The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 893
Lei"sure*ly (?) , a. Characterized by leisure; taking abundant tome; not hurried; as, a leisurely manner; a leisurely walk.
Leisurely <Xpage=842>
Lei"sure*ly , adv. In a leisurely manner.
Addison.
Leitmotif <Xpage=842>
Leit"mo*tif" (?) , n. [G.] (Mus.) See Leading motive , under Leading , a.
Leman <Xpage=842>
Le"man (?) , n. [OE. lemman , legman ; AS. le\'a2f dear + mann man. See Lief , and Man .] A sweetheart, of either sex; a gallant, or a mistress; -- usually in a bad sense. [Archaic]
Chaucer. Spenser. Shak.
Leme <Xpage=842>
Leme (?) , n. [OE. leem , leme , leam , AS. le\'a2ma light, brightness; akin to E. light , n. &root;122.] A ray or glimmer of light; a gleam. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Lame <Xpage=842>
Lame , v. i. To shine. [Obs.]
Piers Plowman.
Lemma <Xpage=842>
Lem"ma (?) , n. ; pl. L. Lemmata (#) , E. Lemmas (#) . [L. lemma , Gr. <?/ anything received, an assumption or promise taken for granted, fr. <?/ to take, assume, Cf. Syllable .] A preliminary or auxiliary proposition demonstrated or accepted for immediate use in the demonstration of some other proposition, as in mathematics or logic.
Lemman <Xpage=842>
Lem"man (?) , n. A leman. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Lemming <Xpage=842>
Lem"ming (?) , n. [Nor. lemming , lemende ; cf. Sw. lemel , Lapp. lummik .] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the genera Myodes and Cuniculus , resembling the meadow mice in form. They are found in both hemispheres.
&hand; The common Northern European lemming ( Myodes lemmus ) is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands.
Lemnian <Xpage=842>
Lem"ni*an (?) , a. [L. Lemnius , fr. Lemnus , Gr. <?/.] Of or pertaining to the isle of Lemnos.
Lemnian bole , Lemnian earth , an aluminous earth of a grayish yellow color; sphragide; -- formerly sold as medicine, having astringent properties. -- Lemnian reddle , a reddle of firm consistence and deep red color; -- used by artificers in coloring.
Lemniscata, Lemniscate <Xpage=842>
Lem`nis*ca"ta (?) , Lem*nis"cate (?) , n. [L. lemniscatus adorned with ribbons, fr. lemniscus a ribbon having down, Gr. <?/.] (Geom.) A curve in the form of the figure 8, with both parts symmetrical, generated by the point in which a tangent to an equilateral hyperbola meets the perpendicular on it drawn from the center.
Lemniscus <Xpage=842>
Lem*nis"cus (?) , n. ; pl . Lemnisci ( <?/ ) [L. See Lemniscata .] (Zo\'94l.) One of two oval bodies hanging from the interior walls of the body in the Acanthocephala.
Lemon <Xpage=842>
Lem"on (?) , n. [F. limon , Per. lim<?/n ; cf. Ar. laim<?/n , Sp. limon , It. limone . Cf. Lime a fruit.]
1. (Bot.) An oval or roundish fruit resembling the orange, and containing a pulp usually intensely acid. It is produced by a tropical tree of the genus Citrus ,the common fruit known in commerce being that of the species C. Limonum or C. Medica (var. Limonum ). There are many varieties of the fruit, some of which are sweet.
2. The tree which bears lemons; the lemon tree.
Lemon grass (Bot.) , a fragrant East Indian grass ( Andropogon Sh\'d2nanthus , and perhaps other allied species), which yields the grass oil used in perfumery. -- Lemon sole (Zo\'94l.) , a yellow European sole ( Solea aurantiaca ). -- Salts of lemon (Chem.) , a white crystalline substance, inappropriately named, as it consists of an acid potassium oxalate and contains no citric acid, which is the characteristic acid of lemon; -- called also salis of sorrel . It is used in removing ink stains. See Oxalic acid , under Oxalic . [Colloq.]
<-- Lemon adj. 1. of the color lemon-yellow. 2. of or relating to lemons, as lemon pie. -->
Lemonade <Xpage=842>
Lem`on*ade" (?) , n. [F. limonade ; cf. Sp. limonada , It. limonata . See Lemon .] A beverage consisting of lemon juice mixed with water and sweetened.
