lavina, prob. L. labi, to fall.]

Lav, lav, n. word—in lavengro, word-master. [Gypsy.]

Lava, lä′va, n. the melted matter discharged from a burning mountain, that flows down its sides. [It. lava, a stream—L. lavāre, to wash.]

Lave, lāv, v.t. and v.i. to wash: to bathe.—ns. ', the ritual act of washing the celebrant's fingers after the offertory, before proceeding with the eucharistic service—from Lavabo manus meas in innocentia (Ps. xxvi. 6): a stone basin in monasteries for washing in before meals or religious exercises: a modern convenience or lavatory of similar kind; ', a washing out; ', a washing or cleansing; ', a place for washing: a medieval stone table in monasteries, &c., on which bodies were washed before burial: (med.) a lotion for a diseased part; , a large vessel for laving or washing. [Fr. laver—L. lavāre, -ātum; Gr. louein, to wash.]

Lave, lāv, n. (Scot.) what is left, the remainder. [A.S. láf; Ice. leif. See Leave.]

Lave, lāv, v.t. to lade or throw out (as water from a boat). [A.S. lafian, pour out water; Ger. laben, refresh. Conn. with L. lavāre, to wash, dub.]

Lavender, lav′en-dėr, n. an odoriferous plant, probably so called from its being laid with newly washed clothes: a pale-lilac colour, the colour of lavender blossoms.—v.t. to sprinkle with lavender.—n. , a perfume composed of spirits of wine, essential oil of lavender, and ambergris.—Lay in lavender, to lay by carefully, as clothes, with sprigs of lavender in them; Oil of lavender, an aromatic oil distilled from lavender flowers and stems, used as a stimulant and tonic. [M. E. lavendre—Fr. lavande—L. lavāre, to wash.]

Laver. See Lave (1).

Laver, lāv′ėr, n. the fronds of certain marine plants, sometimes used as food. [L. laver.]

Laverock, lav′ėr-ock, n. (prov.) a lark. [Cf. Lark.]

Lavish, lav′ish, v.t. to expend profusely: to waste.—adj. bestowing profusely: prodigal: extravagant: unrestrained.—adv. '.—ns. ', . [From Lave (3).]

Lavolt, la-volt′, Lavolta, la-vol′ta, n. (Shak.) an old dance in which there were much turning and high leaping. [It. la volta, the turn.]

Law, law, n. a rule of action established by authority: statute: the rules of a community or state: a rule or principle of science or art: the whole jurisprudence or the science of law: established usage: that which is lawful: the whole body of persons connected professionally with the law: litigation: a theoretical principle educed from practice or observation: a statement or formula expressing the constant order of certain phenomena: (theol.) the Mosaic code or the books containing it.—v.t. (coll.) to give law to, determine.—v.i. (obs.) to go to law.—adj. ', obedient to the law.—ns. '; ', a book treating of law or law cases; ', one who violates a law; ' (Scots law), a writ requiring a person to give security against doing violence to another; ', a book-binding in smooth, pale-brown calf; ', a day of open court.—adj. ', allowed by law: rightful.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', one who enacts laws: a legislator.—adj. ', legislating.—n. ', going to law: litigation: (obs.) the practice of cutting off the claws and balls of a dog's forefeet to hinder it from hunting: (Scot.) a reckoning at a public-house, a tavern bill.—adj. '.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', an annual publication containing all information regarding the administration of law and the legal profession; ', a peer in parliament who holds or has held high legal office: in Scotland, a judge of the Court of Session; ', a lawgiver; ', one of a select body with magisterial powers in some of the Danish towns of early England; ', a term applied to the customs which have grown up among merchants in reference to mercantile documents and business; ', a low pettifogging lawyer; ', a stationer who sells parchment and other articles needed by lawyers; ', a suit or process in law; ', a writer on law: a copier or engrosser of legal papers; ', a practitioner in the law: (N.T.) an interpreter of the Mosaic Law: the stem of a brier.—Law Latin, Latin as used in law and legal documents, being a mixture of Latin with Old French and Latinised English words; Law of nations, now international law, originally applied to those ethical principles regarded as obligatory on all communities; Law of nature (see Nature); Law of the land, the established law of a country; Laws of association (see Association); Laws of motion (see Motion); Lawful day, one on which business may be legally done—not a Sunday or a public holiday.—Boyle's (erroneously called Mariotte's) law (physics), in gases, the law that, for a given quantity at a given temperature, the pressure varies inversely as the volume—discovered by Robert Boyle in 1662, and treated in a book by Mariotte in 1679; Brehon law (see Brehon); Canon law (see Canon); Case law, law established by judicial decision in particular cases, in contradistinction to statute law; Common law (see Common); Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes and their punishment; Crown law, that part of the common law of England which is applicable to criminal matters; Customary law (see Consuetudinary); Empirical law, a law induced from observation or experiment, and though valid for the particular instances observed, not to be relied on beyond the conditions on which it rests; Federal law, law prescribed by the supreme power of the United States, as opposed to state law; Forest law, the code of law which was drawn up to preserve the forests, &c., forming the special property of the English kings; Gresham's law (''polit. econ.), the law that of two forms of currency the inferior or more depreciated tends to drive the other from circulation, owing to the hoarding and exportation of the better form; Grimm's law (philol.), the law formulating certain changes or differences which the mute consonants exhibit in corresponding words in the Teutonic branches of the Aryan family of languages—stated by Jacob Grimm (1785-1863); International law (see International); Judiciary law, that part of the law which has its source in the decisions and adjudications of the courts; Kepler's laws, three laws of planetary motion discovered by Johann Kepler (1571-1630)—viz. (1) the orbits of the planets are ellipses with the sun at one focus; (2) the areas described by their radii vectores in equal times are equal; (3) the squares of their periodic times vary as the cubes of their mean distances from the sun; Lynch law (see Lynch); Maine law, a prohibitory liquor law passed by the legislature of Maine State, U.S.A., in 1851; Maritime, Martial, Mercantile, Military law (see the adjs.); May laws, several Prussian enactments (1873-74) directed to control the action of the Church, and limit its interference in civil matters, largely modified in 1887—often called Falk laws, from the introducer; Moral law, that portion of the Old Testament which relates to moral principles, especially the ten commandments; Mosaic, Municipal, Natural law (see the adjs.); Ohm's law, the basis of electrical measurements, established in 1827 by Ohm (1787-1854), that the resistance of a conductor is measured by the ratio of the electromotive force between its two ends to the current flowing through it; Poor-law, , laws providing for the support of paupers at the public expense; Positive law, law owing its force to human sanction as opposed to divine law; Private law (see Private); Roman law, the system of law developed by the ancient Romans, and often termed the civil law (q.v.); Salic law (see Salian); Statute law (see Statute); Sumptuary law (see Sumptuary); Verner's law (philol.), a law stated by Karl Verner in 1875, showing the effect of the position of accent in the shifting of the original Aryan mute consonants, and s, into Low German, and explaining the most important anomalies in the application of Grimm's law; Written law, statute law as distinguished from the common law.—Have the law of (coll.''), to enforce the law against; Lay down the law, to state authoritatively or dictatorially. [M. E. lawe—A.S. lagu, from licgan, to lie; Ice. lōg.]