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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

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    LILT — LIONLIKE

    LILT, v.i.

    1. To do any thing with dexterity or quickness. [Local.]NWAD LILT.2

    2. To sing or play on the bagpipe.NWAD LILT.3

    LILY, n. [L. lilium; Gr.] A genus of plants of many species, which are all bulbous-rooted, herbaceous perennials, producing bell-shaped, hexapetalous flowers of great beauty and variety of colors.

    Lily of the valley, a plant of the genus convallaria, with a monopetalous, bell-shaped corol, divided at the top into six segments.NWAD LILY.2

    LILY-DAFFODIL, n. A plant and flower.

    LILY-HANDED, a. Having white delicate hands.

    LILY-HYACINTH, n. A plant.

    LILY-LIVERED, a. White-livered; cowardly. [Not used.]

    LIMATION, n. [L. limo, to file.] The act of filing or polishing.

    LIMATURE, n. [L. limo, to file.]

    1. A filing.NWAD LIMATURE.2

    2. Filings; particles rubbed off by filing.NWAD LIMATURE.3

    LIMB, n. lim. [L. limbus, edge or border, extremity; limes, limit. The sense of limb is from shooting or extending.]

    1. Edge or border. This is the proper signification of the word; but in this sense it is limited chiefly to technical use, and applied to the sun, moon, or a star, to a leaf, to a quadrant, etc. We say, the sun or moon is eclipsed on its northern limb. But we never say, the limb of a board, of a tract of land or water, etc.NWAD LIMB.2

    2. In anatomy, and in common use, an extremity of the human body; a member; a projecting part; as the arm or leg; that is, a shoot.NWAD LIMB.3

    3. The branch of a tree; applied only to a branch of some size, and not to a small twig.NWAD LIMB.4

    4. In botany, the border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corol.NWAD LIMB.5

    LIMB, v.t. lim.

    1. To supply with limbs.NWAD LIMB.7

    2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs.NWAD LIMB.8

    LIMBAT, n. A cooling periodical wind in the isle of Cyprus, blowing from the north west from eight o’clock, A.M. to the middle of the day or later.

    LIMBEC, n. [contracted from alembic.] A still; a word not now used.

    LIMBEC, v.t. To strain or pass through a still. Obs.

    LIMBED, a. In composition, formed with regard to limbs; as well-limbed; large-limbed; short-limbed.

    LIMBER, a. Easily bent; flexible; pliant; yielding. In America, it is applied to material things; as a limber rod; a limber joint.

    LIMBER, n. In a ship, a square hole cut through the floor timbers, as a passage for water to the pump-well.

    LIMBERNESS, n. The quality of being easily bent; flexibleness; pliancy.

    LIMBERS, n.

    1. A two-wheeled carriage, having boxes for ammunition.NWAD LIMBERS.2

    2. Thills; shafts of a carriage. [Local.]NWAD LIMBERS.3

    LIMBILITE, n. A mineral from Limbourg, in Swabia, of a honey yellow color, and compact texture.

    LIMBLESS, a. Destitute of limbs.

    LIMB-MEAL, a. Piece-meal.

    LIMBO, LIMBUS, n. [L. limbus.]

    1. A region bordering on hell, or hell itself.NWAD LIMBO.2

    Among catholics, a place where the souls of persons are lodged after death.NWAD LIMBO.3

    2. A place of restraint.NWAD LIMBO.4

    LIME, n. [L. limus; Gr. and allied to clammy. On this word is formed slime.]

    1. A viscous substance, sometimes laid on twigs for catching birds.NWAD LIME.2

    2. Calcarious earth, oxyd of calcium, procured from chalk and certain stones and shells, by expelling from them the carbonic acid, by means of a strong heat in a furnace. The best lime for mortar or cement is obtained from limestone, or carbonate of lime, of which marble is a fine species.NWAD LIME.3

    3. The linden tree.NWAD LIME.4

    4. [See Lemon.] A species of acid fruit, smaller than the lemon.NWAD LIME.5

    LIME, v.t.

    1. To smear with a viscous substance.NWAD LIME.7

    2. To entangle; to ensnare.NWAD LIME.8

    3. To manure with lime.NWAD LIME.9

    Land may be improved by draining, marling and liming.NWAD LIME.10

    4. To cement.NWAD LIME.11

    LIME-BURNER, n. One who burns stones to lime.

    LIMED, pp. Smeared with lime; entangled; manured with lime.

