‘his scornful muse could ne’er abide
With tragic shoes her _ancles_ for to hide,’
the pace of the verse told me that her maukin _knuckles_ were
never shapen to that royal buskin.--MILTON, _Apology for
Smectymnuus_, p. 186.
=LACE.= That which now commonly bears this name has it on the score
of its curiously woven threads; but ‘lace,’ Old French ‘las,’ ‘laqs,’
identical with the Latin ‘laqueus,’ is commonly used by our earlier
writers in the more original sense of a noose.
And in my Mynde I measure pace by pace,
To seeke the place where I myself had lost,
That day that I was tangled in the _lace_
In seemyng slacke that knitted ever most.
EARL OF SURREY, _The Restless State of a Lover_, p. 2
(ed. 1717).
Yet if the polype can get and entangle him [the lobster] once
within his long _laces_, he dies for it.--HOLLAND, _Plutarch’s
Morals_, p. 973.
=LANDSCAPE.= The second syllable in ‘land_scape_’ or ‘land_skip_’ is
only a Dutch example of an earlier form of the same termination which
we meet in ‘friend_ship_,’ ‘lord_ship_,’ ‘fellow_ship_,’ and the
like. As these mean the manner or fashion of a friend, of a lord, and
so on, so ‘landscape’ the manner or fashion of the land; and in our
earlier English this rather as the pictured or otherwise counterfeited
model, than in its very self. As this imitation would be necessarily
in small, the word acquired the secondary meaning of a compendium or
multum in parvo; cf. Skinner, _Etymologicon_, s. v. _Landskip_: Tabula
chorographica, primario autem terra, provincia, seu topographica,
σκιαγραφία; Phillips, _New World of Words_, s. v.; and Earle,
_Philology of the English Tongue_, § 327, who suggests that the word
has been borrowed by us from the Dutch painters, which would account
for the termination ‘-scape,’ ‘-skip’ instead of the native suffix
‘-ship.’ See Skeat’s Dictionary.
The sins of other women show in _landskip_, far off and full of
shadow; her [a harlot’s] _in statue_, near hand and bigger in
the life.--Sir THOMAS OVERBURY, _Characters_.
London, as you know, is our Ἑλλάδος Ἑλλάς, our England of
England, and our _landskip_ and representation of the whole
island.--HACKET, _Life of Archbishop Williams_, part ii. p. 59.
The detestable traitor, that prodigy of nature, that opprobrium
of mankind, that _landscape_ of iniquity, that sink of sin,
and that compendium of baseness, who now calls himself our
Protector.--_Address sent by the Anabaptists to the King_,
1658, in CLARENDON’S _History of the Rebellion_, b. xv.
=LATCH.= Few things now are ‘latched’ or caught except a door or
casement; but the word was formerly of much wider use. It is the O.E.
_lœccan_.
Those that remained threw darts at our men, and _latching_ our
darts, sent them again at us.--GOLDING, _Cæsar_, p. 60.
Peahens are wont to lay by night, and that from an high place
where they perch; and then, unless there be good heed taken
that the eggs be _latched_ in some soft bed underneath, they
are soon broken.--HOLLAND, _Pliny_, vol. i. p. 301.
=LECTURE.= Where words like ‘lecture’ and ‘reading’ exist side by side,
it is very usual for one after a while to be appropriated to the doing
of the thing, the other to the thing which is done. So it has been
here; but they were once synonymous.
After the _lecture_ of the law and of the prophets, the rulers
of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Good brethren, if ye
have any sermon to exhort the people, say on.--_Acts_ xiii. 15.
COVERDALE.
That may be gathered out of Plutarch’s writings, out of
those especially where he speaketh of the _lecture_ of the
poets.--NORTH, _Plutarch’s Lives_, p. 982.
In my _lecture_ I often perceive how my authors commend
examples for magnanimity and force, that rather proceed from
a thick skin and hardness of the bones.--FLORIO, _Montaigne’s
Essays_, p. 72.
=LEGACY.= This now owns no relation except with ‘lēgatum,’ which
meant in juristic Latin a portion of the inheritance by testamentary
disposition withdrawn from the heir, and bestowed upon some other. It
was formerly used as a derivative of ‘legatus,’ ambassador, in the
sense of embassage.
They were then preaching bishops, and more often seen in
pulpits than in princes’ palaces: more often occupied in his
_legacy_, who said, Go ye into the whole world and preach
the gospel to all men, than in embassages and affairs of
princes.--_Homilies, Against Peril of Idolatry._
Otherwise, while he is yet far off, sending a _legacy_, he
asketh those things that belong to peace.--_Luke_ xiv. 32.
Rheims.
And his citizens hated him, and they sent a _legacie_
after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over
us.--_Luke_ xix. 14. Ibid.
=LEVY.= Troops are now raised, or ‘levied,’ indifferently: but a siege
is only raised, and not ‘levied,’ as it too once might have been.
Euphranor having _levied_ the siege from this one city,
forthwith led his army to Demetrias.--HOLLAND, _Livy_, p. 1178.