Lemur <Xpage=842>
Le"mur (?) , n. [L., a ghost, specter. So called on account of its habit of going abroad by night.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family ( Lemurid\'91 ) of nocturnal mammals allied to the monkeys, but of small size, and having a sharp and foxlike muzzle, and large eyes. They feed upon birds, insects, and fruit, and are mostly natives of Madagascar and the neighboring islands, one genus ( Galago ) occurring in Africa. The slow lemur or kukang of the East Indies is Nycticebus tardigradus . See Galago , Indris , and Colugo .
Lemures <Xpage=842>
Lem"u*res (?) , n. pl. [L. See Lemur .] Spirits or ghosts of the departed; specters.
The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint. Milton.
Lemuria <Xpage=842>
Le*mu"ri*a (?) , n. [So named from the supposition that it was the original home of the lemurs .] A hypothetical land, or continent, supposed by some to have existed formerly in the Indian Ocean, of which Madagascar is a remnant.
Herschel.
Lemurid <Xpage=842>
Lem"u*rid (?) , a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Lemuroid .
Lemuridous, Lemurine <Xpage=842>
Le*mu"ri*dous (?) , Lem"u*rine (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Lemuroid.
Lemuroid <Xpage=842>
Lem"u*roid (?) , a. [ Lemur + -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to the lemurs or the Lemuroidea. -- n. One of the Lemuroidea.
Lemuroidea <Xpage=842>
Lem`u*roi"de*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Lemur , and -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) A suborder of primates, including the lemurs, the aye-aye, and allied species. [Written also Lemuroida .]
Lena <Xpage=842>
Le"na (?) , n. [L.] A procuress.
J. Webster.
Lend <Xpage=842>
Lend (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lent <?/ ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lending .] [OE. lenen , AS. l<?/nan , fr. l<?/n loan; akin to G. lehnen to lend. See Loan .] 1. To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to lend a book ; -- opposed to borrow .
Give me that ring. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power To give it from me. Shak.
2. To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the return of an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some article of food .
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. Levit. xxv. 37.
3. To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend one's name or influence.
Cato, lend me for a while thy patience. Addison.
Mountain lines and distant horizons lend space and largeness to his compositions. J. A. Symonds.
4. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig .
&hand; This use of the word is rare in the United States, except with reference to money.
To lend a hand , to give assistance; to help. [Colloq.] -- To lend an ear ∨ one's ears , to give attention.
Lendable <Xpage=842>
Lend"a*ble (?) , a. Such as can be lent.
Sherwood.
Lender <Xpage=842>
Lend"er (?) , n. One who lends.
The borrower is servant to the lender. Prov. xxii. 7.
Lendes <Xpage=842>
Lend"es (?) , n. pl. See Lends . [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Lending <Xpage=842>
Lend"ing , n. 1. The act of one who lends.
2. That which is lent or furnished.
Lends <Xpage=842>
Lends (?) , n. pl. [AS. lend , lenden ; akin to D. & G. lende , OHG. lenti , Icel. lend , and perh to E. loin .] Loins. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
Lene <Xpage=842>
Lene (?) , v. i. [See Lend .] To lend; to grant; to permit. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Lene <Xpage=842>
Le"ne (?) , a. [L. lenis smooth.] (Phonetics) (a) Smooth; as, the lene breathing . (b) Applied to certain mute consonants, as p , k , and t. (or Gr. π, κ, τ.).
W. E. Jelf.
Lene <Xpage=842>
Le"ne , n. (Phonetics) (a) The smooth breathing (spiritus lenis). (b) Any one of the lene consonants, as p , k , or i (or Gr. π, κ, τ.).
W. E. Jelf.
Lenger, Lengest <Xpage=842>
Leng"er (?) , Leng"est , a. Longer; longest; -- obsolete compar. and superl. of long .
Chaucer.
Length <Xpage=842>
Length (?) , n. [OE. lengthe , AS. leng<?/ , fr. land , long , long; akin to D. lengte , Dan. l\'91ngde , Sw. l\'84ngd , Icel. lengd . See Long , a. ] 1. The longest, or longer, dimension of any object, in distinction from breadth or width ; extent of anything from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as, the length of a church, or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.