    LIMEHOUND, n. A dog used in hunting the wild boar; a limer.

    LIMEKILN, n. li’mekil. A kiln or furnace in which stones or shells are exposed to a strong heat and reduced to lime.

    LIMESTONE, n. Stone of which lime is made by the expulsion of its carbonic acid, or fixed air. It is called carbonate of lime. Of this there are several species.

    LIMETWIG, n. A twig smeared with lime.

    LIMETWIGGED, a. Smeared with lime.

    LIMEWATER, n. Water impregnated with lime.

    LIMING, ppr. Daubing with viscous matter; entangling; manuring with lime.

    LIMIT, n. [L. limes. See Limb.]

    1. Bound; border; utmost extent; the part that terminates a thing; as the limit of a town, city or empire; the limits of human knowledge.NWAD LIMIT.2

    2. The thing which bounds; restraint.NWAD LIMIT.3

    3. Limits, plu., the extent of the liberties of a prison.NWAD LIMIT.4

    LIMIT, v.t.

    1. To bound; to set bounds to.NWAD LIMIT.6

    2. To confine within certain bounds; to circumscribe; to restrain. The government of England is a limited monarchy.NWAD LIMIT.7

    They tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 78:41.NWAD LIMIT.8

    3. To restrain from a lax or general signification. World sometimes signifies the universe, and sometimes its signification is limited to this earth.NWAD LIMIT.9

    LIMITABLE, a. That may be limited, circumscribed, bounded or restrained.

    LIMITANEOUS, a. Pertaining to bounds.

    LIMITARIAN, a. That limits or circumscribes.

    LIMITARIAN, n. One that limits; one who holds the doctrine that a part of the human race only are to be saved; opposed to universalist.

    LIMITARY, a. Placed at the limit, as a guard.

    - Proud limitary cherub.NWAD LIMITARY.2

    LIMITATION, n. [L. limitatio.]

    1. The act of bounding or circumscribing.NWAD LIMITATION.2

    2. Restriction; restraint; circumscription. The king consented to a limitation of his prerogatives. Government by the limitation of natural rights secures civil liberty.NWAD LIMITATION.3

    3. Restriction; confinement from a lax indeterminate import. Words of general import are often to be understood with limitations.NWAD LIMITATION.4

    4. A certain precinct within which friars were allowed to beg or exercise their functions.NWAD LIMITATION.5

    LIMITED, pp.

    1. Bounded; circumscribed; restrained.NWAD LIMITED.2

    2. a. Narrow; circumscribed. Our views of nature are very limited.NWAD LIMITED.3

    LIMITEDLY, adv. With limitation.

    LIMITEDNESS, n. State of being limited.

    LIMITER, n.

    1. He or that which limits or confines.NWAD LIMITER.2

    2. A friar licensed to beg within certain bounds, or whose duty was limited to a certain district.NWAD LIMITER.3

    LIMITLESS, a. Having no limits; unbounded.

    LIMMER, n.

    1. A limehound; a mongrel.NWAD LIMMER.2

    2. A dog engendered between a hound and a mastiff.NWAD LIMMER.3

    3. A thill or shaft. [Local. See Limber.]NWAD LIMMER.4

    4. A thill-horse. [Local.]NWAD LIMMER.5

    LIMN, v.t. lim. [L. lumino.] To draw or paint; or to paint in water colors.

    LIMNED, pp. lim’med. Painted.

    LIMNER, n. [L. illuminator, in the middle ages, alluminor.]

    1. One that colors or paints on paper or parchment; one who decorates books with initial pictures.NWAD LIMNER.2

    2. A portrait painter.NWAD LIMNER.3

    LIMNING, ppr. Drawing; painting; painting in water colors.

    LIMNING, n. The act or art of drawing or painting in water colors.

    LIMOUS, a. [L. limosus, from limus, slime.] Muddy; slimy; thick.

    LIMP, v.i. To halt; to walk lamely.

    LIMP, n. A halt; act of limping.
    LIMP, a. Vapid; weak. [Not used.]

    LIMPER, n. One that limps.

    LIMPET, n. [L. lepas; Gr. from to peel or strip off bark.]

    A univalve shell of the genus Patella, adhering to rocks.NWAD LIMPET.2

    LIMPID, a. [L. limpidus.] Pure; clear; transparent; as a limpid stream.

    LIMPIDNESS, n. Clearness; purity.

