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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. La-drōne', n.p. 747A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.
  2. Lā'dy, n.p. 747A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. 2. A woman of social distinction or position; the feminine corresponding to lord. In England, a…
  3. Lā'dy-bird, n.p. 747(Entom.) A small beetle of various brilliant colors, feeding on plant-lice, and belonging to the genus Coccinella. C. septempunctatus is the common European species; —called also lady-bug, lady-cow…
  4. Lā'dy-būg, n.p. 747See LADY-BIRD.
  5. Lā'dy-chāp'el, n.p. 747A chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
  6. Lā'dy-cōurt, n.p. 747The court of a lady of the manor.
  7. Lā'dy-cow, n.p. 747See LADY-BIRD.
  8. Lā'dy-dāy, n.p. 747The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25.
  9. Lā'dy-fērn, n.p. 747(Bot.) A variety of fern (Aspidium thelypteris) common in Great Britain.
  10. Lā'dy-fly, n.p. 747See LADY-BIRD.
  11. Lā'dy-kĭn, n.p. 747A little lady; — applied by the writers of Queen Elizabeth's time, in the abbreviated form Lakin, to the Virgin Mary.
  12. Lā'dy-līke, a.p. 747Like a lady in manners; genteel; well-bred. 2. Soft; tender; delicate.
  13. Lā'dy-lōve, n.p. 747A sweetheart or mistress.
  14. Lā'dy's-bēd'strāw, n.p. 747(Bot.) An East Indian evergreen undershrub, of the genus Pharnaceum (P. Mollugo), having elegant umbels of flowers, usually white. London.
  15. Lā'dy's-bow'er, n.p. 747(Bot.) A climbing plant of the genus Clematis; virgin's-bower.
  16. Lā'dy's-cōmb, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Scandix.
  17. Lā'dy's-cush'ion, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Saxifraga.
  18. Lā'dy's-fīn'ger, n.p. 747(Bot.) Kidney-vetch; a plant of the genus Anthyllis. 2. (Cookery.) A variety of small cake of about the dimensions of a finger. 3. A variety of the potato. 4. (Zoöl.) One of the branchiæ of the…
  19. Lā'dy's-hāir, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Briza (B. media); a variety of quaking-grass.
  20. Lā'dy-shīp, n.p. 747The rank or position of a lady;— given as a title; as, her ladyship was present.
  21. Lā'dy's-mān’tle, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Alchemilla; A. vulgaris is a common species, and is regarded as a good herbage plant, being eaten freely by cattle. London.
  22. Lā'dy's-sēal, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Tamus.
  23. Lā'dy’s-slip'per, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cypripedium, cultivated for its flowers, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. London.
  24. Lā'dy's-smŏck, n.p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cardamine (C. pratense); cuckoo-flower.
  25. Lā'dy's-trā'çes or Lā'dies-trĕss'es, n.p. 747(Bot.) A little herbaceous plant of several species of the genus Spiranthes. It has an erect spike about which the white flowers are arranged in a spiral, somewhat resembling a tress of hair, as they…
  26. Læm'mer-geȳ'er, n.p. 747See LAMMERGEIR.
  27. Læ'vo-ġȳ'rate, a.p. 747See LEVO-GYRATE.
  28. Lăg, a.p. 747Coming after or behind; slow; tardy. 2. Last; long delayed; as, the lag end.
  29. Lāg, n.p. 747One who lags; that which comes in last. “The lag of all the flock.” Pope. 2. The fag end; the rump; hence, the lowest class. “The common lag of people.” Shak. 3. One who is transported for a crime.…
  30. Lăg, v. i.p. 747To walk or move slowly; to stay behind. “I shall not lag behind.” Milton. Syn.—To loiter; linger; saunter; delay; be tardy. See LOITER.
  31. Lăg, v. t.p. 747To transport or cause to be transported for a crime. [Slang. Eng.] “She lags us, if we poach.” De Quincey. 2. (Mach.) To clothe, as a steam-boiler, to prevent radiation of heat.
