Lepre - Lethal

Lepre (lĕpẽr), n. Leprosy. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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leprechaun n. (Irish folklore) A small mischevous elf or spirit in Irish folklore; it is often depicted in literature as a dwarfish bearded old man; -- legend tells that if a leprechaun is captured, he will reveal the location of his hidden pot of gold.
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Leprose (lĕprōs), a. [See .] (Nat. Hist.) Covered with thin, scurfy scales.
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Leprosity (l�prŏsĭt�), n. The state or quality of being leprous or scaly; also, a scale. Bacon.
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Leprosy (lĕpr�s�), n. [See .] (Med.) A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease, anæsthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious.
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☞ The disease now called leprosy, also designated as Lepra or Lepra Arabum, and Elephantiasis Græcorum, is not the same as the leprosy of the ancients. The latter was, indeed, a generic name for many varieties of skin disease (including our modern leprosy, psoriasis, etc.), some of which, among the Hebrews, rendered a person ceremonially unclean. A variety of leprosy of the Hebrews (probably identical with modern leprosy) was characterized by the presence of smooth, shining, depressed white patches or scales, the hair on which participated in the whiteness, while the skin and adjacent flesh became insensible. It was an incurable disease.
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Leprous (-rūs), a. [OF. leprous, lepros, F. lépreux, fr. L. leprosus, fr. lepra, leprae, leprosy. See .]
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1. Infected with leprosy; pertaining to or resembling leprosy. “His hand was leprous as snow.” Ex. iv. 6.
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2. (Nat. Hist.) Leprose.
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-- Leprously, adv. -- Leprousness, n.
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Lepry (-r�), n. Leprosy. [Obs.] Holland.
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Leptiform (-tĭfôrm), a. [Leptus + -form.] (Zoöl.) Having a form somewhat like leptus; -- said of active insect larvæ having three pairs of legs. See .
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Leptocardia (lĕpt�kärdĭȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. leptos small + kardia the heart.] (Zoöl.) The lowest class of Vertebrata, including only the Amphioxus. The heart is represented only by a simple pulsating vessel. The blood is colorless; the brain, renal organs, and limbs are wanting, and the backbone is represented only by a simple, unsegmented notochord. See . [Written also Leptocardii.]
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Leptocardian (lĕpt�kärdĭ�n), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the . -- n. One of the Leptocardia.
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Leptocercal, (lĕpt�sẽrk�l), Leptocercous (lĕpt�sẽrkŭs), a. (Zoöl.) Having a long slender tail.
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Leptodactyl (lĕpt�dăktĭl), n. [Gr. leptos small, thin + daktylos finger, toe.] (Zoöl.) A bird or other animal having slender toes. [Written also lepodactyle.]
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Leptodactylidae n. [See .] A natural family of New World frogs; in some classifications it is essentially coextensive with the family Bufonidae.
Syn. -- family Leptodactylidae.
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Leptodactylous (-ŭs), a. Having slender toes.
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Leptodactylus n. The type genus of the Leptodactylidae; in some classifications it is placed in the family Bufonidae.
Syn. -- genus Leptodactylus.
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Leptoglossus n. A genus of leaf-footed bugs.
Syn. -- genus Leptoglossus.
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Leptology (lĕptŏl�j�), n. [Gr. leptologia; leptos small, subtile + logos discourse.] A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.
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Leptomeningitis (lĕpt�mĕnĭnjītĭs), n. [NL., fr. Gr. leptos small + meningitis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the pia mater or of the arachnoid membrane.
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lepton n. (Physics) an elementary particle that participates in weak interactions but does not participate in the strong interaction; it has a baryon number of 0. Some known leptons are the electron, the negative muon, the tau-minus particle, and the neutrinos associated with each of these particles.
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Leptopteris n. A genus including some ferns sometimes placed in genus Todea.
Syn. -- genus Leptopteris.
