Chapter 73

The act of laughter, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves.

Sir T. Browne.

Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter.

Longfellow.

Laugh"ter*less, a. Not laughing; without laughter.

Laugh"wor`thy (?), a. Deserving to be laughed at. [R.] B. Jonson.

Lau"mont*ite (?), n. [From Dr. Laumont, the discoverer.] (Min.) A mineral, of a white color and vitreous luster. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. Exposed to the air, it loses water, becomes opaque, and crumbles. [Written also laumonite.]

Launce (?), n. A lance. [Obs.]

Launce, n. [It. lance, L. lanx, lancis, plate, scale of a balance. Cf. Balance.] A balance. [Obs.]

Fortune all in equal launce doth sway.

Spenser.

Launce, n. (Zoöl.) See Lant, the fish.

Launce"gaye` (?), n. See Lancegaye. [Obs.]

Launch (länch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Launched (läncht); p. pr. & vb. n. Launching.] [OE. launchen to throw as a lance, OF. lanchier, another form of lancier, F. lancer, fr. lance lance. See Lance.] [Written also lanch.] 1. To throw, as a lance or dart; to hurl; to let fly.

2. To strike with, or as with, a lance; to pierce. [Obs.]

Launch your hearts with lamentable wounds.

Spenser.

3. To cause to move or slide from the land into the water; to set afloat; as, to launch a ship.

With stays and cordage last he rigged the ship, And rolled on levers, launched her in the deep.

Pope.

4. To send out; to start (one) on a career; to set going; to give a start to (something); to put in operation; as, to launch a son in the world; to launch a business project or enterprise.

All art is used to sink episcopacy, and launch presbytery in England.

Eikon Basilike.

Launch, v. i. To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the current of a stream; to launch into an argument or discussion; to launch into lavish expenditures; -- often with out.

Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Luke v. 4.

He [Spenser] launches out into very flowery paths.

Prior.

Launch, n. 1. The act of launching.

2. The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.

3. [Cf. Sp. lancha.] (Naut.) The boat of the largest size belonging to a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam, naphtha, electricity, or the like.

Launching ways. (Naut.) See Way, n. (Naut.).

Laund (lnd), n. [See Lawn of grass.] A plain sprinkled with trees or underbrush; a glade. [Obs.]

In a laund upon an hill of flowers.

Chaucer.

Through this laund anon the deer will come.

Shak.

Laun"der (län"dr), n. [Contracted fr. OE. lavender, F. lavandière, LL. lavandena, from L. lavare to wash. See Lave.] 1. A washerwoman. [Obs.]

2. (Mining) A trough used by miners to receive the powdered ore from the box where it is beaten, or for carrying water to the stamps, or other apparatus, for comminuting, or sorting, the ore.

Laun"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laundered (-drd); p. pr. & vb. n. Laundering.] 1. To wash, as clothes; to wash, and to smooth with a flatiron or mangle; to wash and iron; as, to launder shirts.

2. To lave; to wet. [Obs.] Shak.

Laun"der*er (?), n. One who follows the business of laundering.

Laun"der*ing, n. The act, or occupation, of one who launders; washing and ironing.

Laun"dress (?), n. A woman whose employment is laundering.

Laun"dress, v. i. To act as a laundress.[Obs.]

Laun"dry (?), n.; pl. Laundries (#). [OE. lavendrie, OF. lavanderie. See Launder.] 1. A laundering; a washing.

2. A place or room where laundering is done.

Laun"dry*man (?), n.; pl. Laundrymen (&?;). A man who follows the business of laundering.

Lau"ra (?), n. [LL., fr. Gr. (&?;) lane, defile, also, a kind of monastery.] (R. C. Ch.) A number of hermitages or cells in the same neighborhood occupied by anchorites who were under the same superior. C. Kingsley.

Lau*ra"ceous (?), a. [From Laurus.] (Bot.) Belonging to, or resembling, a natural order (Lauraceæ) of trees and shrubs having aromatic bark and foliage, and including the laurel, sassafras, cinnamon tree, true camphor tree, etc.

Lau"rate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of lauric acid.

