Chapter 872

Lac"er*a*ble (?) , a. [L. lacerabilis : cf. F. lac\'82rable .] That can be lacerated or torn.

Lacerate <Xpage=822>

Lac"er*ate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lacerated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacerating (<?/>) .] [L. laceratus , p. p. of lacerare to lacerate, fr. lacer mangled, lacerated; cf. Gr. <?/ a rent, rending, <?/ to tear; perh. akin to E. slay .] To tear; to rend; to separate by tearing; to mangle; as, to lacerate the flesh . Hence: To afflict; to torture; as, to lacerate the heart .

Lacerate, Lacerated <Xpage=822>

Lac"er*ate (?) , Lac"er*a`ted (?) , p. a. [L. laceratus , p. p. ] 1. Rent; torn; mangled; as, a lacerated wound .

By each other's fury lacerate Southey.

2. (Bot. & Zo\'94l.) Jagged, or slashed irregularly, at the end, or along the edge.

Laceration <Xpage=822>

Lac`er*a"tion (?) , n. [L. laceratio : cf. F. lac\'82ration .] 1. The act of lacerating.

2. A breach or wound made by lacerating.

Arbuthnot.

Lacerative <Xpage=822>

Lac"er*a*tive (?) , a. Lacerating, or having the power to lacerate; as, lacerative humors .

Harvey.

Lacert <Xpage=822>

La"cert (?) , n. [OE. lacerte . See Lacertus .] A muscle of the human body. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lacerta <Xpage=822>

La*cer"ta (?) , n. [L. lacertus the arm.] A fathom. [Obs.]

Domesday Book.

Lacerta <Xpage=822>

La*cer"ta , n. [L. a lizard. See Lizard .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of lizards. See Lizard .

&hand; Formerly it included nearly all the known lizards. It is now restricted to certain diurnal Old World species, like the green lizard ( Lacerta viridis ) and the sand lizard ( L. agilis ), of Europe.

2. (Astron.) The Lizard, a northern constellation.

Lacertian <Xpage=822>

La*cer"tian (?) , a. [Cf. F. lacertien .] (Zo\'94l.) Like a lizard; of or pertaining to the Lacertilia. -- n. One of the Lacertilia.

Lacertilia <Xpage=822>

Lac`er*til"i*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. L. lacertus a lizard.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of Reptilia, which includes the lizards.

&hand; They are closely related to the snakes, and life the latter, usually have the body covered with scales or granules. They usually have eyelids, and most of then have well-formed legs; but in some groups (amphisb\'91na, glass-snake, etc.) the legs are wanting and the body is serpentlike. None are venomous, unless Heloderma be an exception. The order includes the chameleons, the Cionocrania , or typical lizards, and the amphisb\'91nas. See Amphisb\'91na , Gecko , Gila monster , and Lizard .

Lacertilian <Xpage=822>

Lac`er*til"i*an (-an) , a. & n. Same as Lacertian .

Lacertiloid <Xpage=822>

La*cer"ti*loid (?) , a. [ Lacertilia + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) Like or belonging to the Lacertilia.

Lacertine <Xpage=822>

La*cer"tine (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Lacertian.

Lacertus <Xpage=822>

La*cer"tus (?) , n. ; pl. Lacerti (- t\'c6 ) . [L., the upper arm.] (Anat.) A bundle or fascicle of muscular fibers.

Lacewing <Xpage=822>

Lace"wing` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Chrysopa and allied genera. They have delicate, lacelike wings and brilliant eyes. Their larv\'91 are useful in destroying aphids. Called also lace-winged fly , and goldeneyed fly .

Lace-winged <Xpage=822>

Lace"-winged` , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having thin, transparent, reticulated wings; as, the lace-winged flies .

Laches, Lache <Xpage=822>

Lach"es (?) , Lache (?) , n. [OF. lachesse , fr. lache lax, indolent, F. l\'83che , ultimately fr. L. laxus loose, lax. See Lax .] (Law) Neglect; negligence; remissness; neglect to do a thing at the proper time; delay to assert a claim.

It ill became him to take advantage of such a laches with the eagerness of a shrewd attorney. Macaulay.

