Levant-sponge B. As substantive (pron. lě-vănt'): 1. A name given to those countries, and more especially to the coasts of those countries lying on the eastern part of the Mediterranean and the neighboring seas, as Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Asia Minor, Syria, &c. "My voiage to the Ilands of Candia and Chio in the Leuant."-Hackluyt: Voyages, ii. 92. 2. An easterly wind blowing up the Mediterra nean. "They are called Levants both from their course, as blowing from the East where the sun rises, and also from their freshening and rising higher as the sun rises."— Sir Henry Sheere: Lord Halifax's Miscell., p. 34. Levant and couchant: Law: [COUCHANT, [.] Levant-sponge, s. [TURKEY-SPONGE.] 2511 lev-eē, v. t. [LEVEE, 8.] 1. Ord. Lang.: To attend the levees of; to court at levees. 2. Hydraul. Engin.: To embank; as, to levee a river. lěv -el, *lev-ell, *liv-el, s. & a. [O. Fr. livel, liveau (Fr. niveau), from Latin libella = a level, dimin. of libra a level, a balance; Ital. livello, livella; Port. livel, nivel; Sp. nivel.] A. As substantive: I. Ordinary Language: (1) That which is level; a surface without inequalities; a plane. A line or surface, every point in which is equally distant from the center of the earth, is a true level; a line or surface which is parallel to or coincident lě-vănt, s. [Probably the same as LEVANT, a.] with the plane of the horizon is an apparent level. A land-spring. (2) The line of direction in which a missile is aimed or sent. 1. A native of the Levant. 2. A vessel belonging to the Levant. II. Fabric: A particular kind of silk cloth. lě-vär -i fă -ci-ǎs (cas sh), s. [Lat. that you cause to be levied.] Law: A writ of execution at common law, executed by the sheriff upon the goods and lands of a debtor. lě-vā -tion, s. [Lat. levatio, from levatus, pa. par. of lero to raise.] The act of raising or elevat ing; elevation. lě-vā -tor (pl. lev-a-tör'-ēş), s. [Lat. a lifter, from levo to lighten, to lift up.] 1. Surg. A lever for raising a depressed portion of the skull. It belongs to the trephine case. 2. Anat.: That which raises. Used specially of muscles. There are a levator anguli oris, a levator anguli scapula, a levator palati, and ten others, besides levalores costarum and levatores longiores costarum. *lēve (1), v. t. A shortened form of BELIEVE (q.v.). lēve, a. [LIEF.] *leve-cel, s. [LEVESELL.] (3) In the same senso as II. 2. (1) A state of equality or equal elevation with "The time is not far off when we shall be upon the (2) The natural position or state which belongs "His later productions fall below the level of his early Longfellow: Santa Filomena. (2) An adit or drift forming a drain for water. A leveler *C. As adv.: Direct, straight. "It shall as level to your judgment pierce As day does to your eye." Shakesp.: Hamlet, iv. 2. (1) To do one's level best: To put forth all one's exertions. (2) To have a level head: To possess a well-balanced mind. *level-coil, s. An old Christmas game, in which each player hunted the other from his seat, the loser giving up his seat to the winner; hence, riotous sport of any kind. (Ben Jonson.) level-lines, s. pl. Shipbuild. Lines representing the boundaries of with the keel. Water-lines are drawn parallel with sections drawn at different heights and parallel the line of flotation or the true horizontal. When the ship floats on an even keel, the level-lines and water-lines coincide. lĕv-el, *lěv'-ell, v. t. & i. [LEVEL, 8.] 1. To make horizontal; to reduce to a horizontal But opposite in level'd west was set." Milton: P. L., vii. 376. 3. To make smooth or even; to remove the inequalities of surface in; to reduce to an even or flat surface. "With unresisted might the monarch reigns; "Another sign, and to the aim II. Figuratively: "Reason can never assent to the admission of those brutish appetites which would over-run the soul, and level its superior with its inferior faculties."-Decay of Piety. 2. To aim; to direct. "Revenge, from some baneful corner, shall level a tale 2. Surv. & Engin.: An instrument for indicating virtue."--Milton: Doct. of Divorce, bk. ii., ch. xiv. 4. To adopt; to accommodate; to proportion. (1) The simplest, such as the mason's or carpenter's level, in which the vertical line is determine by a plumb line, and the horizontal by a line perpendicular to it. (2) Those in which the horizontal line is determined by the surface of a fluid at rest; as in the water and mercurial levels. (3) Those in which the horizontal line is determined by a bubble of air floating in a fluid con levee, s. [Fr. levée a levy, &c., prop. the fem. tained in a glass tube; as a spirit level. of the pa. par. of lever to raise.] [LEVY.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. The act or time of rising. "I got to the seacoast time enough to be at the sun's levee."-Gray: Letter to Mr. Nicholls. 2. In the United States this term is applied to any assemblage of guests, whether held in the morning or in the evening. 3. In England the term is confined to a morning reception held by a sovereign, prince, or personage of high rank; especially the state receptions held by the sovereign, to which are admitted all whose zank, position, or office entitles them to such distinction. It differs from a drawing-room reception in the fact that to the latter ladies, as well as gentlemen, are admitted, while to the former gentlemen only are admitted. II. Hydraul. Engin.: An embankment to restrain water, and of a magnitude such as those of the Mississippi, the Ganges, Holland, and the Po. "All the large towns on the river have a levee."