=LEWD=, }
LEWDLY, }
LEWDNESS. }
There are three distinct stages in the meaning of the word ‘lewd;’ of
these it has entirely overlived two, and survives only in the third,
namely in that of wanton or lascivious. Without discussing here its
etymology or its exact relation to ‘lay,’ it is sufficient to observe,
that, as ‘lay,’ it was often used in the sense of ignorant, or rather
unlearned. Next, according to the proud saying of the Pharisees, ‘This
people who knoweth not the law are cursed’ (_John_ vii. 49), and on
the assumption, which would have its truth, that those untaught in the
doctrines, would be unexercised in the practices, of Christianity, it
came to signify vicious, though without designating one vice more than
others. While in its present and third stage, it has, like so many
other words, retired from this general designation of all vices, to
express one of the more frequent, alone.
Archa-Dei in the olde law Levites it kepten;
Hadde nevere _lewed_ man leve to leggen honde on that chest.
_Piers Plowman_, B-text, Passus xii. 115 (Skeat).
For as moche as the curatis ben often so _lewed_, that thei
understonden not bookis of Latyn for to teche the peple, it is
spedful not only to the _lewed_ peple, but also to the _lewed_
curatis, to have bookis in Englisch of needful loore to the
_lewed_ people.--_Wycliffe Mss._, p. 5.
Of sondry thoughtes thus they jangle and trete
As _lewed_ peple demeth comunly
Of thinges that ben maad more subtily
Than they can in her _lewdenes_ comprehende.
CHAUCER, _The Squieres Tale_ (Morris, ii. p. 361).
Joon was a _lewde_ fischere and untaught in scolys.--PURVEY,
_Preface to Epistles of St. Jerome_, p. 65.
Neither was it Christ’s intention that there should be any
thing in it [the Lord’s Prayer] dark or far from our capacity,
specially since it belongeth equally to all, and is as
necessary for the _lewd_ as the learned.--_A Short Catechism_,
1553.
This is servitude,
To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,
Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled,
Yet _lewdly_ darest our ministering upbraid.
MILTON, _Paradise Lost_, vi. 178.
If it were a matter of wrong or wicked _lewdness_
[ῥᾳδιούργημα], O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with
you.--_Acts_ xviii. 14. (A.V.)
=LIBERAL.= Often used by Shakespeare and his contemporaries as free of
tongue, licentious or wanton in speech.
There with fantastic garlands did she come,
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That _liberal_ shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do dead-men’s-fingers call them.
SHAKESPEARE, _Hamlet_, act iv. sc. 7.
_Desdemona_ [of _Iago_]: Is he not a most profane and _liberal_
counsellor?--Id., _Othello_, act ii. sc. 1.
But that we know thee, Wyatt, to be true,
Thy overboldness should be paid with death;
But cease, for fear your _liberal_ tongue offend.
WEBSTER, _The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyatt_.
=LIBEL.= This, properly a little book, is with us any defamatory speech
or writing; but was not formerly so restricted; indeed, in the legal
language of Scotland, where an indictment is in technical language a
‘libel,’ it still retains a wider meaning.
Forsoothe, it is said, Who evere shal leeve his wyf, geve he to
hir a _libel_.--_Matt._ v. 31. WICLIF.
Let the Allmightie geve me answere, and let him that is my
contrary party sue me with a _lybell_.--_Job_ xxxi. 35.
COVERDALE.
Here is a _libel_ too accusing Cæsar,
From Lucius Vectius, and confirmed by Curius.
BEN JONSON, _Catiline_, act v. sc. 4.
=LIBERTINE.= A striking evidence of the extreme likelihood that he
who has no restraints on his belief will ere long have none upon his
life, is given by this word ‘libertine.’ Applied at first to certain
heretical sects, and intended to mark the licentious _liberty_ of their
creed, ‘libertine’ soon let go altogether its relation to what a man
believed, and acquired the sense which it now has, a ‘libertine’ being
one who has released himself from all moral restraints, and especially
in his relations with the other sex.
That the Scriptures do not contain in them all things necessary
to salvation, is the fountain of many great and capital
errors; I instance in the whole doctrine of the _libertines_,
familists, quakers, and other enthusiasts, which issue from
this corrupted fountain.--Bishop TAYLOR, _A Dissuasive from
Popery_, part ii. b. 1, § 2.
It is not to be denied that the said _libertine_ doctrines do
more contradict the doctrine of the Gospel, even Christianity
itself, than the doctrines of the Papists about the same
subjects do.--BAXTER, _Catholic Theology_, part iii. p. 289.
It is too probable that our modern _libertines_, deists, and
atheists, took occasion from the scandalous contentions of
Christians about many things, to disbelieve all.--_A Discourse
of Logomachies_, 1711.
=LITIGIOUS.= This word has changed from an objective to a subjective
sense. Things were ‘litigious’ once, which offered matter for going
to law; persons are ‘litigious’ now, who are prone to going to law.
Both meanings are to be found in the Latin ‘litigiosus,’ though
predominantly that which we have now made the sole meaning.