Lachrymable <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*ma*ble (?) , a. [L. lacrimabilis , fr. lacrima a tear.] Lamentable.

Martin Parker.

Lachrym\'91 Christi <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*m\'91 Chris"ti (?) . [L., lit., Christ's tears.] A rich, sweet, red Neapolitan wine.

Lachrymal <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*mal (<?/) , a. [Cf. F. lacrymal . See Lachrymose .] 1. Of or pertaining to tears; as, lachrymal effusions .

2. (Anat.) (a) Pertaining to, or secreting, tears; as, the lachrymal gland . (b) Pertaining to the lachrymal organs; as, lachrymal bone; lachrymal duct.

Lacrymal, Lacrymal <Xpage=822>

Lac"ry*mal , Lac"ry*mal (?) , n. See Lachrymatory .

Lachrymary <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*ma*ry (?) , a. Containing, or intended to contain, tears; lachrymal.

Addison.

Lachrymate <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*mate (-m\'bet) , v. i. To weep. [R.]

Blount.

Lachrymation <Xpage=822>

Lach`ry*ma"tion (?) , n. [L. lacrimatio , from lacrimare to shed tears, fr. lacrima tear.] The act of shedding tears; weeping.

Lachrymatory <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*ma*to*ry (?) , n. ; pl. - ries (#) . [Cf. F. lacrymatoire .] (Antiq.) A "tear-bottle;" a narrow-necked vessel found in sepulchers of the ancient Romans; -- so called from a former notion that the tears of the deceased person's friends were collected in it. Called also lachrymal or lacrymal .

Lachrymiform <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*mi*form (?) , a , [L. lacrima tear + -form ; cf. F. lacrymiforme .] Having the form of a tear; tear-shaped.

Lachrymose <Xpage=822>

Lach"ry*mose` (?) , a. [L. lacrymosus , better lacrimosus , fr. lacrima , lacruma (also badly spelt lachryma ) a tear, for older dacrima , akin to E. tear . See Tear the secretion.] Generating or shedding tears; given to shedding tears; suffused with tears; tearful.

You should have seen his lachrymose visnomy. Lamb.

-- Lach"ry*mose`ly , adv.

<page="823"> Page 823

Lacing <Xpage=823>

La"cing (?) , n. 1. The act of securing, fastening, or tightening, with a lace or laces.

2. A lace; specifically (Mach.) , a thong of thin leather for uniting the ends of belts.

3. A rope or line passing through eyelet holes in the edge of a sail or an awning to attach it to a yard, gaff, etc.

4. (Bridge Building) A system of bracing bars, not crossing each other in the middle, connecting the channel bars of a compound strut.

Waddell.

Lacinia <Xpage=823>

La*cin"i*a (?) , n. ; pl. L. Lacini\'91 (#) . [L., the lappet or flap of a garment.] 1. (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 . (b) A narrow, slender portion of the edge of a monophyllous calyx, or of any irregularly incised leaf .

2. (Zo\'94l.) The posterior, inner process of the stipes on the maxill\'91 of insects.

Laciniate, Laciniated <Xpage=823>

La*cin"i*ate (?) , La*cin"i*a"ted (?) , a. [See Lacinia .] 1. Fringed; having a fringed border.

2. (Bot. & Zo\'94l.) Cut into deep, narrow, irregular lobes; slashed.

Laciniolate <Xpage=823>

La*cin"i*o*late (?) , a. [See Lacinia .] (Bot.) Consisting of, or abounding in, very minute lacini\'91.

Lacinula <Xpage=823>

La*cin"u*la (?) , n. ; pl. Lacinul\'91 (#) , E. Lacinulas (#) . [NL.] (Bot.) A diminutive lacinia.

Lack <Xpage=823>

Lack (?) , n. [OE. lak ; cf. D. lak slander, laken to blame, OHG. lahan , AS. le\'a0n .] 1. Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack of sufficient food .

She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood. Chaucer.

Let his lack of years be no impediment. Shak.

Lack <Xpage=823>

Lack , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lacked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacking .] 1. To blame; to find fault with. [Obs.]

Love them and lakke them not. Piers Plowman.

