KYLIX, k[=i]'liks, _n._ a broad and shallow Greek drinking-vase.
KYLLOSIS, kil-l[=o]'sis, _n._ club-foot.
KYLOE, k[=i]'l[=o], _n._ one of the cattle of the Hebrides.
KYMOGRAPH, k[=i]'m[=o]-graf, _n._ an instrument for measuring the pressure
of fluids, esp. of blood in a blood-vessel.--_adj._ KYMOGRAPH'IC. [Gr.
_kyma_, a wave, _graphein_, to write.]
KYRIE, kir'i-[=e], _n._ the _Kyrie eleïson_='Lord have mercy,' including
both the words and the music to which they are sung: one of the responses
to the commandments in the Anglican ante-communion service.--KYRIE ELEÏSON,
a form of prayer which occurs in all the ancient Greek liturgies, and
retained in the R.C. mass, following immediately after the introit. [Voc.
case of Gr. _kyrios_, lord.]
KYRIOLOGIC, -al, kir-i-o-loj'ik, -al, _adj._ denoting objects by
alphabetical characters or conventional signs. [Gr. _kyrios_, literal,
proper, _logos_, discourse.]
KYTHE, k[=i]_th_, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to make known.--_v.i._ to show one's
self, to appear. [A.S. _cyðan_, to make known. See UNCOUTH.]
* * * * *
L the twelfth letter in our alphabet, usually termed a liquid, but more
correctly designated as a front palatal: (_chem._) the symbol for lithium:
in Roman numerals, for 50, but [=L]=50,000.
LA, lä, _interj._ lo! see! behold! ah! indeed!--_n._ (_mus._) in
solmisation, the syllable used for the sixth tone of the scale. [A.S.
_lá_.]
LAAGER, lä'g[.e]r, _n._ in South African campaigning, a camp made by a ring
of ox-wagons set close together, the spaces beneath being filled up with
the baggage of the company.--_v.t._ to arrange in such a defensive
enclosure. [Dut., a variant of _leger_, a camp.]
[Illustration]
LABARUM, lab'a-rum, _n._ a Roman military standard adopted as the imperial
standard after Constantine's conversion. It bore the Greek letters XP
(Chr), joined in a monogram, to signify the name of Christ: a similar
ecclesiastical banner borne in processions: any moral standard or guide.
[Late Gr. _labaron_, origin unknown. Some make bold to derive from Basque
_labaria_, a standard.]
LABDANUM. See LADANUM.
LABEFACTION, lab-e-fak'shun, _n._ a weakening decay--also
LABEFACT[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ LAB'EFY, to impair. [L. _labefac[)e]re_, to
shake.]
LABEL, l[=a]'bel, _n._ a small slip of writing affixed to anything to
denote its contents, ownership, &c.: (_law_) a paper annexed to a will, as
a codicil: (_her._) a fillet with pendants: (_archit._) the dripstone over
a Gothic window or doorway arch.--_v.t._ to affix a label to: to describe
by or on a label:--_pr.p._ l[=a]'belling; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ l[=a]'belled.
[O. Fr. _label_ (Fr. _lambeau_); perh. from Old High Ger. _lappa_ (Ger.
_lappen_).]
LABELLUM, la-bel'um, _n._ the lower petal of a flower, esp. an orchis. [L.,
dim. of _labium_, a lip.]
LABIAL, l[=a]'bi-al, _adj._ pertaining to the lips: formed by the
lips.--_n._ a sound formed by the lips: a letter representing a sound
formed either by both the lips, or by the upper lip and under teeth--_p_,
_b_, _m_, _f_, _v_.--_v.t._ L[=A]'BIALISE.--_adv._ L[=A]'BIALLY.--_n.pl._
LABI[=A]'TÆ, a natural order of gamopetalous plants, the mint family having
four-cornered stems and opposite branches.--_adjs._ L[=A]'BIATE, -D
(_bot._), having two unequal divisions, as in the monopetalous corolla of
the mints.--_adj._ and _n._ LABIODEN'TAL, of a sound pronounced both by the
lips and teeth: a letter representing such (_f_, _v_.).--_n._ L[=A]'BIUM, a
lip or lip-like part:--_pl._ L[=A]'BIA. [Fr.,--L. _labium_, _labrum_, a
lip.]
