Las Las adjective & adverb Less. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Lascar Las"car noun [ Persian & 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]

Lascious Las"ci·ous adjective Loose; lascivious. [ Obsolete] "To depaint lascious wantonness." Holland.

Lasciviency Las·civ"i·en·cy (lăs*sĭv"ĭ* e n*sȳ) noun [ See Lascivient .] Lasciviousness; wantonness. [ Obsolete]

Lascivient Las·civ"i·ent (- e nt) adjective [ Latin lasciviens , pr. of lascivire to be wanton, from lascivus . See Lascivious .] Lascivious. [ Obsolete] Dr. H. More.

Lascivious Las·civ"i·ous (-ŭs) adjective [ Latin lascivia wantonness, from lascivus wanton; confer Greek la`stauros lecherous, lh^n to wish, Sanskrit 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 , adverb -- Las*civ"i*ous*ness , noun

Laserwort La"ser·wort` (lā"sẽr*wūrt`) noun [ Latin laser the juice of the laserwort.] (Botany) Any plant of the umbelliferous genus Laserpitium , of several species (as Latin glabrum , and Latin siler ), the root of which yields a resinous substance of a bitter taste. The genus is mostly European.

Lash Lash (lăsh) noun [ Middle English lasche ; confer Dutch lasch piece set in, joint, seam, German lashe latchet, a bit of leather, gusset, stripe, laschen to furnish with flaps, to lash or slap, Icelandic 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. [ Obsolete]

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 Lash (lăsh) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lashed ; present participle & verbal noun 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 Lash intransitive verb 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 Lash transitive verb [ Confer Dutch lasschen to fasten together, lasch piece, joint, Swedish laska to stitch, Danish laske stitch. See Lash , noun ] 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.

Lasher Lash"er noun One who whips or lashes.

Lasher Lash"er noun 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.

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

Lashing out , a striking out; also, extravagance.

Lashing Lash"ing noun See 2d Lasher .

Lask Lask noun A diarrhea or flux. [ Obsolete] Holland.

Lasket Las"ket noun [ Confer Lash , Latching .] (Nautical) latching.

Lass Lass (lȧs) noun [ Middle English lasse ; probably of Celtic origin; confer W. llodes girl, fem. of llawd lad. √123. See Lad a youth.] A young woman; a girl; a sweetheart.

Lasse Lasse adjective & adverb Less. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Lassie Las"sie noun A young girl; a lass. [ Scot.]

Lassitude Las"si·tude noun [ Latin lassitudo , from lassus faint, weary; akin to English late : confer French 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.

Lasslorn Lass"lorn` adjective Forsaken by a lass. Shak.

Lasso Lass"o (lăs"so) noun ; plural Lassos (-sōz). [ Spanish lazo , Latin laqueus . See Lace .] A rope or long thong of leather with a running noose, used for catching horses, cattle, etc.

Lasso cell (Zoology) , 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 Actinię. 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 .

Lasso Las"so transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lassoed ; present participle & verbal noun Lassoing .] To catch with a lasso.

Last Last 3d pers. sing. present of Last , to endure, contracted from lasteth . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Last Last adjective [ Middle English last , latst , contr. of latest , superl. of late ; akin to Old Saxon lezt , lazt , last , Dutch laatst , German letzt. See Late , and confer 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.

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. from Anglo-Saxon on lāste behind, following behind, from lāst race, track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot.] At the end; in the conclusion. [ Obsolete] "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 Last adverb [ See Last , adjective ] 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 Last intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lasted ; present participle & verbal noun Lasting .] [ Middle English lasten , As. lęstan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, from lāst , l...st , trace, footstep, course; akin to German 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 Last noun [ Anglo-Saxon lāst trace, track, footstep; akin to Dutch leest a last, German leisten , Swedish läst , Danish lęst , Icel . leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Confer Last , intransitive verb , 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 Last transitive verb To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

Last Last noun [ As. hlęst , from hladan to lade; akin to Old High German hlast , G., D., Dan., & Swedish last : confer French 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.

Lastage Last"age noun [ English lestage ballasting, from lest ballast, or Late Latin lastagium , lestagium . See Last a load.] 1. A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will. [ Obsolete]

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

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

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

Laste Last"e obsolete imperfect of Last , to endure. Chaucer.

Laster Last"er noun 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.

Lastery Last"er·y noun A red color. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Lasting Last"ing adjective 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.

Lasting Last"ing noun 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.

Lastingly Last"ing·ly adverb In a lasting manner.

Lastly Last"ly adverb 1. In the last place; in conclusion.

2. at last; finally.

Lat Lat (lăt) transitive verb To let; to allow. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Lata, Latah La"ta, La"tah noun [ Malay.] A convulsive tic or hysteric neurosis prevalent among Malays, similar to or identical with miryachit and jumping disease, the person affected performing various involuntary actions and making rapid inarticulate ejaculations in imitation of the actions and words of another person.

Latakia Lat`a·ki"a noun [ Turk.] A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.

Latch Latch (lăch) transitive verb [ Confer French lécher to lick (of German origin). Confer Lick .] To smear; to anoint. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Latch Latch noun [ Middle English lacche , from lacchen to seize, As. lęccan .] 1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [ Obsolete] 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. (Nautical) A latching.

4. A crossbow. [ Obsolete] Wright.

Latch Latch transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Latched (lăcht); present participle & verbal noun Latching .] [ Middle English lacchen . See Latch . noun ] 1. To catch so as to hold. [ Obsolete]

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.

Latchet Latch"et noun [ Middle English lachet , from an Old French dialect form of French lacet plaited string, lace dim. of lacs . See Lace .] The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

Latching Latch"ing noun (Nautical) 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 plural]

Latchkey Latch"key` noun A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch.

Latchstring Latch"string` noun 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 Late (lāt) adjective [ Compar. Later (lāt"ẽr), or latter (lăt"tẽr); superl. Latest (lāt"ĕst) or Last (lȧst).] [ Middle English lat slow, slack, Anglo-Saxon lęt ; akin to Old Saxon lat , Dutch laat late, German lass weary, lazy, slack, Icelandic latr , Swedish lat , Danish lad , Goth. lats , and to English let , v. See Let to permit, and confer 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.

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