Lau"re*ate (?), a. [L. laureatus, fr. laurea laurel tree, fr. laureus of laurel, fr. laurus laurel: cf. F. lauréat. Cf. Laurel.] Crowned, or decked, with laurel. Chaucer.

To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies.

Milton.

Soft on her lap her laureate son reclines.

Pope.

Poet laureate. (b) One who received an honorable degree in grammar, including poetry and rhetoric, at the English universities; -- so called as being presented with a wreath of laurel. [Obs.] (b) Formerly, an officer of the king's household, whose business was to compose an ode annually for the king's birthday, and other suitable occasions; now, a poet officially distinguished by such honorary title, the office being a sinecure. It is said this title was first given in the time of Edward IV. [Eng.]

Lau"re*ate, n. One crowned with laurel; a poet laureate. "A learned laureate." Cleveland.

Lau"re*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laureated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laureating (?).] To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was done in bestowing a degree at the English universities.

Lau"re*ate*ship, n. State, or office, of a laureate.

Lau`re*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. lauréation.] The act of crowning with laurel; the act of conferring an academic degree, or honorary title.

Lau"rel (?), n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (L. nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay. The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce.

The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.

2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.

3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.

Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process.

American laurel, or Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. See under Mountain. -- California laurel, Umbellularia Californica. -- Cherry laurel (in England called laurel). See under Cherry. -- Great laurel, the rosebay (Rhododendron maximum). -- Ground laurel, trailing arbutus. -- New Zealand laurel, Laurelia Novæ Zelandiæ. -- Portugal laurel, the Prunus Lusitanica. -- Rose laurel, the oleander. See Oleander. -- Sheep laurel, a poisonous shrub, Kalmia angustifolia, smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and redder flowers. -- Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola. -- West Indian laurel, Prunus occidentalis.

Lau"reled (?), a. Crowned with laurel, or with a laurel wreath; laureate. [Written also laurelled.]

Lau*ren"tian (?), a. Pertaining to, or near, the St. Lawrence River; as, the Laurentian hills.

Laurentian period (Geol.), the lower of the two divisions of the Archæan age; -- called also the Laurentian.

Lau"rer (?), n. Laurel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Lau"res*tine (?), n. [NL. lautus tinus, fr. L. laurus the laurel + tinus laurestine. See Laurel.] (Bot.) The Viburnum Tinus, an evergreen shrub or tree of the south of Europe, which flowers during the winter months. [Written also laurustine and laurestina.]

Lau"ric (?), a. Pertaining to, or derived from, the European bay or laurel (Laurus nobilis).

Lauric acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline substance, C12H24O2, resembling palmitic acid, and obtained from the fruit of the bay tree, and other sources.

Lau*rif"er*ous (?), a. [L. laurifer; laurus + ferre to bear.] Producing, or bringing, laurel.

Lau"rin (?), n. [Cf. F. laurine.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance extracted from the fruit of the bay (Laurus nobilis), and consisting of a complex mixture of glycerin ethers of several organic acids.

Lau"ri*nol (?), n. [Laurin + -ol.] (Chem.) Ordinary camphor; -- so called in allusion to the family name (Lauraceæ) of the camphor trees. See Camphor.

Lau"ri*ol (?), n. Spurge laurel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Lau"rite (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Min.) A rare sulphide of osmium and ruthenium found with platinum in Borneo and Oregon.

Lau"rone (?), n. [Lauric + - one.] (Chem.) The ketone of lauric acid.

||Lau"rus (?), n. [L., laurel.] (Bot.) A genus of trees including, ||according to modern authors, only the true laurel (Laurus nobilis), ||and the larger L. Canariensis of Madeira and the Canary Islands. ||Formerly the sassafras, the camphor tree, the cinnamon tree, and ||several other aromatic trees and shrubs, were also referred to the ||genus Laurus. || Laus (?), a. Loose. [Obs.] Chaucer.

La"va (lä"v; 277), n. [It. lava lava, orig. in Naples, a torrent of rain overflowing the streets, fr. It. & L. lavare to wash. See Lave.] The melted rock ejected by a volcano from its top or fissured sides. It flows out in streams sometimes miles in length. It also issues from fissures in the earth's surface, and forms beds covering many square miles, as in the Northwestern United States.

