9 letter word starting with l

by
Words Parts of Speech Meaning/Definition/Similar Words
labelling of Label
labellums plural of Labellum
labialism noun The quality of being labial; as, the labialism of an articulation; conversion into a labial, as of a sound which is different in another language.
labialize verb t. To modify by contraction of the lip opening.
labimeter noun See Labidometer.
labipalpi plural of Labipalpus
laboredly adverb In a labored manner; with labor.
laborious adjective Requiring labor, perseverance, or sacrifices; toilsome; tiresome., Devoted to labor; diligent; industrious; as, a laborious mechanic.
laborless adjective Not involving labor; not laborious; easy.
laborsome adjective Made with, or requiring, great labor, pains, or diligence., Likely or inclined to roll or pitch, as a ship in a heavy sea; having a tendency to labor.
laburnine noun A poisonous alkaloid found in the unripe seeds of the laburnum.
labyrinth noun An edifice or place full of intricate passageways which render it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance; as, the Egyptian and Cretan labyrinths., Any intricate or involved inclosure; especially, an ornamental maze or inclosure in a park or garden., Any object or arrangement of an intricate or involved form, or having a very complicated nature., An inextricable or bewildering difficulty., The internal ear. See Note under Ear., A series of canals through which a stream of water is directed for suspending, carrying off, and depositing at different distances, the ground ore of a metal., A pattern or design representing a maze, — often inlaid in the tiled floor of a church, etc.
laccolite noun Alt. of Laccolith
laccolith noun A mass of igneous rock intruded between sedimentary beds and resulting in a mammiform bulging of the overlying strata.
lace-bark noun A shrub in the West Indies (Lagetta Iintearia); — so called from the lacelike layers of its inner bark.
lacerable adjective That can be lacerated or torn.
lacerated imp. & past participle of Lacerate, Rent; torn; mangled; as, a lacerated wound., Jagged, or slashed irregularly, at the end, or along the edge.
lacertian adjective Like a lizard; of or pertaining to the Lacertilia., One of the Lacertilia.
lacertine adjective Lacertian.
lachrymal adjective Of or pertaining to tears; as, lachrymal effusions., Pertaining to, or secreting, tears; as, the lachrymal gland., Pertaining to the lachrymal organs; as, lachrymal bone; lachrymal duct.
laciniate adjective Alt. of Laciniated
lacinulae plural of Lacinula
lacinulas plural of Lacinula
lackbrain noun One who is deficient in understanding; a witless person.
lackeying present participle & vb. noun of Lackey
laconical adjective Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; brusque; epigrammatic. In this sense laconic is the usual form., Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence, stern or severe; cruel; unflinching., See Laconic, a.
laconized imp. & past participle of Laconize
lacquered imp. & past participle of Lacquer
lacquerer noun One who lacquers, especially one who makes a business of lacquering.
lacrimoso adjective Plaintive; — a term applied to a mournful or pathetic movement or style.
lacrymary Alt. of Lacrymose
lacrytory Alt. of Lacrymose
lacrymose See Lachrymary, Lachrymatory, Lachrymose.
lactamide noun An acid amide derived from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.
lactarene noun A preparation of casein from milk, used in printing calico.
lactation noun A giving suck; the secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland.
lacteally adverb Milkily; in the manner of milk.
lactifuge noun A medicine to check the secretion of milk, or to dispel a supposed accumulation of milk in any part of the body.
lactimide noun A white, crystalline substance obtained as an anhydride of alanine, and regarded as an imido derivative of lactic acid.
lactucone noun A white, crystalline, tasteless substance, found in the milky sap of species of Lactuca, and constituting an essential ingredient of lactucarium.
lacunaria plural of Lacunar
lacustral adjective Alt. of Lacustrine
ladlefuls plural of Ladleful
ladyclock noun See Ladyrird.
laevigate adjective Having a smooth surface, as if polished.
laevulose noun See Levulose.
lafayette noun The dollar fish., A market fish, the goody, or spot (Liostomus xanthurus), of the southern coast of the United States.
laggingly adverb In a lagging manner; loiteringly.
lagomorph noun One of the Lagomorpha.
laicality noun The state or quality of being laic; the state or condition of a layman.
lairdship noun The state of being a laird; an estate; landed property.
lallation noun An imperfect enunciation of the letter r, in which it sounds like l.
lamaistic adjective Of or pertaining to Lamaism.
lambative adjective Taken by licking with the tongue., A medicine taken by licking with the tongue; a lincture.
lamdoidal adjective Lambdoid.
lamellary adjective Of or pertaining to lamella or to lamellae; lamellar.
lamellate adjective Alt. of Lamellated
lamellose adjective Composed of, or having, lamellae; lamelliform.
lamenting present participle & vb. noun of Lament, Lamentation.
laminable adjective Capable of being split into laminae or thin plates, as mica; capable of being extended under pressure into a thin plate or strip.
