Lapse, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lapsed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Lapsing.] 1. To
pass slowly and smoothly downward, backward, or away; to slip downward,
backward, or away; to glide; -- mostly restricted to figurative uses.
A tendency to lapse into the barbarity of those northern nations
from whom we are descended.
Swift.
Homer, in his characters of Vulcan and Thersites, has lapsed into
the burlesque character.
Addison.
2. To slide or slip in moral conduct; to fail in duty; to fall from
virtue; to deviate from rectitude; to commit a fault by inadvertence or
mistake.
To lapse in fullness Is sorer than to lie for need.
Shak.
3. (Law) (a) To fall or pass from one proprietor to another, or from
the original destination, by the omission, negligence, or failure of
some one, as a patron, a legatee, etc. (b) To become ineffectual or
void; to fall.
If the archbishop shall not fill it up within six months ensuing,
it lapses to the king.
Ayliffe.
Lapse, v. t. 1. To let slip; to permit to devolve on another; to allow
to pass.
An appeal may be deserted by the appellant's lapsing the term of
law.
Ayliffe.
2. To surprise in a fault or error; hence, to surprise or catch, as an
offender. [Obs.]
For which, if be lapsed in this place, I shall pay dear.
Shak.
Lapsed (?), a. 1. Having slipped downward, backward, or away; having
lost position, privilege, etc., by neglect; -- restricted to figurative
uses.
Once more I will renew His lapsed powers, though forfeit.
Milton.
2. Ineffectual, void, or forfeited; as, a lapsed policy of insurance; a
lapsed legacy.
Lapsed devise, Lapsed legacy (Law), a devise, or legacy, which fails to
take effect in consequence of the death of the devisee, or legatee,
before that of the testator, or for other cause. Wharton (Law Dict.).
Laps"i*ble (?), a. Liable to lapse.
Lap"sid`ed (?), a. See Lopsided.
Lap"stone` (?), n. A stone for the lap, on which shoemakers beat
leather.
{ Lap"streak` (?), Lap"strake` (?), } a. Made with boards whose edges
lap one over another; clinker-built; -- said of boats.
La*pu"tan (?), a. Of or pertaining to Laputa, an imaginary flying
island described in Gulliver's Travels as the home of chimerical
philosophers. Hence, fanciful; preposterous; absurd in science or
philosophy. "Laputan ideas." G. Eliot.
Lap"-weld`ed (?), a. Having edges or ends united by a lap weld; as, a
lap-welded pipe.
Lap"wing` (?), n. [OE. lapwynke, leepwynke, AS. hleápewince; hleápan to
leap, jump + (prob.) a word akin to AS. wincian to wink, E. wink, AS.
wancol wavering; cf. G. wanken to stagger, waver. See Leap, and Wink.]
(Zoöl.) A small European bird of the Plover family (Vanellus cristatus,
or V. vanellus). It has long and broad wings, and is noted for its
rapid, irregular fight, upwards, downwards, and in circles. Its back is
coppery or greenish bronze. Its eggs are the "plover's eggs" of the
London market, esteemed a delicacy. It is called also peewit, dastard
plover, and wype. The gray lapwing is the Squatarola cinerea.
Lap"work` (lp"wûrk`), n. Work in which one part laps over another.
Grew.
Laq"uay (?), n. A lackey. [Obs.] Evelyn.
La"que*ar (?), n.; pl. Laquearia (#). [L.] (Arch.) A lacunar.
Laq"ue*a*ry (?), a. [L. laqueus a noose.] Using a noose, as a
gladiator. [Obs. or R.]
Retiary and laqueary combatants.
Sir T. Browne.
Lar (lär), n.; pl. Lares (#), sometimes Lars (#). [L.] (Rom. Myth.) A
tutelary deity; a deceased ancestor regarded as a protector of the
family. The domestic Lares were the tutelar deities of a house;
household gods. Hence, Fig.: Hearth or dwelling house.
Nor will she her dear Lar forget, Victorious by his benefit.
Lovelace.
The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint.
Milton.
Looking backward in vain toward their Lares and lands.
Longfellow.
Lar (lär), n. (Zoöl.) A species of gibbon (Hylobates lar), found in
Burmah. Called also white-handed gibbon.
Lar"a*mie group` (?). (Geol.) An extensive series of strata,
principally developed in the Rocky Mountain region, as in the Laramie
Mountains, and formerly supposed to be of the Tertiary age, but now
generally regarded as Cretaceous, or of intermediate and transitional
character. It contains beds of lignite, often valuable for coal, and is
hence also called the lignitic group. See Chart of Geology.
Lar"board` (?), n. [Lar- is of uncertain origin, possibly the same as
lower, i. e., humbler in rank, because the starboard side is considered
by mariners as higher in rank; cf. D. laag low, akin to E. low. See
Board, n., 8.] (Naut.) The left- hand side of a ship to one on board
facing toward the bow; port; -- opposed to starboard.
Larboard is a nearly obsolete term, having been superseded by port to
avoid liability of confusion with starboard, owing to similarity of
sound.
Lar"board`, a. On or pertaining to the left-hand side of a vessel;
port; as, the larboard quarter.
{ Lar"ce*ner (?), Lar"ce*nist (?) }, n. One who commits larceny.
Lar"ce*nous (?), a. [Cf. OE. larrecinos. See Larceny.] Having the
character of larceny; as, a larcenous act; committing larceny. "The
larcenous and burglarious world." Sydney Smith. -- Lar"ce*nous*ly, adv.
Lar"ce*ny (?), n.; pl. Larcenies (#). [F. larcin, OE. larrecin, L.
latrocinium, fr. latro robber, mercenary, hired servant; cf. Gr. (&?;)
hired servant. Cf. Latrociny.] (Law) The unlawful taking and carrying
away of things personal with intent to deprive the right owner of the
same; theft. Cf. Embezzlement.
Grand larceny ∧ Petit larceny are distinctions having reference to
the nature or value of the property stolen. They are abolished in
England. -- Mixed, or Compound, larceny, that which, under statute,
includes in it the aggravation of a taking from a building or the
person. -- Simple larceny, that which is not accompanied with any
aggravating circumstances.
Larch (lärch), n. [Cf. OE. larege (Cotgrave), It. larice, Sp. larice,
alerce, G. lärche; all fr. L. larix, - icis, Gr. la`rix.] (Bot.) A
genus of coniferous trees, having deciduous leaves, in fascicles (see
Illust. of Fascicle). The European larch is Larix Europæa. The American
or black larch is L. Americana, the hackmatack or tamarack. The trees
are generally of a drooping, graceful appearance.
Larch"en (?), a. Of or pertaining to the larch. Keats.
Lard (?), n. [F., bacon, pig's fat, L. lardum, laridum; cf. Gr. (&?;)
fattened, fat.] 1. Bacon; the flesh of swine. [Obs.] Dryden.
2. The fat of swine, esp. the internal fat of the abdomen; also, this
fat melted and strained.
Lard oil, an illuminating and lubricating oil expressed from lard. --
Leaf lard, the internal fat of the hog, separated in leaves or masses
from the kidneys, etc.; also, the same melted.
Lard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Larded; p. pr. & vb. n. Larding.] [F. larder.
See Lard, n.] 1. To stuff with bacon; to dress or enrich with lard;
esp., to insert lardons of bacon or pork in the surface of, before
roasting; as, to lard poultry.
And larded thighs on loaded altars laid.
Dryden.