| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| liad | noun | A celebrated Greek epic poem, in twenty-four books, on the destruction of Ilium, the ancient Troy. The Iliad is ascribed to Homer. |
| liar | noun | A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who lies. |
| lias | noun | The lowest of the three divisions of the Jurassic period; a name given in England and Europe to a series of marine limestones underlying the Oolite. See the Chart of Geology. |
| lice | noun | pl. of Louse., of Louse |
| lich | adjective | Like., A dead body; a corpse. |
| lick | verb t. | To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master’s hand., To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk., A stroke of the tongue in licking., 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., 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., To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter., A slap; a quick stroke. |
| lied | imp. & past participle | of Lie, A lay; a German song. It differs from the French chanson, and the Italian canzone, all three being national. |
| lien | of Lie, of Lie. See Lain., 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. | |
| lief | noun | Same as Lif., Dear; beloved., Pleasing; agreeable; acceptable; preferable., Willing; disposed., A dear one; a sweetheart., 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. |
| lier | noun | One who lies down; one who rests or remains, as in concealment. |
| lieu | noun | Place; room; stead; — used only in the phrase in lieu of, that is, instead of. |
| life | noun | 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., Of human beings: 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., The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and plants are started and continued in the performance of their several and cooperative functions; the vital force, whether regarded as physical or spiritual., 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., 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., Animation; spirit; vivacity; vigor; energy., 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., The living or actual form, person, thing, or state; as, a picture or a description from the life., A person; a living being, usually a human being; as, many lives were sacrificed., The system of animal nature; animals in general, or considered collectively., An essential constituent of life, esp. the blood., A history of the acts and events of a life; a biography; as, Johnson wrote the life of Milton., Enjoyment in the right use of the powers; especially, a spiritual existence; happiness in the favor of God; heavenly felicity., Something dear to one as one’s existence; a darling; — used as a term of endearment. |
| lift | noun | The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament., 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., To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; — often with up., To bear; to support., To collect, as moneys due; to raise., To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle., To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing., To rise; to become or appear raised or elevated; as, the fog lifts; the land lifts to a ship approaching it., To live by theft., Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted., The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as, a long lift., Help; assistance, as by lifting; as, to give one a lift in a wagon., That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted, A hoisting machine; an elevator; a dumb waiter., A handle., An exercising machine., A rise; a degree of elevation; as, the lift of a lock in canals., A lift gate. See Lift gate, below., A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; — used for raising or supporting the end of the yard., One of the steps of a cone pulley., A layer of leather in the heel., That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given. |
| lige | verb t. & i. | To lie; to tell lies. |
| like | superl. | Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; — often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character., Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent., Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely., Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk., That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy., A liking; a preference; inclination; — usually in pl.; as, we all have likes and dislikes., In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him., In a like or similar manner., Likely; probably., To suit; to please; to be agreeable to., To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy., To liken; to compare., To be pleased; to choose., To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition)., To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly; as, he liked to have been too late. Cf. Had like, under Like, a. |
| lill | verb i. | To loll. |
| lilt | verb i. | To do anything with animation and quickness, as to skip, fly, or hop., To sing cheerfully., To utter with spirit, animation, or gayety; to sing with spirit and liveliness., Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness., A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune. |
| lily | noun | A plant and flower of the genus Lilium, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three-celled ovary., A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as Pancratium, Crinum, Amaryllis, Nerine, etc., That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; — so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis. |
| lima | noun | The capital city of Peru, in South America. |
| limb | noun | A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch., An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal., A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else., An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock., To supply with limbs., To dismember; to tear off the limbs of., A border or edge, in certain special uses., The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade., The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon., The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles. |