laminaria noun A genus of great seaweeds with long and broad fronds; kelp, or devil’s apron. The fronds commonly grow in clusters, and are sometimes from thirty to fifty feet in length. See Illust. of Kelp.
laminated imp. & past participle of Laminate, Laminate.
laminitis noun Inflammation of the laminae or fleshy plates along the coffin bone of a horse; founder.
lampadist noun One who gained the prize in the lampadrome.
lampblack noun The fine impalpable soot obtained from the smoke of carbonaceous substances which have been only partly burnt, as in the flame of a smoking lamp. It consists of finely divided carbon, with sometimes a very small proportion of various impurities. It is used as an ingredient of printers’ ink, and various black pigments and cements.
lamplight noun Light from a lamp.
lampooned imp. & past participle of Lampoon
lampooner noun The writer of a lampoon.
lampoonry noun The act of lampooning; a lampoon, or lampoons.
lamp-post noun A post (generally a pillar of iron) supporting a lamp or lantern for lighting a street, park, etc.
lampyrine noun An insect of the genus Lampyris, or family Lampyridae. See Lampyris.
lanarkite noun A mineral consisting of sulphate of lead, occurring either massive or in long slender prisms, of a greenish white or gray color.
lancegaye noun A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II.
lanceolar adjective Lanceolate.
lancewood noun A tough, elastic wood, often used for the shafts of gigs, archery bows, fishing rods, and the like. Also, the tree which produces this wood, Duguetia Quitarensis (a native of Guiana and Cuba), and several other trees of the same family (Anonaseae).
lanciform adjective Having the form of a lance.
lanciname verb t. To tear; to lacerate; to pierce or stab.
landamman noun A chief magistrate in some of the Swiss cantons., The president of the diet of the Helvetic republic.
landaulet noun A small landau.
landflood noun An overflowing of land by river; an inundation; a freshet.
landgrave noun A German nobleman of a rank corresponding to that of an earl in England and of a count in France.
landloper noun Same as Landlouper.
landowner noun An owner of land.
land-poor adjective Pecuniarily embarrassed through owning much unprofitable land.
landreeve noun A subordinate officer on an extensive estate, who acts as an assistant to the steward.
landscape noun A portion of land or territory which the eye can comprehend in a single view, including all the objects it contains., A picture representing a scene by land or sea, actual or fancied, the chief subject being the general aspect of nature, as fields, hills, forests, water. etc., The pictorial aspect of a country.
landslide noun The slipping down of a mass of land from a mountain, hill, etc., The land which slips down.
landsturm noun That part of the reserve force in Germany which is called out last.
langridge noun See Langrage.
languaged imp. & past participle of Language, Having a language; skilled in language; — chiefly used in composition.
languente adverb In a languishing manner; pathetically.
laniation noun A tearing in pieces.
lanifical adjective Working in wool.
lankiness noun The condition or quality or being lanky.
lantanium noun Alt. of Lantanum
lanterloo noun An old name of loo (a).
lanterned imp. & past participle of Lantern
lanthanum noun A rare element of the group of the earth metals, allied to aluminium. It occurs in certain rare minerals, as cerite, gadolinite, orthite, etc., and was so named from the difficulty of separating it from cerium, didymium, and other rare elements with which it is usually associated. Atomic weight 138.5. Symbol La.
laodicean adjective Of or pertaining to Laodicea, a city in Phrygia Major; like the Christians of Laodicea; lukewarm in religion.
lapideous adjective Of the nature of stone.
lapidific adjective Alt. of Lapidifical
laplander noun A native or inhabitant of Lapland; — called also Lapp.
lappeting present participle & vb. noun of Lappet
lapponian adjective Alt. of Lapponic
lapstreak adjective Alt. of Lapstrake
lapstrake adjective Made with boards whose edges lap one over another; clinker-built; — said of boats.
laquearia plural of Laquear
larcenist noun One who commits larceny.
larcenous adjective Having the character of larceny; as, a larcenous act; committing larceny.
larcenies plural of Larceny
lardacein noun A peculiar amyloid substance, colored blue by iodine and sulphuric acid, occurring mainly as an abnormal infiltration into the spleen, liver, etc.
largeness noun The quality or state of being large.
larghetto adjective & adverb Somewhat slow or slowly, but not so slowly as largo, and rather more so than andante.
largition The bestowment of a largess or gift.
lariating present participle & vb. noun of Lariat
larixinic adjective Of, or derived from, the larch (Larix); as, larixinic acid.
larruping present participle & vb. noun of Larrup
larviform adjective Having the form or structure of a larva.
laryngeal adjective Of or pertaining to the larynx; adapted to operations on the larynx; as, laryngeal forceps.
laryngean adjective See Laryngeal.
laserwort noun Any plant of the umbelliferous genus Laserpitium, of several species (as L. glabrum, and L. siler), the root of which yields a resinous substance of a bitter taste. The genus is mostly European.