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Leptoptilus n. A genus of birds including the adjutant bird (Leptoptilus dubius, also called adjutant stork) and marabous.
Syn. -- genus Leptoptilus.
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Leptorhine (lĕpt�rīn or rĭn), a. [Gr. leptos small + ris, rinos, the nose.] (Anat.) Having the nose narrow; -- said especially of the skull. Opposed to platyrhine.
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Leptostraca (lĕptŏstrȧkȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. leptos thin, slender + 'ostrakon shell of a testacean.] (Zoöl.) An order of Crustacea, including Nebalia and allied forms.
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Leptothrix (lĕpt�thrĭks), n. [NL., fr. Gr. leptos small + qrix hair.] (Biol.) A genus of bacteria, characterized by having their filaments very long, slender, and indistinctly articulated.
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Leptothrix, a. [See , n. ] (Biol.) Having the form of a little chain; -- applied to bacteria when, as in multiplication by fission, they form a chain of filiform individuals.
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Leptus (lĕptŭs), n. [NL., from Gr. leptos thin, small.] (Zoöl.) The six-legged young, or larva, of certain mites; -- sometimes used as a generic name. See Harvest mite, under .
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Leptynite (lĕptĭnīt), n. (Min.) See .
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Lepus n. The type genus of the Leporidae, comprising the hares.
Syn. -- genus Lepus.
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Ler n. (Irish mythology) the sea personified; father of Manannan; corresponds to the Welsh Llyr.
Syn. -- Lir.
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Lere (lēr), n. [See knowledge.] Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Lere, v. t. & i. [OE. leeren, leren, AS. lǣran. See , .] To learn; to teach. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Lere, a. Empty. [Obs.] See , a.
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Lere, n. [AS. lira flesh; cf. Icel. lær thigh.] Flesh; skin. [Obs.] “His white leer.” Chaucer.
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Lered (lērĕd), a. [From lere, v. t.] Learned. [Obs.] “ Lewed man or lered.” Chaucer.
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Lernæa (lẽrnēȧ), n. [NL., fr. L. Lernaeus Lernæan, fr. Lerna, Gr. Lernh, a forest and marsh near Argos, the mythological abode of the hydra.] (Zoöl.) A Linnæan genus of parasitic Entomostraca, -- the same as the family Lernæidæ.
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☞ The genus is restricted by modern zoölogists to a limited number of species similar to Lernæa branchialis found on the gills of the cod.
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Lernæacea (lẽrn�āsh�ȧ), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Zoöl.) A suborder of copepod Crustacea, including a large number of remarkable forms, mostly parasitic on fishes. The young, however, are active and swim freely. See Illustration in Appendix.
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Lernean (lẽrnē�n), n. [See .] (Zoöl.) One of a family (Lernæidæ) of parasitic Crustacea found attached to fishes and other marine animals. Some species penetrate the skin and flesh with the elongated head, and feed on the viscera. See Illust. in Appendix.
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lerot, Lérot (l�r�), n. [F.] (Zoöl.) A small rodent (Eliomys nitela) of Europe and Northern Africa, allied to the dormouse.
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Les (lĕs), n. A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Lesbian (lĕzbĭ�n), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos, now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.
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2. Amatory; erotic; -- in allusion to the reputed sensuality of the Lesbian people and literature; as, Lesbian novels. [archaic]
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3. homosexual; -- applied to female homosexuals.
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Lesbian (lĕzbĭ�n), n. a female homosexual.
Syn. -- dyke[vulgar, deprecatory]. [PJC]

Lesbianism (?), n. (Med.) Homosexual relations between women.
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Lesbian love. See .
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Lese (lēz), v. t. To lose. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Lese-majesty (-măjĕst�), n. See .
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Lesion (lēzhŭn), n. [F. lésion, L. laesio, fr. laedere, laesum, to hurt, injure.] A hurt; an injury. Specifically: (a) (Civil Law) Loss sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract. Burrill. (b) (Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of organs. Dunglison.