LABIS, l[=a]'bis, _n._ the cochlear or eucharistic spoon. [Late Gr. from
_lambanein_, to take.]
LABORATORY, lab'or-a-tor-i, _n._ a chemist's workroom: a place where
scientific experiments are systematically carried on: a place for the
manufacture of arms and war material: a place where anything is prepared
for use. [L. _labor[=a]re_--_labor_, work.]
LABOUR, l[=a]'bur, _n._ toil or exertion, esp. when fatiguing: work: pains:
duties: a task requiring hard work: the pangs of childbirth.--_v.i._ to
undergo labour: to work: to take pains: to be oppressed: to move slowly: to
be in travail: (_naut._) to pitch and roll heavily.--_adj._ LAB[=O]'RIOUS,
full of labour: toilsome: wearisome: devoted to labour:
industrious.--_adv._ LAB[=O]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ LAB[=O]'RIOUSNESS.--_adj._
L[=A]'BOURED, bearing marks of labour or effort in the execution.--_ns._
L[=A]'BOURER, one who labours: one who does work requiring little skill;
L[=A]'BOURIST, one who contends for the interests of workmen.--_adjs._
L[=A]'BOUR-SAV'ING, intended to supersede or lessen the labour of men;
L[=A]'BOURSOME (_Shak._), made with labour and diligence.--LABOUR DAY, a
legal holiday in some parts of the United States, as in New York (the first
Monday in September); LABOUR MARKET, the supply of unemployed labour in
relation to the demand for it; LABOUR OF LOVE, work undertaken merely as an
act of friendliness, and without hope of emolument; LABOUR WITH, to take
pains to convince.--HARD LABOUR, compulsory work imposed on certain
criminals in addition to imprisonment. [O. Fr. _labour_, _labeur_--L.
_labor_.]
LABRADORITE, lab'ra-d[=o]r-[=i]t, _n._ one of the group of the Feldspars,
and a very important rock-forming mineral. [_Labrador_.]
LABRET, l[=a]'bret, _n._ a piece of bone, shell, &c. inserted into the lip
by savages for ornament.--_adj._ L[=A]'BROSE, having thick lips.--_n._
L[=a]'brum, a lip or lip-like part:--_pl._ L[=A]'BRA. [L. _labrum_,
_labium_, a lip.]
LABURNUM, la-bur'num, _n._ a small tree with large pendulous racemes of
beautiful yellow flowers, a native of the Alps. [L.]
LABYRINTH, lab'i-rinth, _n._ a place full of inextricable windings:
(_orig._) a building consisting of halls connected by intricate passages:
an arrangement of tortuous passages in which it is difficult to find the
way out: an inexplicable difficulty, a perplexity: (_anat._) the cavities
of the internal ear.--_adjs._ LABYRINTH'AL, LABYRINTH'IAN, LABYRINTH'INE,
pertaining to or like a labyrinth: winding: intricate: perplexing;
LABYRINTH'IFORM, having the form of a labyrinth: intricate.--_n._
LABYRINTH'ODON, a race of extinct gigantic amphibians found in the Permian,
Carboniferous, and Triassic strata, so called from the mazy pattern
exhibited on a transverse section of the teeth of some genera. [Fr.
_labyrinthe_--L. _labyrinthus_--Gr. _labyrinthos_; akin to _laura_, a
passage.]
LAC, lak, _n._ the term used in India for 100,000 rupees, the nominal value
of which is £10,000.--Also LAKH. [Hind. _lak_--Sans. _laksha_, 100,000, a
mark.]
LAC, lak, _n._ a dark-red transparent resin produced on the twigs of trees
in the East by the lac insect, used in dyeing.--_adj._ LACCIC
(lak'sik).--_ns._ LACCINE (lak'sin), a brittle, translucent, yellow
substance, obtained from shell-lac; LAC'-DYE, LAC'-LAKE, scarlet colouring
matters obtained from STICK'-LAC, the twigs, with attached resin, enclosed
insects, and ova; SEED'-LAC, the granular portion remaining after removing
the resin, triturating with water, and drying; SHELL'-LAC, SHEL'LAC, thin
plates of resin prepared by melting the seed-lac in cotton-cloth bags,
straining, and allowing it to drop on to sticks or leaves. [Pers.
