|
Word
|
Definition
|
| labarum
| moral standard; ecclesiastical banner bearing Christ's monogram
|
| labefactation
| a weakening decay; overthrow
|
| labeorphily
| collection and study of beer bottle labels
|
| labidometer
| instrument for measuring size of the head of a fetus
|
| labile
| adaptable; unstable
|
| lability
| plasticity; openness to change or breakdown
|
| labiomancy
| lip reading
|
| labret
| lip ornament
|
| labrose
| thick-lipped
|
| labtebricole
| living in holes
|
| lac
| dark red transparent resin used to make shellac
|
| laccolith
| mass of igneous rock intruded between two sedimentary beds
|
| lacertiform
| shaped like a lizard
|
| lacertilian
| of, like or pertaining to lizards
|
| laches
| negligence or undue delay in fulfilling legal duty
|
| lachrymatory
| narrow-necked bottle or vase
|
| lachrymiform
| shaped like a tear
|
| lachrymogenic
| causing tears or weeping
|
| lachrymose
| shedding tears
|
| laciniate
| cut into narrow lobes; slashed; fringed
|
| laciniform
| shaped like a fringe
|
| lacis
| network
|
| lackaday
| expression of regret or deprecation
|
| laconicum
| sauna
|
| lactarium
| dairy farm or milking operation
|
| lacteous
| milky
|
| lactescent
| secreting milk
|
| lactiferous
| milk-bearing
|
| lactifluous
| flowing with milk
|
| lactogenic
| producing milk
|
| lactometer
| instrument for testing relative density of milk
|
| lactoscope
| instrument for measuring purity or richness of milk
|
| lacuna
| a blank space or missing part
|
| lacunar
| sunken panel or coffer in a ceiling
|
| lacuscular
| of, like or pertaining to pools
|
| lacustrine
| of, like or pertaining to lakes
|
| ladronism
| banditry; robbery
|
| laeotropic
| turning to the left
|
| laevoduction
| movement leftwards
|
| lagan
| cargo jettisoned from ship but marked by buoys for recovery
|
| lagan
| wreckage or goods at the bottom of the sea
|
| lagena
| flask
|
| lageniform
| shaped like a flask
|
| lagerphone
| percussion instrument with bottlecaps loosely nailed to pole
|
| lagniappe
| gratuity
|
| lagostoma
| harelip
|
| lagotic
| having ears like a hare's
|
| laic
| of, like or pertaining to lay people rather than clergy
|
| laicisation
| process of returning a clergyman to lay status
|
| laicism
| doctrine of opposition to clergy and priests
|
| lairwite
| fine given to married women for adultery
|
| laitance
| milky deposit on top of fresh concrete
|
| lallation
| childish speech; mispronunciation of speech sounds
|
| lambdoid
| shaped like the letter lambda (^) or "L"
|
| lambent
| moving about as if touching lightly; flickering; glowing
|
| lambert
| unit of brightness of light
|
| lambitive
| taken by licking up with the tongue
|
| lambrequin
| drapery over a window or doorway; veil over a helmet
|
| lamé
| fabric in which metallic threads are interwoven
|
| lamella
| thin plate or layer
|
| lamelliform
| shaped like a plate or layer
|
| lamiaceous
| minty; of, like or pertaining to the mint plant
|
| lamina
| thin plate or layer
|
| laminary
| of, like or pertaining to thin plates or layer
|
| lamister
| fugitive
|
| lammergeier
| giant vulture-like bird of prey
|
| lampad
| lamp, candlestick or torch
|
| lampadedromy
| torch-race
|
| lampadephore
| torchbearer
|
| lampadomancy
| divination by flame
|
| lampion
| decorated oil lamp
|
| lamprophony
| speaking in loud and clear tones
|
| lampyridine
| of, like or pertaining or pertaining to glow-worms or fireflies
|
| lanai
| private balcony in a hotel room
|
| lanameter
| instrument for measuring quality of wool
|
| lanate
| woolly
|
| lanceolate
| shaped like a lance-head
|
| lanciform
| shaped like a lance
|
| lancinate
| to lacerate; to pierce
|
| lancination
| sharp; shooting pain
|
| landau
| horse-drawn carriage with folding top
|
| landocracy
| government by the propertied class; timocracy
|
| langlauf
| cross-country skiing or running
|
| langley
| unit of solar radiation
|
| languescent
| growing languid
|