-H. A. Murray: Land of the Slave and the Free, viii. ¶ Levée en masse: [LEVY, 8.] B. As adjective: 1. Horizontal; parallel to or coincident with the "Her level rays, like golden bars, Longfellow: Endymion. "The setting sun now beams more mildly bright, "See the revolution of the times Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. II., iii. 1. 4. Having no gradations or difference of superiority or degree; equal in rank or degree; on an equality. I. Literally: 1. To aim or point a gun, &c., in a direct line with 2. To be in a direct line or in the same direction with something. II. Figuratively: 1. To aim; to direct the aim or purpose. "Ambitious York did level at my crown." Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt. III., ii. 2. 2. To conjecture; to guess at. 3. To accord; to agree; to suit. "Such accommodation and resort As levels with her breeding." Shakesp.: Othello, i. 3. 1. To level up: To raise that which is lower to a level or equality with that which is higher; specif., to raise persons of a lower class to an equality with those of a higher. 2. To level down: To lower or reduce to the same level or status. *lēve-less, a. [LEAVELESS.] -er.] lěv-el-er, lěv'-el-lêr, s. [Eng. level, v.; -er. I. Ordinary Language: 1. One who or that which levels. 2. One who wishes to destroy all social distinctions; a socialist. 3. A billiard-table foot having a screw adjustment for height, in order to level the table. 4. An earth-scraper for leveling a site. the Long Parliament about 1647 who wished to II. English Hist.: One of a party in the army of destroy all distinctions of rank and title and estab lish social equality throughout the kingdom. Cromwell put them down in 1649, imprisoning their leader, Lilburn. sin, aş; expect, Xenophon, exist. ph = f leveling lěv ́-el-lịg, lěv-el-ling, pr. par., adj. & 8. (LEVEL, v.] A & B. As pr. par. & particip. adj.: (See the verb.) C. As substantive: 1. The act of making level or reducing to a level; the act of pulling down to the ground. 2. The act or process of ascertaining the level or height of any place, point, or spot. leveling-block, s. A leveling platform, consisting of large iron plates laid together and secured. The respective plates may be 8 or 10 feet long, 5 or 6 wide, and 6 inches thick. They are completely covered with holes, about 1 inches in diameter and 4 or 5 inches apart from center to center. The mold of a given frame having been laid on the leveling-block, the figure of the molding edge is marked on it with chalk, and iron pins are stuck in the holes, so that when the iron rib is made to touch those pins it will have the proper form. In order the more easily to produce any required figure, the heads of the pins are furnished with eccentric discs or cams, by the moving and turning of which the figure of the frame can be adjusted with great precision. Each disc has several center-holes, any one of which can be fitted on the pin. The iron bar of the frame, having been raised to a bright orange heat in a reverberatory furnace, called a reheating furnace, is taken out by the smiths, laid on the leveling-block, and rapidly bent by means of tongs, hammers, mallets, and lovers, so as to lie touching the heads of the pins. leveling-rod, s. The same as LEVELING-STAFF (q. v.). leveling-staff, s. An instrument, one form of which consists of two strips 6% feet long, united by a longitudinal tenon and mortise so as to slide on each other and extend to a length of twelve feet. The divisions are in feet, inches, and fractions, and count from the bottom. A cross-piece or vane slides on the staff, and has an aperture to enable the staff graduations to be read. leveling-stand, s. Photog.: An instrument used to support a glass plate in a horizontal position, so that it shall retain developing or other fluids upon its upper surface. Its usual form is a tripod, of suitable height to stand in the developing-trough, with three adjusting-screws by which the operation of leveling is accomplished. lev-el-işm, s. [English level; -ism.] The act, principle, or theory of reducing distinctions in society to an equality. lěv -el-ly, adv. [Eng. level; ly.] In a level manner; evenly. "Neither would praises and actions appear so levelly concurrent in many other of the Grecians, as they do in these."-Hobbes: Thucydides, bk. ii. lev-el-ness, s. [Eng. level; -ness.] The quality or state of being level; evenness; equality of surface or height. *lěv -en (1), 8. [LEAVEN, 8.] lěv -ẹn (2), s. [LEVIN.] lev-en (3), 8. [LAWN.] A lawn; an open space between woods. lē'-ver (1), *lē'-vour, s. [Fr. leveur a raiser or lifter; also levier a lever, from Lat. levatorem, accus. of levator=a lifter, from levatus, pa. par. of lero-to lift, to make light; levis-light.] 1. Mech.: A bar of wood, metal, or other rigid substance, having a fixed point (or fulcrum), and used to overcome a certain resistance (or weight) at some part of the bar by means of a force (or power) applied at another part. The parts of the lever into which the fulcrum divides it are called the arms of the lever. When the arms are in the same straight line the lever is called a straight lever; in other cases it is called a bent lever. The plane in which the lever can move may be called the plane of the lever. The forces which act on the lever are supposed to act in the plane of the lever. 