    LIMPING, ppr. Halting; walking lamely.

    LIMPINGLY, adv. Lamely; in a halting manner.

    LIMSY, a. Weak; flexible.

    LIMY, a. [See Lime.]

    1. Viscous; glutinous; as limy snares.NWAD LIMY.2

    2. Containing lime; as a limy soil.NWAD LIMY.3

    3. Resembling lime; having the qualities of lime.NWAD LIMY.4

    LIN, v.i. To yield. Obs.

    LIN, n. A pool or mere. [Not used.]

    LINCHPIN, n.

    A pin used to prevent the wheel of a carriage from sliding off the axle-tree.NWAD LINCHPIN.2

    LINCTURE, n. [L. lingo, linctus.] Medicine taken by licking.

    LINDEN, n.

    The lime-tree, or teil-tree, of the genus Tilia.NWAD LINDEN.2

    LINE, n. [L. linea, linum; Gr. flax.]

    1. In geometry, a quantity extended in length, without breadth or thickness; or a limit terminating a surface.NWAD LINE.2

    2. A slender string; a small cord or rope. The angler uses a line and hook. The seaman uses a hand line, a hauling line, spilling lines, etc.NWAD LINE.3

    3. A thread, string or cord extended to direct any operation.NWAD LINE.4

    We as by line upon the ocean go.NWAD LINE.5

    4. Lineament; a mark in the hand or face.NWAD LINE.6

    He tipples palmistry, and dines on all her fortune-telling lines.NWAD LINE.7

    5. Delineation; sketch; as the lines of a building.NWAD LINE.8

    6. Contour; outline; exterior limit of a figure.NWAD LINE.9

    Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line.NWAD LINE.10

    7. In writing, printing and engraving, the words and letters which stand on a level in one row, between one margin and another; as a page of thirty lines.NWAD LINE.11

    8. In poetry, a verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure.NWAD LINE.12

    9. A short letter; a note. I received a line from my friend by the last mail.NWAD LINE.13

    10. A rank or row of soldiers, or the disposition of an army drawn up with an extended front; or the like disposition of a fleet prepared for engagement.NWAD LINE.14

    11. A trench or rampart; an extended work in fortification.NWAD LINE.15

    Unite thy forces and attack their lines.NWAD LINE.16

    12. Method; disposition; as line of order.NWAD LINE.17

    13. Extension; limit; border.NWAD LINE.18

    Eden stretched her line from Auran eastward to the royal towers of great Seleucia.NWAD LINE.19

    14. Equator; equinoctial circle.NWAD LINE.20

    When the sun below the line descends -NWAD LINE.21

    15. A series or succession of progeny or relations, descending from a common progenitor. We speak of the ascending or descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings.NWAD LINE.22

    16. The twelfth part of an inch.NWAD LINE.23

    17. A straight extended mark.NWAD LINE.24

    18. A straight or parallel direction. The houses must all stand in a line. Every new building must be set in a line with other on the same street.NWAD LINE.25

    19. Occupation; employment; department or course of business. We speak of men in the same line of business.NWAD LINE.26

    20. Course; direction.NWAD LINE.27

    What general line of conduct ought to be pursued?NWAD LINE.28

    21. Lint or flax. [Seldom used.]NWAD LINE.29

    22. In heraldry, lines are the figures used in armories to divide the shield into different parts, and to compose different figures.NWAD LINE.30

    23. In Scripture, line signifies a cord for measuring; also, instruction, doctrine. Psalm 19:4; Isaiah 28:10, 13, 17.NWAD LINE.31

    A right line, a straight or direct line; the shortest line that can be drawn between two points.NWAD LINE.32

    Horizontal line, a line drawn parallel to the horizon.NWAD LINE.33

    Equinoctial line, in geography, a great circle on the earth’s surface, at 90 degrees distance from each pole, and bisecting the earth at that part. In astronomy, the circle which the sun seems to describe, in March and September, when the days and nights are of equal length.NWAD LINE.34

    Meridian line, an imaginary circle drawn through the two poles of the earth, and any part of its surface.NWAD LINE.35

    A ship of the line, a ship of war large enough to have a place in the line of battle. All ships carrying seventy four or more large guns, are ships of the line. Smaller ships may sometimes be so called.NWAD LINE.36

    LINE, v.t. [supposed to be from L. linum, flax, whence linen, which is often used for linings.]

