Chapter 71

Lar"val (-val), a. [L. larvalis ghostly. See Larva.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a larva.

||Lar*va"li*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Larval.] (Zoöl.) An order of ||Tunicata, including Appendicularia, and allied genera; -- so called ||because certain larval features are retained by them through life. ||Called also Copelata. See Appendicularia. || Lar"va*ted (?), a. [L. larvatus bewitched. See Larva.] Masked; clothed as with a mask.

Larve (lärv), n.; pl. Larves (lärvz). [F.] A larva.

Lar"vi*form (?), a. [Larva + -form.] (Zoöl.) Having the form or structure of a larva.

Lar*vip"a*rous (?), a. [Larva + L. parete to bring forth.] (Zoöl.) Depositing living larvæ, instead of eggs; -- said of certain insects.

La"ry (l"r), n. [Cf. F. lare sea gull, L. larus a sort of sea bird, Gr. la`ros.] A guillemot; -- called also lavy. [Prov. Eng.]

Lar`yn*ge"al (?), a. [From Larynx.] Of or pertaining to the larynx; adapted to operations on the larynx; as, laryngeal forceps.

Lar`yn*ge"an (?), a. See Laryngeal.

||Lar`yn*gis"mus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. laryggismo`s a croaking. See ||Larynx.] (Med.) A spasmodic state of the glottis, giving rise to ||contraction or closure of the opening. || ||Lar`yn*gi"tis (?), n. [NL. See Larynx, and -tis.] (Med.) Inflammation ||of the larynx. || La*ryn`go*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to laryngology.

Lar`yn*gol"o*gist (?), n. One who applies himself to laryngology.

Lar`yn*gol"o*gy (?), n. [Larynx + -logy.] Systematized knowledge of the action and functions of the larynx; in pathology, the department which treats of the diseases of the larynx.

Lar`yn*goph"o*ny (?), n. [Larynx + Gr. (&?;) voice.] The sound of the voice as heard through a stethoscope when the latter is placed upon the larynx.

La*ryn"go*scope (?), n. [Larynx + -scope.] (Surg.) An instrument, consisting of an arrangement of two mirrors, for reflecting light upon the larynx, and for examining its image.

La*ryn`go*scop"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to the inspection of the larynx.

Lar`yn*gos"co*pist (?), n. One skilled in laryngoscopy.

Lar`yn*gos"co*py (?), n. The art of using the laryngoscope; investigations made with the laryngoscope.

La*ryn"go*tome (?), n. (Surg.) An instrument for performing laryngotomy.

Lar`yn*got"o*my (?), n. [Gr. (&?;); (&?;), (&?;), the larynx + te`mnein to cut: cf. F. laryngotomie.] (Surg.) The operation of cutting into the larynx, from the outside of the neck, for assisting respiration when obstructed, or for removing foreign bodies.

La*ryn`go*tra"che*al (?), a. [Larynx + tracheal.] (Anat.) Pertaining to both larynx and trachea; as, the laryngotracheal cartilage in the frog.

La*ryn`go*tra`che*ot"o*my (?), n. [Larynx + tracheotomy.] (Surg.) The operation of cutting into the larynx and the upper part of the trachea, -- a frequent operation for obstruction to breathing.

Lar"ynx (lr"ks; 277), n. [NL. from Gr. la`rygx, - yggos.] (Anat.) The expanded upper end of the windpipe or trachea, connected with the hyoid bone or cartilage. It contains the vocal cords, which produce the voice by their vibrations, when they are stretched and a current of air passes between them. The larynx is connected with the pharynx by an opening, the glottis, which, in mammals, is protected by a lidlike epiglottis.

In the framework of the human larynx, the thyroid cartilage, attached to the hyoid bone, makes the protuberance on the front of the neck known as Adam's apple, and is articulated below to the ringlike cricoid cartilage. This is narrow in front and high behind, where, within the thyroid, it is surmounted by the two arytenoid cartilages, from which the vocal cords pass forward to be attached together to the front of the thyroid. See Syrinx.

Las (?), n. A lace. See Lace. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Las, a. & adv. Less. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Las"car (?), n. [Per. & Hind. lashkar an army, an inferior artillery man, a cooly, a native sailor.] A native sailor, employed in European vessels; also, a menial employed about arsenals, camps, camps, etc.; a camp follower. [East Indies]

Las"ci*ous (?), a. Loose; lascivious. [Obs.] "To depaint lascious wantonness." Holland.

