LAWN, lawn, _n._ a sort of fine linen or cambric.--_adj._ made of
lawn.--_adj._ LAWN'Y.--LAWN SLEEVES, wide sleeves of lawn worn by Anglican
bishops. [Prob. from Fr. _Laon_, a town near Rheims.]
LAWN, lawn, _n._ an open space between woods: a space of ground covered
with grass, generally in front of or around a house or mansion.--_ns._
LAWN'-MOW'ER, a machine for cutting the grass on a lawn; LAWN'-SPRINK'LER,
a machine for watering a lawn by sprinkling from a hose with perforated
swivel-collar; LAWN'-TENN'IS, a game played with a ball and rackets on an
open lawn or other smooth surface by two, three, or four persons.--_adj._
LAWN'Y. [A corr. of _laund_, _lawnd_.]
LAX, laks, _adj._ slack: loose: soft, flabby: not strict in discipline or
morals: loose in the bowels.--_adj._ LAX'ATIVE, having the power of
loosening the bowels.--_n._ a purgative or aperient medicine.--_ns._
LAX'ATIVENESS, LAX'ITY, LAX'NESS, state or quality of being lax;
LAX[=A]'TOR, a muscle that relaxes an organ or part; LAX'IST, one holding
loose notions of moral laws, or of their application.--_adv._ LAX'LY. [L.
_laxus_, loose.]
LAY, _pa.t._ of _lie_, to lay one's self down.
LAY, l[=a], _v.t._ to cause to lie down: to place or set down: to beat
down: to spread on a surface: to conjoin: to spread the proper thing on: to
calm: to appease: to wager: to bring forth: to impose: to charge: to
present.--_v.i._ to produce eggs: to wager, bet:--_pr.p._ lay'ing; _pa.t._
and _pa.p._ laid.--_n._ situation: (_Shak._) a bet: a share of profit, esp.
in whaling enterprises: (_slang_) a field or method of operations, esp. of
thieves: a measure in thread manufacture, about 800 yards.--_ns._ LAY'ER,
that which lays--e.g. a hen, a bricklayer: a bed or stratum: a shoot laid
for propagation; LAY'ERING, the propagation of plants by layers; LAY'ING,
the first coat of plaster: the act or time of laying eggs: the eggs laid;
LAY'-OUT, that which is laid out, a spread, for dining, gaming, &c.;
LAY'-STALL, a place for laying dung, rubbish, &c.--LAY ABOUT ONE, to deal
blows vigorously or on all sides; LAY ASIDE, AWAY, to discard: to put apart
for future use; LAY AT, to endeavour to strike; LAY BARE, to make bare,
disclose; LAY BEFORE, to submit to, as of plans; LAY BY, to keep for future
use, to dismiss, to put off; LAY BY THE HEELS (see HEEL); LAY DOWN, to give
up: to deposit, as a pledge: to apply, as embroidery: to delineate,
describe: to affirm, assert: (_rare_) to store for future use; LAY HEADS
TOGETHER, to consult together, to deliberate; LAY HOLD OF, or ON, to seize,
apprehend; LAY IN, to get in a supply of; LAY INTO, to chastise thoroughly;
LAY IT ON, to charge exorbitantly, to do anything with profuseness; LAY
OFF, to cast aside: to mark off; LAY ON, to apply with force, to strike, to
act with vigour; LAY ONE'S SELF OUT TO, to put forth one's best efforts for
anything; LAY ON LOAD (_Spens._), to belabour; LAY ON THE TABLE (see
TABLE); LAY OPEN, to make bare, to show, expose; LAY OUT, to expand, to
display: to expend, to plan, to exert: to dress in grave-clothes: to take
measures, seek; LAY SIEGE TO, to besiege: to importune; LAY THE LAND, to
cause the land to disappear below the horizon by sailing away from it; LAY
TO, to apply with vigour: to bring a ship to rest; LAY TO HEART (see
HEART); LAY UNDER, to subject to; LAY UP, to store up, preserve: to confine
to one's bed or room for a time: to put a ship in dock after dismantling;
LAY UPON, to wager upon; LAY WAIT, to lie in wait, or in ambush; LAY WASTE,
to devastate, to destroy.--LAYING ON OF HANDS (see HAND).--LAID EMBROIDERY,
gimped or raised embroidery.--ON A LAY, on shares, as when a crew is
shipped 'on a lay' instead of receiving wages. [_Lay_ is the causal to
_lie_, from A.S. _lecgan_; Ice. _leggja_, Ger. _legen_.]