lassitude noun A condition of the body, or mind, when its voluntary functions are performed with difficulty, and only by a strong exertion of the will; languor; debility; weariness.
laterally adverb By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the side.
lateritic adjective Consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.
latescent adjective Slightly withdrawn from view or knowledge; as, a latescent meaning.
lathering present participle & vb. noun of Lather
lathreeve noun Formerly, the head officer of a lathe. See 1st Lathe.
latibulum noun A concealed hiding place; a burrow; a lair; a hole.
laticlave noun A broad stripe of purple on the fore part of the tunic, worn by senators in ancient Rome as an emblem of office.
latinized imp. & past participle of Latinize
latitancy noun Act or state of lying hid, or lurking.
latration noun A barking.
latrociny noun Theft; larceny.
latterkin noun A pointed wooden tool used in glazing leaden lattice.
latticing present participle & vb. noun of Lattice, The act or process of making a lattice of, or of fitting a lattice to., A system of bars crossing in the middle to form braces between principal longitudinal members, as of a strut.
laudanine noun A white organic base, resembling morphine, and obtained from certain varieties of opium.
laudation verb t. The act of lauding; praise; high commendation.
laudative adjective Laudatory., A panegyric; a eulogy.
laudatory adjective Of or pertaining praise, or to the expression of praise; as, laudatory verses; the laudatory powers of Dryden.
laughable adjective Fitted to excite laughter; as, a laughable story; a laughable scene.
laughsome adjective Exciting laughter; also, addicted to laughter; merry.
launching present participle & vb. noun of Launch
laundered imp. & past participle of Launder
launderer noun One who follows the business of laundering.
laundress noun A woman whose employment is laundering., To act as a laundress.
laundries plural of Laundry
laureated imp. & past participle of Laureate
lavishing present participle & vb. noun of Lavish
lawgiving adjective Enacting laws; legislative.
lammaking adjective Enacting laws; legislative., The enacting of laws; legislation.
lawmonger noun A trader in law; one who practices law as if it were a trade.
lazaretto noun A public building, hospital, or pesthouse for the reception of diseased persons, particularly those affected with contagious diseases.
lazarlike adjective Alt. of Lazarly
lazarwort noun Laserwort.
lazybones noun A lazy person.
lazzaroni noun pl. The homeless idlers of Naples who live by chance work or begging; — so called from the Hospital of St. Lazarus, which serves as their refuge.
leafiness noun The state of being leafy.
leafstalk noun The stalk or petiole which supports a leaf.
leaguerer noun A besieger.
leakiness noun The quality of being leaky.
leapingly adverb By leaps.
leap year Bissextile; a year containing 366 days; every fourth year which leaps over a day more than a common year, giving to February twenty-nine days. See Bissextile.
learnable adjective Such as can be learned.
leasehold adjective Held by lease., A tenure by lease; specifically, land held as personalty under a lease for years.
leastways adverb Alt. of Leastwise
leastwise adverb At least; at all events.
leathered imp. & past participle of Leather
leatheret noun Alt. of Leatherette
leaveless adjective Leafless.
leavening present participle & vb. noun of Leaven, The act of making light, or causing to ferment, by means of leaven., That which leavens or makes light.
leavenous adjective Containing leaven.
leaviness noun Leafiness.
lecanoric adjective Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid which is obtained from several varieties of lichen (Lecanora, Roccella, etc.), as a white, crystalline substance, and is called also orsellic, / diorsellinic acid, lecanorin, etc.
lecanorin noun See Lecanoric.
lechering present participle & vb. noun of Lecher
lecherous adjective Like a lecher; addicted to lewdness; lustful; also, lust-provoking.
lecturing present participle & vb. noun of Lecture
ledgement noun See Ledgment.
leeringly adverb In a leering manner.
left-hand adjective Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than the right; as, the left-hand side; the left-hand road.
legalized imp. & past participle of Legalize
legantine adjective See Legatine.
legendary adjective Of or pertaining to a legend or to legends; consisting of legends; like a legend; fabulous., A book of legends; a tale or narrative., One who relates legends.
leggiadro adjective & adverb Alt. of Leggiero
legionary adjective Belonging to a legion; consisting of a legion or legions, or of an indefinitely great number; as, legionary soldiers; a legionary force., A member of a legion.
legislate verb i. To make or enact a law or laws.
leguleian adjective Lawyerlike; legal., A lawyer.
leisurely adjective Characterized by leisure; taking abundant time; not hurried; as, a leisurely manner; a leisurely walk., In a leisurely manner.
leitmotif noun See Leading motive, under Leading, a.
lemniscus noun One of two oval bodies hanging from the interior walls of the body in the Acanthocephala.
lengthful adjective Long.
lengthily adverb In a lengthy manner; at great length or extent.
leniently adverb In a lenient manner.
lenticula noun A kind of eruption upon the skin; lentigo; freckle., A lens of small size., A lenticel.
lentiform adjective Lenticular.
