Thomas Davidson

“ Leuciscus, lū-sis′kus, n. a genus of fresh-water fishes of the Cyprinoid family, including the roach, dace, chub, minnow, &c. [Gr. leukos, white.]
Leucite, lū′sīt, n. a whitish mineral occurring only in volcanic rocks.—adj. Leucit′ic. [Gr. leukos, white.]
Leucocyte, lū′kō-sīt, n. a white corpuscle of the blood or lymph (see Phagocyte) .—adj. Leucocyt′ic.—ns. Leucocytog′enesis, the production of leucocytes; Leucocytō′sis, the presence of an excessive number of white corpuscles in the blood. ”

“ Learn′er, one who learns: one who is yet in the rudiments of any subject; Learn′ing, what is learned: knowledge: scholarship: skill in languages or science.—New learning, the awakening to classical learning in England in the 16th century, led by Colet, Erasmus, Warham, More, &c. ”

“ Lie under, to be subject to or oppressed by; Lie up, to abstain from work; Lie with, to lodge or sleep with: to have carnal knowledge of; Lying-in hospital, a hospital for those about to become mothers. ”

“ 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′-imprō′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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ Leg′acy-hunt′er, one who hunts after legacies by courting those likely to leave them; Leg′atary, a legatee; Legatee′, one to whom a legacy is bequeathed.—Legacy duty, a duty levied on legacies, varying according to degree of relationship, and reaching its maximum where the legatee is not related to the testator.—Cumulative, or Substitutional, legacy, a second legacy given to the same person, either in addition to or in place of the first; Demonstrative legacy, a general legacy, but with a particular fund named from which it is to be satisfied ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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-mō′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 ”

“ Lie in one, to be in one's power; Lie in the way, to be ready, at hand: to be an obstacle; Lie in wait, to lie in ambush; Lie low, to conceal one's actions or intentions; Lie on, upon, to be incumbent on; Lie on the hands, to remain unused or unoccupied ”

“ 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, lēf, 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. ”

“ German Liberals, a party in German politics, formed by the amalgamation of the Progressist party and the Liberal union, and advocating moderate liberalism in opposition to the policy of Prince Bismarck; National Liberals, a party in German politics which before 1871 advocated the completion of governmental unity in Germany, as well as supported progressive measures of reform. ”

“ Lev′elness, state of being level, even, or equal.—Level down or up, to lower or raise to the same level or status; Do one's level best (coll.) to do one's utmost. [O. Fr. livel, liveau (Fr. niveau) —L. libella, a plummet, dim. of libra, a balance.]
Lever, lē′vėr, n. a bar of metal or other substance turning on a support called the fulcrum or prop, for imparting pressure or motion from a source of power to a resistance—of three kinds, according to the relative positions of the power, weight, and fulcrum: (fig.) ”

“ Leg′-bye, in cricket, a run made when the ball touches any part of the batsman's person except his hand.—adj. Legged, having legs.—ns. Leg′ging, an outer and extra gaiter-like covering for the legs; Leg′gism, character of a blackleg.—adj. Leg′gy, having disproportionately long and lank legs.—n. Leg′-ī′ron, a fetter for the leg.—adj. Leg′less, without legs.—Change the leg (of a horse) , to change the gait; Feel one's legs (of an infant) , to begin to support one's self on the legs; Find one's legs, to become habituated to, to attain ease in; Give a leg to, to assist by supporting the leg ”

“ Leatherette′, cloth or paper made to look like leather; Leath′er-head, a blockhead: an Australian bird with a bare head—called also Monk and Friar: Leath′ering, a thrashing; Leath′er-jack′et, one of various fishes; Leath′er-knife, a knife of curved form for cutting leather.—adj. Leath′ern, made or consisting of leather.—p.adj. Leath′er-winged (Spens.) , having wings like leather.—adj. Leath′ery, resembling leather: tough.—Fair leather, leather not artificially coloured; Morocco leather (see Morocco) ; Patent leather, leather with a finely varnished surface—also Japanned or Lacquered leather ”

“ Levant′er, a strong easterly wind in the Levant.—adj. Levant′ine, belonging to the Levant. [Fr. levant—L. levāre, to raise.]
Levant, le-vant′, v.i. to decamp.—n. Levant′er, one who runs away dishonourably, who dodges paying his bets, &c. [Sp. levantar, to move—L. levāre, to raise.]
Levator, le-vā′tor, n. that which raises (of a muscle) :—opp. to Depressor. [L. levāre, to raise.]
Levee, lev′ā, lev′ē, le-vē′, n. a morning assembly of visitors: an assembly received by a sovereign or other great personage.—v.t. to attend the levee of. [Fr. lever, to rise.] ”

“ Lepidodendron, lep-i-do-den′dron, n. a common fossil plant of the Carboniferous strata, the stem covered with ovate leaf-scars arranged spirally. [Gr. lepis, -idos, a scale, dendron, a tree.]
Lepidoptera, lep-i-dop′tėr-a, n.pl. an order of insects, with four wings covered with fine scales—butterfly, moth, &c.—adjs. Lepidop′teral, Lepidop′terous. [Gr. lepis, -idos, a scale, pteron, a wing.]
Lepidosauria, lep-i-do-sawr′i-a, n. a sub-class or sub-order of Reptilia, with scales and plates—the ophidians and lacertilians, not crocodilians and chelonians. [Gr. lepis, a scale, sauros, a lizard.] ”