LAY, l[=a], _n._ a song: a lyric or narrative poem. [O. Fr. _lai_, from
Celt.; cf. Gael. _laoidh_, a hymn.]
LAY, l[=a], LAIC, -AL, l[=a]'ik, -al, _adjs._ pertaining to the people: not
clerical: unprofessional: (_cards_) not trumps.--_v.t._ L[=A]'ICISE, to
deprive of a clerical character.--_ns._ L[=A]'ITY, the people as
distinguished from any particular profession, esp. the clerical;
LAY'-BAP'TISM, baptism administered by a layman; LAY'-BROTH'ER, a layman: a
man under vows of celibacy and obedience, who serves a monastery, but is
exempt from the studies and religious services required of the monks;
LAY'-COMMUN'ION, the state of being in the communion of the church as a
layman; LAY'-IMPR[=O]'PRIATOR, an impropriator who is a layman (see
IMPROPRIATOR); LAY'-LORD, a civil lord of the Admiralty; LAY'MAN, one of
the laity: a non-professional man; LAY'-READ'ER, in the Anglican Church, a
layman who receives authority to read the lessons or a part of the service,
and who may in certain cases preach or read the sermons of others. [O. Fr.
_lai_--L. _laicus_--Gr. _laikos_--_laos_, the people.]
LAY-DAY, l[=a]'-d[=a], _n._ one of a number of days allowed a charter-party
for shipping or unshipping cargo.
LAYER, l[=a]'[.e]r, _n._ a stratum--better LAIR (q.v.). See LAY.
LAYETTE, l[=a]-yet', _n._ a baby's complete outfit: a tray for carrying
powder in powder-mills. [Fr.]
LAY-FIGURE, l[=a]'-fig'[=u]r, _n._ a jointed figure used by painters in
imitation of the human body, as a model for drapery: a living person or a
fictitious character wanting in individuality.--Also LAY'-MAN.
LAZAR, l[=a]'zar, _n._ one afflicted with a loathsome and pestilential
disease like Lazarus, the beggar.--_ns._ L[=A]'ZAR-HOUSE, a lazaretto;
LAZ'ARIST, a member of a R.C. order, the Congregation of the Priests of the
Mission, founded by St Vincent de Paul in 1624.--_adj._ L[=A]'ZAR-LIKE,
like a lazar: full of sores: leprous. [Fr. _lazare_--L.,--Gr. _Lazaros_, in
the parable in Luke xvi.--Heb. _El`[=a]z[=a]r_, 'he whom God helps.']
LAZARETTO, laz-a-ret'[=o], _n._ a public hospital for diseased persons,
esp. for such as have infectious disorders: a prison hospital: a place
where persons are kept during quarantine.--Also LAZ'ARET. [It.
_lazzeretto_.]
LAZARONI, laz-a-r[=o]'ni, _n._ Same as LAZZARONI.
LAZULI, laz'[=u]-l[=i]. See LAPIS-LAZULI, under LAPIDARY.
LAZULITE, laz'[=u]-l[=i]t, _n._ a mineral of a light, indigo-blue colour,
occurring in quartz and in clay-slate.
LAZY, l[=a]'zi, _adj._ disinclined to exertion: averse to labour: sluggish:
tedious.--_v.i._ LAZE, to be lazy.--_adv._ L[=A]'ZILY.--_ns._ L[=A]'ZINESS,
state or quality of being lazy; L[=A]'ZY-BED, a bed for growing potatoes,
the seed being laid on the surface and covered with earth dug out of
trenches along both sides; L[=A]'ZYBONES (_coll._), a lazy person, an
idler; L[=A]'ZY-JACK, a jack constructed of compound levers pivoted
together; L[=A]'ZY-PIN'ION (see IDLE-WHEEL).--_n.pl._ L[=A]'ZY-TONGS, tongs
consisting of a series of diagonal levers pivoted together at the middle
and ends, capable of being extended by a movement of the scissors-like
handles so as to pick up objects at a distance. [M. E. _lasche_--O. Fr.
_lasche_ (Fr. _lâche_), slack, weak, base--L. _laxus_, loose.]
LAZZARONI, laz-a-r[=o]'ni, _n._ name given to the lowest classes in Naples,
idle beggars, with no fixed habitation or regular occupation:--_sing._
LAZZARONE. [It.]