    1. To cover on the inside; as a garment lined with linen, fur or silk; a box lined with paper or tin.NWAD LINE.38

    2. To put in the inside.NWAD LINE.39

    - What if I do line one of their hands?NWAD LINE.40

    3. To place along by the side of any thing for guarding; as, to line a hedge with riflemen; to line works with soldiers.NWAD LINE.41

    4. To strengthen by additional works or men.NWAD LINE.42

    Line and new repair your towns of war with men of courage.NWAD LINE.43

    5. To cover; to add a covering; as, to line a crutch.NWAD LINE.44

    6. To strengthen with any thing added.NWAD LINE.45

    Who lined himself with hope.NWAD LINE.46

    7. To impregnate; applied to irrational animals.NWAD LINE.47

    LINEAGE, n.

    Race; progeny; descendants in a line from a common progenitor.NWAD LINEAGE.2

    LINEAL, a. [L. linealis, from linea, line.]

    1. Composed of lines; delineated; as lineal designs.NWAD LINEAL.2

    2. In a direct line from an ancestor; as lineal descent; lineal succession.NWAD LINEAL.3

    3. Hereditary; derived from ancestors.NWAD LINEAL.4

    4. Allied by direct descent.NWAD LINEAL.5

    For only you are lineal to the throne.NWAD LINEAL.6

    5. In the direction of a line; as lineal measure.NWAD LINEAL.7

    Lineal measure, the measure of length.NWAD LINEAL.8

    LINEALITY, n. The state of being in the form of a line.

    LINEALLY, adv. In a direct line; as, the prince is lineally descended from the conqueror.

    LINEAMENT, n. [L. lineamentum.]

    Feature; form; make; the outline or exterior of a body or figure, particularly of the face.NWAD LINEAMENT.2

    Man he seems in all his lineaments.NWAD LINEAMENT.3

    - The lineaments of the body.NWAD LINEAMENT.4

    - Lineaments of a character.NWAD LINEAMENT.5

    LINEAR, a. [L. linearis.]

    1. Pertaining to a line; consisting of lines; in a straight direction.NWAD LINEAR.2

    2. In botany, like a line; slender; of the same breadth throughout, except at the extremities; as linear leaf.NWAD LINEAR.3

    Linear numbers, in mathematics, such as have relation to length only; such is a number which represents one side of a plane figure. If the plane figure is a square, the linear figure is called a root.NWAD LINEAR.4

    Linear problem, that which may be solved geometrically by the intersection of two right lines.NWAD LINEAR.5

    LINEATE, a. In botany, marked longitudinally with depressed parallel lines; as a lineate leaf.

    LINEATION, n. Draught; delineation, which see.

    LINED, pp. Covered on the inside.

    LINEN, n. [L. linun, flax, Gr. The sense is probably long, extended or smooth. In the latter sense, it would accord with L. linio, lenio.]

    1. Cloth made of flax or hemp.NWAD LINEN.2

    2. An under garment.NWAD LINEN.3

    LINEN, a. [L. lineus.]

    1. Made of flax or hemp; as linen cloth; a linen stocking.NWAD LINEN.5

    2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.NWAD LINEN.6

    Fossil-linen, a kind of amianth, with soft, parallel, flexible fibers.NWAD LINEN.7

    LINEN-DRAPER, n. A person who deals in linens.

    Linener and linen-man, in a like sense, are obsolete.NWAD LINEN-DRAPER.2

    LING, n.

    A fish of the genus Gadus, or cod kind, which grows to the length of four feet or more, is very slender, with a flat head. This fish abounds on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, and forms a considerable article of commerce.NWAD LING.2

    LING, n. A species of long grass; heath.

    LINGER, v.i.

    1. To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow.NWAD LINGER.2

    Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind.NWAD LINGER.3

    Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not. 2 Peter 2:3.NWAD LINGER.4

    2. To hesitate; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense.NWAD LINGER.5

    Perhaps thou lingerest, in deep thought detained.NWAD LINGER.6

    3. To remain long in any state. The patient lingers on a bed of sickness.NWAD LINGER.7

    LINGER, v.t. To protract.

    LINGERER, n. One who lingers.

    LINGERING, ppr.

    1. Delaying; loitering.NWAD LINGERING.2

    2. a. Drawing out in time; remaining long; protracted; as a lingering disease.NWAD LINGERING.3

    To die is the fate of man; but to die with lingering anguish is generally his folly.NWAD LINGERING.4

    LINGERING, n. A delaying; a remaining long; tardiness; protraction.