| languet
| tongue-like object or part
|
| languor
| listlessness; weariness
|
| laniary
| of teeth or claws designed for tearing (canine teeth)
|
| laniferous
| wool-bearing
|
| lanigerous
| bearing wool
|
| lanuginose
| downy; covered with fine soft hair
|
| lanyard
| rope or line for fastening something in a ship
|
| lanyard
| cord for hanging a knife or whistle around the neck
|
| Laodicean
| lukewarm; half-hearted
|
| lapactic
| purgative
|
| laparoscope
| instrument for viewing interior of peritoneal cavity
|
| lapicide
| stonecutter
|
| lapidarian
| of, like or pertaining to stones; inscribed on stones
|
| lapidary
| gem-cutter
|
| lapidate
| to pelt with stones; to kill by stoning
|
| lapideous
| stony
|
| lapidescent
| becoming stone; petrifying
|
| lapifidication
| petrifaction
|
| lapilliform
| shaped like a small stone
|
| lapillus
| small stone ejected by volcanic eruption
|
| lappaceous
| prickly
|
| lappet
| fold or flap on a garment or headdress worn by priest
|
| laquearia
| panelled ceiling
|
| lar
| local god of a house
|
| larboard
| left side of a ship
|
| lardaceous
| of, like or pertaining to lard
|
| lares
| local Roman gods
|
| largifical
| ample; bountiful
|
| largiloquent
| talkative; full of words
|
| largition
| giving of largess
|
| larine
| of, like or pertaining to gulls
|
| larithmics
| study of population statistics
|
| laroid
| of, like or pertaining to gulls
|
| larrigan
| high oil-tanned leather boot or moccasin
|
| larrup
| to flog or thrash
|
| larvicide
| killing of larvae
|
| larviparous
| giving birth to larvae
|
| larvivorous
| feeding on larvae
|
| laryngology
| study of larynx
|
| laryngoscope
| instrument for examining interior of the larynx
|
| lasher
| weir
|
| lassitude
| state of being tired or weary
|
| lastage
| room for stowing goods in a ship
|
| lasting
| sturdy cotton or worsted cloth
|
| latebricole
| living in holes
|
| lateen
| triangular sail rigged on ship's spar
|
| laterigrade
| running or moving sideways
|
| lateritious
| brick-red
|
| latescent
| becoming latent
|
| laticiferous
| containing or conveying latex
|
| latidentate
| having broad teeth
|
| latifundia
| great landed estates
|
| latinitaster
| a petty scholar of Latin
|
| latipennate
| having broad wings
|
| latitant
| lurking; lying in wait; hibernating
|
| latitat
| writ based on supposition that person is in hiding
|
| latitudinarian
| one having tolerant or free religious views
|
| latitudinarianism
| doctrine of broad liberality in religious belief and conduct
|
| latitudinous
| broad or wide interpretation
|
| lative
| indicating motion up to or as far as
|
| latrant
| barking
|
| latration
| the act of yelping or barking
|
| latria
| highest degree of veneration, assigned to God over saints
|
| latrocinate
| to engage in highway robbery
|
| latten
| metal in thin plates
|
| latticinio
| glass having white veins
|
| laudanum
| an opium preparation
|
| lauds
| prayer service held at dawn following matins
|
| lauriferous
| bearing laurels
|
| lautenclavicymbel
| lute harpsichord with gut strings
|
| lautitious
| sumptuous
|
| lavabo
| ceremony in which priest washes his hands; basin for the ceremony
|
| lavadero
| place for washing gold ore
|
| lavaliere
| jeweled pendant worn round the neck; pendant microphone
|
| lavatory
| wash-basin for washing bodies of newly dead; room where lavabo kept
|
| laveer
| to sail against the wind
|
| laver
| large vessel for washing, especially for ritual purification
|
| lavic
| of, like or pertaining to lava
|
| lavolta
| lively bouncy dance for two persons
|
| lavra
| group of recluses' cells
|
| lawn
| fine sheer plain-woven cotton or linen
|
| laxism
| belief that an unlikely opinion may be safely followed
|
| layette
| baby's complete set of clothing
|
| laystall
| place for depositing dung or rubbish
|
| lazar
| leper or person with similar pestilential disease
|
| lazaret
| space in ship between decks used for storage
|
| lazaretto
