Nor brothers cite to the litigious bar.
Young.
Li*ti"gious*ly, adv. In a litigious manner.
Li*ti"gious*ness, n. The state of being litigious; disposition to
engage in or carry on lawsuits.
Lit"mus (?), n. [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of
fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See Lac a resinous
substance.] (Chem.) A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens (Roccella
tinctoria, Lecanora tartarea, etc.), as a blue amorphous mass which
consists of a compound of the alkaline carbonates with certain coloring
matters related to orcin and orcein.
Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to
its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity
and alkalinity.
Litmus paper (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus,
-- used in testing for acids or alkalies.
||Li"to*tes (l"t*tz), n. [NL., fr. Gr. lito`ths, from lito`s plain,
||simple.] (Rhet.) A diminution or softening of statement for the sake
||of avoiding censure or increasing the effect by contrast with the
||moderation shown in the form of expression; as, " a citizen of no
||mean city," that is, of an illustrious city.
||
Li*tran"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. li`tra + -meter. See Liter] An instrument
for ascertaining the specific gravity of liquids.
Li"tre (l"tr; 277), n. [F.] Same as Liter.
Lit"ter (lt"tr), n. [F. litière, LL. lectaria, fr. L. lectus couch,
bed. See Lie to be prostrated, and cf. Coverlet.] 1. A bed or stretcher
so arranged that a person, esp. a sick or wounded person, may be easily
carried in or upon it.
There is a litter ready; lay him in 't.
Shak.
2. Straw, hay, etc., scattered on a floor, as bedding for animals to
rest on; also, a covering of straw for plants.
To crouch in litter of your stable planks.
Shak.
Take off the litter from your kernel beds.
Evelyn.
3. Things lying scattered about in a manner indicating slovenliness;
scattered rubbish.
Strephon, who found the room was void. Stole in, and took a strict
survey Of all the litter as it lay.
Swift.
4. Disorder or untidiness resulting from scattered rubbish, or from
thongs lying about uncared for; as, a room in a state of litter.
5. The young brought forth at one time, by a sow or other multiparous
animal, taken collectively. Also Fig.
A wolf came to a sow, and very kindly offered to take care of her
litter.