LADY, l[=a]'di, _n._ the mistress of a house: a wife: a title of the wives
of knights, and all degrees above them, and of the daughters of earls and
all higher ranks: a title of complaisance to any woman of refined
manners:--_pl._ LADIES (l[=a]'diz).--_ns._ L[=A]'DYBIRD, a genus of little
beetles, usually brilliant red or yellow--also L[=A]'DYBUG, L[=A]'DYCOW;
L[=A]'DY-CHAP'EL, a chapel dedicated to 'Our Lady,' the Virgin Mary,
usually behind the high altar, at the extremity of the apse; L[=A]'DYDAY,
the 25th March, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin; L[=A]'DYFERN,
one of the prettiest varieties of British ferns, common in moist woods,
with bipinnate fronds sometimes two feet long; L[=A]'DY-FLY (same as
LADYBIRD); L[=A]'DYHOOD, condition, character of a lady.--_adj._
L[=A]'DYISH, having the airs of a fine lady.--_ns._ L[=A]'DYISM,
affectation of the airs of a fine lady; L[=A]'DY-KILL'ER, a man who fancies
his fascinations irresistible to women: a general lover.--_adj._
L[=A]'DY-LIKE, like a lady in manners: refined: soft, delicate.--_ns._
L[=A]DY-LOVE, a lady or woman loved: a sweetheart; L[=A]DY'S-BED'STRAW, the
plant _Galium verum_; L[=A]'DY'S-BOW'ER, the only British species of
clematis--also _Traveller's joy_; L[=A]'DY'S-FING'ER, a name for many
plants: a piece of confectionery; L[=A]'DYSHIP, the title of a lady;
L[=A]'DY'S-MAID, a female attendant on a lady, esp. in matters relating to
the toilet; L[=A]DY'S-MAN'TLE, a genus of herbaceous plants having small,
yellowish-green flowers; L[=A]'DY'S-SLIPP'ER, a genus of orchidaceous
plants, remarkable for the large inflated lip of the corolla;
L[=A]'DY'S-SMOCK, the Bitter Cress, a meadow-plant, with whitish,
blush-coloured flowers.--LADIES' COMPANION, a small bag used for carrying
women's work; LADIES' MAN, one fond of women's society.--MY LADYSHIP, YOUR
LADYSHIP, a form of expression used in speaking to, or of, one who has the
rank of a lady. [A.S. _hláf-dige_--_hláf_, a loaf, _d['æ]gee_, a kneader,
or=_hláfweardige_ (i.e. loaf-keeper, see _ward_), and thus a contr. fem. of
_Lord_.]
LÆTARE, l[=e]-t[=a]'r[=e], _n._ the fourth Sunday in Lent, named from the
first word in the service for the festival. [L. _læt[=a]re_, to
rejoice--_lætus_, joyful.]
LAG, lag, _adj._ slack: sluggish: coming behind.--_n._ he who, or that
which, comes behind: the fag-end: (_slang_) an old convict.--_v.i._ to move
or walk slowly: to loiter.--_v.t._ (_slang_) to commit to justice:--_pr.p._
lag'ging; _pa.p._ lagged.--_adj._ LAG'-BELL'IED, having a drooping
belly.--_n._ LAG'-END (_Shak._), the last or long-delayed end.--_adj._
LAG'GARD, lagging: slow: backward.--_ns._ LAG'GARD, LAG'GER, one who lags
behind: a loiterer: an idler.--_adv._ LAG'GINGLY, in a lagging manner.
[Celt., as W. _llag_, loose, Gael. _lag_, feeble; cf. L. _laxus_, loose.]
LAGENA, la-j[=e]'na, _n._ a wine-vase, amphora: the terminal part of the
cochlea in birds and reptiles:--_pl._ LAG[=E]'NÆ. [L.]
LAGER-BEER, lä'ger-b[=e]r, _n._ a kind of light beer very much used in
Germany.--Also LA'GER. [Ger. _lagerbier_--_lager_, a store-house, _bier_,
beer.]
LAGGEN, lag'en, _n._ (_Burns_) the angle between the side and bottom of a
wooden dish.
LAGOMYS, l[=a]-g[=o]'mis, _n._ a genus of rodents, much resembling hares or
rabbits. [Gr. _lag[=o]s_, a hare, _mys_, a mouse.]
LAGOON, LAGUNE, la-g[=oo]n', _n._ a shallow pond into which the sea flows.
[It. _laguna_--L. _lacuna_.]
LAGOPHTHALMIA, lag-of-thal'mi-a, _n._ inability to close the eye.--_adj._
LAGOPHTHAL'MIC.
LAGOPUS, la-g[=o]'pus, _n._ a genus of grouse, the ptarmigans.--_adj._
LAGOP'ODOUS, having furry feet.--_n._ LAGOS'TOMA, hare-lip.--_adj._
LAG[=O]'TIC, rabbit-eared.