2512 weight act on opposite sides of the fulcrum. In the second class the power and the weight act on the same side of the fulcrum, the weight being the nearer to the fulcrum. In the third class the power and the weight act on the same side of the fulcrum, the power being the pearer to the fulcrum. Thus we may say briefly that the three classes have respectively the fulcrum, the weight, and the power in the middle position. The following are examples of levers of the first class: A crowbar used to raise a heavy weight, a poker used to raise coals in a grate, the handle of a pump. In scissors, shears, nippers, and pincers we have examples of a double lever of the first class. The oar of a boat furnishes an example of a lever of the second class. The fulcrum is at the blade of the oar in the water; the power is applied by the hand; the weight is applied at the row-lock. A pair of nutcrackers is a double lever of the second class. A pair of tongs used to hold a coal is a double lever of the third class. The fulcrum is the pivot on which the two parts of the instrument turn; the power is the pressure applied by the hand; the weight is the resistance of the coal at the end of the tongs. An example of the third class of lever is seen in the human forearm employed to raise an object taken in the hand. The fulcrum is at the elbow; the power is exerted by a muscle which comes from the upper part of the arm, and is inserted in the forearm near the elbow; the weight is the object raised in the hand. 2. Horology: (1) A form of escapement. [Lever escapemENT.] (2) A watch having a lever-escapement; a lever watch. lever-escapement, s. Horol.: A form of escapement in which the lever vibrates on a center and carries the pallets (or anchor), and its forked end alternately engages with and is engaged by a ruby pin attached to a disc on the balance-arbor. The lever or fork, having the impulse given to it from the wheel, and then striking against the ruby pin, gives the motion to the balance from which it was disengaged, till brought back by the hair-spring; the ruby pin then strikes the fork and disengages the wheel, thus allowing it to go on. This causes two distinct beats. lever-hoist, s. Mech. A contrivance for converting a reciprocating circular into a continuous rectilinear motion. lever-jack, s. A form of hoist having a lever, post, and pawl, in which the lever engages with a rack. [LIFTING-JACK.] lever-obstetric, s. Surg.: [LEVER, II. 4.] lever-press, s. One of the simplest and most evident forms of pressing apparatus. It assumes many forms: cider-presses, lard or tallow squeezers, and cheese-presses, are constructed to obtain pressure by a lever, which is depressed by a suspended weight, by tackle, or by a screw. lever-punch, s. ing motion of two cam-faced levers which are drawn A punch operated by the rolltogether by a screw. lever-valve, s. A safety-valve kept in its seat by the pressure of a lever with an adjustable weight, the invention of Dr. Papin, of Blois. In locomotives a spring is used at the end of the lever instead of a weight, the pressure being regulated by a screw and indicated on a brass plate. lever-watch, s. A watch having a lever escape ment. lever (2), s. [A corruption of louvre (q. v.).] A. As adjective: More agreeable, more pleasant; dearer. B. As adv.: More willingly, more gladly; rather. le-ver, v. t. [LEVER (1), s.] To act upon or force with a lever. lē -ver-age (age as Ig), s. [English lever (1), -age.] 1. The action of a lever; that arrangement of parts by which lever power is gained. 2. The mechanical power gained by the use of a lever. lěv er ět, *lyv-er-et, s. [O. Fr. levrault, from Lat, leporem, accus. of lepus=a hare; Fr. levrette, dimin. of lièvre (O. Fr. levre)=a hare.] A hare in its first year; a young hare. levirate lev-er-ock, lev-er-ook, lav-er-ock, s. [LavEROCK.] A lark (q. v.). lē-ver-wood, s. [Eng. lever, and wood.] Bot.: Ostrya virginica. *leve-sell, leve-cel, *lef-sal, *lefe-sale, 8. [A. S. leaf leaf, and sal, sel-a room, a hall; Sw. löfsal; Dá. lovsal=a hut of branches with foliage on.] 1. A lattice; a lattice-window. window, &c. 2. A pent-house; a projecting roof over a door, 3. An open shed. *lěv -ět, s. [Fr. lever to raise, to arouse.] Mil. The morning call on the trumpet, by which soldiers are aroused; a reveille, -able.] Capable of being levied or collected; that lěv -I-a-ble, *lěv -ě-a-ble, a. [Eng. levy, v.: may be assessed and levied. lě-vi-a-than, s. [Low Lat., from Heb. livyathan leviathan (see def.), livyah=a garland, a wreath; leviathan then the wreathed animal, from twisting itself into wreaths or folds.] II. Technically: 1. Scripture: (1) The crocodile of the Nile (Job xli., and the margin of iii. 8, or fig. "Pharaoh," King of Egypt, Psalm lxxiv. 14). [PHARAOH.] (Psalm civ. 26). (2) Some cetacean, inhabiting the Mediterranean (3) A real or imaginary sea-serpent (?) (Isaiah xxvii. 1). 2. Mythol.: Any great sea monster. lĕv'-led, pa. par. or a. [LEVY, v.] lev-lg-a-ble, a. [Lat. levig(0)= to make smooth, or ground down to a fine powder. to polish; Eng. -able.] That may or can be rubbed lěv -I-gate, v. t. [LEVIGATE (1), a.] 1. Ord. Lang.: To make smooth; to plane, to polish, to ease. 2. Chem. & Pharm.: To grind or rub down to an impalpable powder. lev -I-gate, (1), læ-vi-gate, læ'-vi-găt-ěd a. [Lat. levigatus, pa. par. of levigo-to make smooth, from levis smooth. 1. Ord. Lang.: Made smooth or polished. 