Las*civ"i*en*cy (ls*sv"*en*s), n. [See Lascivient.] Lasciviousness; wantonness. [Obs.]

Las*civ"i*ent (-ent), a. [L. lasciviens, pr. of lascivire to be wanton, fr. lascivus. See Lascivious.] Lascivious. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Las*civ"i*ous (-s), a. [L. lascivia wantonness, fr. lascivus wanton; cf. Gr. la`stauros lecherous, lh^n to wish, Skr. lash to desire.] 1. Wanton; lewd; lustful; as, lascivious men; lascivious desires. Milton.

2. Tending to produce voluptuous or lewd emotions.

He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.

Shak.

-- Las*civ"i*ous*ly, adv. -- Las*civ"i*ous*ness, n.

La"ser*wort` (l"sr*wûrt`), n. [L. laser the juice of the laserwort.] (Bot.) 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.

Lash (lsh), n. [OE. lasche; cf. D. lasch piece set in, joint, seam, G. lashe latchet, a bit of leather, gusset, stripe, laschen to furnish with flaps, to lash or slap, Icel. laski gusset, flap, laska to break.] 1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.

I observed that your whip wanted a lash to it.

Addison.

2. A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare. [Obs.]

3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough; as, the culprit received thirty-nine lashes.

4. A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or gives pain; a cut.

The moral is a lash at the vanity of arrogating that to ourselves which succeeds well.

L'Estrange.

5. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.

6. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.

Lash (lsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lashng.] 1. To strike with a lash; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with something like one.

We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward.

Dryden.

2. To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash; as, a whale lashes the sea with his tail.

And big waves lash the frighted shores.

Dryden.

3. To throw out with a jerk or quickly.

He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws.

Dryden.

4. To scold; to berate; to satirize; to censure with severity; as, to lash vice.

Lash, v. i. To ply the whip; to strike; to utter censure or sarcastic language.

To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice.

Dryden.

To lash out, to strike out wildly or furiously.

Lash, v. t. [Cf. D. lasschen to fasten together, lasch piece, joint, Sw. laska to stitch, Dan. laske stitch. See Lash, n. ] To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten; as, to lash something to a spar; to lash a pack on a horse's back.

Lash"er (?), n. One who whips or lashes.

Lash"er, n. 1. A piece of rope for binding or making fast one thing to another; -- called also lashing.

2. A weir in a river. [Eng.] Halliwell.

Lash"ing, n. The act of one who, or that which, lashes; castigation; chastisement. South.

Lashing out, a striking out; also, extravagance.

Lash"ing, n. See 2d Lasher.

Lask (?), n. A diarrhea or flux. [Obs.] Holland.

Las"ket (?), n. [Cf. Lash, Latching.] (Naut.) latching.

Lass (ls), n. [OE. lasse; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. llodes girl, fem. of llawd lad. √123. See Lad a youth.] A young woman; a girl; a sweetheart.

Lasse (?), a. & adv. Less. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Las"sie (?), n. A young girl; a lass. [Scot.]

Las"si*tude (?), n. [L. lassitudo, fr. lassus faint, weary; akin to E. late: cf. F. lassitude. See Late.] 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.

The corporeal instruments of action being strained to a high pitch . . . will soon feel a lassitude.

Barrow.

Lass"lorn` (?), a. Forsaken by a lass. Shak.

Lass"o (ls"s) n.; pl. Lassos (-sz). [Sp. lazo, L. laqueus. See Lace.] A rope or long thong of leather with a running noose, used for catching horses, cattle, etc.

Lasso cell (Zoöl.), one of a peculiar kind of defensive and offensive stinging cells, found in great numbers in all cœlenterates, and in a few animals of other groups. They are most highly developed in the tentacles of jellyfishes, hydroids, and Actiniæ. Each of these cells is filled with, fluid, and contains a long, slender, often barbed, hollow thread coiled up within it. When the cell contracts the thread is quickly ejected, being at the same time turned inside out. The thread is able to penetrate the flesh of various small, soft-bodied animals, and carries a subtle poison by which they are speedily paralyzed and killed. The threads, at the same time, hold the prey in position, attached to the tentacles. Some of the jellyfishes, as the Portuguese man-of-war, and Cyanea, are able to penetrate the human skin, and inflict painful stings in the same way. Called also nettling cell, cnida, cnidocell.