| lime | noun | A thong by which a dog is led; a leash., The linden tree. See Linden., A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also, the tree which bears it. There are two kinds; Citrus Medica, var. acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime (C. Medica, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour., Birdlime., Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic substance, usually called quicklime, obtained by calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when treated with water, forming slacked lime, and is an essential ingredient of cement, plastering, mortar, etc., To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime., To entangle; to insnare., To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to manure with lime; as, to lime hides for removing the hair; to lime sails in order to whiten them., To cement. |
| limn | verb t. | To draw or paint; especially, to represent in an artistic way with pencil or brush., To illumine, as books or parchments, with ornamental figures, letters, or borders. |
| limp | verb i. | To halt; to walk lamely. Also used figuratively., A halt; the act of limping., A scraper for removing poor ore or refuse from the sieve., Flaccid; flabby, as flesh., Lacking stiffness; flimsy; as, a limp cravat. |
| limu | noun | The Hawaiian name for seaweeds. Over sixty kinds are used as food, and have species names, as Limu Lipoa, Limu palawai, etc. |
| limy | adjective | Smeared with, or consisting of, lime; viscous., Containing lime; as, a limy soil., Resembling lime; having the qualities of lime. |
| lind | noun | The linden. See Linden. |
| line | noun | Flax; linen., The longer and finer fiber of flax., To cover the inner surface of; as, to line a cloak with silk or fur; to line a box with paper or tin., To put something in the inside of; to fill; to supply, as a purse with money., To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding anything; to fortify; as, to line works with soldiers., To impregnate; — applied to brute animals., A linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline., A more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver; any long mark; as, a chalk line., The course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road or route; as, the arrow descended in a curved line; the place is remote from lines of travel., Direction; as, the line of sight or vision., A row of letters, words, etc., written or printed; esp., a row of words extending across a page or column., A short letter; a note; as, a line from a friend., A verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure., Course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity., That which has length, but not breadth or thickness., The exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory; boundary; contour; outline., A threadlike crease marking the face or the hand; hence, characteristic mark., Lineament; feature; figure., A straight row; a continued series or rank; as, a line of houses, or of soldiers; a line of barriers., A series or succession of ancestors or descendants of a given person; a family or race; as, the ascending or descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings., A connected series of public conveyances, and hence, an established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc.; as, a line of stages; an express line., A circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map., The equator; — usually called the line, or equinoctial line; as, to cross the line., A long tape, or a narrow ribbon of steel, etc., marked with subdivisions, as feet and inches, for measuring; a tapeline., A measuring line or cord., That which was measured by a line, as a field or any piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of abode., Instruction; doctrine., The proper relative position or adjustment of parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference to smooth working; as, the engine is in line or out of line., The track and roadbed of a railway; railroad., A row of men who are abreast of one another, whether side by side or some distance apart; — opposed to column., The regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery, etc., A trench or rampart., Dispositions made to cover extended positions, and presenting a front in but one direction to an enemy., Form of a vessel as shown by the outlines of vertical, horizontal, and oblique sections., One of the straight horizontal and parallel prolonged strokes on and between which the notes are placed., A number of shares taken by a jobber., A series of various qualities and values of the same general class of articles; as, a full line of hosiery; a line of merinos, etc., The wire connecting one telegraphic station with another, or the whole of a system of telegraph wires under one management and name., The reins with which a horse is guided by his driver., A measure of length; one twelfth of an inch., To mark with a line or lines; to cover with lines; as, to line a copy book., To represent by lines; to delineate; to portray., To read or repeat line by line; as, to line out a hymn., To form into a line; to align; as, to line troops. |
| ling | adjective | A large, marine, gadoid fish (Molva vulgaris) of Northern Europe and Greenland. It is valued as a food fish and is largely salted and dried. Called also drizzle., The burbot of Lake Ontario., An American hake of the genus Phycis., A New Zealand food fish of the genus Genypterus. The name is also locally applied to other fishes, as the cultus cod, the mutton fish, and the cobia., Heather (Calluna vulgaris). |
