Lapsed Lapsed adjective 1. Having slipped downward, backward, or away; having lost position, privilege, etc., by neglect; -- restricted to figurative uses.

Once more I will renew
His lapsed powers, though forfeit.

Milton.

2. Ineffectual, void, or forfeited; as, a lapsed policy of insurance; a lapsed legacy.

Lapsed devise , Lapsed legacy (Law) , a devise, or legacy, which fails to take effect in consequence of the death of the devisee, or legatee, before that of the testator, or for other cause. Wharton (Law Dict.).

Lapsible Laps"i·ble adjective Liable to lapse.

Lapsided Lap"sid`ed adjective See Lopsided .

Lapstone Lap"stone` noun A stone for the lap, on which shoemakers beat leather.

Lapstreak, Lapstrake Lap"streak`, Lap"strake` adjective Made with boards whose edges lap one over another; clinker-built; -- said of boats.

Laputan La·pu"tan adjective Of or pertaining to Laputa, an imaginary flying island described in Gulliver's Travels as the home of chimerical philosophers. Hence, fanciful; preposterous; absurd in science or philosophy. " Laputan ideas." G. Eliot.

Lapwing Lap"wing` noun [ Middle English lapwynke , leepwynke , Anglo-Saxon hleápewince ; hleápan to leap, jump + (prob.) a word akin to Anglo-Saxon wincian to wink, English wink , Anglo-Saxon wancol wavering; confer German wanken to stagger, waver. See Leap , and Wink .] (Zoology) A small European bird of the Plover family ( Vanellus cristatus , or V. vanellus ). It has long and broad wings, and is noted for its rapid, irregular fight, upwards, downwards, and in circles. Its back is coppery or greenish bronze. Its eggs are the "plover's eggs" of the London market, esteemed a delicacy. It is called also peewit , dastard plover , and wype . The gray lapwing is the Squatarola cinerea .

Lapwork Lap"work` (lăp"wûrk`) noun Work in which one part laps over another. Grew.

Laquay Laq"uay noun A lackey. [ Obsolete] Evelyn.

Laquear La"que·ar noun ; plural Laquearia . [ Latin ] (Architecture) A lacunar.

Laqueary Laq"ue·a·ry adjective [ Latin laqueus a noose.] Using a noose, as a gladiator. [ Obsolete or R.]

Retiary and laqueary combatants.

Sir T. Browne.

Lar Lar (lär) noun ; plural Lares , sometimes Lars . [ Latin ] (Rom. Myth.) A tutelary deity; a deceased ancestor regarded as a protector of the family. The domestic Lares were the tutelar deities of a house; household gods. Hence, Fig.: Hearth or dwelling house.

Nor will she her dear Lar forget,
Victorious by his benefit.

Lovelace.

The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint.

Milton.

Looking backward in vain toward their Lares and lands.

Longfellow.

Lar Lar (lär) noun (Zoology) A species of gibbon ( Hylobates lar ), found in Burmah. Called also white-handed gibbon .

Laramie group Lar"a·mie group` (Geol.) An extensive series of strata, principally developed in the Rocky Mountain region, as in the Laramie Mountains, and formerly supposed to be of the Tertiary age, but now generally regarded as Cretaceous, or of intermediate and transitional character. It contains beds of lignite, often valuable for coal, and is hence also called the lignitic group . See Chart of Geology .

Larboard Lar"board` noun [ Lar- is of uncertain origin, possibly the same as lower , i. e., humbler in rank, because the starboard side is considered by mariners as higher in rank; confer Dutch laag low, akin to English low . See Board , noun , 8.] (Nautical) The left- hand side of a ship to one on board facing toward the bow; port; -- opposed to starboard .

» Larboard is a nearly obsolete term, having been superseded by port to avoid liability of confusion with starboard , owing to similarity of sound.

Larboard Lar"board` adjective On or pertaining to the left-hand side of a vessel; port; as, the larboard quarter.

Larcener, Larcenist Lar"ce·ner, Lar"ce·nist noun One who commits larceny.

Larcenous Lar"ce·nous adjective [ Confer Middle English larrecinos . See Larceny .] Having the character of larceny; as, a larcenous act; committing larceny. "The larcenous and burglarious world." Sydney Smith. -- Lar"ce*nous*ly , adverb

Larceny Lar"ce·ny noun ; plural Larcenies . [ French larcin , Middle English larrecin , Latin latrocinium , from latro robber, mercenary, hired servant; confer Greek hired servant. Confer Latrociny .] (Law) The unlawful taking and carrying away of things personal with intent to deprive the right owner of the same; theft. Confer Embezzlement .

Grand larceny & Petit larceny are distinctions having reference to the nature or value of the property stolen. They are abolished in England. -- Mixed , or Compound, larceny , that which, under statute, includes in it the aggravation of a taking from a building or the person. -- Simple larceny , that which is not accompanied with any aggravating circumstances.

Larch Larch (lärch) noun [ Confer Middle English larege (Cotgrave), Italian larice , Spanish larice , alerce , German lärche ; all from Latin larix , - icis , Greek la`rix .] (Botany) A genus of coniferous trees, having deciduous leaves, in fascicles (see Illust. of Fascicle ). The European larch is Larix Europæa . The American or black larch is Latin Americana , the hackmatack or tamarack. The trees are generally of a drooping, graceful appearance.

Larchen Larch"en adjective Of or pertaining to the larch. Keats.