Las"so, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lassoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lassoing.] To catch with a lasso.

Last (?), 3d pers. sing. pres. of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Last (&?;), a. [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest.] 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.

Neh. viii. 18.

Fairest of stars, last in the train of night.

Milton.

2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.

3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Contending for principles of the last importance.

R. Hall.

4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. Pope.

5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.

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At last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." Motley. -- At the last. [Prob. fr. AS. on lste behind, following behind, fr. lst race, track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot.] At the end; in the conclusion. [Obs.] "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." Gen. xlix. 19. -- Last heir, the person to whom lands escheat for want of an heir. [Eng.] Abbott. -- On one's last legs, at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. [Colloq.] -- To breathe one's last, to die. -- To the last, to the end; till the conclusion.

And blunder on in business to the last.

Pope.

Syn. -- At Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived.

Last (?), adv. [See Last, a.] 1. At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.

2. In conclusion; finally.

Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires.

Dryden.

3. At a time next preceding the present time.

How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask ?

Shak.

Last, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lasting.] [OE. lasten, As. læstan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. lst, l&?;st, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform, Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.] 1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.

[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted.

Testament of Love.

2. To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

Last, n. [AS. lsttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. läst, Dan. læst, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.] A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.

The cobbler is not to go beyond his last.

L'Estrange.

Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.

Last, v. t. To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

Last, n. [As. hlæst, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G., D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.] 1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

2. The burden of a ship; a cargo.

Last"age (?) n. [E. lestage ballasting, fr. lest ballast, or LL. lastagium, lestagium. See Last a load.] 1. A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will. [Obs.]

2. A tax on wares sold by the last. [Obs.] Cowell.

3. The lading of a ship; also, ballast. Spelman.

4. Room for stowing goods, as in a ship.

Last"e (?), obs. imp. of Last, to endure. Chaucer.

Last"er, n. A workman whose business it is to shape boots or shoes, or place leather smoothly, on lasts; a tool for stretching leather on a last.

Last"er*y (?), n. A red color.[Obs.] Spenser.

Last"ing, a. Existing or continuing a long while; enduring; as, a lasting good or evil; a lasting color.

Syn. -- Durable; permanent; undecaying; perpetual; unending. -- Lasting, Permanent, Durable. Lasting commonly means merely continuing in existence; permanent carries the idea of continuing in the same state, position, or course; durable means lasting in spite of agencies which tend to destroy.

Last"ing, n. 1. Continuance; endurance. Locke.

2. A species of very durable woolen stuff, used for women's shoes; everlasting.

3. The act or process of shaping on a last.

Last"ing*ly, adv. In a lasting manner.

Last"ly, adv. 1. In the last place; in conclusion.

2. at last; finally.

Lat (lt), v. t. To let; to allow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Lat`a*ki"a (?), n. [Turk.] A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.

Latch (lch), v. t. [Cf. F. lécher to lick (of German origin). Cf. Lick.] To smear; to anoint. [Obs.] Shak.

Latch, n. [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. læccan.] 1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted.

3. (Naut.) A latching.

4. A crossbow. [Obs.] Wright.

Latch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Latched (lcht); p. pr. & vb. n. Latching.] [OE. lacchen. See Latch. n.] 1. To catch so as to hold. [Obs.]

Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at us.

Golding.

2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch.

The door was only latched.

Locke.

Latch"et (?), n. [OE. lachet, from an OF. dialect form of F. lacet plaited string, lace dim. of lacs. See Lace.] The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

Latch"ing, n. (Naut.) A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also latch and lasket. [Usually in pl.]

Latch"key` (?), n. A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch.

Latch"string` (?), n. A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door.

To find the latchstring out, to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) [Colloq. U.S.]

Late (lt), a. [Compar. Later (lt"r), or latter (lt"tr); superl. Latest (lt"st) or Last (lst).] [OE. lat slow, slack, AS. læt; akin to OS. lat, D. laat late, G. lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel. latr, Sw. lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats, and to E. let, v. See Let to permit, and cf. Alas, Lassitude.] 1. Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring.

2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a late period of life.

3. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of London; the late administration.

4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains; we have received late intelligence.

5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; as, late revels; a late watcher.

Late, adv. [AS. late. See Late, a.] 1. After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late; -- opposed to early.

2. Not long ago; lately.

3. Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night.

