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An American Dictionary of the English Language

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.

  1. Lāst’age, n.p. 754A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for carrying things where one will. 2. A custom or tax paid on wares sold by the last. [Obs.] Cowell. 3. The lading of a ship; also, ballast. Spelman. 4.…
  2. Lāst'er-y, n.p. 754A red color. [Obs.] “Fair vermilion or pure lastery.” Spenser.
  3. Lāst'ing, p. a.p. 754Durable; of long continuance; that may continue or endure; as, a lasting good or evil; a lasting color. Syn. — Durable; permanent; undecaying; perpetual; unending. — LASTING, PERMANENT, DURABLE.…
  4. Lást'ing, n.p. 754Endurance. 2. A species of very durable woolen stuff.
  5. Lást'ing-ly, adv.p. 754Durably; with continuance.
  6. Lāst'ing-ness, n.p. 754The quality or state of long continuance; durability.
  7. Lāst'ly, adv.p. 754In the last place; in conclusion. 2. At length; at last; finally.
  8. Lāt'a-kĭ'ă, n.p. 754A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.
  9. Lătch, n.p. 754A small piece of iron or wood used to fasten a door. Gay. 2. (Naut.) A latching. See LATCHING.
  10. Lătch, v. t.p. 754To catch so as to hold. [Obs.] 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…
  11. Lătch'et, n.p. 754The string that fastens a shoe.
  12. Lătch'-kéy, n.p. 754A key used to raise the latch of a door.
  13. Lătch'ing, n.p. 754(Naut.) A loop formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is connected with the foot of the sail; — called also latch and lasket.
  14. Lāte, a.p. 754Coming after others, or after the usual or expected time; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring; a late summer. 2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a late…
  15. Lāte, adv.p. 754After the usual time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late. 2. Not long ago; lately. And round them throng, With leaps and bounds; the late imprisoned young. Pope. 3. Far in the…
  16. Lāt'ed, a.p. 754Belated; being too late. [Obs.] I am so lated in the world, that I Have lost my way forever. Shak.
  17. La-teen'-sāil, n.p. 754(Naut.) A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung about one quarter the distance from the lower end, which is brought down at the tack, while the other end is elevated at an angle of…
  18. Láte'ly, adv.p. 754Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived from Italy.
  19. Lā'ten-cy, n.p. 754The state of being latent or concealed; abstruseness. To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of this latency. Sir W. Hamilton.
  20. Lāte'ness, n.p. 754The state of being late or tardy, or of coming after the usual or appointed time; as, the lateness of spring or of harvest. 2. Time far advanced in any particular period; as, lateness of the day or…
  21. Lā'tent, a.p. 754Not visible or apparent; not seen; hid; concealed; secret; as, latent motives; latent springs of action. The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise. Burke.…
  22. Lā'tent-ly, adv.p. 754In a secret or concealed manner; invisibly.
  23. Lāt'er, a.p. 754Posterior; subsequent.
  24. Lāt'er-al, a.p. 754Proceeding from, or attached to, the side; as, the lateral branches of a tree; lateral shoots. 2. Directed to the side; as, the lateral view of an object. Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the…
  25. Lăt'er-ăl'ĭ-ty, n.p. 754The quality of having distinct sides. [Obs.] Browne.
  26. Lāt'er-al-ly, adv.p. 754By the side; sidewise. 2. In the direction of the side.
  27. Lāt'er-an, n.p. 754One of the churches at Rome, with a palace and other buildings annexed to it. The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on this spot, which was…
  28. Lāt'ered, a.p. 754Delayed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  29. Lāt'er-ĭ-fō'li-ōŭs, a.p. 754(Bot.) Growing on the side of a leaf at the base; as, a laterifolious flower.
  30. Lāt'er-ĭte, n.p. 754(Geol.) An argillaceous sandstone, in India, of a red color, and much seamed. Dana.
  31. Lăt'er-ĭ'tiŏŭs, a.p. 754Like bricks; of the color of bricks. Lateritious sediment, a sediment in urine resembling brick dust, observed after the crises of fevers, and at the termination of gouty paroxysms.