| hospital for lepers
|
| lea
| arable land left fallow or used for pasture
|
| lecanomancy
| divination using water in a basin or pool
|
| lecanoscopy
| staring at pool of water as means of self-hypnosis
|
| lecithal
| having a yolk
|
| lectern
| desk or stand from which church lessons are read
|
| lection
| reading; lesson read in church
|
| lectisternium
| sacrifice where images of gods placed on couches and offered food
|
| lectrice
| female reader in church
|
| lectual
| requiring bed rest or confinement to bed
|
| leeboard
| wood or metal planes attached to hull to prevent leeway
|
| leech
| a vertical edge of a square sail
|
| legalism
| belief that salvation depends on strict adherence to the law
|
| legatine
| of, like or pertaining to a legate
|
| legerity
| lightness; nimbleness
|
| legist
| person knowledgeable about the law
|
| leguleian
| like a lawyer; underhanded and legalistic
|
| leiotrichous
| straight-haired
|
| leister
| three-pronged spear or trident used for fishing
|
| leman
| a lover, sweetheart or paramour
|
| lemma
| preliminary proposition, theme, argument or headword
|
| lemures
| spirits of the dead
|
| lemurine
| of, like or pertaining to lemurs
|
| lenify
| to mitigate or assuage
|
| lenitive
| soothing; laxative; mitigating
|
| lenity
| mildness; clemency
|
| leno
| open-woven fabric
|
| lentic
| associated with standing water
|
| lentiform
| shaped like a lens
|
| lentiginose
| minutely dotted; freckled
|
| lentigo
| freckle
|
| lentitude
| lethargy; slowness
|
| lentor
| sluggishness; viscidity
|
| leonine
| of, like or pertaining to lions
|
| leonine
| of or like a lion; rhyming last two or three syllables in a line
|
| leontiasis
| form of leprosy in which the face becomes wrinkly and somewhat lion-like
|
| leopon
| crossbreed between a leopard and a lion
|
| lepadoid
| resembling a barnacle
|
| lepid
| pleasant; charming; amusing
|
| lepidine
| composed of scales
|
| lepidopterology
| study of butterflies and moths
|
| lepidopterous
| having four wings, such as a moth or butterfly
|
| leporiform
| resembling or shaped like a hare
|
| leporine
| of, like or pertaining to the hare
|
| leprology
| study of leprosy
|
| leprosarium
| hospital for lepers
|
| leprose
| scaly; scurfy
|
| leptochrous
| abnormally thick-skinned
|
| leptometer
| instrument for measuring oil viscosity
|
| leptosome
| person with a slight or slender build
|
| lethe
| oblivion; forgetfulness
|
| lethiferous
| causing death; carrying or bearing death
|
| lethologica
| inability to remember the right word
|
| lethonomia
| tendency to forget names
|
| leucochroic
| white or pale-coloured
|
| leucomelanous
| having dark hair and eyes but fair skin
|
| leucous
| albino; having fair or pale hair or complexion
|
| levant
| to run away from a debt
|
| leveret
| a hare in its first year; a mistress
|
| levigate
| to smooth; to grind to a fine powder; to polish; to lighten
|
| levin
| lightning
|
| levirate
| custom of compulsory marriage with brother's widow
|
| lexer
| law student
|
| lexicology
| study of words and their meanings
|
| lexigram
| sign which represents a word
|
| lexigraphy
| art of definition of words
|
| lexigraphy
| system of writing in which each sign represents a word
|
| lexiphanic
| bombastic; sesquipedalian; using many long words
|
| lexis
| way in which a piece of writing is expressed in words
|
| ley
| mystical straight line between features of landscape
|
| liard
| grey; dapple-grey
|
| lias
| fossil-bearing limestone
|
| libaniferous
| yielding or bearing incense
|
| libanomancy
| divination by watching incense smoke
|
| libanotophorous
| producing incense
|
| libeccio
| southwest wind
|
| libellant
| one who brings a charge of libel
|
| liber
| phloem or fibre from tree
|
| liberticide
| destruction of liberty
|
| libertinage
| debauchery
|
| libidinist
| lewd person
|
| libken
| place to sleep in
|
| librate
| to oscillate; to be poised
|
| libration
