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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

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    LEGITIMATELY — LEUCO-ETHIOPIC

    LEGITIMATELY, adv.

    1. Lawfully; according to law.NWAD LEGITIMATELY.2

    2. Genuinely; not falsely.NWAD LEGITIMATELY.3

    LEGITIMATENESS, n. legality; lawfulness; genuineness.

    LEGITIMATION, n.

    1. The act of rendering legitimate, or of investing an illegitimate child with the rights of one born in wedlock.NWAD LEGITIMATION.2

    2. Lawful birth. [Unusual.]NWAD LEGITIMATION.3

    LEGUME, LEGUMEN, n. [L. legumen, lego to collect, and signifying that which collects, or holds, or a collection.]

    1. In botany, a pericarp or seed-vessel, of two valves, in which the seeds are fixed to one suture only. In the latter circumstance it differs from a siliqua, in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In popular use, a legume is called a pod, or a cod; as a pea-pod, or peas-cod.NWAD LEGUME.2

    2. In the plural, pulse, peas, beans, etc.NWAD LEGUME.3

    LEGUMINOUS, a. Pertaining to pulse; consisting of pulse. Leguminous plants are such as have a legume for a pericarp, as peas and beans.

    LEISURABLE, a. s as z. [See Leisure.] Vacant of employment; not occupied; as leisurable hours. [Little used.]

    LEISURABLY, adv. At leisure; without hurry. [Little used.]

    LEISURE, n. lezh’ur or lee’zhur.

    1. Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from employment.NWAD LEISURE.2

    The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care.NWAD LEISURE.3

    I shall leave with him that rebuke to be considered at his leisure.NWAD LEISURE.4

    2. Convenience of time.NWAD LEISURE.5

    He sigh’d, and had no leisure more to say. [Not used.]NWAD LEISURE.6

    LEISURELY, a. Done at leisure; not hasty; deliberate; slow; as a leisurely walk or march; a leisurely survey of life.

    LEISURELY, adv. Not in haste or hurry; slowly; at leisure; deliberately.

    We descended very leisurely, by friend being careful to count the steps.NWAD LEISURELY.3

    LEMAN, n. [See Love and Lief.]

    A sweetheart; a gallant, or a mistress. Obs.NWAD LEMAN.2

    LEME, n. A ray of light. [Not in use.]

    LEME, v.i. To shine. Obs.

    LEMMA, n. [Gr. from to receive.]

    In mathematics, a previous proposition proved, or a proposition demonstrated for the purpose of being used in the demonstration of some other proposition. It is therefore a received truth.NWAD LEMMA.2

    LEMMING, LEMING, n. A species of animal belonging to the genus Mus; a kind of rat, in the north of Europe, which sometimes migrates from north to south in immense numbers.

    Lemnian earth, or sphragide, from the isle of Lemnos, in the Egean sea, a kind of astringent medicinal earth, of a fatty consistence and reddish color, used in the same cases as bole. It has the external appearance of clay, with a smooth surface resembling agate, especially in recent fractures. It removes impurities like soap.NWAD LEMMING.2

    LEMNISCATE, n. [L. lemniscus, a ribbon; lemniscatus, adorned with ribbons.] A curve in the form of the figure 8.

    LEMON, n.

    1. The fruit of a tree belonging to the genus Citrus, which grows in warm climates. This fruit furnishes a cooling acid juice, which forms an ingredient in some of our most delicious liquors.NWAD LEMON.2

    2. Lemon or lemon tree, the tree that produces lemons.NWAD LEMON.3

    LEMONADE, n.

    A liquor consisting of lemon juice mixed with water and sweetened.NWAD LEMONADE.2

    LEMUR, n. [L.] A genus of quadrupeds, the Makis, natives of Africa and the East Indies.

    LEMURES, n. [L.] Hobgoblins; evil spirits. [Not English.]

    LEND, v.t. pret. and pp. lent.

