Las"si*tude (?), n. [L. lassitudo, fr. lassus faint, weary; akin to E.
late: cf. F. lassitude. See Late.] A condition of the body, or mind,
when its voluntary functions are performed with difficulty, and only by
a strong exertion of the will; languor; debility; weariness.
The corporeal instruments of action being strained to a high pitch
. . . will soon feel a lassitude.
Barrow.
Lass"lorn` (?), a. Forsaken by a lass. Shak.
Lass"o (ls"s) n.; pl. Lassos (-sz). [Sp. lazo, L. laqueus. See Lace.] A
rope or long thong of leather with a running noose, used for catching
horses, cattle, etc.
Lasso cell (Zoöl.), one of a peculiar kind of defensive and offensive
stinging cells, found in great numbers in all cœlenterates, and in a
few animals of other groups. They are most highly developed in the
tentacles of jellyfishes, hydroids, and Actiniæ. Each of these cells is
filled with, fluid, and contains a long, slender, often barbed, hollow
thread coiled up within it. When the cell contracts the thread is
quickly ejected, being at the same time turned inside out. The thread
is able to penetrate the flesh of various small, soft-bodied animals,
and carries a subtle poison by which they are speedily paralyzed and
killed. The threads, at the same time, hold the prey in position,
attached to the tentacles. Some of the jellyfishes, as the Portuguese
man-of-war, and Cyanea, are able to penetrate the human skin, and
inflict painful stings in the same way. Called also nettling cell,
cnida, cnidocell.
Las"so, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lassoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lassoing.] To
catch with a lasso.
Last (?), 3d pers. sing. pres. of Last, to endure, contracted from
lasteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Last (&?;), a. [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late;
akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See Late, and cf.
Latest.] 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or
considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the
rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the
last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last
chance.
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in
the book of the law of God.
Neh. viii. 18.
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night.
Milton.