Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Lēop'ard, n. p. 765(Zool.) A carnivorous digitigrade mammal of the genus Felis (F. leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rose-like clusters of black spots along the back and sides, and has a white belly. It…Lēop'ard's-bāne, n. p. 765(Bot.) A plant of the genus Arnica (A. montana). See ARNICA.Lēp'a-dite, n. p. 765(Zool.) One of an order of cirripeds, having a long, flexible, contractile stem fixed by its base to some solid body, and supporting at its extremity the principal parts of the animal inclosed in a…Lēp'a-do-găs'ter, n. p. 765(Ichth.) A genus of fishes having the ventral fins expanded and curved forward, so as to form the boundary of an adhesive disk beneath the throat, and the body smooth and without scales. Brande.Lēp'al, n. p. 765(Bot.) A sterile, transformed stamen. Gray.Lē'pas, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) A genus of multivalve shells of the lepadites; the barnacle.Lĕp'er, n. p. 765A person affected with leprosy.Lēp'ered, a. p. 765Affected or tainted with leprosy.Lēp'er-oūs, a. p. 765Same as LEPROUS. See LEPROUS.Lēp'id, a. p. 765Pleasant; jocose. [Rare.] “The joyous and lepid consul.” S. Smith.Le-pĭd'ĭ-ūm, n. p. 765[Lat., from Gr. λεπιδίον, small scale, also a kind of plant, from λεπίς, scale. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous, cruciferous plants, most of the species of which have a hot, biting taste; peppergrass…Lĕp'i-do-dĕn'dron, n. p. 765(Paleon.) A fossil tree of the carboniferous age in geology, having the exterior marked with scars, mostly in a quincunx order, produced by the separation of the leaf-stalks. Dana.Lēp'i-doid, n. p. 765(Palæon.) One of a family of extinct fossil ganoid fishes. The family includes the genera Palæoniscus, Catopterus, Dapedius, and others. Agassiz.Le-pĭd'o-lite, n. p. 765(Min.) A species of mica, presenting a lilac or rose-violet color. It usually occurs in masses consisting of small scales, and differs from other micas in containing the earth lithia. Dana.Lĕp'i-dōp'ter, n. p. 765(Entom.) An order, or one of an order, of insects, having four membranaceous wings, covered with fine imbricated scales, like powder, as the butterfly, the moth, and the like. 2. (pl.) An order of…Lēp'i-dōp'te-rō, n. pl. p. 765See LEPIDOPTER.Lēp'/i-dōp'ter-al or Lēp'/i-dōp'ter-ous, a. p. 765Belonging to the order of Lepidoptera.Lēp'i-do-sī'ren, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) An eel-shaped animal covered with rounded scales, having four rod-like members, and breathing water like a fish. It is found in ponds and rivers of intertropical Africa and South America. By…Lēp'i-dō'sis, n. p. 765(Med.) A disease of the skin accompanied by an eruption producing scales.Lēp'i-dōte, a. p. 765Lēp'i-dō'ted p. 765Having a coat of scurfy scales; leprous. Gray.Lēp'i-dō'tus, n. p. 765(Paleon.) A genus of extinct ganoid fishes, with homocercal tails, and resembling in form the perch. Agassiz.Lē'pis, n. p. 765(Bot.) A small scale-like appendage, having an irregular or jagged border, and attached at its center.Lē'po-dāc'tyle, n. p. 765See LEPTODACTYLE.Lĕp'o-rīne or Lēp'o-rīne, a. p. 765Pertaining to a hare; having the nature or qualities of the hare.Le-prŏs'i-ty, n. p. 765Squamousness. (Obs.) Bacon.Lĕp'ro-sy, n. p. 765(Med.) (a.) A cutaneous disease (Lepra vulgaris), and its varieties (L. nigricans, L. alphoides, &c.). It first appears as reddish, shining, solid, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges.…Lēp'roŭs, a. p. 765Infected with leprosy; covered with white scales. His hand was leprous as snow. Ex. iv. 6.Lēp'roŭs-ly, adv. p. 765In a leprous manner.Lēp'rōŭs-ness, n. p. 765The state of being leprous.Lēp'ry, n. p. 765Leprosy. [Obs.] Holland.Lĕp'to-dăc'tyl, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) A bird or other animal having slender toes. [Written also lepodactylæ.]Lēp'to-dāc'tyl-ōus, a. p. 765Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the leptodactylæ; characterized by slender toes.Lep-tŏl'o-gy, n. p. 765A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.Lē'pus, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) A genus of quadrupeds, including the hare. 2. (Astron.) A constellation situated beneath Orion.Lēre, n. p. 765Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.] Spenser.Lēre, v. t. p. 765To learn; to teach. [Obs.] Chaucer.Lēre, a. p. 765Empty. See LEER.Le-ris'tă, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) A genus of short-footed lizards, having no eyelids.Ler-næ'ă, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) A Linnæan genus of parasitic crustacea, the same as the family of the lerneans in modern classification.Ler-nē'an, n. p. 765(Zoöl.) One of a family of parasitic crustacea found attached to fishes. Some species penetrate the skin with their elongated head, and feed on the viscera.Lese-māj'es-ty, n. p. 765See LEZE-MAJESTY.Lē'sion, n. p. 765A hurt; an injury; specifically, (a.) (Law.) Loss sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract. Burrill. (b.) (Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of…Lēss, conj. p. 765Unless. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Lēss p. 765A terminating syllable of many nouns and some adjectives. It is the A-S. lēás, Goth. láus, O. Sax. & O. H. Ger. lōs, N. H. Ger. los, O. Eng. les, lees, allied to Eng. loose, from A-S. leósan, O. H.…Lĕss, a. p. 766Smaller; not so large or great; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value.Lĕss, adv. p. 766Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.Lĕss, n. p. 766A smaller portion. The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. Ex. xvi. 17. 2. The inferior; the younger. The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.Lĕss, v. t. p. 766To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] Gower.Les-see', n. p. 766(Law.) The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease. Blackstone.Lēss'en, v. t. p. 766To make less; to reduce in bulk, size, quantity, number, or amount; to make smaller; to diminish; as, to lessen a kingdom or its population. 2. To diminish in quality, state, or degree. Charity ...…Lĕss'en, v. i. p. 766To become less; to shrink; to contract in bulk, quantity, number, or amount; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them. 2. To become less in degree…Lĕss'er, a. p. 766Less; smaller; inferior. God made ... the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 16. Lesser is rarely used for less, the comparative of little, except in certain special instances in which its…Lĕss'er, adv. p. 766Less. [Obs.] Shak.Lēs'ses, n. pl. p. 766The leavings or dung of beasts.Lĕs'son, n. p. 766Any thing read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner; such a portion of a book as a pupil is required to learn at one time. 2. That which is learned or taught by an express effort; a precept…Lĕs'son, v. t. p. 766To teach; to instruct. To rest the weary, and to soothe the sad, Doth lesson happier men, and shames at least the bad. Byron.Lēs'sor, n. p. 766(Law.) One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease. Blackstone.Lĕst, v. i. p. 766To listen. [Obs.] Spenser.Lēst, conj. p. 766That not; for fear that. Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Gen. iii. 3. Formerly often pronounced least, in accordance with one of the Old English forms of the word.