Dolopia he hath subdued by force of arms, and could not abide
to hear that the determination of certain provinces, which were
debatable and _litigious_, should be referred to the award of
the people of Rome.--HOLLAND, _Livy_, p. 1111.
Of the articles gainsaid by a great outcry, three and no more
did seem to be _litigious_.--HACKET, _Life of Archbishop
Williams_, part i. p. 140.
No fences parted fields, nor marks nor bounds
Distinguished acres of _litigious_ grounds.
DRYDEN, _Virgil’s Georgics_, b. i. 193, 4.
=LIVELY.= This had once nearly, if not altogether, the same meaning as
‘living.’ We have here the explanation of a circumstance which many
probably have noted and regretted in the Authorized Version of the
New Testament, namely that while λίθον ζῶντα at _1 Pet._ ii. 4 is ‘a
_living_ stone,’ λίθοι ζῶντες, which follows immediately, ver. 5, is
only ‘_lively_ stones,’ ‘living’ being thus brought down to ‘lively’
with no correspondent reduction in the original to warrant it. But
when our Version was made, there was scarcely any distinction between
the forces of the words. Still it would certainly have been better to
adhere to one word or the other.
Mine enemies are _lively_ (Heb. living), and they are
strong.--_Ps._ xxxviii. 19. (A.V.)
Was it well done to suffer him, imprisoned in chains, lying in
a dark dungeon, to draw his _lively_ breath at the pleasure of
the hangman?--HOLLAND, _Livy_, p. 228.
Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,
It would have madded me; what shall I do
Now I behold thy _lively_ body so?
SHAKESPEARE, _Titus Andronicus_, act iii. sc. 1.
That his dear father might interment have,
See, the young man entered a _lively_ grave.
MASSINGER, _The Fatal Dowry_, act ii. sc. 1.
=LIVERY.= It need hardly be observed that the explanation of ‘livery’
which Spenser offers (see below) is perfectly correct; but we do
not any longer recognize the second of those uses of the word there
mentioned by him. It is no longer applied to the ration, or stated
portion of food, delivered at stated periods (the σιτομέτριον of _Luke_
xii. 42), either to the members of a household, to soldiers, or to
others.
To bed they busked them anon,
Their _liveryes_ were served them up soone,
With a merry cheer.
_Ballad of John de Reeve_, 155.
What _Liverye_ is, we by common use in England knowe well
enough, namelye, that it is, allowaunce of horse-meate, as
they commonly use the woord in stabling, as to keepe horses at
_liverye_, the which woord, I gess, is derived of livering or
delivering foorth theyr nightlye foode. Soe in great howses the
_liverye_ is sayd to be served up for all night. And _Liverye_
is also called the upper garment which serving-men weareth, soe
called (as I suppose) for that it is delivered and taken from
him at pleasure.--SPENSER, _View of the State of Ireland_, p.
623 (Globe edition).
The emperor’s officers every night went through the town from
house to house, whereat any English gentleman did repast or
lodge, and served their _liveries_ for all night; first the
officers brought into the house a cast of fine manchet, and of
silver two great pots, and white wine, and sugar, to the weight
of a pound, &c.--CAVENDISH, _Life of Cardinal Wolsey_.
=LOITER=, }
LOITERER. }
Whatever may be the derivation of ‘to loiter,’[17] it is certain that
it formerly implied a great deal more and worse than it implies now.
The ‘loiterer’ then was very much what the tramp is now.
God bad that no such strong lubbers should _loyter_ and goe
a begging, and be chargeable to the congregation.--TYNDALE,
_Works_, p. 217.
He that giveth any alms to an idle beggar robbeth the truly
poor; as S. Ambrose sometimes complaineth that the maintenance
of the poor is made the spoil of the _loiterer_.--SANDERSON,
_Sermons_, 1671. vol. i. p. 198.
Yf he be but once taken soe idlye roging, he [the Provost
Marshal] may punnish him more lightlye, as with stockes or such
like; but yf he be founde agayne soe _loytring_ he may scourge
him with whippes or roddes; after which yf he be agayne taken,
lett him have the bitterness of the marshall lawe.--SPENSER,
_View of the State of Ireland_, p. 679 (Globe Edition).
They spend their youth in _loitering_, bezzling, and
harlotting.--MILTON, _Animadversions on Remonstrants’ Defence_.
=LOVER.= This word has undergone two restrictions, of which formerly
it knew nothing. A natural delicacy, and an unwillingness to confound
under a common name things essentially different, has caused ‘lover’
no longer to be equivalent with friend, but always to imply a relation
resting on the difference of sex; while further, and within these
narrower limits, the ‘lover’ now is always the man, not as once the man
or the woman indifferently. We may still indeed speak of ‘a pair of
lovers,’ but then datur denominatio a potiori. ‘Leman’ had something
of the same history, though that history ended in leaving this a
designation of the woman alone.
If ye love them that love you, what thank have ye therefore?
for sinners also love their _lovers_.--_Luke_ vi. 32.
COVERDALE.