| apparent oscillation of moon's visible surface
|
| libriform
| shaped like a book
|
| lichenology
| study of lichens
|
| lickerish
| lecherous; lusty; greedy
|
| lictor
| ancient Roman magistrate's attendant
|
| lido
| bathing beach; open-air swimming pool
|
| lief
| soon; gladly
|
| lienal
| of, like or pertaining to the spleen
|
| lientery
| discharge of partially digested food
|
| ligation
| the act of binding; the state of being bound
|
| ligger
| horizontal timber of a scaffolding
|
| lighter
| large open boat used in loading and unloading ships
|
| lighterage
| cargo carried by or fee for carrying cargo by lighter
|
| ligneous
| woody; wooden
|
| ligniform
| of the form or shape of wood
|
| lignify
| to make woody; to turn into wood
|
| ligniperdous
| destructive of wood
|
| lignite
| woody coal
|
| lignivorous
| feeding on wood
|
| ligulate
| resembling or shaped like a strap
|
| ligyrophobia
| fear of loud noises
|
| limaciform
| slug-like
|
| limacine
| of, like or pertaining to slugs
|
| limacology
| study of slugs
|
| limation
| polishing or smoothing; correction of astronomical errors
|
| limax
| slug
|
| limbate
| possessing a border
|
| limbus
| border
|
| limes
| border
|
| limicoline
| living on a shore; of, like or pertaining to wading birds
|
| limicolous
| living in mud
|
| limitrophe
| near the frontier or border
|
| limivorous
| eating mud
|
| limn
| to portray, paint or delineate
|
| limner
| painter of portraits
|
| limnetic
| living in fresh water; pertaining to fresh water
|
| limnobiology
| study of freshwater ecosystems
|
| limnology
| study of bodies of fresh water
|
| limnophilous
| living in ponds or marshes
|
| limoniad
| meadow nymph
|
| limophoitos
| insanity due to lack of food
|
| limosis
| abnormally ravenous appetite
|
| limous
| muddy; slimy
|
| limpid
| clear; transparent
|
| linaceous
| of, like or pertaining to flax
|
| linchpin
| person or thing vital to an organization
|
| lincrusta
| thick embossed wallpaper
|
| lindy hop
| lively dance closely resembling the jitterbug and famous for its aerials
|
| lineament
| distinctive feature or characteristic
|
| lineolate
| marked with fine lines
|
| lingual
| of, like or pertaining to language, speech or the tongue
|
| linguiform
| shaped like a tongue
|
| linonophobia
| fear of string
|
| linsey
| coarse linen and wool blend
|
| linsey-woolsey
| thin coarse fabric of wool and linen
|
| lintel
| horizontal beam supporting the load above a door
|
| lioncelle
| small lion used as a bearing
|
| lionism
| lion-like appearance symptomatic of leprosy
|
| lipogram
| piece of writing in which a certain letter is excluded
|
| lipography
| accidental omission of letter or syllable in wrting
|
| lipomatosis
| obesity
|
| lipothymy
| swoon
|
| lippitude
| soreness of the eyes
|
| lipsanographer
| one who writes about relics
|
| lipsanotheca
| container for relics
|
| liquate
| to melt; to subject to liquation
|
| liquescent
| becoming liquid
|
| liquifacient
| liquifying agent
|
| liquifaction
| the act of liquefying something
|
| liripipe
| long tail of a graduate's hood; a part or lesson committed to memory
|
| lissome
| lithe; nimble; flexible
|
| lissotrichous
| smooth-haired
|
| litany
| prayer of supplication in responsive style
|
| literatim
| letter for letter
|
| literation
| representation of sounds by letters
|
| literator
| dabbler in learning
|
| literose
| spuriously or affectedly literary
|
| lithochromy
| painting upon stone
|
| lithoclast
| stone breaker; tool for breaking rocks
|
| lithodomous
| living in burrows in rocks
|
| lithogenous
| rock-building
|
| lithoglyph
| engraving on stone
|
| litholatry
| stone-worship
|
| lithology
| study of rocks
|
| lithomancy
| divination by stones or meteorites
|
| lithophagous
| stone-swallowing; rock-boring; eating rock
|
| lithophilous
| living among stones
|
| lithophyte
| plant that grows on rock
|
| litotes
| understatement by affirming using negation of the contrary