lentiscus noun Alt. of Lentisk
lentitude adjective Slowness; sluggishness.
leontodon noun A genus of liguliflorous composite plants, including the fall dandelion (L. autumnale), and formerly the true dandelion; — called also lion’s tooth.
lepidoted adjective Having a coat of scurfy scales, as the leaves of the oleaster.
lepismoid adjective Like or pertaining to the Lepisma.
leprosity noun The state or quality of being leprous or scaly; also, a scale.
leptiform adjective Having a form somewhat like leptus; — said of active insect larvae having three pairs of legs. See Larva.
leptology noun A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.
leptynite noun See Granulite.
lessening present participle & vb. noun of Lessen
lessoning present participle & vb. noun of Lesson
let-alone adjective Letting alone.
lethality noun The quality of being lethal; mortality.
lethargic adjective Alt. of Lethargical
lettering present participle & vb. noun of Letter, The act or business of making, or marking with, letters, as by cutting or painting., The letters made; as, the lettering of a sign.
letterure noun Letters; literature.
leucitoid noun The trapezohedron or tetragonal trisoctahedron; — so called as being the form of the mineral leucite.
leucocyte noun A colorless corpuscle, as one of the white blood corpuscles, or those found in lymph, marrow of bone, connective tissue, etc.
leucoline noun A nitrogenous organic base from coal tar, and identical with quinoline. Cf. Quinoline.
leucosoid adjective Like or pertaining to the Leucosoidea, a tribe of marine crabs including the box crab or Calappa.
leucoxene noun A nearly opaque white mineral, in part identical with titanite, observed in some igneous rocks as the result of the alteration of titanic iron.
leukaemia noun Leucocythaemia.
leukeness noun See Luke, etc.
levantine noun Of or pertaining to the Levant., A native or inhabitant of the Levant., A stout twilled silk fabric, formerly made in the Levant.
levelling of Level
levelness noun The state or quality of being level.
leverwood noun The American hop hornbeam (Ostrya Virginica), a small tree with very tough wood.
leviathan noun An aquatic animal, described in the book of Job, ch. xli., and mentioned in other passages of Scripture., The whale, or a great whale.
levigable verb t. Capable of being levigated.
levigated imp. & past participle of Levigate
levitical adjective Of or pertaining to a Levite or the Levites., Priestly., Of or pertaining to, or designating, the law contained in the book of Leviticus.
leviticus noun The third canonical book of the Old Testament, containing the laws and regulations relating to the priests and Levites among the Hebrews, or the body of the ceremonial law.
levulinic adjective Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid (called also acetyl-propionic acid), C5H8O3, obtained by the action of dilute acids on various sugars (as levulose).
levulosan noun An unfermentable carbohydrate obtained by gently heating levulose.
liability noun The state of being liable; as, the liability of an insurer; liability to accidents; liability to the law., That which one is under obligation to pay, or for which one is liable., the sum of one’s pecuniary obligations; — opposed to assets.
libelling of Libel
liberally adverb In a liberal manner.
liberated imp. & past participle of Liberate
liberator noun One who, or that which, liberates; a deliverer.
libertine noun A manumitted slave; a freedman; also, the son of a freedman., One of a sect of Anabaptists, in the fifteenth and early part of the sixteenth century, who rejected many of the customs and decencies of life, and advocated a community of goods and of women., One free from restraint; one who acts according to his impulses and desires; now, specifically, one who gives rein to lust; a rake; a debauchee., A defamatory name for a freethinker., Free from restraint; uncontrolled., Dissolute; licentious; profligate; loose in morals; as, libertine principles or manners.
liberties plural of Liberty
librarian noun One who has the care or charge of a library., One who copies manuscript books.
libraries plural of Library
librating present participle & vb. noun of Librate
libration noun The act or state of librating., A real or apparent libratory motion, like that of a balance before coming to rest.
libratory adjective Balancing; moving like a balance, as it tends to an equipoise or level.
librettos plural of Libretto
libriform adjective Having the form of liber, or resembling liber.
licensing present participle & vb. noun of License
licensure noun A licensing.
lichenous adjective Of, pertaining to, or resembling, lichens; abounding in lichens; covered with lichens.
lickerish adjective Eager; craving; urged by desire; eager to taste or enjoy; greedy., Tempting the appetite; dainty., Lecherous; lustful.
lickerous adjective Lickerish; eager; lustful.
lickpenny noun A devourer or absorber of money.
liegiancy noun See Ligeance.
lienculus noun One of the small nodules sometimes found in the neighborhood of the spleen; an accessory or supplementary spleen.
lienteric adjective Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of, a lientery., A lientery.
lifeblood noun The blood necessary to life; vital blood., Fig.: That which gives strength and energy.
life-size adjective Of full size; of the natural size.
lightable adjective Such as can be lighted.
lightened imp. & past participle of Lighten
lightless adjective Destitute of light; dark.