Lavas are classed, according to their structure, as scoriaceous or cellular, glassy, stony, etc., and according to the material of which they consist, as doleritic, trachytic, etc.

Lava millstone, a hard and coarse basaltic millstone from the neighborhood of the Rhine. -- Lava ware, a kind of cheap pottery made of iron slag cast into tiles, urns, table tops, etc., resembling lava in appearance.

Lav"a*ret (?), n. [F.] (Zoöl.) A European whitefish (Coregonus laveretus), found in the mountain lakes of Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland.

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La*vat"ic (l*vt"k), a. Like lava, or composed of lava; lavic.

La*va"tion (?), n. [L. lavatio: cf. OF. lavation.] A washing or cleansing. [Obs. or R.]

Lav"a*to*ry (?), a. Washing, or cleansing by washing.

Lav"a*to*ry, n.; pl. Lavatories (#). [L. lavatorium: cf. lavatoire. See Lave to wash, and cf. Laver.] 1. A place for washing.

2. A basin or other vessel for washing in.

3. A wash or lotion for a diseased part.

4. A place where gold is obtained by washing.

Lav"a*ture (?; 135), n. A wash or lotion. [Obs.]

Lave (lv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Laved (lvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Laving.] [F. laver, L. lavare, akin to luere to wash, Gr. &?;. Cf. Ablution, Deluge, Lavender, Lava, Lotion.] To wash; to bathe; as, to lave a bruise.

His feet the foremost breakers lave.

Byron.

Lave, v. i. To bathe; to wash one's self.

In her chaste current oft the goddess laves.

Pope.

Lave, v. t. [OE. laven. See Lavish.] To lade, dip, or pour out. [Obs.] Dryden.

Lave, n. [AS. lf the remainder, what is left. &radic;119. See Leave.] The remainder; others. [Scot.] Bp. Hall.

Lave"-eared` (?), a. [Cf. W. llaf that extends round, llipa flaccid, flapping, G. lapp flabby, lappohr flap ear.] Having large, pendent ears. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

La*veer" (?), v. i. [D. laveren.] (Naut.) To beat against the wind; to tack. [Obs.] Dryden.

Lave"ment (?), n. [F. lavement, fr. laver to wash.] A washing or bathing; also, a clyster.

Lav"en*der (?), n. [OE. lavendre, F. lavande, It. lavanda lavender, a washing, fr. L. lavare to wash; cf. It. lsavendola, LL. lavendula. So called because it was used in bathing and washing. See Lave. to wash, and cf. Lavender.] 1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Lavandula (L. vera), common in the south of Europe. It yields and oil used in medicine and perfumery. The Spike lavender (L. Spica) yields a coarser oil (oil of spike), used in the arts.

2. The pale, purplish color of lavender flowers, paler and more delicate than lilac.

Lavender cotton (Bot.), a low, twiggy, aromatic shrub (Santolina Chamæcyparissus) of the Mediterranean region, formerly used as a vermifuge, etc., and still used to keep moths from wardrobes. Also called ground cypress. -- Lavender water, a perfume composed of alcohol, essential oil of lavender, essential oil of bergamot, and essence of ambergris. -- Sea lavender. (Bot.) See Marsh rosemary. -- To lay in lavender. (a) To lay away, as clothing, with sprigs of lavender. (b) To pawn. [Obs.]

Lav"er (l"vr), n. [OE. lavour, F. lavoir, L. lavatorium a washing place. See Lavatory.] 1. A vessel for washing; a large basin.

2. (Script. Hist.) (a) A large brazen vessel placed in the court of the Jewish tabernacle where the officiating priests washed their hands and feet. (b) One of several vessels in Solomon's Temple in which the offerings for burnt sacrifices were washed.

3. That which washes or cleanses. J. H. Newman.

Lav"er, n. [From Lave to wash.] One who laves; a washer. [Obs.]

La"ver (l"vr), n. The fronds of certain marine algæ used as food, and for making a sauce called laver sauce. Green laver is the Ulva latissima; purple laver, Porphyra laciniata and P. vulgaris. It is prepared by stewing, either alone or with other vegetables, and with various condiments; -- called also sloke, or sloakan.