_lak_--Sans. _lákshá_, the lac insect--_rañj_, to dye.]
LACE, l[=a]s, _n._ a plaited string for fastening: an ornamental fabric of
linen, cotton, silk, or gold and silver threads, made by looping, knotting,
plaiting, or twisting the thread into definite patterns, of contrasted open
and close structure; three distinct varieties are made, two by handiwork,
known respectively as _Needle_ or _Point lace_ and _Pillow_ or _Bobbin
Lace_, and one by machinery.--_v.t._ to fasten with a lace: to adorn with
lace: to streak: to mark with the lash: to intermix, as coffee with brandy,
&c.: to intertwine.--_v.i._ to be fastened with a lace.--_ns._ LACE'-BARK
TREE, a lofty West Indies tree, the inner bark like coarse lace;
LACE'-BOOT, a boot fastened by a lace.--_p.adj._ LACED, fastened or adorned
with lace.--_ns._ LACE'-FRAME, a machine used in lace-making; LACE'-LEAF
(see LATTICE-LEAF); LACE'-MAN, one who deals in lace; LACE'-MEND'ER, one
who repairs lace; LACE'-P[=A]'PER, paper stamped or cut by hand with an
open-work pattern like lace; LACE'-PILL'OW, a cushion on which many various
kinds of lace are made, held on the knees.--_adj._ L[=A]'CY, like
lace.--ALENÇON LACE, a very fine point-lace, the most important made in
France; APPLIQUÉ LACE, lace having sprigs or flowers sewed on net;
BALLOON-NET LACE, a form of woven lace in which the freeing threads are
peculiarly twisted about the warps; BRUSSELS LACE, an extremely fine lace
with sprigs applied on a net ground; DUCHESSE LACE, a Belgian pillow-lace
having beautiful designs with cord outlines, often in relief; GUIPURE LACE,
any lace without a net ground, the pattern being held together by bars or
brides; HONITON LACE, a lace made at _Honiton_ in Devonshire, remarkable
for the beauty of its figures and sprigs; IMITATION LACE, any lace made by
machinery; MECHLIN LACE, a lace with bobbin ground and designs outlined by
thread or flat cord; SPANISH LACE, needle-point lace brought from Spanish
convents since their dissolution--but probably of Flemish origin: cut and
drawn work made in convents in Spain, of patterns usually confined to
simple sprigs and flowers: a modern black-silk lace with large
flower-patterns, mostly of Flemish make: a modern needle-point lace with
large square designs; TAMBOUR LACE, a modern kind of lace made with
needle-embroidery on machine-made net; TORCHON LACE, peasants' bobbin laces
of loose texture and geometrical designs, much imitated by machinery;
VALENCIENNES LACE, a fine bobbin lace having the design made with the
ground and of the same thread. [O. Fr. _las_, a noose--L. _laqueus_, a
noose.]
LACERATE, las'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to tear: to rend: to wound: to
afflict.--_adjs._ LAC'ERABLE, that may be lacerated; LAC'ERANT, harrowing;
LAC'ERATE, -D, rent, torn: (_bot._) having the edges cut into irregular
segments.--_n._ LACER[=A]'TION, act of lacerating: the rent made by
tearing.--_adj._ LAC'ERATIVE, tearing: having power to tear. [L.
_lacer[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to tear--_lacer_, torn.]
LACERTA, la-s[.e]r'ta, _n._ a genus of saurian reptiles, the name properly
restricted to slender, active lizards.--_n._ and _adj._ LACER'TIAN, an
animal belonging to the genus Lacerta.--_n._ LACERTIL'IA, an order of
reptiles, including the lizards proper, &c.--_adjs._ LACERTIL'IAN;
LACERTIL'IOID; LACER'TINE. [L.]
LACHES, läsh'[=e]z, _n._ (_law_) negligence or undue delay, such as to
disentitle a person to a certain remedy, any negligence. [O. Fr.
_lachesse_.]
LACHESIS, lak'e-sis, _n._ the one of the three Fates who assigned to each
mortal his destiny--she spun the thread of life from the distaff held by
Clotho. [Gr.]