  32. La-tēs'çence, n.p. 754A slight withdrawal from view or knowledge. This obscuration can be conceived in every infinite degree between incipient latescence and irrecoverable latency. Sir W. Hamilton.
  33. Lāt'est, a.p. 754Longest after the usual time; tardiest.
  34. Lāte'-wāke, n.p. 754See LICHE-WAKE.
  35. Lāte'ward, a.p. 754Somewhat late; late in growth or maturity; — opposed to forward. [Obs.] Corn . . . which grew in a forward and hasty field ought to be transferred into lateward lands. Holland.
  36. Lāte'ward, adv.p. 754Somewhat late. [Obs.]
  37. Lā'tex, n.p. 754(Bot.) A milky juice contained in cavities of certain plants. It has no regular circulation through the plant, but possesses the peculiar active properties of it.
  38. Lāth, n.p. 754A thin, narrow board, or slip of wood, to be nailed to the rafters of a building, for the purpose of supporting the tiles, or covering. 2. A thin, narrow slip of wood, to be nailed to the studs, for…
  39. Lāth, v. t.p. 754To cover or line with laths.
  40. Lāth'-brick, n.p. 754A long, slender brick, upon which malt is placed in the drying-kiln.
  41. Lāthe, n.p. 754Formerly, a part or division of a county among the Anglo-Saxons. At present it consists of four or five hundreds, and is confined to the county of Kent. [Prov. Eng.] [Written also lath.] Brande. 2. A…
  42. Lāthe, n.p. 754(Mach.) A machine-tool for shaping articles of wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted upon by a cutting-tool held either by the hand or a slide-rest; — called also…
  43. Lăth'er, v. i.p. 755To form a foam with water and soap; to become froth, or frothy matter.
  44. Lăth'er, v. t.p. 755To spread over with lather; as, to lather the face. 2. To beat severely. [Vulgar.]
  45. Lăth'er, n.p. 755Foam or froth made by soap moistened with water. 2. Foam or froth from profuse sweat, as of a horse.
  46. Lāth'ing, n.p. 755A covering of laths on a wall; also, the act or process of covering with laths.
  47. Lāth'-rēnd'ing, n.p. 755The business of lath-making.
  48. Lāth'-work, n.p. 755Thin battened work, as at the sides of a room, to receive plaster.
  49. Lāth'y, a.p. 755Thin as a lath; long and slender.
  50. Lāth'y-rŭs, n.p. 755(Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants, including several species; vetchling; everlasting-pea. Gray.
  51. Lā'tian, a.p. 755Belonging, or relating, to Latium, a country of ancient Italy, situated on the south side of the Tiber.
  52. La-tĭb'ū-līze, v. i.p. 755To retire into a den, burrow, or cavity, and lie dormant in winter; to retreat and lie hid. [Rare.] The tortoise latibulizes in October. Shaw.
  53. La-tĭb'ū-lŭm, n.p. 755A concealed hiding-place; a burrow; a lair; a hole.
  54. Lăt'/i-cĭf'er-ous, a.p. 755(Bot.) Conveying the latex;—applied to the tissue through which the latex is carried to different parts of the plant.
  55. Lāt'i-clāve, n.p. 755(Rom. Antiq.) A distinctive badge worn by Roman senators, supposed to have been a broad stripe of purple on the fore part of the tunic.
  56. Lāt'i-cōs'tate, a.p. 755Broad-ribbed.
  57. Lāt'i-dēn'tate, a.p. 755Broad-toothed.
  58. Lăt'i-fō'li-ate or Lăt'i-fō'li-oūs, a.p. 755(Bot.) Having broad leaves.
  59. Lāt'in, a.p. 755Pertaining to the Latins, a people of Latium, in Italy; Roman; as, the Latin language. 2. Pertaining to, or composed in, the language used by the Romans or Latins; as, a Latin grammar; a Latin…
  60. Lăt'in, n.p. 755(Anc. Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Latium. 2. The language of the ancient Romans. 3. An exercise in schools, consisting in turning English into Latin. [Obs.] Ascham.