lightness noun The state, condition, or quality, of being light or not heavy; buoyancy; levity; fickleness; nimbleness; delicacy; grace., Illumination, or degree of illumination; as, the lightness of a room., Absence of depth or of duskiness in color; as, the lightness of a tint; lightness of complexion.
lightning noun A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder., The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers., Lightening.
lightroom noun A small room from which the magazine of a naval vessel is lighted, being separated from the magazine by heavy glass windows.
lightsome adjective Having light; lighted; not dark or gloomy; bright., Gay; airy; cheering; exhilarating.
lightwood noun Pine wood abounding in pitch, used for torches in the Southern United States; pine knots, dry sticks, and the like, for kindling a fire quickly or making a blaze.
ligniform adjective Like wood.
lignified imp. & past participle of Lignify
ligulated adjective Like a bandage, or strap; strap-shaped., Composed of ligules.
ligustrin noun A bitter principle found in the bark of the privet (Ligustrum vulgare), and extracted as a white crystalline substance with a warm, bitter taste; — called also ligustron.
limaceous adjective Pertaining to, or like, Limax, or the slugs.
limbering present participle & vb. noun of Limber
limehound noun A dog used in hunting the wild boar; a leamer.
limestone noun A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime. It sometimes contains also magnesium carbonate, and is then called magnesian or dolomitic limestone. Crystalline limestone is called marble.
lime twig See under 4th Lime.
limewater noun Water impregnated with lime; esp., an artificial solution of lime for medicinal purposes.
limicolae noun pl. A group of shore birds, embracing the plovers, sandpipers, snipe, curlew, etc. ; the Grallae.
limitable adjective Capable of being limited.
limitedly adverb With limitation.
limitless adjective Having no limits; unbounded; boundless.
limpidity noun The quality or state of being limpid.
limpingly adverb In a limping manner.
limpitude noun Limpidity.
lindiform adjective Resembling the genus Lindia; — said of certain apodous insect larvae.
lineality noun The quality of being lineal.
lineament noun One of the outlines, exterior features, or distinctive marks, of a body or figure, particularly of the face; feature; form; mark; — usually in the plural.
lineation noun Delineation; a line or lines.
lineature noun Anything having outline.
lineolate adjective Marked with little lines., Marked longitudinally with fine lines.
ling-bird noun The European meadow pipit; — called also titling.
lingering present participle & vb. noun of Linger, Delaying., Drawn out in time; remaining long; protracted; as, a lingering disease.
lingulate adjective Shaped like the tongue or a strap; ligulate.
linnaeite noun A mineral of pale steel-gray color and metallic luster, occurring in isometric crystals, and also massive. It is a sulphide of cobalt containing some nickel or copper.
linoleate noun A salt of linoleic acid.
lintwhite noun See Linnet.
lionizing present participle & vb. noun of Lionize
lipochrin noun A yellow coloring matter, soluble in ether, contained in the small round fat drops in the retinal epithelium cells. It is best obtained from the eyes of frogs.
lipothymy noun A fainting; a swoon.
lippitude noun Soreness of eyes; the state of being blear-eyed; blearedness.
liquation noun The act or operation of making or becoming liquid; also, the capacity of becoming liquid., The process of separating, by heat, an easily fusible metal from one less fusible; eliquation.
liquefier noun That which liquefies.
liquefied imp. & past participle of Liquefy
liquidate verb t. To determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness); or, where there is an indebtedness to more than one person, to determine the precise amount of (each indebtedness); to make the amount of (an indebtedness) clear and certain., In an extended sense: To ascertain the amount, or the several amounts, of , and apply assets toward the discharge of (an indebtedness)., To discharge; to pay off, as an indebtedness., To make clear and intelligible., To make liquid.
liquidity noun The state or quality of being liquid.
liquidize verb t. To render liquid.
liquoring present participle & vb. noun of Liquor
liquorice noun See Licorice.
liquorish adjective See Lickerish.
liquorous adjective Eagerly desirous. See Lickerish.
lispingly adverb With a lisp; in a lisping manner.
listening present participle & vb. noun of Listen
listerian adjective Of or pertaining to listerism.
listerism noun The systematic use of antiseptics in the performance of operations and the treatment of wounds; — so called from Joseph Lister, an English surgeon.
literalty noun The state or quality of being literal.
literally adverb According to the primary and natural import of words; not figuratively; as, a man and his wife can not be literally one flesh., With close adherence to words; word by word.
literatim adverb Letter for letter.
literator noun One who teaches the letters or elements of knowledge; a petty schoolmaster., A person devoted to the study of literary trifles, esp. trifles belonging to the literature of a former age., A learned person; a literatus.
literatus noun A learned man; a man acquainted with literature; — chiefly used in the plural.
lithaemia noun A condition in which uric (lithic) acid is present in the blood.
litheness noun The quality or state of being lithe; flexibility; limberness.
lithesome adjective Pliant; limber; flexible; supple; nimble; lissom.