    1. To grant to another for temporary use, on the express or implied condition that the thing shall be returned; as, to lend a book; orNWAD LEND.2

    2. To grant a thing to be used, on the condition that its equivalent in kind shall be returned; as, to lend a sum of money, or a loaf of bread.NWAD LEND.3

    3. To afford; to grant; to furnish, in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend an ear to a discourse.NWAD LEND.4

    Cato, lend me for a while they patience.NWAD LEND.5

    4. To grant for temporary use, on condition of receiving a compensation at certain periods for the use of the thing, and an ultimate return of the thing, or its full value. Thus money is lent on condition of receiving interest for the use, and of having the principal sum returned at the stipulated time. Lend is correlative to borrow.NWAD LEND.6

    5. To permit to use for another’s benefit. A lent his name to obtain money from the bank.NWAD LEND.7

    6. To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig. [This sense is used by Paley, and probably may be common in England. But in the United States, I believe, the word is never thus used, except in reference to money. We lend money upon interest, but never lend a coach or horse for a compensation. We use let.]NWAD LEND.8

    LENDABLE, a. That may be lent.

    LENDER, n.

    1. One who lends.NWAD LENDER.2

    The borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7.NWAD LENDER.3

    2. One who makes a trade of putting money to interest.NWAD LENDER.4

    LENDING, ppr. Granting for temporary use. [See Lend.]

    LENDING, n.

    1. The act of loaning.NWAD LENDING.3

    2. That which is lent or furnished.NWAD LENDING.4

    LENDS, n. Loins. [Not in use.]

    LENGTH, n.

    1. The extent of anything material from end to end; the longest line which can be drawn through a body, parallel to its sides; as the length of a church or of a ship; the length of a rope or line.NWAD LENGTH.2

    2. Extent; extension.NWAD LENGTH.3

    Stretch’d at his length he spurns the swarthy ground.NWAD LENGTH.4

    3. A certain extent; a portion of space; with a plural.NWAD LENGTH.5

    Large lengths of seas and shores -NWAD LENGTH.6

    4. Space of time; duration, indefinitely; as a great length of time. What length of time will this enterprise require for its accomplishment?NWAD LENGTH.7

    5. Long duration.NWAD LENGTH.8

    May heaven, great monarch, still augment your bliss, with length of days, and every day like this.NWAD LENGTH.9

    6. Reach or extent; as, to pursue a subject to a great length.NWAD LENGTH.10

    7. Extent; as the length of a discourse, essay, or argument.NWAD LENGTH.11

    8. Distance.NWAD LENGTH.12

    He had marched to the length of Exeter.NWAD LENGTH.13

    [Unusual and inelegant.]NWAD LENGTH.14

    1. At length, at or in the full extent. Let the name be inserted at length.NWAD LENGTH.15

    2. At last; at the end or conclusion.NWAD LENGTH.16

    LENGTH, v.t. To extend. [Not used.]

    LENGTHEN, v.t. length’n.

    1. To extend in length; to make longer; to elongate; as, to lengthen a line.NWAD LENGTHEN.2

    2. To draw out or extend in time; to protract; to continue in duration; as, to lengthen life. The days lengthen from December to June.NWAD LENGTHEN.3

    3. To extend; as, to lengthen a discourse or a dissertation.NWAD LENGTHEN.4

    4. To draw out in pronunciation; as, to lengthen a sound or a syllable. This verb is often followed by out, which may be sometimes emphatical, but in general is useless.NWAD LENGTHEN.5

    What if I please to lengthen out his date?NWAD LENGTHEN.6

    LENGTHEN, v.i. To grow longer; to extend in length. A hempen rope contracts when wet, and lengthens when dry.

    LENGTHENED, pp. Made longer; drawn out in length; continued in duration.

    LENGTHENING, ppr. Making longer; extending in length or in duration.

    LENGTHENING, n. Continuation; protraction. Daniel 4:27.