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lespedeza n. Any shrubby or herbaceous plant of the genus Lespedeza, widely used for forage, soil improvement, and especially hay in the Southern U.S.
Syn. -- bush clover.
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Lesquerella prop. n. A genus of low-growing hairy herbs, comprising some of the bladderpods.
Syn. -- genus Lesquerella.
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-less (-lĕs) suff. [AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS. lōs loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. √127. See , and cf. , .] A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
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Less (lĕs), conj. Unless. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Less, a. [OE. lesse, AS. lǣssa; akin to OFries. lēssa; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. , , . Less has the sense of the comparative degree of little.] Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
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☞ The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See , n.
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Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.
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Less, adv. [AS. lǣs. See , adj., and cf. .] Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
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Less, n. 1. A smaller portion or quantity.
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The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. Ex. xvi. 17.
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2. The inferior, younger, or smaller.
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The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.
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Less, v. t. To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] Gower.
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Lessee (lĕssē), n. [F. laissé, p. p. of laisser. See , v. t.] (Law) The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease. Blackstone.
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Lessen (lĕs'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening.] [From , a.] To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.
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Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. Calamy.
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St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. Atterbury.

Syn. -- To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade.
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Lessen, v. i. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened.
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The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.
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Lessener (-ẽr), n. One who, or that which, lessens.
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His wife . . . is the lessener of his pain, and the augmenter of his pleasure. J. Rogers (1839).
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lessening adj. becoming less in dimension or degree; as, the lessening distance between us.
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lessening n. a change downward; a decrease; a reduction.
Syn. -- decrease, drop-off.
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Lesser (lĕsẽr), a. [This word is formed by adding anew the compar. suffix -er (in which r is from an original s) to less. See , a.] Less; smaller; inferior.
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God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 15.
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☞ Lesser is used for less, now the compar. of little, in certain special instances in which its employment has become established by custom; as, Lesser Asia (i. e., Asia Minor), the lesser light, and some others; also in poetry, for the sake of the meter, and in prose where its use renders the passage more euphonious.
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The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Shak.
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The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. Pope.
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By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law. Locke.
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Lesser, adv. Less. [Obs.] Shak.
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Lesses (lĕssĕz), n. pl. [F. laissées, from laisser to leave. See , v. t.] The leavings or dung of beasts.
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Lesson (lĕss'n), n. [OE. lessoun, F. leçon lesson, reading, fr. L. lectio a reading, fr. legere to read, collect. See , and cf. .] 1. Anything read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner; something, as a portion of a book, assigned to a pupil to be studied or learned at one time.
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2. That which is learned or taught by an express effort; instruction derived from precept, experience, observation, or deduction; a precept; a doctrine; as, to take or give a lesson in drawing.“ A smooth and pleasing lesson.” Milton.
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Emprinteth well this lesson in your mind. Chaucer.
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3. A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction; as, here endeth the first lesson.
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4. A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning.
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She would give her a lesson for walking so late. Sir. P. Sidney.
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5. (Mus.) An exercise; a composition serving an educational purpose; a study.
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Lesson, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessoned (-s'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lessoning.] To teach; to instruct. Shak.
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To rest the weary, and to soothe the sad,
Doth lesson happier men, and shame at least the bad. Byron.
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Lessor (lĕssŏr or lĕssôr), n. [See , , v. t.] (Law) One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease. Blackstone.
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less-traveled adj. not visited by many travelers; as, the tourist's desire to visit less-traveled countries.
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Lest (lĕst), v. i. To listen. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
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Lest, n. [See List to choose.] Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Lest, a. Last; least. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Lest, conj. [OE. leste, fr. AS. ðȳ lǣs ðē the less that, where ðȳ is the instrumental case of the definite article, and ðē is an indeclinable relative particle, that, who, which. See , , a.] 1. For fear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not.
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Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Prov. xx. 13.