LEA, l[=e], _n._ a meadow: grass-land, pasturage.--Older forms, LAY, LEE,
LEY. [A.S. _leáh_; cf. prov. Ger. _lohe_, _loh_, found also in place-names,
as Water_loo_.]
LEACH, l[=e]ch, _v.t._ to wash or drain away by percolation of water, esp.
to make lye by leaching ashes--also LETCH.--_ns._ LEACH'-TROUGH, -TUB, a
trough or tub in which ashes are leached.--_adj._ LEACH'Y, liable to be
leached, letting water percolate through. [A.S. _leccan_, to moisten.]
LEACH, l[=e]ch, _n._ Same as LEECH.
LEAD, l[=e]d, _v.t._ to show the way by going first: to guide by the hand:
to direct: to precede: to transport or carry: to allure.--_v.i._ to go
before and show the way: to have a tendency: to exercise dominion:--_pr.p._
lead'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ led.--_n._ first place: precedence:
direction: (_naut._) the course of a running rope from end to end: the
right of playing the first card in a round or trick: a main conductor in
electrical distribution.--_ns._ LEAD'ER, one who leads or goes first: a
chief: the leading editorial article in a newspaper (also LEADING ARTICLE):
principal wheel in any machinery; LEADERETTE', a brief newspaper leader;
LEAD'ERSHIP, state or condition of a leader or conductor;
LEAD'ING-BUS'INESS, the acting of the principal parts or rôles in plays;
LEAD'ING-M[=O]'TIVE (Ger. _leit-motif_), in dramatic music, a principal
theme: a theme, usually of but few tones, by which any personage or
particular emotion is indicated by suggestion as often as it occurs;
LEAD'ING-QUES'TION, a legal term for a question so put to a witness as to
suggest the answer that is wished or expected.--_n.pl._ LEAD'ING-STRINGS,
strings used to lead children when beginning to walk: vexatious care or
custody.--LEAD APES IN HELL (see APE); LEAD ASTRAY, to draw into a wrong
course, to seduce from right conduct; LEAD BY THE NOSE, to make one follow
submissively; LEAD IN PRAYER, to offer up prayer in an assembly, uniting
the prayers of others; LEAD OFF, to begin or take the start in anything;
LEAD ON, to persuade to go on, to draw on; LEAD ONE A DANCE (see DANCE);
LEAD UP TO, to bring about by degrees, to prepare for anything by steps or
stages. [A.S. _l['æ]dan_, to lead, _lád_, a way; Ger. _leiten_, to lead.]
LEAD, led, _n._ a well-known metal of a bluish-white colour: the plummet
for sounding at sea: a thin plate of lead separating lines of type: (_pl._)
sheets of lead for covering roofs, a flat roof so covered.--_v.t._ to cover
or fit with lead: (_print._) to separate lines with leads.--_n._
LEAD'-ARM'ING, tallow, &c., placed in the hollow of a sounding-lead, to
ascertain the nature of the bottom.--_adjs._ LEAD'ED, fitted with or set in
lead: (_print._) separated by leads, as the lines of a book, &c.; LEAD'EN,
made of lead: heavy: dull; LEAD'EN-HEART'ED, having an unfeeling heart;
LEAD'EN-STEP'PING (_Milt._), moving slowly.--_ns._ LEAD'-GLANCE, lead ore,
galena; LEAD'-MILL, a mill for grinding white-lead: a leaden disc charged
with emery for grinding gems; LEAD'-PEN'CIL, a pencil or instrument for
drawing, &c., made of blacklead; LEAD'-POI'SONING, or _Plumbism_, poisoning
by the absorption and diffusion of lead in the system, its commonest form,
_Lead_ or _Painter's Colic_; LEADS'MAN, a seaman who heaves the
lead.--_adj._ LEAD'Y, like lead. [A.S. _leád_; Ger. _loth_.]