LACHRYMAL, LACRYMAL, lak'ri-mal, _adj._ of or pertaining to tears,
secreting tears, as in 'lachrymal duct,' the nasal duct, conveying tears
from the eye to the nose.--_n._ one of the bones of the face, the _os
unguis_, or nail-bone, in man.--_adj._ LACH'RYMARY, containing tears.--_n._
LACH'RYM[=A]TORY, a small slender glass vessel found in ancient sepulchres,
apparently filled with the tears of mourners.--_adj._ LACH'RYMOSE,
LAC'RYMOSE, shedding tears, or given to do so: lugubrious,
mournful.--_adv._ LACH'RYMOSELY.--LACHRYMA CHRISTI, a wine of a sweet but
piquant taste, produced from grapes grown on Mount Vesuvius, the best light
red. [L. _lacryma_ (properly _lacrima_), a tear; Gr. _dakru_, Eng. _tear_.]
LACING, l[=a]s'ing, _n._ a fastening with a lace or cord through
eyelet-holes: a cord used in fastening: in bookbinding, the cords by which
the boards of a book are fastened to the back: in shipbuilding, the _knee
of the head_, or _lace-piece_, a piece of compass or knee timber secured to
the back of the figure-head: in mining, _lagging_, or cross-pieces of
timber or iron placed to prevent ore from falling into a passage.
LACINIA, l[=a]-sin'i-a, _n._ a long incision in a leaf, &c.--also a narrow
lobe resulting from such: in entomology, the apex of the maxilla.--_adjs._
LACIN'I[=A]TE, -D, cut into narrow lobes, fringed; LACIN'IFORM,
fringe-like; LACIN'IOL[=A]TE, finely fringed. [L., a flap.]
LACK, lak, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to want: to be in want: to be destitute of: to
miss.--_n._ want: destitution.--_ns._ LACK'-ALL, one who is destitute;
LACK'-BRAIN (_Shak._), a fool.--_adjs._ LACK'-LIN'EN (_Shak._), wanting
linen; LACK'-LUS'TRE, wanting brightness.--_n._ a want of brightness. [From
an old Low Ger. root found in Dut. _lak_, blemish; cf. Ice. _lakr_,
defective.]
LACKADAISICAL, lak-a-d[=a]'zi-kal, _adj._ affectedly pensive,
sentimental.--_interj._ LACK'ADAISY=LACK-A-DAY. [_Alack-a-day_. See ALACK.]
LACK-A-DAY, lak-a-d[=a]', _interj._ See ALACK-A-DAY.
LACKER. See LACQUER.
LACKEY, lak'i, _n._ a menial attendant: a footman or footboy.--_v.t._ and
_v.i._ to pay servile attendance: to act as a footman. [O. Fr. _laquay_
(Fr. _laquais_)--Sp. _lacayo_, a lackey; perh. Ar. _luka`_, servile.]
LACMUS, lak'mus, _n._ the same as LITMUS (q.v.).
LACONIC, -AL, la-kon'ik, -al, _adj._ expressing in few words after the
manner of the _Laconians_, _Lacedæmonians_, or _Spartans_: concise:
pithy.--_adv._ LACON'ICALLY.--_ns._ LAC'ONISM, LACON'ICISM, a concise
style: a short, pithy phrase. [L.,--Gr.]
LACQUER, LACKER, lak'[.e]r, _n._ a varnish made of lac and alcohol.--_v.t._
to cover with lacquer: to varnish.--_ns._ LAC'QUERER, one who varnishes or
covers with lacquer; LAC'QUERING, the act of varnishing with lacquer: a
coat of lacquer varnish. [Fr. _lacre_--Port. _lacre_, _laca_--Pers. _lac_,
lac.]
LACROSSE, la-kros', _n._ a Canadian game of ball, played by two sets of
eleven, the ball driven through the opponents' goal by means of the CROSSE,
a bent stick, 5-6 ft. long, with a shallow net at one end. [Fr.]