2. Bot.: Having the appearance of being polished, as many seeds. *lěv -I-gate (2), a. [Lat. levigatus, pa. par. of lighter; lightened, softened. levigo to make light; lèvis=light.] Made light or lěv-i-gā -tion, s. [Lat. levigatio, from levigatus, pa. par. of levigo to make smooth.] [LEVIGATE, v.] The process of rubbing a moist material between two hard surfaces, as in grinding pigments and printer's ink. lě-vig-li-a-nīte, s. [Named after the place where found, Levigliani; suff. -ite (Min.).] Min.: D'Achiardi gave this name provisionally to a mineral which he regarded as a ferriferous variety of Guadalcazarite (q. v.). Subsequent examinamore zinc and iron. From the mercury mine of tion showed that it contained no selenium, and Levigliani, near Serravezza, Italy. *lěv -In, *lĕav'-en, *lev-en, *lev-ene, s. [Etym. doubtful.] Lightning. *levin-brand, s. A thunder-bolt. lev-in-er, s. [Etym. doubtful.] A swift species of hound. daer a husband's brother, a brother-in-law.] lē-vir, s. [Lat., cogn. with Sansc. devar; Gr. Anthrop.: One upon whom devolves the obligation of marrying the widow of, and thus begetting issue to, a deceased brother or near relation. lē -vir-āte, s. & a. [Fr. lévirat.] [LEVIR.] A. As substantive: 1. Jewish History: The Mosaic law binding the brother of a man dying without issue to marry the Where there were several widow (Deut. xxv. 5). brothers, the lot probably fell to the eldest; failing the nearest kinsman (Ruth iii. iv.). The only exbrothers, the marriage was in honor incumbent on bound to marry a virgin (Levit. xxi. 13, 14). The ception was in the case of the high-priest, who was first-born son of the second marriage was considered the son of the deceased, "that his name be not put out of Israel" (Deut. xxv. 6). This law was not strictly obligatory; but the man who refused to obey it was publicly dishonored (Deut. xxv. 7-10). How ancient the custom was among the Jews may be seen from the case of Tamar (Gen. xxviii. 6-30). pine, pit, sïre, sîr, marîne; gō, pot, fate, făt, färe, amidst, what, fâll, father; wē, wět, hëre, camel, her, thêre; leviratical It still exists among Jews in the East; in the 2. Anthrop.: (See extract.) "The system of Levirate, under which, at a man's B. As adj.: Pertaining to, observing, or in any scribed under A. 2513 allusion to Judges xviii. Dryden, in his Absalom the Levites. "According to the Levitical Levitical-degrees, s. pl. Those degrees of kin- Lě-vit-ic-al-ly, adv. [English Levitical; -ly.] Lě-vit-i-cus, s. [Lat. Leviticus (Vulgate); Gr. Old Test. Canon: The third book of the Penta- "Provision is made for the rights of succession of the lěv-I-tāte, v. t. & i. [LEVITATION.] B. Intrans.: To become light or buoyant, so as to $ 4. "A provision, distinguishingly calculated for the same The integrity of the work is admitted by most lewdly 3. To collect by assessment; to raise, as a toll, a "Taxes used to be levied upon the persons and goods of That, quite eclipsing pleasure's painted face, II. Law: 1. To raise, to erect; as, to levy a ditch, to levy a 2. To seize in execution or by way of distress; as, 1. To levy war: To raise or begin a war; to take "Yet the thought of war, which wise men saw actually 2. To levy a fine: To commence and carry on a lěvy, s. [Fr. levée, from lever; Lat. levo = to I. Ordinary Language: public service, or for private associations, such as "Delegates promised that a levy of half-a-crown per Of that rash lery nought remained."" 3. A small coin, or its value, being twelve and a II. Law: The act of collecting or seizing on exe- Levy in mass [Fr. levée en masse]: The act of lěv -ýne, lěv'-yn-īte, s. [Named by Brewster, Min.: A mineral belonging to the Zeolite group. Heb. pl. levim Levites, from Levi (1) a joining, iii. 5-13, xvii. 2-8). The chief branches of the The six cities of refuge were all Levitical cities They were to be supported by tithes, but them- removed to Judah (2 Chron. xi. 13. 14, xiii. 9), exert- The only mention of Levites in the New Testament x. 3). *2. Fig. In the latter part of the seventeenth boil, boy; pout, jowl; cat, 158 lěv -I-ty, *lev-i-tie, s. [Lat. levitatem, acc. of 1. Lit. The quality or state of being light; want 2. Fig.: Lightness of disposition, conduct, or lē vo-, pref. [For this prefix and compounds, Eng. suff. in.] connect., and *1. To desist from, to give up, to abandon. 2. To raise, to collect, to gather together, as a *lew, *lewe (ew as û or û), adj. [LUKEWARM.] "For thou art lewe, and neither coold neither hoot."- lewd (ew as ù or û), *lewed, *lewid, a. [A. S. *1. Lay; belonging to the laity; laic; not clerical. "As necessary for the lewd as the learned."-A Short "Love, my lewd pilott, hath a restlesse mind." "The rest he rewarded, ech according to the lewde ser- vice they did."-Savile: Tacitus; Hist., p. 169. 5. Vicious without particularizing the nature of "But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, S. Wanton, lascivious; given to indulgence in 7. Characterized by lewdness or profligacy; un- "Perverting often, by the stress of lewd lewdness 3. Grossly, coarsely, obscenely. "His name is Falstaff: if that man should be lewdly given, he deceiveth me."-Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. II., ii. 4. 4. With an unlawful indulgence in lust. (Ezekiel xxii. 11.) lewd -ness (ew as u or û), s. [Eng. lewd; -ness.] *1. Want of learning; ignorance, illiteracy, simplicity. "Thinges that ben made more subtlely Than they can in their lewednesse comprehend." *2. Vice, without particularizing its nature; prof- "That all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness."-Ezekiel xxiii. 