Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Lĭck'er-ish-ly, adv. p. 770In a lickerish manner; daintily.Lĭck'er-ĭsh-ness, n. p. 770Niceness of palate; daintiness.Lick'er-oüs, a. p. 770See LICKERISH. [Obs.]Lĭck'er-ōŭs-ness, n. p. 770Lickerishness. [Obs.]Lĭck'ing, n. p. 770A lapping with the tongue. 2. A flogging or castigation. [Colloq. and low.]Lick'-pĕn'ny, n. p. 770A miserly, greedy person. [Scot.]Lick'-spig/ot, n. p. 770A tapster or drawer. “Fill, lick-spigot.” Massinger.Lick'-spit/tle, n. p. 770A flatterer or parasite of the most abject character. [Colloq. and low.] ☞ This coarse but expressive term is derived from the practice of certain ancient parasites, who are said to have licked up…Lic'o-rīçe, n. p. 770(Bot.) A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza (G. glabra), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions. 2. The root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, or a dark-colored…Lie'o-roŭs, a. p. 771The same as LICKERISH. [Obs.] See LICKERISH. And turn, and leer, and with a licorous eye Look high and low. Herbert.Lick'er-ous-ness, n. p. 771The same as LICKERISHNESS.Lĭc'tor, n. p. 771(Rom. Antiq.) An officer who bore an ax and fasces or rods, as ensigns of his office. His duty was to attend the chief magistrates when they appeared in public, to clear the way, and cause due…Līd, n. p. 771A cover; that which shuts the opening of a vessel or box; as, the lid of a chest or trunk. 2. The cover of the eye, the membrane which is drawn over the eyeball of an animal at pleasure, and which is…Lĭdge, n. p. 771The same as LEDGE. [Obs.] Spenser.Lĭd'less, a. p. 771Having no lid, or not covered with the lids, as the eyes; hence, sleepless; watchful. “A lidless watcher of the public weal.” Tennyson.Lie, n. p. 771Water impregnated with alkaline salt. See LYE.Lie, n. p. 771A criminal falsehood; a falsehood uttered for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth. It is willful deceit that makes a lie. A man may act a lie, as by pointing his finger in a…Lie, v. i. p. 771To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive; to exhibit a false representation; to say or do that which deceives another, when he has a right to know the truth, or when morality requires a just…Lie, v. i. p. 771To be low; to rest extended on the ground; to rest on a bed or couch; to be in an horizontal position, or nearly so; to be prostrate; to be stretched out;—often with down, when predicated of living…Lief, a. p. 771Dear; beloved. [Obs., except in poetry.] [Written also leef, leve, and lieve.] “As thou art lief and dear to me.” Tennyson.Lief, n. p. 771One who is dear or beloved. [Obs.]Liēf, adv. p. 771Gladly; willingly; freely;—used in familiar speech in the phrase, I had as lief go as not. ☞ Had, in this phrase, is probably a corruption of would. He up arose, however lief or loth. Spenser.Līe'-fraught, a. p. 771Fraught with lies. Lamb.Liē'ġançe, n. p. 771The same as LIGEANCE.Liege, a. p. 771Bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, as a vassal to his lord; subject; faithful; as, a liege man. ☞ By liege homage, a vassal was bound to serve his lord against…Liège, n. p. 771One who owes allegiance; a vassal; a liegeman. 2. A lord or superior; a sovereign. ☞ This is a false application of the word, arising probably from transferring the word from the vassal to the lord…Liēge'man, n. p. 771A vassal; a subject. [Obs.] Spencer.Liè'ger, n. p. 771A resident ambassador. [Obs.] See LEGER.Lie'-ley, v. i. p. 771To lie fallow, or in grass. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Let wife and land Lie-ley till I return. Beau. & Fl.Lī'en, p. p. p. 771of lie. [Obs.] See LAIN.Li′en, n. p. 771(Law.) A legal claim; a charge upon real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty; a right in one to hold and retain the property of another until some claim of the former is…Li'en-tĕr'ic, a. p. 771(Med.) Pertaining to a lientery.Lĭ'en-ter-y, n. p. 771(Med.) A lax or diarrhea, in which the food is discharged only half digested. Dunglison.Li'er, n. p. 771One who lies down; one who rests or remains. He wist not that there were liers in ambush against him. Josh. vii. 14.Lieü, n. p. 771Place; room; stead; — preceded by in. The plan of extortion had been adopted in lieu of the scheme of confiscation. Burke.Lieü-ten'an-cy, n. p. 771The office or commission of a lieutenant. If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenancy. Shak. 2. The body of lieutenants.Lieü-tēn'ant, n. p. 771An officer, either civil or military, who supplies the place of a superior in his absence. ☞ In this sense the word is usually either appended or prefixed to that designating the officer whose place…Lieü-tēn'ant-ry or Lieü-tēn'ant-ship, n. p. 771The same as LIEUTENANCY.Liève, a. p. 771The same as LIEF. See LIEF.Life, n. p. 771That state of an animal or plant in which its organs are capable of performing their functions; animate existence; vitality; also, the time during which this state continues, either in general, or in…Life'-an-nüí-ty, n. p. 771A sum of money paid yearly during a person's life.Life'-as-sur'ance, n. p. 771See LIFE-INSURANCE.Life'-bĕlt, n. p. 771A strap or belt, either inflated with air or furnished with cork, to sustain a person in the water.Life'-blood, n. p. 771The blood necessary to life; vital blood. Dryden. 2. That which constitutes or gives strength and energy. Money [is] the life-blood of the nation. Swift.Life'-bōat, n. p. 772A boat so constructed as to have great strength and buoyancy, for preserving lives in cases of shipwreck or other destruction of a vessel at sea.Life'-buoy, n. p. 772See Buoy.Life'-drōp, n. p. 772A vital particle.Life'-es-tāte', n. p. 772An estate that continues during the life of the possessor.Life'-ēv-er-lāst'ing, n. p. 772(Bot.) A plant of the genus Gnaphalium; cudweed.Life'ful, a. p. 772Full of vital energy; lively.Life'-gīv'ing, a. p. 772Giving life or spirit; having power to give life; inspiring; invigorating.Life'-guārd, n. p. 772A guard of the life or person; a guard that attends the person of a prince or other high officer or dignitary; a body-guard.Life'-hōld, n. p. 772See LIFE-LAND.Life'-in-sur'ance, n. p. 772A contract for the payment of a certain sum of money on a person's death.Life'-in'ter-est, n. p. 772An estate or interest which lasts during one's life.Life'-lānd, n. p. 772(Law.) Land held by lease for life or lives;—called also life-hold.Life'less, a. p. 772Dead; deprived of life; as, a lifeless body. 2. Destitute of life; unanimated; as, lifeless matter. 3. Destitute of power, force, vigor, or spirit; dull; heavy; inactive. 4. Void of spirit; vapid…Life'less-ly, adv. p. 772In a lifeless manner.Life'less-ness, n. p. 772Destitution of life, vigor, and spirit; inactivity.Life'-like, a. p. 772Like a living person; resembling life; as, a life-like portrait.