lithiasis noun The formation of stony concretions or calculi in any part of the body, especially in the bladder and urinary passages.
lithocarp noun Fossil fruit; a fruit petrified; a carpolite.
lithocyst noun A sac containing small, calcareous concretions (otoliths). They are found in many Medusae, and other invertebrates, and are supposed to be auditory organs.
lithodome noun Any one of several species of bivalves, which form holes in limestone, in which they live; esp., any species of the genus Lithodomus.
lithoidal adjective Like a stone; having a stony structure.
lithology noun The science which treats of rocks, as regards their mineral constitution and classification, and their mode of occurrence in nature., A treatise on stones found in the body.
lithosian noun Any one of various species of moths belonging to the family Lithosidae. Many of them are beautifully colored.
lithotint noun A kind of lithography by which the effect of a tinted drawing is produced, as if made with India ink., A picture produced by this process.
lithotome noun A stone so formed by nature as to appear as if cut by art., An instrument used for cutting the bladder in operations for the stone.
lithotomy noun The operation, art, or practice of cutting for stone in the bladder.
lithotype noun A kind of stereotype plate made by lithotypy; also, that which in printed from it. See Lithotypy., To prepare for printing with plates made by the process of lithotypy. See Lithotypy.
lithotypy noun The art or process of making a kind of hard, stereotypeplate, by pressing into a mold, taken from a page of type or other matter, a composition of gum shell-lac and sand of a fine quality, together with a little tar and linseed oil, all in a heated state.
litigable adjective Such as can be litigated.
litigated imp. & past participle of Litigate
litigator noun One who litigates.
litigious adjective Inclined to judicial contest; given to the practice of contending in law; guarrelsome; contentious; fond of litigation., Subject to contention; disputable; controvertible; debatable; doubtful; precarious., Of or pertaining to legal disputes.
littering present participle & vb. noun of Litter
littorina noun A genus of small pectinibranch mollusks, having thick spiral shells, abundant between tides on nearly all rocky seacoasts. They feed on seaweeds. The common periwinkle is a well-known example. See Periwinkle.
lituiform adjective Having the form of a lituus; like a lituite.
liturgics noun The science of worship; history, doctrine, and interpretation of liturgies.
liturgist noun One who favors or adheres strictly to a liturgy.
liturgies plural of Liturgy
livelihed noun See Livelihood.
liverleaf noun Same as Liverwort.
liverwort noun A ranunculaceous plant (Anemone Hepatica) with pretty white or bluish flowers and a three-lobed leaf; — called also squirrel cups., A flowerless plant (Marchantia polymorpha), having an irregularly lobed, spreading, and forking frond.
liverymen plural of Liveryman
liveryman noun One who wears a livery, as a servant., A freeman of the city, in London, who, having paid certain fees, is entitled to wear the distinguishing dress or livery of the company to which he belongs, and also to enjoy certain other privileges, as the right of voting in an election for the lord mayor, sheriffs, chamberlain, etc., One who keeps a livery stable.
lividness noun Lividity.
livraison noun A part of a book or literary composition printed and delivered by itself; a number; a part.
lixiviate adjective Alt. of Lixivited, To subject to a washing process for the purpose of separating soluble material from that which is insoluble; to leach, as ashes, for the purpose of extracting the alkaline substances.
lixivited adjective Of or pertaining to lye or lixivium; of the quality of alkaline salts., Impregnated with salts from wood ashes.
lixivious adjective See Lixivial.
loadstone noun Alt. of Lodestone
lodestone noun A piece of magnetic iron ore possessing polarity like a magnetic needle. See Magnetite., Same as Loadstone.
loathness noun Unwillingness; reluctance.
loathsome adjective Fitted to cause loathing; exciting disgust; disgusting.
lobscouse noun A combination of meat with vegetables, bread, etc., usually stewed, sometimes baked; an olio.
lobspound noun A prison.
lobulated adjective Made up of, or divided into, lobules; as, a lobulated gland.
lobulette noun A little lobule, or subdivision of a lobule.
localized imp. & past participle of Localize
locellate adjective Divided into secondary compartments or cells, as where one cavity is separated into several smaller ones.
lock-down noun A contrivance to fasten logs together in rafting; — used by lumbermen.
locksmith noun An artificer whose occupation is to make or mend locks.
lock step A mode of marching by a body of men going one after another as closely as possible, in which the leg of each moves at the same time with the corresponding leg of the person before him.
lock-weir noun A waste weir for a canal, discharging into a lock chamber.
locomotor adjective Of or pertaining to movement or locomotion.
locusting p. adjective Swarming and devastating like locusts.
lode-ship noun An old name for a pilot boat.
lodgeable adjective That may be or can be lodged; as, so many persons are not lodgeable in this village., Capable of affording lodging; fit for lodging in.
lodgement noun See Lodgment.
loftiness noun The state or quality of being lofty.
logaoedic adjective Composed of dactyls and trochees so arranged as to produce a movement like that of ordinary speech.