48. *lewds-by (ew as u or û), s. [LEWD.] A lewd or lecherous person, a profligate, a debaucher. *lewd-ster (ew as u or û), s. [Eng. lewd; suff. -ster.] A lewd person, a lecher, a libertine, a profli gate. "Against such lewdsters and their lechery, lew -Is, lew-is-son (ew as û), s. (See def.) the Flavian amphitheater. It received its name from a Frenchman who brought it to its present form. He was an architect on the works of Louis XIV., and gave it the name it bears in compliment to his master. It consists of two dovetail tenons, which are expanded by a key in a dovetail mortise in the stone, and shackled to the hoisting-chain. The dovetail pieces are first inserted, and then forced apart by the middle key, so as to occupy the undercut portion of the mortise. All three are then shackled to the lifting-chain. Lewis. 2. Cloth. A kind of shears used in cropping woolen cloth. lewis-bolt, s. A wedge-shaped bolt secured in T (1) Lex mercatoria: Mercantile law. law of the land. (3) Lex scripta: Statute law. (4) Lex talionis: The law or principle of retaliation; the law directing that the punishment shall be of the same nature as the crime; as, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, &c. lex-i-cal, a. [Gr. lexikos of or pertaining to words.] 1. Of or pertaining to a dictionary or lexicon; of or pertaining to words. 2. Of the nature of a dictionary or lexicon. 2514 or explanation of the meaning of each; a dictionary, "The lexicons of ancient tongues, now immutably fixed, flex-I-con-Ist, s. [English lexicon; -ist.] The author or compiler of a lexicon or dictionary; a lexicographer. lex-i-grǎph'-Ic, *lex-I-grăph'-ic-al, a. [Eng. lexigraph(y); -ic, -ical.] Of or pertaining to lexigraphy. lex-i-graph-y, s. [Gr. lexis=a saying, a word, and grapho to write.] The art or practice of defining words. lex-I-phǎn'-ic, adj. [Gr. lexiphanës grandiloquent, from lexis a saying, a speech, and phainō= to show.] Bombastic, turgid, pompous. lex-I-phăn ́-i-çişm, s. [Eng. lexiphanic; -ism.] The act or habit of using pompous or bombastic language; bombast; pompous, or high-sounding language. Leyden-battery, s. Electricity: A number of Leyden jars connected externally by resting on a metallic surface, and internally by rods and wires. Leyden-jar, Leyden-phial, s. Elect.: A glass bottle having its interior coated with tin foil or filled with thin leaves of copper or of gold leaf. The outside is also coated with tin foil up to a certain distance from the neck. The neck has a cork, through which passes a brass rod terminating at one end in a knob, and communicating with the metal in the interior. The inner coating is called the internal, and the outer one the external armature or coating. It is charged by connecting one of the armatures with the ground and the other with the source of electricity. If the hand grasps the external coating while the knob is presented to the conductor of the machine, positive electricity accumulates on the inner, and negative electricity on the outer coating. If, on the contrary, the jar be held by the knob and the outer tricity is accumulated on the outer, and negative on the inner coating. lex-i-cal-lỹ, adv. [Eng. lexical; -ly.] Accord- coating be presented to the machine, positive elec ing to lexicography; by means of a lexicon. lex-i-cog'-ra-pher, s. [Gr. lexikon = a lexicon, and grapho to write; Fr. lexicographe.] One who writes or compiles a lexicon or dictionary; the author or compiler of a dictionary. lĕx-I-co-graph-ic, lex-i-co-grăph -ic-al, a. [Gr. lexikon = a lexicon, and Eng. graphic, graph ical (q. v.).] Of or pertaining to lexicography or the compilation of a dictionary. *lex-i-cog-ra-phist, s. [Eng. lexicograph(y); -ist.] A lexicographer. "The good old lexicographist, Adam Littleton."Southey: The Doctor, ch. 184. lex-i-cog-ra-phy, s. and grapho to write.] [Gr. lexikon a lexicon, 1. The act or occupation of writing or compiling a lexicon or dictionary. 2. The principles upon which a lexicon or dictionary should be compiled or based; the art or science of compiling a dictionary. lex-I-col-o-gist, s. [English lexicology); -ist.] One versed in lexicology; one who writes or compiles dictionaries; a lexicographer. lex-i-col-o-ġỷ, s. [Gr. lexikos pertaining to words, and logos a discourse, a treatise.] That branch of learning which treats of the proper signification and application of words; the science of words, their derivation and signification. lex-i-con, 8. [Gr. lexikon (biblion)=(a book) pertaining to words; lexikos of or pertaining to words; lexis a saying, a speech; lego to speak, to say. A vocabulary or alphabetical list of the words in a language, together with the definition leys'-ser-a, s. [Named after Frederick William Bot. The typical genus of the sub-tribe Leyssereæ. lēze măj-es-ty, 8. [Fr. lèse-majesté = high Law: Treason; a crime committed or attempted to be committed, against the sovereign power in a state. Among the Romans, crimen læsæ majestatis was a charge of treason, rebellion, or usurpation of office, which were considered as offenses against the majesty of the Roman people. lherz-o-lite (z as tz), 8. [Named from the Etang de Lherz, in the Eastern Pyrenees, where it occurs.] Petrol.: A granular or crystalline-granular aggre- lhot -sky-a, s. [Named after Dr. John Lhotsky, lî, s. [Chinese.] Lias 1. A Chinese copper coin, also called a cash v.). 2. A Chinese measure of length, equal to 486 inch. li-a-be-æ, s. pl. [Mod. Lat. liab(um); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -ec.] Bot.: A sub-tribe of Composites, tribe Vernoniaceae. * li-a-bil'-i-tỷ, s. [Eng, liable; -ity.] 1. The quality or state of being liable, responsible, or bound in law or justice; responsibility. 