    LENGTHFUL, a. Of great length in measure.

    LENGTHWISE, adv. In the direction of the length; in a longitudinal direction.

    LENGTHY, a. Being long or moderately long; not short; not brief; applied mostly to moral subjects, as to discourses, writings, arguments, proceedings, etc.; as a lengthy sermon; a lengthy dissertation; a lengthy detail.

    Lengthy period.NWAD LENGTHY.2

    No ministerial act in France, in matters of judicial cognizance, is done without a process verbal, in which the facts are stated amidst a great deal of lengthy formality, with a degree of minuteness, highly profitable to the verbalizing officers and to the revenue.NWAD LENGTHY.3

    P. S. Murray has sent or will send a double copy of the Bride and Giaour; in the last one, some lengthy additions; pray accept them, according to old customs.NWAD LENGTHY.4

    Chalmers’ Political Annals, in treating of South Carolina - is by no means as lengthy as Mr. Hewitt’s History.NWAD LENGTHY.5

    LENIENT, a. [L. leniens, from lenio, lenis, soft, mild.]

    1. Softening; mitigating; assuasive.NWAD LENIENT.2

    Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand, yet tames not this.NWAD LENIENT.3

    Sometimes with of; as lenient of grief.NWAD LENIENT.4

    2. Laxative; emollient.NWAD LENIENT.5

    Oils relax the fibers, are lenient, balsamic.NWAD LENIENT.6

    LENIENT, n. That which softens or assuages; an emollient.

    LENIFY, v.t. To assuage; to soften; to mitigate. [Little used.]

    LENIMENT, n. An assuasive. [Not used.]

    LENITIVE, a. [L. lenio, to soften.]

    Having the quality of softening or mitigating, as pain or acrimony; assuasive; emollient.NWAD LENITIVE.2

    LENITIVE, n.

    1. A medicine or application that has the quality of easing pain; that which softens or mitigates.NWAD LENITIVE.4

    2. A palliative; that which abates passion.NWAD LENITIVE.5

    LENITY, n. [L. lenitas, from lenis, mild, soft.]

    Mildness of temper; softness; tenderness; mercy. Young offenders may be treated with lenity. It is opposed to severity and rigor.NWAD LENITY.2

    LENS, n. plu. lenses. [L. lens, a lentil.] A transparent substance, usually glass, so formed that rays of light passing through it are made to change their direction, and to magnify or diminish objects at a certain distance. Lenses are double-convex, or convex on both sides; double-concave, or concave on both sides; plano-convex, or plano-concave, that is, with one side plane, and the other convex or concave; or convex on one side and concave on the other; the latter is called a meniscus.

    LENT, pp. of lend.

    LENT, n.

    The quadragesimal fast, or fast of forty days observed by the christian church before Easter, the festival of our Savior’s resurrection. It begins at Ash Wednesday, and continues till Easter.NWAD LENT.3

    LENTEN, a. Pertaining to lent; used in lent; sparing; as a lenten entertainment; a lenten salad.

    LENTICULAR, a. [L. lenticularis, from lens, supra.]

    1. Resembling a lentil.NWAD LENTICULAR.2

    2. Having the form of a lens; lentiform.NWAD LENTICULAR.3

    LENTICULARLY, adv. In the manner of a lens; with a curve.

    LENTICULITE, n. A petrified shell.

    LENTIFORM, a. [L. lens and forma, form.] Of the form of a lens.

    LENTIGINOUS, a. [L. lentigo, a freckle, from L. lens.] Freckly; scurfy; furfuraceous.

    LENTIGO, n. A freckly eruption on the skin.

    LENTIL, n. [L. lens.] A plant of the genus Ervum. It is an annual plant, rising with weak stalks about 18 inches. The seeds, which are contained in a pod, are round, flat, and a little convex in the middle. It is cultivated for fodder, and for its seeds.