|
| littoral
| of, like or pertaining to the shore of a body of water
|
| liturate
| spotted
|
| liturgician
| one who studies or recites church rituals
|
| liturgiology
| study of liturgical forms and church rituals
|
| liturgist
| leader in public worship
|
| livedo
| pathological blueness of skin
|
| lixiviation
| leaching
|
| loan-word
| word borrowed from another language
|
| lobar
| of, like or pertaining to a lobe
|
| lobate
| having a lobe or lobes
|
| lobcock
| bumpkin, boor or lout
|
| lobular
| shaped like a lobe
|
| locanda
| lodging-house; inn
|
| locative
| indicating location or place where
|
| locellate
| divided into small compartments
|
| locellus
| small compartment of a cell
|
| lochetic
| waiting in ambush
|
| lochlet
| little loch
|
| lockram
| coarse linen
|
| lockstep
| method of marching in tight formation
|
| locomobile
| self-propelling machine; early automobile
|
| loculate
| having loculi
|
| loculus
| small compartment or recess for holding an urn
|
| locum
| clergyman temporarily replacing regular priest
|
| locuplete
| well-stored
|
| locutory
| room for conversation
|
| loden
| heavy waterproof woollen fabric
|
| lodesman
| pilot
|
| loess
| deposit of rich and fertile soil
|
| logan
| rocking-stone
|
| loganamnosis
| mania for trying to recall forgotten words
|
| logarithmancy
| divination by means of algorithms
|
| loggia
| covered open arcade
|
| logia
| collection of sayings
|
| logicaster
| a petty logician
|
| logocracy
| government of words
|
| logodaedalus
| artificer in words
|
| logodaedaly
| verbal legerdemain
|
| logogogue
| one who issues laws or rules regarding words
|
| logogram
| single sign standing for word or phrase
|
| logogriph
| riddle in which word is found from other words' letters
|
| logomachy
| contention about words or in words
|
| logomancy
| divination using words
|
| logomania
| pathological loquacity
|
| logopedics
| speech therapy
|
| logophile
| a lover of words
|
| logorrhea
| excessive flow of words; uncontrollable garrulity
|
| logos
| divine rational principle
|
| logotype
| body of text with frequently occurring word or syllable
|
| loimic
| of, like or pertaining to plagues
|
| loimology
| study of plagues and epidemics
|
| lollop
| to bound about wildly
|
| longanimity
| forbearance; patience
|
| longe
| rope used in training horses
|
| longeron
| longitudinal membrane of an airplane
|
| longiloquence
| long-winded language
|
| longiniquity
| remoteness
|
| longueur
| period of dullness or tedium
|
| loranthaceous
| of, like or pertaining to the mistletoe
|
| lordolatry
| worship of nobility
|
| lordosis
| convex curvature of the spine
|
| loreal
| located in the area between the eyes and the nose or snout
|
| lorette
| courtesan
|
| lorgnette
| eyeglasses with a handle
|
| lorgnon
| an eyeglass
|
| loricate
| armoured with plates or scales; to coat or armour protectively
|
| lorimer
| saddlemaker
|
| losel
| worthless fellow; scamp
|
| lotic
| associated with or living in running water
|
| lotophagous
| feeding on lotuses; indolent; lazy; dreamy
|
| louche
| squinting; ambiguous; shady
|
| louchettes
| spectacles used to reduce glare and prevent squinting
|
| loupe
| jeweller's magnifying glass worn on the eye-socket
|
| lour
| to look sullen or threatening
|
| louvre
| sloping slat placed across an opening
|
| lovat
| grey-green; blue-green
|
| loxodograph
| device used to record ship's travels
|
| loxodrome
| line on the globe equally oblique to all meridians
|
| loxodromy
| study of sailing along rhumb-lines
|
| loxophthalmus
| squint
|
| loxotic
| distorted; oblique
|
| lubricious
| slippery; lewd
|
| lubricity
| greasiness; wiliness
|
| lubritorium
| service station
|
| lucarne
| dormer window
|
| lucent
| shining; bright
|
| lucernal
| of, like or pertaining to lamps
|
| luciferous
| light-bringing; light-giving
|
| luciform
| like light
|
| lucifugous
| shunning or avoiding light
|
| lucigen
