Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
La-eû'nar, n. p. 747(Arch.) The ceiling or under surface of any part, especially when it consists of compartments, sunk or hollowed, without spaces or bands between the panels. Gwilt.Lâc'û-nôse' or La-eû'nôus, a. p. 747(Nat. Hist.) Furrowed or pitted; containing cavities or lacunæ; as, a lacunose leaf.La-cūs'tral or La-cūs'trine, a. p. 747Pertaining to lakes or swamps.Lād, n. p. 747A young man, or boy; a stripling.Lâd'a-nûm, n. p. 747A gum resin of a dark color and pungent odor. It is the inspissated juice which exudes from the Cistus ladaniferus, C. Creticus, and other species of the same plant found around the Mediterranean. It…Lăd'der, n. p. 747A frame of wood, metal, rope, &c., consisting of two side-pieces, connected by rounds inserted at suitable distances, and thus forming steps by which persons may ascend a building, &c. 2. That which…Lăd'die, n. p. 747A lad or young man. [Scot.]Lāde, v. t. p. 747To load; to put on or in, as a burden or freight;—generally followed by that which receives the load, as the direct object. And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. Gen. xlii.…Lāde, v. i. p. 747To draw water. [Obs.] 2. (Naut.) To admit water by leakage, as a ship, &c. Wright.Lāde, n. p. 747The mouth of a river. Gibson. 2. A passage for water; water-course.Lā'died, a. p. 747Lady-like; not rough; gentle. [Obs.] “Stroked with a ladied hand.” Feltham.Lā'di-fy, v. t. p. 747To render a lady, or like a lady; to adorn as a lady. [Obs.] Massinger.Lād'ing, n. p. 747That which lades or constitutes a load or cargo; freight; burden; as, the lading of a ship.Lăd'kin, n. p. 747A little lad; a youth. [Rare.] More.Lā'dle, n. p. 747An instrument used in lading or dipping; a cup with a long handle, used for throwing or dipping out liquids from a vessel. 2. (Founding.) A vessel to carry liquid metal from the furnace to the mold.…Lā'dle, v. t. p. 747To use a ladle for dipping or drawing out; as, to ladle out soup, &c.Lā'dle-ful, n. p. 747The quantity contained in a ladle.La-drōne', n. p. 747A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.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…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…Lā'dy-būg, n. p. 747See LADY-BIRD.Lā'dy-chāp'el, n. p. 747A chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.Lā'dy-cōurt, n. p. 747The court of a lady of the manor.Lā'dy-cow, n. p. 747See LADY-BIRD.Lā'dy-dāy, n. p. 747The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25.Lā'dy-fērn, n. p. 747(Bot.) A variety of fern (Aspidium thelypteris) common in Great Britain.Lā'dy-fly, n. p. 747See LADY-BIRD.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.Lā'dy-līke, a. p. 747Like a lady in manners; genteel; well-bred. 2. Soft; tender; delicate.Lā'dy-lōve, n. p. 747A sweetheart or mistress.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.Lā'dy's-bow'er, n. p. 747(Bot.) A climbing plant of the genus Clematis; virgin's-bower.Lā'dy's-cōmb, n. p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Scandix.Lā'dy's-cush'ion, n. p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Saxifraga.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…Lā'dy's-hāir, n. p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Briza (B. media); a variety of quaking-grass.Lā'dy-shīp, n. p. 747The rank or position of a lady;— given as a title; as, her ladyship was present.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.Lā'dy's-sēal, n. p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Tamus.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.Lā'dy's-smŏck, n. p. 747(Bot.) A plant of the genus Cardamine (C. pratense); cuckoo-flower.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…Læm'mer-geȳ'er, n. p. 747See LAMMERGEIR.Læ'vo-ġȳ'rate, a. p. 747See LEVO-GYRATE.Lăg, a. p. 747Coming after or behind; slow; tardy. 2. Last; long delayed; as, the lag end.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.…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.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.Lā'gan, n. p. 747See LIGAN.Lā'ger-beer, n. p. 747A German beer;— so called from its being laid up or stored for some months before use.Lā'ger-wine, n. p. 747Wine which has been kept for some time in the cellar. Simmonds.Lāg'gard, a. p. 747Slow; sluggish; backward.Lāg'gard, n. p. 747One who lags; a loiterer.Lăg'ger, n. p. 747One who lags and falls behind; a laggard; a loiterer; an idler.Lāg'ging, n. p. 747(Mach.) The clothing, as of a steam-boiler, applied to prevent the radiation of heat;— called also deading. [Eng.]Lāg'gĭng-ly, adv. p. 747Loiteringly.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.…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…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.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.