  32. Lā'gan, n.p. 747See LIGAN.
  33. Lā'ger-beer, n.p. 747A German beer;— so called from its being laid up or stored for some months before use.
  34. Lā'ger-wine, n.p. 747Wine which has been kept for some time in the cellar. Simmonds.
  35. Lāg'gard, a.p. 747Slow; sluggish; backward.
  36. Lāg'gard, n.p. 747One who lags; a loiterer.
  37. Lăg'ger, n.p. 747One who lags and falls behind; a laggard; a loiterer; an idler.
  38. Lāg'ging, n.p. 747(Mach.) The clothing, as of a steam-boiler, applied to prevent the radiation of heat;— called also deading. [Eng.]
  39. Lāg'gĭng-ly, adv.p. 747Loiteringly.
  40. Lāg'o-mȳs, n.p. 747(Zoöl.) A genus of small animals belonging to the family Leporidæ or hares. They are characterized by having small ears, no tail, and upper incisive teeth so strongly furrowed as to appear double.…
  41. La-gōon', n.p. 748A marsh, shallow pond, or lake, especially one into which the sea flows; as, the lagoons of Venice. 2. A lake in a coral island, often occupying a large portion of its area, and usually communicating…
  42. La-gō'pus, n.p. 748(Ornith.) A genus of birds having the tarsi and toes covered with feathers, giving the foot a resemblance to that of the hare,—whence the name. Baird.
  43. La-gōs'to-mŭs or La-gōs'to-mys, n.p. 748(Zoöl.) A genus of burrowing mammals, of about the size of the hare, found in some parts of South America.
  44. Lāg'ō-thrix, n.p. 748(Zoöl.) A genus of monkeys found in South America, having long, prehensile tails, and soft, almost woolly, hair. Baird.
  45. La-gūne', n.p. 748The same as LAGOON.
  46. Lā'ic, a.p. 748Belonging to a layman or the laity. “An unprincipled, unedified, and laic rabble.” Milton.
  47. Lā'ie, n.p. 748A layman. Bp. Morton.
  48. Lā'ic-al, n.p. 748The same as LAIC.
  49. Lā'i-e-ăl'i-ty, n.p. 748The state or quality of being laic or laical; the state or condition of a layman. [Obs.]
  50. Lāidp. 748Laid paper, writing paper having a ribbed surface, as if inlaid with lines. These were originally produced by the wires of the frames used in making hand paper, and are now imitated in some machine…
  51. Lāid, a.p. 748Ugly; unsightly; loathsome. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
  52. Laid'ly, a.p. 748Ugly; forbidding to the sight; loathsome. [Prov. Eng.] The King of Bamborough had a fair daughter, who was transformed into this laidly or loathsome worm by her malicious step-mother. W. Howitt.
  53. Lāin, p. p.p. 748of lie. See LIE.
  54. Lāir, n.p. 748A place in which to lie or rest, especially the bed or couch of a wild beast. Up from the ground uprose, As from his lair, the wild beast. Milton. 2. Any couch or resting-place. Upon a lair, composed…
  55. Lāird, n.p. 748A person of superior rank; a lord. [Scot.] 2. A landholder under the degree of a knight or squire. [Scot.] 3. A leader or captain.
  56. Lā'ism, n.p. 748The same as LAMAISM. [Rare.]
  57. Lā'i'ty, n.p. 748The people, as distinguished from the clergy; the body of the people not in orders. 2. The state of a layman. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
  58. Lāke, v. i.p. 748To play; to sport. [Prov. Eng.]
  59. Lāke, n.p. 748A large and extensive collection of water contained in a cavity or hollow of the earth. It is larger than a pond.
  60. Lāke, n.p. 748A deep-red coloring matter, consisting of aluminous earth and cochineal or other red substance. 2. A compound of animal or vegetable coloring matter and a metallic oxide.