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.
Lāv'a-ret, n. p. 756(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Salmo (S. lavaretus of Linnæus); a kind of salmon.La-văt'ic, a. p. 756Like lava, or composed of it. [Written also lavic.]La-vā'tion, n. p. 756A washing or cleansing. [Obs.] Helverell.Lāv'a-to-ry, a. p. 756Washing, or cleansing by washing.Lāv'a-to-ry, n. p. 756A place for washing. 2. A wash or lotion for a diseased part. 3. A place where gold is obtained by washing.Lāv'a-tūre, n. p. 756Wash or lotion. [Obs.] Holland.Lāve, v. t. p. 756(imp. & p. p. LAVED; p. pr. & vb. n. LAVING.) [Fr. laver, Pr. & Sp. lavar, It. & Lat. lavare, allied to Gr. λούειν.] To wash; to bathe. [Rare, except in poetry.] Milton.Lāve, v. i. p. 756To bathe; to wash one's self. In her chaste current oft the goddess laves. Pope.Lāve, v. t. p. 756To throw up, or out; to lade out. [Obs.]Lāve, n. p. 756The remainder; others. [Scot.]Lāve'-ēared, a. p. 756Having large, pendent ears. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.La-veer', v. t. p. 756(Naut.) To sail back and forth; to tack. [Rare.] Dryden.Lāve'ment, n. p. 756A washing or bathing. 2. A clyster.Lāv'en-der, n. p. 756(Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Lavandula (L. vera), common in the south of Europe. It yields an oil used in medicine and perfumery. The Spike-lavender (L. spica) yields a coarser oil, used in…Lā'ver, n. p. 756A vessel for washing; a large basin. 2. (Script. Hist.) A basin placed in the court of the Jewish tabernacle, where the officiating priests washed their hands and feet, and the entrails of victims.…Lā'ver, n. p. 756The fronds of certain marine plants, used as food. Green laver is the Ulva latissima; purple laver, Porphyra laciniata and P. vulgaris. It is prepared by stewing, either alone or with other…Lāv'er-ock, n. p. 756The lark. [Scot.] See LARK. [Written also lavrock.]Lā'vie, a. p. 756See LAVATIC.Lāv'ish, a. p. 756Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; as, lavish of praise; lavish of encomiums; lavish of censure; lavish of blood and treasure. 2. Expending excessively and foolishly; wasteful; prodigal; as…Lăv'ish, v. t. p. 756To expend or bestow with profusion; as, to lavish praise or encomiums. 2. To expend without necessity or use; to squander; as, to lavish money on vices and amusements.Lāv'ish-er, n. p. 757One who expends or bestows profusely or excessively; a prodigal.Lāv'ish-ly, adv. p. 757With profuse expense; prodigally; wastefully.Lāv'ish-ment, n. p. 757The state of being lavish; profuse expenditure; prodigality.Lāv'ish-ness, n. p. 757Profusion; prodigality.La-vōlt’ or La-vōl'tā, n. p. 757An old dance, for two persons, being a kind of waltz, in which the man turned the woman round several times, and then assisted her in making a high spring or bound. Halliwell. “And teach lavoltas…La-vōl’ta-teer, n. p. 757One who danced the lavolta; a dancer. [Obs.] “A lavoltateer, a saltatory, a dancer.” Beau. & Fl.Lăv'rock, n. p. 757The lark. See LAVEROCK.Law, n. p. 757A rule of order or conduct established by authority; an edict of a ruler or a government; a fixed regulation; an expressed command; a decree; an order. Law is beneficence acting by rule. Burke. 2.…Law'-bind'ing, n. p. 757A plain style of leather binding, used almost exclusively for law-books;—called also law-calf.Law'-book, n. p. 757A book containing, or treating of, laws.Law'-break'er, n. p. 757One who violates the law.Law'-calf, n. p. 757See LAW-BINDING.Law'-day, n. p. 757A day of open court. 2. A leet, or sheriff's court.Lawe, v. t. p. 757To cut off the claws and balls of; — said of a dog's fore feet. Wright.Lawful, a. p. 757Agreeable to law; conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent; free from objection. 2. Constituted by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands. Syn. —Legal; constitutional…Law'ful-ly, adv. p. 757In accordance with law; without violating law; legally.Law'ful-ness, n. p. 757The quality of being conformable to law; legality.Law'gīv-er, n. p. 757One who makes or enacts a law; a legislator.Law'gīv-ing, a. p. 757Making or enacting laws; legislative.Law'ing, n. p. 757The act of cutting off the claws and balls of the fore feet of mastiffs, to prevent them from running after deer; expeditation. Blackstone.Law'less, a. p. 757Not subject to, or unrestrained by, the law of morality or of society; as, lawless men or behavior. 2. Contrary to, or unauthorized by, the civil law; as, a lawless claim. He needs no indirect nor…Law'less-ly, adv. p. 757In a lawless manner.Law'less-ness, n. p. 757The quality or state of being lawless; disorder.Law'-lōre, n. p. 757Learning in respect to ancient laws; knowledge of law and legal history.Law'-mak'er, n. p. 757One who enacts or ordains laws; a legislator; a lawgiver.Law'-māk'ing, a. p. 757Enacting laws.Lăw'-mŏng'er, n. p. 757A low dealer in law; a pettifogger.Lawn, n. p. 757An open space between woods; a space of ground covered with grass, generally in front of or around a house or mansion. Betwixt them, lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herbs, were…Lawn, n. p. 757A sort of fine linen or cambric, used especially for certain parts of the official robes of a bishop, and hence, generally, the official dress itself. A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn. Pope.Lawnd, n. p. 757The same as LAWN, q. v. [Obs.] Shak.Lawn'y, a. p. 757Level, as a plain; like a lawn. 2. Made of lawn.Law'-ōf-fi-cer, n. p. 757An officer who has power to administer or execute laws; one who has legal authority.Law’suit, n. p. 757A suit in law; a process in law instituted for the recovery of a supposed right; an action.Law'yer, n. p. 757One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to institute suits in courts of law, and to prosecute or defend the cause of clients; — a general term, comprehending…Law'yer-like or Law'yer-ly, a. p. 757Like, or becoming, a lawyer; as, lawyer-like sagacity. “The more lawyerly mooting of this point.” Milton.Lăx, a. p. 757Not tense, firm, or rigid; loose; flabby; soft; as, lax flesh; a lax fiber. 2. Slack; not tight or tense; as, a lax cord. 3. Sparse; not crowded; as, lax foliage. 4. Not firmly united; of loose…Lăx, n. p. 757A looseness; diarrhea.Lăx, n. p. 757A species of fish or salmon. [Obs.]Lax-ā′tion, n. p. 757The act of loosening or slackening, or the state of being loose or slackening.Lăx'a-tĭve, a. p. 757(Med.) Having the power or quality of loosening or opening the intestines, and relieving from constipation.