    LENTISK, LENTISCUS, n. [L. lentiscus.]

    A tree of the genus Pistacia, the mastichtree, a native of Arabia, Persia, Syria, and the south of Europe. The wood is of a pale brown, resinous and fragrant. [See Mastich.]NWAD LENTISK.2

    LENTITUDE, n. [L. lectus, slow.] Slowness. [Not used.]

    LENTNER, n. A kind of hawk.

    LENTOR, n. [L. from lentus, slow, tough, clammy.]

    1. Tenacity; viscousness.NWAD LENTOR.2

    2. Slowness; delay; sluggishness.NWAD LENTOR.3

    3. Siziness; thickness of fluids; viscidity; a term used in the humoral pathology.NWAD LENTOR.4

    LENTOUS, a. [L. lentus, slow, thick.] Viscid; viscous; tenacious.

    LENZINITE, n. [from Lenzius, a German mineralogist.]

    A mineral of two kinds, the opaline and argillaceous; a variety of clay, occurring usually in small masses of the size of a nut.NWAD LENZINITE.2

    LEO, n. [L.] The Lion, the fifth sign of the zodiac.

    LEONINE, a. [L. leoninus, from leo, lion.] Belonging to a lion; resembling a lion, or partaking of his qualities; as leonine fierceness or rapacity.

    Leonine verses, so named from Leo, the inventor, are those, the end of which rhymes with the middle; as,NWAD LEONINE.2

    Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum.NWAD LEONINE.3

    LEONINELY, adv. In the manner of a lion.

    LEOPARD, n. lep’ard. [L. leo, lion, and pardus, pard. Gr. from Heb. to separate, that is, spotted, broken into spots.]

    A rapacious quadruped of the genus Felis. It differs from the panther and the once in the beauty of its color, which is of a lively yellow, with smaller spots than those of the two latter, and disposed in groups. It is larger than the once and less than the panther. This animal is found in Africa and Asia, and so rapacious as to spare neither man nor beast.NWAD LEOPARD.2

    LEOPARD’S-BANE, n. A plant of the genus Doronicum. The German Leopard’s-bane is of the genus Arnica.

    LEPER, n. [L. lepra, leprosy. Gr.] A person affected with leprosy.

    LEPID, a. [L. lepidus.] Pleasant; jocose. [Little used.]

    LEPIDOLITE, n. [Gr. a scale.] A mineral found in scaly masses, ordinarily of a violet or lilac color; allied to mica.

    Lepidolite is of a peach-blossom red color, sometimes gray; massive and in small concretions. On account of its beautiful color, it has been cut into snuff-boxes. It is sometimes called lilalite.NWAD LEPIDOLITE.2

    LEPIDOPTER, LEPIDOPTERA, n. [Gr. a scale, and a wing.] The Lepidopteras are an order of insects having four wings covered with fine scales, like powder, as the butterfly.

    LEPIDOPTERAL, a. Belonging to the order of Lepidopters.

    LEPORINE, a. [L. leporinus, from lepus, a hare.]

    Pertaining to a hare; having the nature or qualities of the hare.NWAD LEPORINE.2

    LEPROSITY, n. Squamousness. [Little used.]

    LEPROSY, n. [See Leper.] A foul cutaneous disease, appearing in dry, white, thin, scurfy scabs, attended with violent itching. It sometimes covers the whole body, rarely the face. One species of it is called elephantiasis.

    The term leprosy is applied to two very distinct diseases, the scaly and the tuberculated, or the proper leprosy and the elephantiasis. The former is characterized by smooth laminated scales, sometimes livid, but usually whitish; in the latter, the skin is thickened, livid and tuberculated. It is called the black leprosy, but this term is also applied to the livid variety of the scaly leprosy.NWAD LEPROSY.2

    LEPROUS, a. [See Leper.] Infected with leprosy; covered with white scales.

    His hand was leprous as snow. Exodus 4:6.NWAD LEPROUS.2

    LEPROUSLY, adv. In an infectious degree.