| lamp burning oil mixed with air in a spray
|
| lucimeter
| instrument for measuring light intensity
|
| luciphyllous
| light-absorbing or consuming
|
| lucre
| sordid gain; riches
|
| lucriferous
| lucrative; yielding profit
|
| lucripetous
| eager for gain
|
| luctation
| struggle
|
| lucubration
| study protracted late into the night
|
| luculent
| bright; clear; convincing
|
| ludibry
| contempt; derision
|
| ludibund
| playful
|
| ludic
| spontaneously and aimlessly playful
|
| ludicrism
| burlesque
|
| luff
| windward side of a ship; forward edge of fore-and-aft sail
|
| lugsail
| four-sided sail bent to an obliquely hanging yard
|
| lugubrious
| mournful; dismal
|
| lumbriciform
| shaped like a worm; worm-like
|
| lumbricine
| of, like or pertaining to earthworms
|
| lumen
| unit of luminous flux
|
| luminiferous
| bearing or bringing light
|
| luminist
| artist who uses the effects of light; impressionist
|
| lunarist
| one who believes that the moon affects the weather
|
| lunate
| crescent-shaped
|
| lunation
| lunar month; interval between successive new moons
|
| lunette
| crescent-shaped space where a vault meets a wall
|
| lunisolar
| pertaining jointly to the moon and sun
|
| lunistice
| time when moon is farthest north or south each month
|
| lunula
| Bronze Age crescent necklace; white part of fingernail base
|
| lunulate
| shaped like a small crescent
|
| lupanarian
| of, like or pertaining to a brothel
|
| lupicide
| killing of a wolf
|
| lupiform
| shaped like a wolf
|
| lupine
| of, like or pertaining to wolves
|
| lupulic
| of, like or pertaining to hops
|
| lurdan
| lazy and dull individual
|
| lurid
| red-yellow; yellow-brown
|
| lusory
| playful
|
| lustrate
| to purify by sacrifice
|
| lustration
| ritual washing; ablution
|
| lustring
| glossy silk
|
| lustrum
| period of five years; periodic purification of Roman empire
|
| lutaceous
| of, like or pertaining to or comprised of mud
|
| lutarious
| inhabiting mud
|
| lutchet
| fitting on ship's deck to allow mast to pivot to pass under bridges
|
| luteolous
| yellowish
|
| luteous
| golden-yellow
|
| lutescent
| yellowish
|
| lutestring
| plain glossy silk
|
| luthier
| maker of stringed instruments
|
| lutose
| covered with mud or clay; muddy
|
| lutrine
| of, like or pertaining to otters
|
| lutulent
| thick; muddy
|
| lux
| unit of illumination equal to one lumen per square meter
|
| luxate
| to displace or dislocate
|
| luxation
| dislocation of an anatomical part
|
| luxmeter
| instrument for measuring illumination
|
| luxuriant
| overabundant in growth
|
| lycanthropy
| mythical ability of humans to turn into wolves; werewolfism
|
| lyceum
| school of philosophical instruction
|
| lychgate
| roofed gate of a churchyard
|
| lychnobite
| one who works at night and sleeps in the day
|
| lychnoscope
| low side window
|
| Lydian
| effeminate; luxurious
|
| lygophilia
| love of darkness
|
| lygophobia
| fear of darkness
|
| lyncean
| lynx-like; sharp-sighted
|
| lyophile
| easily dispersed in a suitable medium
|
| lyophilization
| freeze-drying
|
| lypemania
| extreme pathological mournfulness
|
| lyrate
| lyre-shaped
|
| lyrichord
| kind of obsolete harpsichord
|
| lyricon
| electronic wind instrument like a large obverse flute
|
| lysarden
| old wind instrument like a cornett or serpent
|
| lysigenic
| caused by the breaking down of cells
|
| lysimeter
| instrument for measuring percolation of water through soil
|
| lysis
| disintegration; destruction
|
| lyssophobia
| abnormal fear of hydrophobia
|
| lyterian
| indicating the end of a disease
|
| lythcoop
| auction of household goods
|
I hope you have found this site to be useful. If you have any corrections, additions, or comments, please contact me. Please note that I am not able to respond to all requests. Please consult a major dictionary before e-mailing your query. All material on this page © 2007 Stephen Chrisomalis. Links to this page may be made without permission.