LACTEAL, lak'te-al, _adj._ pertaining to or resembling milk: conveying
chyle.--_n._ one of the absorbent vessels of the intestines which convey
the chyle to the thoracic ducts.--_ns._ LAC'TARENE, LAC'TARINE, a
preparation of the caseine of milk, used by calico-printers; LAC'T[=A]TE, a
salt of lactic acid, and a base; LACT[=A]'TION, the act of giving milk: the
period of suckling.--_adj._ LAC'TEOUS, milky, milk-like.--_n._
LACTESC'ENCE.--_adjs._ LACTESC'ENT, turning to milk: producing milk or
white juice: milky; LAC'TIC, pertaining to milk; LACTIF'EROUS, LACTIF'IC,
producing milk or white juice.--_ns._ LAC'TIFUGE, a medicine which checks
the flow of milk; LAC'TOCRITE, an apparatus for testing the quantity of
fatty substance in a sample of milk; LACTOM'ETER, an instrument for
measuring the quality of milk; LAC'TOSCOPE, an instrument for testing the
purity or richness of milk by its degree of translucency; LAC'TOSE, a kind
of sugar, only moderately sweet, obtained from milk by evaporating
whey--also LAC'TINE; LACTUCA (lak-t[=u]'ka), a genus of herbs of the aster
family, with milky juice.--_adj._ LACTUCIC (lak-t[=u]'sik).--LACTIC ACID,
an acid obtained from milk. [L. _lacteus_, milky--_lac_, _lactis_, milk;
Gr. _gala_, _galaktos_, milk.]
LACUNA, la-k[=u]'na, _n._ a gap or hiatus:--_pl._ LAC[=U]'NÆ.--_n._
LAC[=U]'NAR, a sunken panel or coffer in a ceiling or a soffit: a ceiling
containing such.--_adjs._ LAC[=U]'NOSE, furrowed: pitted; LAC[=U]'NOUS. [L.
_lacuna_, anything hollow--_lacus_, a lake.]
LACUSTRINE, la-kus'trin, _adj._ pertaining to lakes.--Also LACUS'TRAL,
LACUS'TRIAN. [From L. _lacus_, a lake.]
LAD, lad, _n._ a boy: a youth: (_Scot._) a lover:--_fem._ LASS.--_n._
LAD'DIE, a little lad: a boy.--LAD'S LOVE, a provincial name of the
southernwood. [M. E. _ladde_--Ir. _lath_, a youth, champion (W. _llawd_).
Mr H. Bradley suggests that M. E. _ladde_, a servant, coincides with the
adjectival form of the past participle of the verb to _lead_, the original
meaning thus being 'one _led_ in the train of a lord.']
LADANUM, lad'a-num, _n._ a resinous exudation from the leaves of a shrub
growing round the Mediterranean.--Also LAB'DANUM. [L.,--Gr.
_l[=e]danon_--Pers. _l[=a]dan_. See LAUDANUM.]
LADDER, lad'[.e]r, _n._ a frame made with steps placed between two upright
pieces, by which one may ascend a building, &c.: anything by which one
ascends: a gradual rise. [A.S. _hl['æ]der_; Ger. _leiter_.]
LADE, l[=a]d, _v.t._ to burden: to throw in or out, as a fluid, with a
ladle or dipper.--_n._ (_Scot._) a load: a water-course: the mouth of a
river.--_n._ LAD'ING, the act of loading: that which is loaded: cargo:
freight. [A.S. _hladan_, pt. _hlód_, _hladen_, to load, to draw out water;
Dut. _laden_; Ger. _be-laden_.]
LADIN, la-d[=e]n', _n._ a Romance tongue spoken in the Engadine valley in
Switzerland and the upper Inn valley in Tyrol. [L. _Latinus_, Latin.]
LADINO, la-d[=e]'n[=o], _n._ the old Castilian tongue: the Spanish jargon
of some Turkish Jews: a Central American of mixed white and Indian blood.
LADLE, l[=a]d'l, _n._ a large spoon for lifting out liquid from a vessel:
the float-board of a mill-wheel: an instrument for drawing the charge from
a cannon.--_v.t._ to lift with a ladle.--_ns._ LAD'LEFUL, the quantity in a
ladle:--_pl._ LAD'LEFULS.--LADLE FURNACE, a small gas furnace heated by a
Bunsen burner, for melting metals, &c. [A.S. _hlædel_--_hladan_, to lade.]