    LERE, n. Learning; lesson; lore. Obs.

    LERE, v.t. To learn; to teach. Obs.

    LESION, n. le’zhun. [L. lasio, from lado, to hurt.]

    A hurting; hurt; wound; injury.NWAD LESION.2

    LESS, for unless. [Not in use.]

    LESS, A terminating syllable of many nouns and some adjectives. Hence it is a privative word, denoting destitution; as a witless man, a man destitute of wit; childless, without children; fatherless; faithless; penniless; lawless, etc.
    LESS, a. Smaller; not so large or great; as a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value. We are all destined to suffer affliction in a greater or less degree.
    LESS, adv. Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as less bright or loud; less beautiful; less obliging; less careful. The less a man praises himself, the more disposed are others to praise him.
    LESS, n.

    1. Not so much.NWAD LESS.6

    They gathered some more, some less. Exodus 16:17.NWAD LESS.7

    2. An inferior.NWAD LESS.8

    The less is blessed by the better. Hebrews 7:7.NWAD LESS.9

    LESS, v.t. To make less. [Not in use.]

    LESSEE, n. [from lease.] The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease.

    LESSEN, v.t. les’n. [from less.]

    1. To make less; to diminish; to reduce in bulk, size, quantity, number or amount; to make smaller; as, to lessen a kingdom or its population.NWAD LESSEN.2

    2. To diminish in degree, state of quality; as, awkward manners tend to lessen our respect for men of merit.NWAD LESSEN.3

    3. To degrade; to reduce in dignity.NWAD LESSEN.4

    St. Paul chose to magnify his office, when ill men conspired to lessen it.NWAD LESSEN.5

    LESSEN, v.i. les’n.

    1. To become less; to shrink; to contract in bulk, quantity, number or amount; to be diminished. The apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them.NWAD LESSEN.7

    2. To become less in degree, quality or intensity; to decrease. The strength of the body, and the vivacity of the temper usually lessen as we advance in age.NWAD LESSEN.8

    LESSENED, pp. Made smaller; diminished.

    LESSENING, ppr. Reducing in bulk, amount or degree; degrading.

    LESSER, a. [This word is a corruption; but too well established to be discarded.]

    Less; smaller. Authors always write the Lesser Asia.NWAD LESSER.2

    By the same reason, may a man in a state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of that law.NWAD LESSER.3

    God made the lesser light to rule the night. Genesis 1:16.NWAD LESSER.4

    LESSON, n. les’n. [L. lectio, from lego, to read.]

    1. Any thing read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner for improvement; or such a portion of a book as a pupil learns and repeats at one time. The instructor is pleased when his pupils recite their lessons with accuracy and promptness.NWAD LESSON.2

    2. A portion of Scripture read in divine service. Thus endeth the first lesson.NWAD LESSON.3

    3. A portion of a book or manuscript assigned by a preceptor to a pupil to be learnt, or for an exercise; something to be learnt. Give him his lesson.NWAD LESSON.4

    4. Precept; doctrine or notion inculcated.NWAD LESSON.5

    Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.NWAD LESSON.6

    5. Severe lecture; reproof; rebuke.NWAD LESSON.7

    She would give her a lesson for walking so late.NWAD LESSON.8

    6. Tune written for an instrument.NWAD LESSON.9

    7. Instruction or truth, taught by experience. The lessons which sickness imparts, she leaves to be practiced when health is established.NWAD LESSON.10

    LESSON, v.t. les’n. To teach; to instruct.

    Children should be lessoned into a contempt and detestation of this vice.NWAD LESSON.12

    LESSONED, pp. Taught; instructed.

    LESSONING, ppr. Teaching.

    LESSOR, n. [from lease.] One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease.

    LEST, con. That not; for fear that.

    Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Genesis 3:3.NWAD LEST.2

    The phrase may be thus explained. Ye shall not touch it; that separated or dismissed, ye die. That here refers to the preceding command or sentence; that being removed or not observed, the fact being not so, ye will die.NWAD LEST.3

    Sin no more, lest a worse thing come to thee. John 5:14.NWAD LEST.4

    Sin no more; that fact not taking place, a worse thing will happen to thee.NWAD LEST.5

    LET, v.t. pret. and pp. let. Letted is obsolete. [To let out, like L. elocare, is to lease.]

    1. To permit; to allow; to suffer; to give leave or power by a positive act, or negatively, to withhold restraint; not to prevent. A leaky ship lets water enter into the hold. Let is followed by the infinitive without the sign to.NWAD LET.2

    Pharaoh said, I will let you go. Exodus 8:28.NWAD LET.3

    When the ship was caught and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. Acts 27:15.NWAD LET.4

    2. To lease; to grant possession and use for a compensation; as, to let to farm; to let an estate for a year; to let a room to lodgers; often followed by out, as, to let out a farm; but the use of out is unnecessary.NWAD LET.5

    3. To suffer; to permit; with the usual sign of the infinitive.NWAD LET.6

    There’s a letter for you, Sir, if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. [Not used.]NWAD LET.7

    4. In the imperative mode, let has the following uses. Followed by the first and third persons, it expresses desire or wish; hence it is used in prayer and entreaty to superiors, and to those who have us in their power; as, let me not wander from thy commandments. Psalm 119:10.NWAD LET.8

    Followed by the first person plural, let expresses exhortation or entreaty; as, rise, let us go.NWAD LET.9

    Followed by the third person, it implies permission or command addressed to an inferior. Let him go, let them remain, are commands addressed to the second person. Let thou, or let ye, that is, do thou or you permit him to go.NWAD LET.10

    Sometimes let is used to express a command or injunction to a third person. When the signal is given to engage, let every man do his duty.NWAD LET.11

    When applied to things not rational, it implies allowance or concession.NWAD LET.12

    O’er golden sands let rich Pactolus flow.NWAD LET.13

    5. To retard; to hinder; to impede; to interpose obstructions. 2 Thessalonians 2:7.NWAD LET.14

    [This sense is now obsolete, or nearly so.]NWAD LET.15

    To let alone, to leave; to suffer to remain without intermeddling; as, let alone this idle project; let me alone.NWAD LET.16

    To let down, to permit to sink or fall; to lower.NWAD LET.17

    She let them down by a cord through the window. Joshua 2:15.NWAD LET.18

    To let loose, to free from restraint; to permit to wander at large.NWAD LET.19

    To let in or into, to permit or suffer to enter; to admit. Open the door, let in my friend. We are not let into the secrets of the cabinet.NWAD LET.20

    To let blood, to open a vein and suffer the blood to flow out.NWAD LET.21

    To let out, to suffer to escape; also, to lease or let to hire.NWAD LET.22

    To let off, to discharge, to let fly, as an arrow; or cause to explode, as a gun.NWAD LET.23

    LET, v.i. To forbear. Obs.
    LET, n. A retarding; hinderance; obstacle; impediment; delay. [Obsolete, unless in some technical phrases.]
    LET, a termination of diminutives; as hamlet, a little house; rivulet, a small stream. [See Little.]

    LETHAL, a. [L. lethalis, mortal, from Gr. oblivion.] Deadly; mortal; fatal.

    LETHALITY, n. Mortality.

    LETHARGIC, LETHARGICAL, a. [L. lethargicus.] Preternaturally inclined to sleep; drowsy; dull; heavy.

    LETHARGICALLY, adv. In a morbid sleepiness.

    LETHARGICALNESS, LETHARGICNESS, n. Preternatural or morbid sleepiness or drowsiness.

    LETHARGIED, pp. or a. Laid asleep; entranced.

    LETHARGY, n. [L. lethargia; Gr. oblivion and idle.]