2. To be without or destitute of; to want; to need.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i. 5.

Lack <Xpage=823>

Lack , v. i. 1. To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of , meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc.

What hour now ? I think it lacks of twelve. Shak.

Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty. Gen. xvii. 28.

2. To be in want.

The young lions do lack , and suffer hunger. Ps. xxxiv. 10.

Lack <Xpage=823>

Lack , interj. [Cf. Alack .] Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov. Eng.]

Cowper.

Lackadaisical <Xpage=823>

Lack`a*dai"si*cal (?) , a. [From Lackadaisy , interj .] Affectedly pensive; languidly sentimental. -- Lack`a*dai"si*cal*ly , adv.

Lackadaisy <Xpage=823>

Lack"a*dai`sy (?) , interj. [From Lackaday , interj .] An expression of languor.

Lackadaisy <Xpage=823>

Lack"a*dai`sy , a. Lackadaisical.

Lackaday <Xpage=823>

Lack"a*day` (?) , interj. [Abbreviated from alackaday .] Alack the day; alas; -- an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or surprise.

Lackbrain <Xpage=823>

Lack"brain` (?) , n. One who is deficient in understanding; a witless person.

Shak.

Lacker <Xpage=823>

Lack"er (?) , n. One who lacks or is in want.

Lacker <Xpage=823>

Lack"er , n. & v. See Lacquer .

Lackey <Xpage=823>

Lack"ey (?) , n. ; pl. Lackeys (#) . [F. laquais ; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo ; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E. lick , v. ] An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.

Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey . Shak.

Lackey caterpillar (Zo\'94l.) , the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa ; -- so called from its party-colored markings. The common European species ( C. neustria ) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species ( C. Americana and C. sylvatica ) are commonly called tent caterpillars . See Tent caterpillar ,under Tent . -- Lackey moth (Zo\'94l.) , the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.

Lackey <Xpage=823>

Lack"ey , v. t. To attend as a lackey; to wait upon.

A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.

Lackey <Xpage=823>

Lack"ey , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lackeyed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lackeying .] To act or serve as lackey; to pay servile attendance.

Lackluster, Lacklustre <Xpage=823>

Lack"lus`ter , Lack"lus`tre (?) , n. A want of luster. -- a. Wanting luster or brightness. " Lackluster eye."

Shak.

Lacmus <Xpage=823>

Lac"mus (?) , n. See Litmus .

Laconian <Xpage=823>

La*co"ni*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Laconia, a division of ancient Greece; Spartan. -- n. An inhabitant of Laconia; esp., a Spartan.

Laconic, Laconical <Xpage=823>

La*con"ic (?) , La*con"ic*al (?) , a. [L. Laconicus Laconian, Gr. <?/<?/, fr. <?/<?/ a Laconian, Laced\'91monian, or Spartan: cf. F. laconique .] 1. 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.

I grow laconic even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard long. Pope.

His sense was strong and his style laconic . Welwood.

2. Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence, stern or severe; cruel; unflinching.

His head had now felt the razor, his back the rod; all that laconical discipline pleased him well. Bp. Hall.

Syn. -- Short; brief; concise; succinct; sententious; pointed; pithy. -- Laconic , Concise . Concise means without irrelevant or superfluous matter; it is the opposite of diffuse . Laconic means concise with the additional quality of pithiness, sometimes of brusqueness.

Laconic <Xpage=823>

La*con"ic , n. Laconism. [Obs.]

Addison.

Laconical <Xpage=823>

La*con"ic*al (?) , a. See Laconic , a.

Laconically <Xpage=823>

La*con"ic*al*ly , adv. In a laconic manner.

LaconIcism <Xpage=823>

La*con"I*cism (?) , n. Same as Laconism .

Pope.

Laconism <Xpage=823>

Lac"o*nism (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to imitate Laced\'91monian manners, to speak laconically: cf. F. laconisme .] 1. A vigorous, brief manner of expression; laconic style.

2. An instance of laconic style or expression.

Laconize <Xpage=823>

Lac"o*nize (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Laconized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Laconizing (?) .] [Gr. <?/. See Laconic .] To imitate the manner of the Laconians, especially in brief, pithy speech, or in frugality and austerity.