Mountain laver (Bot.), a reddish gelatinous alga of the genus Palmella, found on the sides of mountains

La"ver*ock (l"vr*k), n. [See Lark the bird.] The lark. [Old Eng. & Scot.] [Written also lavrock.] Gower.

La"vic (lä"vk), a. See Lavatic.

Lav"ish (lv"sh), a. [Akin to E. lave to lade out; cf. AS. gelafian to refresh, G. laben.] 1. Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal; as, lavish of money; lavish of praise.

2. Superabundant; excessive; as, lavish spirits.

Let her have needful, but not lavish, means.

Shak.

Syn. -- Profuse; prodigal; wasteful; extravagant; exuberant; immoderate. See Profuse.

Lav"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lavished (-sht); p. pr. & vb. n. Lavishing.] To expend or bestow with profusion; to use with prodigality; to squander; as, to lavish money or praise.

Lav"ish*er (-r), n. One who lavishes.

Lav"ish*ly, adv. In a lavish manner.

Lav"ish*ment (-ment), n. The act of lavishing.

Lav"ish*ness, n. The quality or state of being lavish.

||La*vœ"si*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Lavoisier, the celebrated French ||chemist.] (Chem.) A supposed new metallic element. It is said to have ||been discovered in pyrites, and some other minerals, and to be of a ||silver-white color, and malleable. || { La*volt" (?), La*vol"ta (?), } n. [It. la volta the turn, turning, whirl. Cf. Volt of a horse, Volta.] An old dance, for two persons, being a kind of waltz, in which the woman made a high spring or bound. Shak.

La*vol`ta*teer" (?), n. A dancer of the lavolta.

Lav"our (?), n. A laver. [Obs.] Chaucer.

La"vrock (?), n. Same as Laverock.

Law (l), n. [OE. lawe, laghe, AS. lagu, from the root of E. lie: akin to OS. lag, Icel. lög, Sw. lag, Dan. lov; cf. L. lex, E. legal. A law is that which is laid, set, or fixed; like statute, fr. L. statuere to make to stand. See Lie to be prostrate.] 1. In general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode or order according to which an agent or a power acts.

A law may be universal or particular, written or unwritten, published or secret. From the nature of the highest laws a degree of permanency or stability is always implied; but the power which makes a law, or a superior power, may annul or change it.

These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made.

Lev. xxvi. 46.

The law of thy God, and the law of the King.

Ezra vii. 26.

As if they would confine the Interminable . . . Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.

Milton.

His mind his kingdom, and his will his law.

Cowper.

2. In morals: The will of God as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as obligatory on the conscience or moral nature.

3. The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old Testament.

What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law . . . But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.

Rom. iii. 19, 21.

4. In human government: (a) An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community. (b) Any edict, decree, order, ordinance, statute, resolution, judicial, decision, usage, etc., or recognized, and enforced, by the controlling authority.

5. In philosophy and physics: A rule of being, operation, or change, so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by the will of God or by some controlling authority; as, the law of gravitation; the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought; the laws of cause and effect; law of self- preservation.

6. In mathematics: The rule according to which anything, as the change of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series, proceeds; mode or order of sequence.

7. In arts, works, games, etc.: The rules of construction, or of procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.

8. Collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject, or emanating from one source; -- including usually the writings pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine law; English law; Roman law; the law of real property; insurance law.

9. Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.

Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason.

Coke.

Law is beneficence acting by rule.

Burke.

And sovereign Law, that state's collected will O'er thrones and globes elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.

Sir W. Jones.

10. Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to go law.

When every case in law is right.

Shak.

He found law dear and left it cheap.

Brougham.

11. An oath, as in the presence of a court. [Obs.] See Wager of law, under Wager.

Avogadro's law (Chem.), a fundamental conception, according to which, under similar conditions of temperature and pressure, all gases and vapors contain in the same volume the same number of ultimate molecules; -- so named after Avogadro, an Italian scientist. Sometimes called Ampère's law. -- Bode's law (Astron.), an approximative empirical expression of the distances of the planets from the sun, as follows: --