2. The quality or state, of being liable, exposed, or subject to anything; exposedness, tendency; as, a liability to disease, a liability to accidents. 3. That for which one is liable; specif. (pl.), the debts or pecuniary engagements for which one is liable. li-a-ble, *ly-a-ble, a. [Fr. lier to tie, to bind, to oblige; suff. -able; Lat. ligo-to tie, to bind.] *1. Allied, associated, connected. "If my name were liable to fear." Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar, i. 2 2. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible, answerable; bound to make good loss or depreciation in anything; as, to be liable for the debts of another. 3. Subject or having a tendency to; exposed; apt or likely to catch or suffer from: as, to be liable to fall, to be liable to illness. (Only used of what is dangerous and hurtful.) "So implicated in guilt, so lyable to wrath."-Barrow: Sermons, vol. ii., ser. 5. *4. Subject, subordinate. "Reason to my love is liable." *5. Fit, suitable. Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar, ii. 2 "Apt, liable to be employed in danger." Shakesp.: King John, iv. 2. li-a-ble-ness, s. [English liable; -ness.] The quality or state of being liable; liability. lî-à-bŭm, s. [Meaning unknown.] Bot.: The typical genus of the sub-tribe Liabe (q. v.). The species are found in South America. lia-fail, s. [Gael.=stone of destiny: lia=stone. and fail (for faidheil) = fate, destiny.] (See extract.) [JACOB'S-STONE.] "The lia fail, or, as some call it, the ling fhil, or leng fail, was the fatal chair on which the supreme kings of Ireland were inaugurated in the days of Druidism. From Ireland it was conveyed to Dunstaffnage in Scotland; thence, about the year 842, to Scone, by Kenneth II.;and. lastly, in 1300, by Edward I. to Westminster, where it still remains. How the lia fùil came to Scotland, whether by theft, fraud, or violence, is not ascertained. It is said to have possessed extraordinary virtues till the time of our Some time after its arrival in Scotland, Saviour's birth. a superstitious belief became attached to it-that wherever the stone should be found, some one of the race should reign. This persuasion is not so old as the times of Druidism."-Armstrong: Gaelic Dictionary. *li-age (age as ig), s. [French, from lier; Lat. ligo-to bind.] A league, an alliance. 11-ai-şoǹ, s. [Fr., from Lat. ligationem, accus. of ligatio-a binding, from ligatus, pa. par. of ligo to bind.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. A union, a bond, an entanglement. 2. An illicit intimacy between a man and woman. II. Cookery: A thickening, generally of beaten eggs, sometimes of cream and eggs, intended to bind together the component parts of a dish. lî-a-na, lî-ane, s. [French liane, from lier=to bind.] The name given to the climbing and creeping plants, belonging to many different families, which abound in the forests of tropical America. li-ar, *ly-ar, s. [A. S. leógere, from leógan=to lie.] [LIE (1), v.] One who tells lies; one who deliberately states as a fact that which he knows not to be true; one who knowingly utters falsehoods. li-ard, *ly-arde, a. & s. [O. Fr. liart, from Low Lat. liardus dapple-gray.] A. As adjective: *1. Of a roan or dappled color. 2. Gray; gray-headed; as, a liard old man. *B. As subst.: A horse; properly one of a dapplegray color. *lî ́-ard (d silent), s. [Fr.] A French farthing. li-art, *ly-art, a. [LIARD, a.] Li-as, s. [By some considered a corruption of the English word layers, or lyers, referring to the visible stratification of the rock. But Mahn and Skeat think that the Fr. liais=the rocks in question. was the origin of the English word. Littré, on the other hand, derives the Fr. lias from the English term though saying that some consider it to have sir, marîne; gō, põt, fate, făt, färe, amidst, what, fâll, father; wē, wět, hëre, camel, her, thêre; pine, pit, sïre, Liassic come from Bas Breton liach dolmen. The English word lias was first a provincial one, adopted by geologists, who gave it universal currency.] 1. Geol. A formation situated at the base of the Oolite, with which it is sometimes combined. It consists of thin beds of blue or gray limestone, becoming light-brown when weathered. These are separated by dark-colored, narrow, argillaceous partings, so that quarries of the rock seen from a distance look striped and ribbon-like. Most of its fossils are marine, though there is in it an insectlimestone. Huge Enaliosaurians, specially Ichthyosaurs and Plesiosaurs, reach their maximum development in it; they are believed to have been marine. 2. Comm., &c.: Liassic clays are used for brickmaking. They are also burnt for lime and for hydraulic cement; liassic limestones are called cement stones, and are burnt for hydraulic lime. (Rutley.) Li-as-sic, a. [Eng. lias; -ic.] Of or pertaining to the lias formation; of the age of the lias forma tion. li-a-tris, subst. [A word of unknown meaning (Loudon.).] Botany: A genus of Composites, sub-tribe Adenostyleæ. Liatris squamosa has beautiful purple flowers. It is known in this country as is L.scariosa, as the Rattlesnake's Master, the bruised bulbs of the plant being applied to the wound, while a decoction of the milk is taken inwardly. (Loudon.) lib, v. t. [A. S. *lybban; cogn. with Dut. lubben = to castrate.] [GLIB, v.] To castrate, to geld. *lib -a-ment, s. [Lat. libamentum, from libo=to pour out.] A libation. *li-bant, a. [Lat. libans, pa. par. of libo to sip, to pour out.] Sipping, tasting; touching lightly or gently. lib-a-nus, s. [Lat.