logarithm noun One of a class of auxiliary numbers, devised by John Napier, of Merchiston, Scotland (1550-1617), to abridge arithmetical calculations, by the use of addition and subtraction in place of multiplication and division.
logically adverb In a logical manner; as, to argue logically.
logistics noun That branch of the military art which embraces the details of moving and supplying armies. The meaning of the word is by some writers extended to include strategy., A system of arithmetic, in which numbers are expressed in a scale of 60; logistic arithmetic.
logogriph noun A sort of riddle in which it is required to discover a chosen word from various combinations of its letters, or of some of its letters, which form other words; — thus, to discover the chosen word chatter form cat, hat, rat, hate, rate, etc.
logomachy noun Contention in words merely, or a contention about words; a war of words., A game of word making.
logothete An accountant; under Constantine, an officer of the empire; a receiver of revenue; an administrator of a department.
logroller noun One who engages in logrolling.
loitering present participle & vb. noun of Loiter
lollingly adverb In a lolling manner.
lombardic adjective Of or pertaining to Lombardy of the Lombards.
londonism noun A characteristic of Londoners; a mode of speaking peculiar to London.
londonize verb i. To impart to (one) a manner or character like that which distinguishes Londoners., To imitate the manner of the people of London.
longevity noun Long duration of life; length of life.
longevous adjective Living a long time; of great age.
longicorn adjective Long-horned; pertaining to the Longicornia., One of the Longicornia.
longingly adverb With longing.
longipalp noun One of a tribe of beetles, having long maxillary palpi.
longitude noun Length; measure or distance along the longest line; — distinguished from breadth or thickness; as, the longitude of a room; rare now, except in a humorous sense., The arc or portion of the equator intersected between the meridian of a given place and the meridian of some other place from which longitude is reckoned, as from Greenwich, England, or sometimes from the capital of a country, as from Washington or Paris. The longitude of a place is expressed either in degrees or in time; as, that of New York is 74¡ or 4 h. 56 min. west of Greenwich., The distance in degrees, reckoned from the vernal equinox, on the ecliptic, to a circle at right angles to the ecliptic passing through the heavenly body whose longitude is designated; as, the longitude of Capella is 79¡.
longshore adjective Belonging to the seashore or a seaport; along and on the shore.
long-stop noun One who is set to stop balls which pass the wicket keeper.
longulite noun A kind of crystallite having a (slender) acicular form.
loom-gale noun A gentle gale of wind.
loopholed adjective Provided with loopholes.
looplight noun A small narrow opening or window in a tower or fortified wall; a loophole.
loosening present participle & vb. noun of Loosen
looseness noun The state, condition, or quality, of being loose; as, the looseness of a cord; looseness of style; looseness of morals or of principles.
lophiomys noun A very singular rodent (Lophiomys Imhausi) of Northeastern Africa. It is the only known representative of a special family (Lophiomyidae), remarkable for the structure of the skull. It has handlike feet, and the hair is peculiar in structure and arrangement.
lophopoda noun pl. Same as Phylactolemata.
lophostea plural of Lophosteon
loppering present participle & vb. noun of Lopper
loquacity noun The habit or practice of talking continually or excessively; inclination to talk too much; talkativeness; garrulity.
lorettine noun One of a order of nuns founded in 1812 at Loretto, in Kentucky. The members of the order (called also Sisters of Loretto, or Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross) devote themselves to the cause of education and the care of destitute orphans, their labors being chiefly confined to the Western United States.
lorgnette noun An opera glass, elaborate double eyeglasses.
loricated imp. & past participle of Loricate
lotophagi noun pl. A people visited by Ulysses in his wanderings. They subsisted on the lotus. See Lotus (b), and Lotus-eater.
lotteries plural of Lottery
loup-loup noun The Pomeranian or Spitz dog.
lousewort noun Any species of Pedicularis, a genus of perennial herbs. It was said to make sheep that fed on it lousy.
lousiness noun The state or quality of being lousy.
loverwise adverb As lovers do.
love-sick adjective Languishing with love or amorous desire; as, a love-sick maid., Originating in, or expressive of, languishing love.
lowermost superl. Lowest.
lowlander noun A native or inhabitant of the Lowlands, especially of the Lowlands of Scotland, as distinguished from Highlander.
lowlihood noun Alt. of Lowlihead
lowlihead noun A lowly state.
lowliness noun The state or quality of being lowly; humility; humbleness of mind., Low condition, especially as to manner of life.
low-lived adjective Characteristic of, or like, one bred in a low and vulgar condition of life; mean dishonorable; contemptible; as, low-lived dishonesty.
loxodromy noun The science of loxodromics.
loyalness noun Loyalty.
lubricant adjective Lubricating., That which lubricates; specifically, a substance, as oil, grease, plumbago, etc., used for reducing the friction of the working parts of machinery.