    The lingerings of holyday customs.NWAD LINGERING.6

    LINGERINGLY, adv. With delay; slowly; tediously.

    LINGET, n. A small mass of metal.

    LINGLE, n. Shoemaker’s thread. [Not in use or local.]

    LINGO, n. [L. lingua.] Language; speech. [Vulgar.]

    LINGUADENTAL, a. [L. lingua, tongue, and dens, a tooth.]

    Formed or uttered by the joint use of the tongue and teeth; as the letters d and t.NWAD LINGUADENTAL.2

    LINGUADENTAL, n. An articulation formed by the tongue and teeth.

    LINGUAFORM, a. [lingua and form.] Having the form or shape of the tongue.

    LINGUAL, a. [L. lingua, the tongue.] Pertaining to the tongue; as the lingual nerves, the ninth pair, which go to the tongue; the lingual muscle, or muscle of the tongue.

    LINGUIST, n. [L. lingua, tongue.] A person skilled in languages; usually applied to a person well versed in the languages taught in colleges, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.

    LINGULATE, a. [L. lingulatus, from lingua, tongue.]

    Shaped like the tongue or a strap. [But ligulate is more generally used.]NWAD LINGULATE.2

    LINGWORT, n. An herb.

    LINIMENT, n. [L. linimentum. from linio, lino, to anoint.]

    A species of soft ointment; a composition of a consistence somewhat thinner than an unguent, but thicker than oilNWAD LINIMENT.2

    LINING, ppr. [See Line.] Covering on the inside, as a garment.

    LINING, n.

    1. The inner covering of any thing, as of a garment or a box. The pleura is called the lining of the thorax.NWAD LINING.3

    2. That which is within.NWAD LINING.4

    LINK, n.

    1. A single ring or division of a chain.NWAD LINK.2

    2. Any thing doubled and closed like a link; as a link of horse hair.NWAD LINK.3

    3. A chain; any thing connecting.NWAD LINK.4

    - And love, the common link, the new creation crowned.NWAD LINK.5

    4. Any single constituent part of a connected series. This argument is a link in the chain of reasoning.NWAD LINK.6

    5. A series; a chain.NWAD LINK.7

    LINK, n. [Gr.; L. lychnus, a lamp or candle, coinciding in elements with light.]

    A torch made of tow or hards, etc., and pitch.NWAD LINK.9

    LINK, v.t.

    1. To complicate.NWAD LINK.11

    2. To unite or connect by something intervening or in other manner.NWAD LINK.12

    - Link towns to towns by avenues of oak.NWAD LINK.13

    - And creature link’d to creature, man to man.NWAD LINK.14

    LINK, v.i. To be connected.

    LINKBOY, LINKMAN, n. A boy or man that carries a link or torch to light passengers.

    LINKED, pp. United; connected.

    LINKING, ppr. Uniting; connecting.

    LINNET, n. [L. carduelis, from carduus, a thistle.]

    A small singing bird of the genus Fingilla.NWAD LINNET.2

    LINSEED. [See Lintseed.]

    LINSEY-WOOLSEY, a. Made of linen and wool; hence, vile; mean; of different and unsuitable parts.

    LINSTOCK, n. [lint and stock.] A pointed staff with a crotch or fork at one end, to hold a lighted match; used in firing cannon. It may be stuck in the ground or in the deck of a ship.

    LINT, n. [L. linteum, linteus, from linium, flax.]

    Flax; but more generally, linen scraped into a soft substance, and used for dressing wounds and sores.NWAD LINT.2

    LINTEL, n.

    The head-piece of a door-frame or window-frame; the part of the frame that lies on the side-pieces. Exodus 12:22-23.NWAD LINTEL.2

    LINTSEED, n. Flaxseed.

    LION, n. [L. leo, leonis, Gr.]

    1. A quadruped of the genus Felis, very strong, fierce and rapacious. The largest lions are eight or nine feet in length. The male has a thick head, beset with long bushy hair of a yellowish color. The lion is a native of Africa and the warm climates of Asia. His aspect is noble, his gait stately, and his roar tremendous.NWAD LION.2

    2. A sign in the zodiac.NWAD LION.3

    LIONESS, n. The female of the lion kind.

    LIONLIKE, a. Like a lion; fierce.

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