Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Lā'brus, n. p. 745(Ichth.) A genus of fishes, several species of which are characterized by an elegant and regular oval form and beautiful colors; the wrasse.La-bûr'num, n. p. 745(Bot.) A tree of the genus Cytisus, a native of the Alps, and much cultivated as an ornamental tree.Lăb'y-rinth, n. p. 745An edifice or place full of intricacies, or formed with winding passages, which render it difficult to find the way from the interior to the entrance; as, the Egyptian and the Cretan labyrinths. 2.…Lāb'y-rinth'al, a. p. 746Pertaining to, or resembling, a labyrinth.Lāb'y-rĭnth'i-an, a. p. 746Winding; intricate; perplexed.Lāb'y-rinth'ic or Lāb'y-rinth'ic-al, a. p. 746Like a labyrinth.Lāb'y-rinth'i-fōrm, a. p. 746Having the form of a labyrinth; intricate.Lāb'y-rinth'ine, a. p. 746Pertaining to, or like, a labyrinth.Lāb'y-rĭnth'o-dŏn, n. p. 746(Palæon.) A genus of extinct reptiles of a large size, so named from the labyrinthine texture of its tooth. They unite the form, and many of the characteristics, of the batrachians or frogs, with the…Lāb'y-rinth'o-dōnt, n. p. 746One of the family of reptiles to which the labyrinthodon belongs.Lăc, n. p. 746A resinous substance produced mainly upon the banyan tree, by the Coccus lacca, a scale-shaped insect, the female of which fixes itself on the bark, and exudes from the margin of the body this…Lăc, n. p. 746One hundred thousand; as, a lac of rupees. [Written also lack.] [East Indies.]Lāc'cic, a. p. 746(Chem.) Pertaining to lac, or produced from it; as, laccic acid.Lāe'cine, n. p. 746(Chem.) A substance obtained from shell-lac. It is brittle, yellow, translucent, and soluble in caustic potash and in sulphuric acid.Lāçe, n. p. 746That which binds or holds, especially by being interwoven; a string or cord, often plaited or otherwise ornamented. 2. A snare or gin, especially one made of interwoven cords; a net. [Obs.] Fairfax.…Lāce, v. t. p. 746To fasten with a lace or string. “When Jenny’s stays are newly laced.” Prior. 2. To adorn or deck with lace; as, cloth laced with silver. Shak. 3. To interweave or embellish with variegations or…Lāçe, v. i. p. 746To have a lace; to be fastened or tied with a lace or string.Lāçe'-bärk, n. p. 746(Bot.) A shrub in the West Indies (the Lagetto lintearia);—so called from the lace-like texture of its inner bark.Lāçe'-bōot, n. p. 746A boot which laces up at the side or in front.Lāçed, p. a. p. 746Fastened or set off by a lace or laces; furnished with lace. Laced coffee, coffee with spirits in it. Addison.—Laced mutton (set off with laces), a prostitute. [Obs.] Shak.Lāçe'man, n. p. 746A man who deals in lace. Addison.Lăç'er-a-ble, a. p. 746Capable of being lacerated or torn.Lăç'er-āte, v. t. p. 746To tear; to rend; to separate by violence or tearing; as, to lacerate the flesh; hence, to wound; to injure or afflict; as, to lacerate the heart.Lăc'er-ate or Lăc'er-ā'ted, p. a. p. 746Rent; torn; mangled. 2. (Bot.) Having the edge variously cut into irregular segments; as, a lacerated leaf.Lāc′/er-ā′/tion, n. p. 746The act of tearing or rending. 2. The breach made by rending.Lăc'er-ā-tive, a. p. 746Tending to lacerate; as, lacerative humors.La-çẽr'tȧ, n. p. 746(Zoöl.) A genus of lizards. 2. (Astron.) A northern constellation; the Lizard. 3. A muscle. [Obs.] Chaucer. 4. A fathom. [Obs.] Doomsday Book.La-çẽr'ti-an, n. p. 746(Zoöl.) One of a group of air-breathing or scaly reptiles, having a round, elongated body, four strong feet with hooked claws, a long tail, a wide mouth, a prehensile, forked tongue, and eyes…La-çẽr'ti-an or Lā'çer-tĭl'i-an, a. p. 746Pertaining to, or resembling, a lacertian, or lizard.La-çẽr'ti-loid or La-çẽr'tĭne, a. p. 746Like the lizard.Lāce'-winged, a. p. 746Having wings like lace.Lā'ce'-wŏm'an, n. p. 746A woman who makes or sells lace.Lāche or Lāch'es, n. p. 746(Law.) Neglect; negligence; remissness; neglect to do a thing at the proper time.Lāch'es-ness, n. p. 746Carelessness; neglect.Lăch'ry-ma-ble, a. p. 746Lamentable. [Obs.] Morley.Lāch'ry-mal, n. p. 746See LACHRYMATORY.Lăc'ry-mal p. 746Lăch'ry-mal, a. p. 746Generating or secreting tears; as, the lachrymal gland. 2. Pertaining to, or conveying, tears; as, the lachrymal duct.Lăch'ry-ma-ry, a. p. 746Containing tears. Addison.Lăch'ry-mā'tion, n. p. 746The act of shedding tears.Lăch'ry-ma-to-ry, n. p. 746(Antiq.) A vessel found in sepulchers of the ancients, in which it has been supposed the tears of a deceased person's friends were collected and preserved with the ashes and urn; — called also…Lăch'ry-mōse', a. p. 746Generating or shedding tears.Lăch'ry-mōse'ly, adv. p. 746In a lachrymose manner.Lā'çing, n. p. 746A fastening with a string or cord through eyelet-holes. 2. A cord used in drawing tight or fastening.La-çĭn'i-ȧ, n. p. 746(Bot.) (a.) One of the narrow, jagged, irregular pieces or divisions which form a sort of fringe on the borders of the petals of some flowers; also, the edge or fringe formed by these divisions. (b.)…La-çĭn′i-ate or La-çĭn′i-ā′ted, a. p. 746Adorned with fringes. 2. (Bot.) Cut jaggedly into deep, narrow lobes; slashed. Gray.Lăck, v. t. p. 746To be destitute of; not to have or possess; to want. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i. 5. 2. To regard as wanting; to slight; to blame. [Obs. and rare.] Chaucer.Lăck, v. i. p. 746To be in want. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger. Ps. xxxiv. 10. 2. To be wanting. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous. Gen. xviii. 28.Lăck, n. p. 746Want; destitution; need; failure. Let his lack of years be no impediment. Shak.Lăck, n. p. 746See LAC.Lăck-a-dāy', interj. p. 746Alas;—an expression of sorrow or regret.Läck'a-dāi'si-cal or Läck'a-dāi'sy, a. p. 746Affectedly pensive; sentimental.Lăck'brāin, n. p. 746One who wants brains, or is deficient in understanding. Shak.Lāck'er, n. p. 746See LACQUER.Lăck'ey, n. p. 746An attending servant; a footman. “Like a Christian footboy, or a gentleman’s lackey.” Shak. 2. A kind of caterpillar having a party-colored covering.Lāck'ey, v. t. p. 746To attend as a lackey; to wait upon. A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.Lăck'ey, v. i. p. 746To act as footboy; to pay servile attendance. Oft have I servants seen on horses ride, The free and noble lackey by their side. Sandys.Lāck'-līn'en, a. p. 746Wanting shirts.Lăck'-lūs'ter, n. p. 746A want of luster; that which wants brightness.Lăck'-lŭs'ter, a. p. 746Wanting luster or brightness. “Lack-luster eye.” W. Scott.