2. A portion of space or of time considered as measured by its length; -- often in the plural.
Large lengths of seas and shores. Shak.
The future but a length behind the past. Dryden.
3. The quality or state of being long, in space or time; extent; duration; as, some sea birds are remarkable for the length of their wings; he was tired by the length of the sermon, and the length of his walk.
4. A single piece or subdivision of a series, or of a number of long pieces which may be connected together; as, a length of pipe; a length of fence.
5. Detail or amplification; unfolding; continuance as, to pursue a subject to a great length .
May Heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss. With length of days and every day like this. Dryden.
6. Distance. [Obs.]
He had marched to the length of Exeter. Clarendon.
At length . (a) At or in the full extent; without abbreviation; as, let the name be inserted at length . (b) At the end or conclusion; after a long period. See Syn. of At last , under Last . -- At arm's length . See under Arm .
Length <Xpage=842>
Length , v. i. To lengthen. [Obs.]
Shak.
Lengthen <Xpage=842>
Length"en (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lengthenel (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lengthening (?) .] To extent in length; to make longer in extent or duration; as, to lengthen a line or a road; to lengthen life; -- sometimes followed by out .
What if I please to lengthen out his date. Dryden.
Lengthen <Xpage=842>
Length"en , v. i. To become longer.
Locke.
Lengthful <Xpage=842>
Length"ful (?) , a. Long. [Obs.]
Pope.
Lengthily <Xpage=842>
Length"i*ly (?) , adv. In a lengthy manner; at great length or extent.
Lengthiness <Xpage=842>
Length"i*ness , n. The state or quality of being lengthy; prolixity.
Lengthways, Lengthwise <Xpage=842>
Length"ways` (?) , Length"wise` (?) , adv. In the direction of the length; in a longitudinal direction.
Lengthy <Xpage=842>
Length"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Lengthier (?) ; superl. Lengthiest .] Having length; rather long or too long; prolix; not brief; -- said chiefly of discourses, writings, and the like. " Lengthy periods." Washington . "Some lengthy additions." Byron . "These would be details too lengthy ." Jefferson . "To cut short lengthy explanations."
Trench.
Lenience, Leniency <Xpage=842>
Le"ni*ence (?) , Le"ni*en*cy , n. The quality or state of being lenient; lenity; clemency.
Leniont <Xpage=842>
Le"ni*ont (?) , a. [L. leniens , -entis , p. pr. of lenire to soften, fr. lenis soft, mild. Cf. Lithe .]
1. Relaxing; emollient; softening; assuasive; -- some<?/<?/es followed by of. " Lenient of grief."
Milton.
Of relax the fibers, are lenient , balsamic. Arbuthnot.
Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand. Pope.
2. Mild; clement; merciful; not rigorous or severe; as, a lenient disposition; a lenient judge or sentence.
Lenient <Xpage=842>
Le"ni*ent , n. (Med.) A lenitive; an emollient.
Leniently <Xpage=842>
Le"ni*ent*ly , adv. In a lenient manner.
Lenify <Xpage=842>
Len"i*fy (?) , v. t. [L. lenis soft, mild + -fy : cf. F. l\'82nifier .] To assuage; to soften; to <?/<?/tigate; to alleviate.
Bacon. Dryden.
Leniment <Xpage=842>
Len"i*ment (?) , n. [L. lenimentum : cf. OF. leniment . See Lenient .] An assuasive. [Obs.]
Lenitive <Xpage=842>
Len"i*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. l\'82nitif . See Lenient .] Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.
Lenitive <Xpage=842>
Len"i*tive , n. [Cf. F. l\'82nitif .] 1. (Med.) (a) A medicine or application that has the quality of easing pain or protecting from the action of irritants. (b) A mild purgative; a laxative.
2. That which softens or mitigates; that which tends to allay passion, excitement, or pain; a palliative.
There is one sweet Lenitive at least for evils, which Nature holds out; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep. Sterne.
Lenitiveness <Xpage=842>
Len"i*tive*ness , n. The quality of being lenitive.
Lenitude <Xpage=842>
Len"i*tude (?) , n. [L. lenitudo .] The quality or habit of being lenient; lenity. [Obs.]