LEAF, l[=e]f, _n._ one of the lateral organs developed from the stem or
axis of the plant below its growing-point: anything beaten thin like a
leaf: two pages of a book: one side of a window-shutter, &c.:--_pl._ LEAVES
(l[=e]vz).--_v.i._ to shoot out or produce leaves:--_pr.p._ leaf'ing;
_pa.p._ leafed.--_ns._ LEAF'AGE, leaves collectively: abundance of leaves:
season of leaves or leafing; LEAF'-BRIDGE, a form of drawbridge in which
the rising leaf or leaves swing vertically on hinges; LEAF'-BUD, a bud
producing a stem with leaves only; LEAF'INESS; LEAF'-IN'SECT, an
orthopterous insect of family _Phasmidæ_, the wing-covers like
leaves.--_adj._ LEAF'LESS, destitute of leaves.--_ns._ LEAF'LET, a little
leaf, a tract; LEAF'-MET'AL, metal, especially alloys imitating gold and
silver, in very thin leaves, for decoration; LEAF'-MOULD, earth formed from
decayed leaves, used as a soil for plants; LEAF'-STALK, the petiole
supporting the leaf.--_adj._ LEAF'Y, full of leaves.--TAKE A LEAF OUT OF
ONE'S BOOK (see BOOK); TURN OVER A NEW LEAF, to take up a new and better
course of conduct. [A.S. _leáf_; Ger. _laub_, Dut. _loof_, a leaf.]
LEAGUE, l[=e]g, _n._ a nautical measure, 1/20th of a degree, 3 geographical
miles, 3.456 statute miles: an old measure of length, varying from the
Roman league, 1.376 mod. Eng. miles, to the French, 2.764 miles, and the
Spanish, 4.214 miles. [O. Fr. _legue_ (Fr. _lieue_)--L. _leuca_, a Gallic
mile of 1500 Roman paces; from the Celt., as in Bret. _leó_.]
LEAGUE, l[=e]g, _n._ a bond or alliance: union for mutual
advantage.--_v.i._ to form a league: to unite for mutual interest:--_pr.p._
leag'uing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ leagued.--_n._ LEAG'UER, one connected with
a league. [Fr. _ligue_--Low L. _liga_--L. _lig[=a]re_, to bind.]
LEAGUER, l[=e]g'[.e]r, _n._ a camp, esp. of a besieging army: siege or
besiegement. [Dut. _leger_, a lair.]
LEAK, l[=e]k, _n._ a crack or hole in a vessel through which liquid may
pass: the oozing of any fluid through an opening.--_v.i._ to let any fluid
into or out of a vessel through a leak.--_ns._ LEAK'AGE, a leaking: that
which enters or escapes by leaking: an allowance for leaking;
LEAK'INESS.--_adj._ LEAK'Y, having leaks: letting any liquid in or
out.--LEAK OUT, to find vent, to get to the public ears; SPRING A LEAK, to
begin to let in water. [Ice. _leka_; Dut. _lekken_, to drip.]
LEAL, l[=e]l, _adj._ true-hearted, faithful.--LAND O' THE LEAL, the home of
the blessed after death--Paradise, not Scotland. [Norm. Fr. _leal_, same as
_loyal_.]
LEAM, l[=e]m, _n._ (_obs._) a gleam of light, a glow.--_v.i._ to shine.
[A.S. _leóma_.]
LEAN, l[=e]n, _v.i._ to incline or bend: to turn from a straight line: to
rest against: to incline towards:--_pr.p._ lean'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._
leaned or leant (lent).--_n._ LEAN'-TO, a shed or penthouse whose supports
lean upon another building or wall. [A.S. _hlinian_, and causal form
_hl['æ]nan_; Dut. _leunen_.]
LEAN, l[=e]n, _adj._ thin, wanting flesh: not fat: unprofitable, taking
extra time--a printer's phrase.--_n._ flesh without fat.--_adj._
LEAN'-FACED, having a thin face: (_print._) slender and narrow, as
letters.--_adv._ LEAN'LY.--_n._ LEAN'NESS.--_adj._ LEAN'-WIT'TED, of little
sense. [A.S. _hl['æ]ne_; Low Ger. _leen_; according to Skeat, from
_hl['æ]nan_, to lean (above).]
LEAP, l[=e]p, _v.i._ to move with bounds: to spring upward or forward: to
jump: to rush with vehemence.--_v.t._ to bound over: to cause to take a
leap: to cover or copulate (of some beasts):--_pr.p._ leap'ing; _pa.t._
leaped or leapt (lept); _pa.p._ leaped, rarely leapt.--_n._ act of leaping:
bound: space passed by leaping: sudden transition.--_ns._ LEAP'-FROG, a
play in which one boy places his hands on the back of another stooping in
front of him, and vaults over his head; LEAP'ING-HOUSE (_Shak._), a
brothel; LEAP'ING-TIME (_Shak._), youth; LEAP'-YEAR, every fourth year--of
366 days, adding one day in February.--LEAP IN THE DARK, an act of which we
cannot foresee the consequences. [A.S. _hleápan_, pa.t. _hleóp_; Ger.
_laufen_, to run.]