    1. Preternatural sleepiness; morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked, and if awaked, remains stupid.NWAD LETHARGY.2

    2. Dullness; inaction; inattention.NWAD LETHARGY.3

    Europe lay them under a deep lethargy.NWAD LETHARGY.4

    LETHARGY, v.t. To make lethargic or dull.

    LETHE, n. le’thee. [Gr. forgetfulness; L. lateo, to be hid.] Oblivion; a draught of oblivion.

    LETHEAN, a. Inducing forgetfulness or oblivion.

    LETHIFEROUS, a. [L. lethum, death, and fero, to bring.]

    Deadly; mortal; bringing death or destruction.NWAD LETHIFEROUS.2

    LETTER, n. [from let.]

    1. One who permits.NWAD LETTER.2

    2. One who retards or hinders.NWAD LETTER.3

    3. One who gives vent; as a blood-letter.NWAD LETTER.4

    LETTER, n. [L. litera.]

    1. A mark or character, written, printed, engraved or painted; used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech. By sounds, and articulations or closures of the organs, are formed syllables and words. Hence a letter is the first element of written language, as a simple sound is the first element of spoken language or speech. As sounds are audible and communicate ideas to others by the ear, so letters are visible representatives of sounds, and communicate the thoughts of others by means of the eye.NWAD LETTER.6

    2. A written or printed message; an epistle; a communication made by visible characters from one person to another at a distance.NWAD LETTER.7

    The style of letters ought to be free, easy and natural.NWAD LETTER.8

    3. The verbal expression; the literal meaning.NWAD LETTER.9

    We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law, and the intentions of the lawgiver.NWAD LETTER.10

    4. Type; a charter formed of metal or wood, usually of metal, and used in printing books.NWAD LETTER.11

    5. Letters, in the plural, learning; erudition; as a man of letters.NWAD LETTER.12

    Dead letter, a writing or precept, which is without authority or force. The best law may become a dead letter.NWAD LETTER.13

    Letter of attorney, a writing by which one person authorizes another to act in his stead.NWAD LETTER.14

    Letter of marque, a private ship commissioned or authorized by a government to make reprisals on the ships of another state. [See Marque.]NWAD LETTER.15

    Letters patent, or overt, open, a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do some act, or enjoy some right; as letters patent under the seal of England.NWAD LETTER.16

    LETTER, v.t. To impress or form letters on; as, to letter a book; a book gilt and lettered.

    LETTER-CASE, n. A case or book to put letters in.

    LETTERED, pp. Stamped with letters.

    LETTERED, a.

    1. Literate; educated; versed in literature or science.NWAD LETTERED.3

    LETTER-FOUNDER, n. One who casts letters; a type-founder.

    LETTERING, ppr. Impressing or forming letters on; as lettering a book on the cover.

    LETTERLESS, a. Illiterate; unlettered; not learned.

    LETTER-PRESS, n. [letter and press.] Print; letters and words impressed on paper or other material by types.

    LETTUCE, n. let’tis. [L. lactuca, according to Varro, from lac, milk.]

    A genus of plants, the Lactuca, of many species, some of which are used as salads.NWAD LETTUCE.2

    LEUCIN, LEUCINE, n. [Gr. white.] A peculiar white pulverulent substance obtained from beef-fibers, treated with sulphuric acid, and afterwards with alcohol.

    LEUCITE, n. [Gr. white.] A stony substance, so called from its whiteness, found among volcanic productions in Italy, in crystals, or in irregular masses; formerly called crystals of white shorl, or white granite or granilite.

    Hauy called this mineral, amphigene. It is called by some writers leucolite, and by others, dodecahedral zeolite.NWAD LEUCITE.2

    LEUCO-ETHIOPIC, a. [Gr. white, and black.]

    White and black; designating a white animal of a black species, or the albino.NWAD LEUCO-ETHIOPIC.2

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