lubricate verb t. To make smooth or slippery; as, mucilaginous and saponaceous remedies lubricate the parts to which they are applied., To apply a lubricant to, as oil or tallow.
lubricity noun Smoothness; freedom from friction; also, property, which diminishes friction; as, the lubricity of oil., Slipperiness; instability; as, the lubricity of fortune., Lasciviousness; propensity to lewdness; lewdness; lechery; incontinency.
lubricous adjective Lubric.
lucidness noun The quality of being lucid; lucidity.
lucifrian adjective Luciferian; satanic.
lucimeter noun an instrument for measuring the intensity of light; a photometer.
luckiness noun The state or quality of being lucky; as, the luckiness of a man or of an event., Good fortune; favorable issue or event.
lucrative adjective Yielding lucre; gainful; profitable; making increase of money or goods; as, a lucrative business or office., Greedy of gain.
luctation noun Effort to overcome in contest; struggle; endeavor.
lucubrate noun To study by candlelight or a lamp; to study by night., To elaborate, perfect, or compose, by night study or by laborious endeavor.
lucullite noun A variety of black limestone, often polished for ornamental purposes.
ludicrous adjective Adapted to excite laughter, without scorn or contempt; sportive.
ludlamite noun A mineral occurring in small, green, transparent, monoclinic crystals. It is a hydrous phosphate of iron.
ludwigite noun A borate of iron and magnesia, occurring in fibrous masses of a blackish green color.
lullingly adverb In a lulling manner; soothingly.
lumbering present participle & vb. noun of Lumber, The business of cutting or getting timber or logs from the forest for lumber.
lumbermen plural of Lumberman
lumberman noun One who is engaged in lumbering as a business or employment.
lumbrical adjective Resembling a worm; as, the lumbrical muscles of the hands of the hands and feet., A lumbrical muscle.
lumbricus noun A genus of annelids, belonging to the Oligochaeta, and including the common earthworms. See Earthworm.
lunisolar adjective Resulting from the united action, or pertaining to the mutual relations, of the sun and moon.
lunistice noun The farthest point of the moon’s northing and southing, in its monthly revolution.
lunitidal adjective Pertaining to tidal movements dependent on the moon.
lunulated adjective Resembling a small crescent.
lupulinic adjective Pertaining to, or obtained from, hops; specifically, designating an acid obtained by the decomposition of lupulin.
lurcation noun Gluttony; gormandizing.
lurchline noun The line by which a fowling net was pulled over so as to inclose the birds.
lusorious adjective Alt. of Lusory
lustering present participle & vb. noun of Lustre, The act or process of imparting a luster, as to pottery., The brightening of a metal in the crucible when it becomes pure, as in certain refining processes.
lustihead noun See Lustihood.
lustihood noun State of being lusty; vigor of body.
lustiness noun State of being lusty; vigor; strength.
lustrated imp. & past participle of Lustrate
lustrical adjective Pertaining to, or used for, purification.
lutarious adjective Of, pertaining to, or like, mud; living in mud.
lutescent adjective Of a yellowish color.
lutherism noun The doctrines taught by Luther or held by the Lutheran Church.
lutulence noun The state or quality of being lutulent.
luxuriant adjective Exuberant in growth; rank; excessive; very abundant; as, a luxuriant growth of grass; luxuriant foliage.
luxuriate verb i. To grow exuberantly; to grow to superfluous abundance., To feed or live luxuriously; as, the herds luxuriate in the pastures., To indulge with unrestrained delight and freedom; as, to luxuriate in description.
luxuriety noun Luxuriance.
luxurious adjective Of or pertaining to luxury; ministering to luxury; supplied with the conditions of luxury; as, a luxurious life; a luxurious table; luxurious ease.
lych gate See under Lich.
lymphated adjective Frightened into madness; raving.
lymphatic adjective pertaining to, containing, or conveying lymph., Madly enthusiastic; frantic., One of the lymphatic or absorbent vessels, which carry lymph and discharge it into the veins; lymph duct; lymphatic duct., A mad enthusiast; a lunatic.
lymphitis noun See Lymphadenitis.
lynch law The act or practice by private persons of inflicting punishment for crimes or offenses, without due process of law.
lynx-eyed adjective Having acute sight.
lyonnaise adjective Applied to boiled potatoes cut into small pieces and heated in oil or butter. They are usually flavored with onion and parsley.
lyopomata noun pl. An order of brachiopods, in which the valves of shell are not articulated by a hinge. It includes the Lingula, Discina, and allied forms.
lyre bird Any one of two or three species of Australian birds of the genus Menura. The male is remarkable for having the sixteen tail feathers very long and, when spread, arranged in the form of a lyre. The common lyre bird (Menura superba), inhabiting New South Wales, is about the size of a grouse. Its general color is brown, with rufous color on the throat, wings, tail coverts and tail. Called also lyre pheasant and lyre-tail.
lyrically adverb In a lyrical manner.
lysimeter noun An instrument for measuring the water that percolates through a certain depth of soil.