Of late, in time not long past, or near the present; lately; as, the practice is of late uncommon. -- Too late, after the proper or available time; when the time or opportunity is past.

Lat"ed (?), a. Belated; too late. [Obs.] Shak.

La*teen" (?), a. (Naut.) Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa. See below.

Lateen sail. [F. voile latine a sail in the shape of a right-angled triangle; cf. It. & Sp. vela latina; properly Latin sail. See Latin.] (Naut.) A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung at about one fourth of its length from the lower end, to a low mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five degrees; -- used in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc., especially in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some lateen sails have also a boom on the lower side.

Late"ly (?), adv. Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived from Italy.

La"tence (?), n. Latency. Coleridge.

La"ten*cy (?), n. [See Latent.] The state or quality of being latent.

To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of this latency.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Late"ness (?), n. The state, condition, or quality, of being late; as, the lateness of his arrival; the lateness of the hour; the lateness of the season.

La"tent (l"tent), a. [L. latens, -entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. lanqa`nein, E. lethargy: cf. F. latent.] Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action.

The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise.

Burke.

Latent buds (Bot.), buds which remain undeveloped or dormant for a long time, but may at length grow. Latent heat (Physics), that quantity of heat which disappears or becomes concealed in a body while producing some change in it other than rise of temperature, as fusion, evaporation, or expansion, the quantity being constant for each particular body and for each species of change. -- Latent period. (a) (Med.) The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing without manifesting itself. (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed activity.

La"tent*ly, adv. In a secret or concealed manner; invisibly.

||La"ter (?), n.; pl. Lateres (#). [L.] A brick or tile. Knight. || Lat"er (?), a. Compar. of Late, a. & adv.

Lat"er*ad (?), adv. [L. latus, lateris, side + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the side; away from the mesial plane; -- opposed to mesiad.

Lat"er*al (?), a. [L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side: cf. F. latéral.] 1. Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.

2. (Anat.) Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; -- opposed to mesial.

3. Directed to the side; as, a lateral view of a thing.

Lateral cleavage (Crystallog.), cleavage parallel to the lateral planes. -- Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree. [Obs.] -- Lateral line (Anat.), in fishes, a line of sensory organs along either side of the body, often marked by a distinct line of color. -- Lateral pressure or stress (Mech.), a pressure or stress at right angles to the length, as of a beam or bridge; -- distinguished from longitudinal pressure or stress. -- Lateral strength (Mech.), strength which resists a tendency to fracture arising from lateral pressure. -- Lateral system (Bridge Building), the system of horizontal braces (as between two vertical trusses) by which lateral stiffness is secured.

Lat`er*al"i*ty (?), n. The state or condition of being lateral.

Lat"er*al*ly (?), adv. By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the side.

Lat"er*an (?), n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world.

The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.

Lat"ered (?), a. Inclined to delay; dilatory. [Obs.] "When a man is too latered." Chaucer.

Lat`er*i*fo"li*ous (?), a. [L. latus, lateris, side + folium leaf: cf. F. latérifolié.] (Bot.) Growing from the stem by the side of a leaf; as, a laterifolious flower.

Lat"er*ite (?), n. [L. later brick, tile: cf. F. latérite.] (Geol.) An argillaceous sandstone, of a red color, and much seamed; -- found in India.

Lat`er*it"ic (?), a. Consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.

Lat"er*i"tious (?), a. [L. lateritius, fr. later a brick.] Like bricks; of the color of red bricks.

Lateritious sediment (Med.), a sediment in urine resembling brick dust, observed after the crises of fevers, and at the termination of gouty paroxysms. It usually consists of uric acid or urates with some coloring matter.

||La"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a fish of the Nile.] (Zoöl.) A genus ||of large percoid fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus) ||inhabits the Nile, and another (L. calcarifer) is found in the Ganges ||and other Indian rivers. They are valued as food fishes. || La*tes"cence (?), n. A slight withdrawal from view or knowledge. Sir W. Hamilton.

La*tes"cent (?), a. [L. latescens, -entis, p. pr. of latescere to be concealed, fr. latere to be hid.] Slightly withdrawn from view or knowledge; as, a latescent meaning. Sir W. Hamilton.

Late"wake` (?), n. See Lich wake, under Lich.

Late"ward (?), a. & adv. Somewhat late; backward. [Obs.] "Lateward lands." Holland.