| link | noun | A torch made of tow and pitch, or the like., A single ring or division of a chain., Hence: Anything, whether material or not, which binds together, or connects, separate things; a part of a connected series; a tie; a bond., Anything doubled and closed like a link; as, a link of horsehair., Any one of the several elementary pieces of a mechanism, as the fixed frame, or a rod, wheel, mass of confined liquid, etc., by which relative motion of other parts is produced and constrained., Any intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion, especially a short connecting rod with a bearing at each end; specifically (Steam Engine), the slotted bar, or connecting piece, to the opposite ends of which the eccentric rods are jointed, and by means of which the movement of the valve is varied, in a link motion., The length of one joint of Gunter’s chain, being the hundredth part of it, or 7.92 inches, the chain being 66 feet in length. Cf. Chain, n., 4., A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; — applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction., Sausages; — because linked together., To connect or unite with a link or as with a link; to join; to attach; to unite; to couple., To be connected. |
| lint | noun | Flax., Linen scraped or otherwise made into a soft, downy or fleecy substance for dressing wounds and sores; also, fine ravelings, down, fluff, or loose short fibers from yarn or fabrics. |
| lion | noun | A large carnivorous feline mammal (Felis leo), found in Southern Asia and in most parts of Africa, distinct varieties occurring in the different countries. The adult male, in most varieties, has a thick mane of long shaggy hair that adds to his apparent size, which is less than that of the largest tigers. The length, however, is sometimes eleven feet to the base of the tail. The color is a tawny yellow or yellowish brown; the mane is darker, and the terminal tuft of the tail is black. In one variety, called the maneless lion, the male has only a slight mane., A sign and a constellation; Leo., An object of interest and curiosity, especially a person who is so regarded; as, he was quite a lion in London at that time. |
| lire | plural | of Lira |
| lira | noun | An Italian coin equivalent in value to the French franc. |
| lisp | verb i. | To pronounce the sibilant letter s imperfectly; to give s and z the sound of th; — a defect common among children., To speak with imperfect articulation; to mispronounce, as a child learning to talk., To speak hesitatingly with a low voice, as if afraid., To pronounce with a lisp., To utter with imperfect articulation; to express with words pronounced imperfectly or indistinctly, as a child speaks; hence, to express by the use of simple, childlike language., To speak with reserve or concealment; to utter timidly or confidentially; as, to lisp treason., The habit or act of lisping. See Lisp, v. i., 1. |
| liss | noun | Release; remission; ease; relief., To free, as from care or pain; to relieve. |
| list | noun | A line inclosing or forming the extremity of a piece of ground, or field of combat; hence, in the plural (lists), the ground or field inclosed for a race or combat., To inclose for combat; as, to list a field., To hearken; to attend; to listen., To listen or hearken to., To desire or choose; to please., To lean; to incline; as, the ship lists to port., Inclination; desire., An inclination to one side; as, the ship has a list to starboard., A strip forming the woven border or selvedge of cloth, particularly of broadcloth, and serving to strengthen it; hence, a strip of cloth; a fillet., A limit or boundary; a border., The lobe of the ear; the ear itself., A stripe., A roll or catalogue, that is row or line; a record of names; as, a list of names, books, articles; a list of ratable estate., A little square molding; a fillet; — called also listel., A narrow strip of wood, esp. sapwood, cut from the edge of a plank or board., A piece of woolen cloth with which the yarns are grasped by a workman., The first thin coat of tin., A wirelike rim of tin left on an edge of the plate after it is coated., To sew together, as strips of cloth, so as to make a show of colors, or form a border., To cover with list, or with strips of cloth; to put list on; as, to list a door; to stripe as if with list., To enroll; to place or register in a list., To engage, as a soldier; to enlist., To cut away a narrow strip, as of sapwood, from the edge of; as, to list a board., To engage in public service by enrolling one’s name; to enlist. |
| lite | adverb, & noun | Little. |
| lith | 3d pers. sing. pres. of Lie, to recline, for lieth., A joint or limb; a division; a member; a part formed by growth, and articulated to, or symmetrical with, other parts. | |
| live | verb i. | To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity., To pass one’s time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully., To make one’s abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside., To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; — said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc., To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness., To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; — with on; as, horses live on grass and grain., To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith., To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; — with on or by; as, to live on spoils., To outlast danger; to float; — said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm., To spend, as one’s life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually; as, to live an idle or a useful life., To act habitually in conformity with; to practice., Having life; alive; living; not dead., Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers., Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator., Vivid; bright., Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe., Life. |
| lixt | 2d pers. sing. pres. of Lige, to lie, to tell lies, — contracted for ligest. | |
| liza | noun | The American white mullet (Mugil curema). |