Blount.
Lenity <Xpage=842>
Len"i*ty (?) , n. [L. lenitas , fr. lenis soft, mild: cf. OF. lenit\'82 . See Lenient .] The state or quality of being lenient; mildness of temper or disposition; gentleness of treatment; softness; tenderness; clemency; -- opposed to severity and rigor .
His exceeding lenity disposes us to be somewhat too severe. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Gentleness; kindness; tenderness; softness; humanity; clemency; mercy.
Lenni-Lenape <Xpage=842>
Len`ni-Len*a"pe (?) , n. pl. (Ethnol.) A general name for a group of Algonquin tribes which formerly occupied the coast region of North America from Connecticut to Virginia. They included the Mohicans, Delawares, Shawnees, and several other tribes.
<page="843"> Page 843
Leno <Xpage=843>
Le"no (?) , n. [Cf. It. leno weak, flexible.] A light open cotton fabric used for window curtains.
Lenocinant <Xpage=843>
Le*noc"i*nant (?) , a. [L. lenocinans , p. pr. of lenocinari to pander, cajole; akin to leno pimp.] Given to lewdness. [Obs.]
Lens <Xpage=843>
Lens (?) , n. ; pl. Lenses (-&ecr;z) . [L. lens a lentil. So named from the resemblance in shape of a double convex lens to the seed of a lentil. Cf. Lentil .] (Opt.) A piece of glass, or other transparent substance, ground with two opposite regular surfaces, either both curved, or one curved and the other plane, and commonly used, either singly or combined, in optical instruments, for changing the direction of rays of light, and thus magnifying objects, or otherwise modifying vision. In practice, the curved surfaces are usually spherical, though rarely cylindrical, or of some other figure.
<?/ Lenses
&hand; Of spherical lenses, there are six varieties, as shown in section in the figures herewith given: viz., a plano-concave; b double-concave; c plano-convex; d double-convex; converging concavo-convex, or converging meniscus; f diverging concavo-convex, or diverging meniscus.
Crossed lens (Opt.) , a double-convex lens with one radius equal to six times the other. -- Crystalline lens . (Anat.) See Eye . -- Fresnel lens (Opt.) , a compound lens formed by placing around a central convex lens rings of glass so curved as to have the same focus; used, especially in lighthouses, for concentrating light in a particular direction; -- so called from the inventor. -- Multiplying lens ∨ glass (Opt.) , a lens one side of which is plane and the other convex, but made up of a number of plane faces inclined to one another, each of which presents a separate image of the object viewed through it, so that the object is, as it were, multiplied. -- Polyzonal lens . See Polyzonal .
Lent <Xpage=843>
Lent (?) , imp. & p. p. of Lend .
Lent <Xpage=843>
Lent , n. [OE. lente , lenten , leynte , AS. lengten , lencten , spring, lent, akin to D. lente , OHG. lenzin , langiz , G. lenz , and perh. fr. AS. lang long, E. long , because at this season of the year the days lengthen.] (Eccl.) A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian churches as commemorative of the fast of our Savior.
Lent lily <Xpage=843>
Lent lily (Bot.) , the daffodil; -- so named from its blossoming in spring.
Lent <Xpage=843>
Lent , a. [L. lentus ; akin to lenis soft, mild: cf. F. lent . See Lenient .] 1. Slow; mild; gentle; as, lenter heats . [Obs.]
B.Jonson.
2. (Mus.) See Lento .
Lentamente <Xpage=843>
Len`ta*men"te (?) ; adv. [It.] (Mus.) Slowly; in slow time.
Lentando <Xpage=843>
Len*tan"do (?) , a. [It., p. pr. of lentare to make slow. See Lent , a. ] (Mus.) Slackening; retarding. Same as Rallentando .
Lenten <Xpage=843>
Lent"en (?) , n. Lent. [Obs.]
Piers Plowman.
Lenten <Xpage=843>
Lent"en , a. [From OE. lenten lent. See Lent , n. ]
1. Of or pertaining to the fast called Lent; used in, or suitable to, Lent; as, the Lenten season .
She quenched her fury at the flood. And with a Lenten salad cooled her blood. Dryden.