=frankincense.] Bot. An old genus of Amyridacem, now called Boswellia. Libanus thurifera (Colebrooke) is now called Boswellia serrata. li-bā -tion, s. [Fr., from Lat. libationem, accus. of libatio=a libation, from libatus, pa. par. of libo to sip, to pour out; Gr. leibō; Sp. libacion; Ital. libazione.] 1. Compar. Religions: A sacrifice, by an actual drink offering, by pouring liquids-usually oil or wine on the ground in honor of a divinity, or by the combination of both methods. In classic times bloody sacrifices were usually accompanied by libations, which always formed part of the religious ceremonies at the conclusion of a treaty of peace; hence the Greek spondai-a solemn treaty, from spendo to offer a libation. (Cf. Virg., Æn. v. 77; xii. 174). Sometimes libations were independent acts of worship (Il. xvi. 233); and they found a place in convivial gatherings and banquets (Virg., Æn. i. 734-38; Georg. ii. 101; Hor., Carm. IV. v. 31-34; Ovid, Fasti, ii. 637). Libations were usually of un mixed wine (enspondos=merum), but sometimes of milk, honey, and other fluids, either pure or diluted with water (Plin., H. N. xiv. 19). The word "libation "does not occur in the A. V., but clear traces of the practice may be found. 'Jacob set up a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering thereon and he poured oil thereon (Gen. xxxv. 14). "Strong wine was ordained "to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering" (Numb. xxviii. 7); and Jeremiah (xix. 13) charges it against the people of Jerusalem and the kings of Judah "that they have poured out drink offerings unto other gods," and to "the queen of heaven" (xliv. 17, 19, 25). 37 "In this idea of a god eternally insatiable, joined to the hunger such restless nomads must often have suffered, is to be found the first cause of libation, of offering, of sacrifice."-R. Heath: Edgar Quinet, p. 284. 2. The wine or other liquor so poured out. "And large libations drenched the sands around." Pope: Homer's Iliad, ix. 230. li-ba-tor-, a. [As if from a Lat. libatorius, from libatus, pa. par. of libo.] Of or pertaining to libations. lib-bard, s. [Ger. liebard.] leopard. [LEOPARD.] A "The lion, and the libbard, and the bear." Cowper: Task, vi. 773. libbard's-bane, s. [LEOPARD'S-BANE.] 11b-bět, s. [Etym, doubtful; perhaps a variant of billet.] A billet of wood. *11-běc-chi-ō, s. [Ital. libeccio.] The southwest wind. 11-bel, *ly-bell, s. [Lat. libellus a little book or writing; dimin. of liber a book; Fr. libelle; Ital. & Port. libello; Sp. libelo.] 2515 2. A defamatory writing, print, picture, or publication of any kind, containing any statements or representations maliciously made, and tending to bring any person into ridicule or contempt, or expose him to public hatred or obloquy; any obscene, blasphemous, or seditious publication whether in writing, print, signs, or pictures. 3. The act or crime of publishing a libel; as, to be charged with libel. II. Law: United States Civil and Admiralty Law: A docu; ment of the plaintiff setting forth the charges and allegations made against the defendant; and specif. in case of a ship, a statement of the claims held against her by the plaintiff. Eng. Eccles. & Scots Law: The summons, or similar writ, commencing a suit, and containing the plaintiff's allegations. 11-bel, v. t. & i. [LIBEL, 8.] A. Transitive: 1. Ord. Lang.: To publish a libel upon; to hold up to public contempt, derision, or hatred by the publication of any libelous writing, print, picture, &c.; to lampoon. "The despot of Lendenhall Street was libelled in prose and verse."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. xviii. 2. Law: To exhibit a charge against; as against a clergyman for unbecoming conduct, or against a ship for debt, &c. B. Intrans.: To spread libels or defamatory publications or statements. "What's this, but libelling against the senate, And blazoning our injustice everywhere?" Shakesp.: Titus Andronicus, iv. 4. li-běl-ant, 8. [Eng. libel; -ant.] 1. Ord. Lang.: One who libels; a libeler. 2. Law: One who exhibits a charge in an ecclesiastical or admiralty court. *li-běl-ce', s. [Eng. libel, and suff. -ee.] Law: The suitor defendant against whom a libel has been filed. (Wharton.) li-běl-er, s. [Eng. libel; -er.] One who libels; one who publishes libels; a lampooner. 11-běl-Ist, s. [Eng. libel; -ist.] One who libels; a libeler. 11-běl-ous, a.. [Eng. libel; -ous.]. Of the nature of a libel; containing libels or anything tending to bring a person into public hatred, contempt, or derision; defamatory, scandalous. 11-běl-ous-ly, adv. [Eng. libelous; ly.] In a libelous or defamatory manner; with a libel. li-běl-la, s. [Lat. dimin. of libra=a balance.] 1. A small balance. 2. A level; an instrument for taking levels. li-běl -lu-la, s. [A name given by Linnæus; probably from Lat. libellulus a very little book, the leaves of which the expanded wings of the dragon-fly somewhat resemble (Littré, &c.).] Entom.: The typical genus of the family Libellulidæ (q. v.). li-běl-la-l1-dæ, s. pl. [Modern Latin, &c., libellul(a); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -ida.] Entom.: Dragon-flies: a family of Neuropterous Insects, tribe Subulicornia. The larvae inhabit the water, and are of very predatory instincts. They somewhat resemble their parents, but are wingless. They breathe by branchise, either internal or external, and situated at the extremity of the abdomen. [DRAGON-FLY.] 11-ber, s. [From Lat. liber a book, because the fibrous layers of which liber is composed can at times be separated into laminae