“ Level, lev′el, n. a horizontal line or surface: a surface without inequalities: proper position: usual elevation: state of equality: the line of direction: an instrument for showing the horizontal.—adj. horizontal: even, smooth: even with anything else: uniform: well-balanced, sound of judgment: in the same line or plane: equal in position or dignity.—v.t. to make horizontal: to make flat or smooth: to make equal: to take aim:—pr.p. lev′elling; pa.t. and pa.p. lev′elled.—ns. Lev′el-cross′ing, or Grade′-cross′ing, a place at which a common road crosses a railway at the same level ”

“ Lee′-board, a board lowered on the lee-side of a vessel, and acting like a keel or centre-board to prevent her from drifting to leeward; Lee′-gage, the sheltered or safe side:—opp. to Weather-gage; Lee′-shore, the shore opposite to the lee-side of a ship; Lee′-tide, a tide running in the same direction as the wind is blowing.—adj. Lee′ward, pertaining to, or in, the direction toward which the wind blows.—adv. toward the lee.—n. Lee′way, the distance a ship is driven to leeward of her true course: a falling behind.—Make up leeway, to make up for time lost ”

“ Lemonade′, a drink made of lemon-juice, water, and sugar.—adj. Lem′on-col′oured, having the colour of a ripe lemon.—ns. Lem′on-grass, a fragrant perennial grass, in India, Arabia, &c., yielding an essential oil used in perfumery; Lem′on-squash, unfervescent lemonade; Lem′on-squeez′er, a small hand-press for extracting the juice of lemons; Lem′on-yell′ow, a clear, pale yellow colour. [Fr. limon—Ar. līmūn.]
Lemur, lē′mur, n. a genus of mammals appearing to stand between the Insectivora and the monkeys, forest dwellers, mainly nocturnal in habits, common in Madagascar. [L. lemur, a ghost.] ”

“ Levigate, lev′i-gāt, v.t. to make smooth: to grind to a fine, impalpable powder.—adj. made smooth, polished.—adj. Lev′igable, capable of being ground down to fine powder.—n. Levigā′tion. [L. lēvigāre, -ātum—lēvis, smooth; Gr. leios, akin to level.]
Levigate, lev′i-gāt, v.t. to lighten, belittle. [L. lĕvigāre, -ātum—lĕvis, light.]
Levin, lev′n, n. (Spens.) lightning.—Also Lev′en.
Levirate, lev′i-rāt, n. marriage between a man and a childless brother's widow—an obligation amongst the ancient Hebrews.—adj. Levirat′ical.—n. Levirā′tion. [L. levir, a brother-in-law.] ”

“ Length, length, n. quality of being long: extent from end to end: the longest measure of anything: long continuance: detail: (prosody) time occupied in uttering a vowel or syllable: the quality of a vowel as long or short: any definite portion of a known extent.—v.t. Length′en, to increase in length: to draw out.—v.i. to grow longer.—adv. Length′ily.—n. Length′iness.—adv. Length′wise, in the direction of the length.—adj. Length′y, of great length: rather long— (obs.) Length′ful.—Length of days, prolonged life.—At length, in the full extent: at last ”

“ League, lēg, 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, lēg, n. a bond or alliance: union for mutual advantage.—v.i. to form a league: to unite for mutual interest:—pr.p. ”

“ Russia leather, a fine brownish-red leather with a characteristic odour; Split leather, leather split by a machine, for trunk-covers, &c.; White leather, tawed leather, having its natural colour. [A.S. leðer, leather; Dut. and Ger. leder.]
Leave, lēv, n. permission: liberty granted: formal parting of friends: farewell. [A.S. leáf, permission, cog. with leóf, dear. See Lief.]
Leave, lēv, v.t. to allow to remain: to abandon, resign: to quit or depart from: to have remaining at death: to bequeath: to refer for decision.—v.i. to desist: to cease: to depart:—pr.p. ”

“ Liana, li-an′a, n. a general name for the woody, climbing, and twining plants in tropical forests. [Fr. liane—lier, to bind—L. ligāre, to bind.]
Liang, lyang, n. a Chinese ounce or tael, reckoned as one-third heavier than the ounce avoirdupois.
Liar, lī′ar, n. one who lies. [Lie.] ”

“ In high leg, in great excitement; Make a leg (Shak.) , to make a bow; On one's last legs (see Last) ; On one's legs, standing, esp. to speak; Upon its legs, in an independent position. [Ice. leggr, a leg; Dan. læg, Sw. lägg.]
Legacy, leg′a-si, n. that which is left to one by will: a bequest of personal property.—ns. ”

“ Lead, lēd, 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. ”

“ Lett′er-book, a book in which letters or copies of letters are kept; Lett′er-box, a box in a post-office, at the door of a house, &c., for receiving letters; Lett′er-carr′ier, a postman; Lett′er-case, a portable writing-desk.—adj. Lett′ered, marked with letters: educated: versed in literature: belonging to learning (Lettered proof and Proof before letters; see Proof) .—ns. Lett′erer; Lett′er-found′er, one who founds or casts letters or types; Lett′ering, the act of impressing letters: the letters impressed.—adj. ”

“ Lean, lēn, 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. ”

“ Liberal, lib′ėr-al, adj. becoming a gentleman: generous: noble-minded: candid: free: free from restraint: general, extensive.—n. one who advocates greater freedom in political institutions.—n. Liberalisā′tion, the process of making liberal.—v.t. ”