Lacquer <Xpage=823>

Lac"quer (?) , n. [F. lacre a sort of sealing wax, Pg. lacte , fr. laca lac. See Lac the resin.] [Written also lacker .] A varnish, consisting of a solution of shell-lac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge, saffron, or the like; -- used for varnishing metals, papier-mach\'82, and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made. <-- shell-lac = shellac; it is the prime spelling in this dictionary, though not found in MW10! -->

Lacquer <Xpage=823>

Lac"quer , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lacquered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lacquering .] To cover with lacquer . " Lacquer'd chair."

Pope.

Lacquerer <Xpage=823>

Lac"quer*er (?) , n. One who lacquers, especially one who makes a business of lacquering.

Lacquering <Xpage=823>

Lac"quer*ing , n. The act or business of putting on lacquer; also, the coat of lacquer put on.

Lacrimoso <Xpage=823>

La`cri*mo"so (?) , a. [It. See Lachrymose .] (Mus.) Plaintive; -- a term applied to a mournful or pathetic movement or style.

Moore.

Lacrosse <Xpage=823>

La*crosse" (?) , n. [F. la crosse , lit., the crosier, hooked stick. Cf. Crosier .] A game of ball, originating among the North American Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled racket, called a " crosse ". The ball is not handled but caught with the crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the field.

Lacrymal <Xpage=823>

Lac"ry*mal (?) , n. & a. See Lachrymatory , n. , and Lachrymal , a.

Lacrymary, Lacrytory, Lacrymose <Xpage=823>

Lac"ry*ma*ry , Lac"ry*to*ry , Lac"ry*mose . See Lachrymary , Lachrymatory , Lachrymose .

Lactage <Xpage=823>

Lac"tage (?) , n. [L. lac , lactis , milk: cf. F. laitage . See Lacteal .] The produce of animals yielding milk; milk and that which is made from it.

Lactam <Xpage=823>

Lac"tam (?) , n. [ Lact one + ami do.] (Chem.) One of a series of anhydrides of an amido type, analogous to the lactones, as oxindol.

Lactamic <Xpage=823>

Lac*tam"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an amido acid related to lactic acid, and called also amido-propionic acid.

Lactamide <Xpage=823>

Lac*tam"ide (?) , n. [ Lac tic + ami de.] (Chem.) An acid amide derived from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.

Lactant <Xpage=823>

Lac"tant (?) , a. [L. lactans , p. pr. of lactare to suck, fr. lac , lactis , milk.] Suckling; giving suck.

Lactarene <Xpage=823>

Lac"ta*rene (?) , n. [L. lac , lactis , milk.] A preparation of casein from milk, used in printing calico.

Lactary <Xpage=823>

Lac"ta*ry (?) , a. [l. lactarius , fr. lac , lactis , milk: cf. F. lactaire .] Milky; full of white juice like milk. [Obs.] " Lactary or milky plants."

Sir T. Browne.

Lactary <Xpage=823>

Lac"ta*ry , n. a dairyhouse. [R.]

Lactate <Xpage=823>

Lac"tate (?) , n. [L. lac , lactis , milk: cf. F. lactate .] (Chem.) A salt of lactic acid.

Lactation <Xpage=823>

Lac*ta"tion (?) , n. A giving suck; the secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland.

Lacteal <Xpage=823>

Lac"te*al (?) , a. [L. lacteus milky, fr. lac , lactis , milk. Cf. Galaxy , Lettuce .] 1. Pertaining to, or resembling, milk; milky; as, the lacteal fluid .

2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Pertaining to, or containing, chyle; as, the lacteal vessels .

Lacteal <Xpage=823>

Lac"te*al , n. (Anat.) One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic duct; a chyliferous vessel.

Lacteally <Xpage=823>

Lac"te*al*ly , adv. Milkily; in the manner of milk.

Lactean <Xpage=823>

Lac"te*an (?) , a. [See Lacteal .] 1. Milky; consisting of, or resembling, milk. "This lactean whiteness."

Moxon.

2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Lacteal; conveying chyle.