Lard Lard noun [ French, bacon, pig's fat, Latin lardum , laridum ; confer Greek fattened, fat.] 1. Bacon; the flesh of swine. [ Obsolete] Dryden.

2. The fat of swine, esp. the internal fat of the abdomen; also, this fat melted and strained.

Lard oil , an illuminating and lubricating oil expressed from lard. -- Leaf lard , the internal fat of the hog, separated in leaves or masses from the kidneys, etc.; also, the same melted.

Lard Lard transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Larded ; present participle & verbal noun Larding .] [ French larder . See Lard , noun ] 1. To stuff with bacon; to dress or enrich with lard; esp., to insert lardons of bacon or pork in the surface of, before roasting; as, to lard poultry.

And larded thighs on loaded altars laid.

Dryden.

2. To fatten; to enrich.

[ The oak] with his nuts larded many a swine.

Spenser.

Falstaff sweats to death.
And lards the lean earth as he walks along.

Shak.

3. To smear with lard or fat.

In his buff doublet larded o'er with fat
Of slaughtered brutes.

Somerville.

4. To mix or garnish with something, as by way of improvement; to interlard. Shak.

Let no alien Sedley interpose
To lard with wit thy hungry Epsom prose.

Dryden.

Lard Lard intransitive verb To grow fat. [ Obsolete]

Lardacein Lar`da·ce"in noun [ See Lardaceous .] (Physiol. Chem.) A peculiar amyloid substance, colored blue by iodine and sulphuric acid, occurring mainly as an abnormal infiltration into the spleen, liver, etc.

Lardaceous Lar·da"ceous adjective [ Confer French lardacé .] Consisting of, or resembling, lard.

Larder Lard"er noun [ Old French lardier . See Lard , noun ] A room or place where meat and other articles of food are kept before they are cooked. Shak.

Larderer Lard"er·er noun One in charge of the larder.

Lardery Lard"er·y noun [ Confer Middle English larderie .] A larder. [ Obsolete]

Lardon, Lardoon Lar"don, Lar·doon" noun [ French lardon , from lard lard.] A bit of fat pork or bacon used in larding.

Lardry Lard"ry noun [ See Lardery .] A larder. [ Obsolete]

Lardy Lard"y adjective Containing, or resembling, lard; of the character or consistency of lard.

Lare Lare noun [ See Lore .] Lore; learning. [ Obsolete]

Lare Lare noun Pasture; feed. See Lair . [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Lare Lare transitive verb To feed; to fatten. [ Obsolete] Beau. & Fl.

Lares La"res noun plural See 1st Lar .

Large Large adjective [ Compar. Larger ; superl. Largest .] [ French, from Latin largus . Confer Largo .] 1. Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; -- opposed to small ; as, a large horse; a large house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large vineyard; a large army; a large city.

» For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great , and not large , is used as a qualifying word; as, great length, breadth, depth; a great distance; a great height.

2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.

We have yet large day.

Milton.

3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.

I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education.

Felton.

4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; -- said of the mind and heart.

5. Free; unembarrassed. [ Obsolete]

Of burdens all he set the Paynims large .

Fairfax.

6. Unrestrained by decorum; -- said of language. [ Obsolete] "Some large jests he will make." Shak.

7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

8. (Nautical) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.

At large . (a) Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large ; to be left at large . (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse on a subject at large . -- Common at large . See under Common , noun -- Electors at large , Representative at large , electors, or a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the whole of a State, in distinction from those chosen to represent particular districts in a State. [ U. S.] -- To give, go, run, or sail large (Nautical) , to have the wind crossing the direction of a vessel's course in such a way that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains its highest speed. See Large , adjective , 8.

Syn. -- Big; bulky; huge; capacious; comprehensive; ample; abundant; plentiful; populous; copious; diffusive; liberal.

Large Large adverb Freely; licentiously. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Large Large noun (Mus.) A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs, four breves, or eight semibreves.

Large-acred Large"-a`cred adjective Possessing much land.

Large-handed Large"-hand`ed adjective Having large hands. Fig.: Taking, or giving, in large quantities; rapacious or bountiful.

Large-hearted Large"-heart`ed adjective Having a large or generous heart or disposition; noble; liberal. -- Large"-heart`ed*ness , noun

Largely Large"ly adverb In a large manner. Dryden. Milton.

Largeness Large"ness noun The quality or state of being large.

Largess, Largesse Lar"gess, Lar"gesse noun [ French largesse , from large . See Large , adjective ] 1. Liberality; generosity; bounty. [ Obsolete]

Fulfilled of largesse and of all grace.

Chaucer.

2. A present; a gift; a bounty bestowed.

The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of " Largesse , largesse , gallant knights!" and gold and silver pieces were showered on them from the galleries.

Sir W. Scott.

Larget Lar"get noun [ Confer French larget .] A short piece of bar iron for rolling into a sheet; a small billet.

Larghetto Lar·ghet"to adjective & adverb [ Italian , dim. of largo largo.] (Mus.) Somewhat slow or slowly, but not so slowly as largo , and rather more so than andante .

Largifical Lar·gif"i·cal adjective [ Latin largificus ; largus large + facere .] Generous; ample; liberal. [ Obsolete]

Largifluous Lar·gif"lu·ous adjective [ Latin largifluus ; large abundantly + fluere to flow.] Flowing copiously. [ Obsolete]

Largiloquent Lar·gil"o·quent adjective [ Confer Latin largiloquus .] Grandiloquent. [ Obsolete]

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter L > Page 14 of 74.
« Previous ¦6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ¦ Next »