like the leaves of a book or an ancient manuscript roll.] Bot. The innermost of the four layers constituting the bark of a plant. According to Gray, it consists of three kinds of cells, bast cells or fibers, large or more elongated cells, and cells of parenchyma. Called also Bast-layer and Endophlæum. liber-cells, liber-fibers, s. pl. Bot.: Very long prosenchymatous cells occurring in liber. Liber fibers of various plants are of use for textile purposes. The shorter liber-cells pass into wood-cells, between which and liber-cells the difference is but slight. lib -er-al, *11b'-er-all, a. & s. [French libéral, from Lat. liberalis, from liber-free; from the same root as libet or lubet it pleases; Sp. & Port. liberal; Ital. liberale.] boil, boy; pout, jowl; cat, -cian, A. As adjective: I. Ordinary Language: 1. Becoming or befitting one well-born; refined, gentlemanlike; free from meanness. 2. Such as a gentleman ought to be; accomplished, refined. "The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy." Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt. 11., iv. 7. go, gem; thin, this; çhin, bench; liberally 3. Free in disposition; generous, open-handed bountiful, munificent; ready to give or bestow; not mean, stingy, or niggardly. "Men of this way should be most liberal." Shakesp.: Henry VIII., i. 3. It is frequently followed by of before that which is given or bestowed; sometimes by in. "Pure is the nymph, though liberal of her siniles." Cowper: Task, iii. 712. 4. Given freely, bountifully, or without stint; ample, generous. "With too great a court and liberal largess." Shakesp.: Richard II., i. 4. 5. Abundant, profuse; as, a liberal flow of water. 6. Free, open, candid; as, a liberal interchange of thoughts. 7. Free from narrow, selfish, or contracted views or ideas; favorable to liberty and progress, civil, political, and religious; advocating reform and progress; having broad views; favoring freedom in the forms of administration of government; not conservative. [II.] 8. Not too strict, harsh, or severe; free; as, a liberal interpretation of a law. *9. Licentious, loose, lax, dissolute; free to ex cess. II. Politics: A name given to that party in England which is in favor of reform and advancement. (Opposed to the Conservative party.) [B.] B. As subst.: One who advocates progress and reform, especially in the direction of conferring greater power upon the people; an advocate of Liberalism. Spec., a member of the Liberal party of England. The designation "Liberal," applied to a political party in England, is said to have been derived from the Liberal, a periodical set on foot by Lord Byron and his friends. Both political parties are named with tacit reference to an irresistible movement toward democracy which has long been in progress in Britain, as it was in the ancient Roman republic. The Conservatives, dreading the effect of this democratic current on the time-honored institutions of the country, make it their main object to conserve them. With this view they arrest forward movement when they can, and, when this is impracticable, attempt to retard the rate of progress. The Liberal party, on the contrary, little or nothing fearing the results of change, help the movement instead of attempting to stem or to lessen its progress. The Liberal party in English politics consists of two great sections or wings, generally in cooperation though sometimes in antagonism. These are the Whigs and the Radicals, the former seeking to remove the more obnoxious defects in the institutions of the country, with the view of insuring their stability; the latter, on the contrary, desiring to root some of them up instead of increasing their efficiency. For example, the Whigs are in favor of the Established Churches, the House of Lords, and the throne, while the more advanced of the Radicals would abolish all the three. The strength of the Whig party is in the middle classes, that of the Radicals among the artisans. Obvious compounds: Liberal-hearted, liberalminded, liberal-souled, liberal-education, &c. lib'-er-al-işm, s. [Eng. liberal; -ism.] The principles of a Liberal party; freedom from narrowness or bigotry; advocacy of the conferring of greater power in the state upon the people. lib-er-al-ist, s. [Eng. liberal; -ist.] A Liberal (q. v.). lib-er-al-ist -ic, a. [Eng. liberalist; -ic.] Pertaining to Liberalism; characterized by Liberalism; in accordance with Liberal principles. lib-er-ǎl'-Ity, *lib-er-al-i-tie, s. [Fr. libéralité, from Lat. liberalitatem, accus. of liberalitas, from liberalis=liberal (q. v.).] 1. The quality or state of being liberal; disposition or readiness to give freely and largely; bounty, munificence, generosity, open-handedness. 2. Largeness or breadth of views; freedom from narrowness of mind or bigotry; catholicity, impartiality. 3. That which is given; a donation, a gratuity; an act of liberality or generosity. lib-er-al-ize, v. t. [Eng. liberal; -ize.] To make or render liberal or catholic; to enlarge; to free from narrowness or bigotry. lib-er-al-i-za'-tion, s. [English liberaliz(e); -ation.] The act or process of liberalizing, or making liberal and free. lib'-er-al-ly, adv. [Eng. liberal; -ly.] ness or meanness. 1. In a liberal, bountiful, or generous manner; munificently, generously, freely, open-handedly. 2. With liberality of views or ideas; without bigotry or narrowness; impartially; without selfish3. Freely; not strictly, harshly, or vigorously. sin, aş; expect, Xenophon, exist. ph = f. shus. -sious = bel, del. -ble, -dle, &c. |