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Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. x. 12.
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2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension.
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I feared
Lest I might anger thee. Shak.
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Lester (?), n. [Pg., prob. fr. Fr. l'est the east.] (Meteor.) A dry sirocco in the Madeira Islands.
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-let (-lĕt) suff. [From two French dim. endings -el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in bracelet.] A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in streamlet, wavelet, armlet.
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Let (lĕt), v. t. [OE. letten, AS. lettan to delay, to hinder, fr. læt slow; akin to D. letten to hinder, G. verletzen to hurt, Icel. letja to hold back, Goth. latjan. See .] To retard; to hinder; to impede; to oppose. [Archaic]
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He was so strong that no man might him let. Chaucer.
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He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2. Thess. ii. 7.
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Mine ancient wound is hardly whole,
And lets me from the saddle. Tennyson.
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Let, n. 1. A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; -- common in the phrase without let or hindrance, but elsewhere archaic. Keats.
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Consider whether your doings be to the let of your salvation or not. Latimer.
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2. (Lawn Tennis) A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net in passing over.
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Let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Let (Letted (lĕttĕd), [Obs].); p. pr. & vb. n. Letting.] [OE. leten, læten (past tense lat, let, p. p. laten, leten, lete), AS. lǣtan (past tense lēt, p. p. lǣten); akin to OFries. lēta, OS. lātan, D. laten, G. lassen, OHG. lāzzan, Icel. lāta, Sw. låta, Dan. lade, Goth. lētan, and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. , , , to hinder.] 1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.]
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He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let. Chaucer.
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Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets,
But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. Spenser.
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Let me alone in choosing of my wife. Chaucer.
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2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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3. To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e., cause to be made; let bring, i. e., cause to be brought. [Obs.]
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This irous, cursed wretch
Let this knight's son anon before him fetch. Chaucer.
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He . . . thus let do slay hem all three. Chaucer.
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Anon he let two coffers make. Gower.
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4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; -- either affirmatively, by positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent.
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☞ In this sense, when followed by an infinitive, the latter is commonly without the sign to; as to let us walk, i. e., to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose.
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Pharaoh said, I will let you go. Ex. viii. 28.
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If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. Shak.
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5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to rent; to hire out; -- often with out; as, to let a farm; to let a house; to let out horses.
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6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; -- often with out; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering.
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☞ The active form of the infinitive of let, as of many other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house to let (i. e., for letting, or to be let). This form of expression conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See , 2. “ Your elegant house in Harley Street is to let.” Thackeray. In the imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a hortative force. “ Rise up, let us go.” Mark xiv. 42. “ Let us seek out some desolate shade.” Shak.
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Coloq. To let alone , to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering with. -- Coloq. To let blood , to cause blood to flow; to bleed. -- Coloq. To let down . (a) To lower. (b) To soften in tempering; as, to let down tools, cutlery, and the like. -- Coloq. To let fly or Coloq. To let drive , to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under , and . -- Coloq. To let in or Coloq. To let into . (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface for the purpose. -- Coloq. To let loose , to remove restraint from; to permit to wander at large. -- Coloq. To let off . (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun. (b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. To let out . (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord. (c) To lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job. (d) To divulge. -- Coloq. To let slide , to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] “ Let the world slide.” Shak.
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Let, v. i. 1. To forbear. [Obs.] Bacon.
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2. To be let or leased; as, the farm lets for $500 a year. See note under , v. t.
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Coloq. To let on , to tell; to tattle; to divulge something. [Low] -- Coloq. To let up , to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm lets up. [Colloq.]
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Let-alone (lĕtȧlōn), a. Letting alone.
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Coloq. The let-alone principle , Coloq. The let-alone doctrine , or Coloq. The let-alone policy . (Polit. Econ.) See .
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Letch (lĕch), v. & n. See .
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Letch, n. [See , .] 1. Strong desire; passion; especially, lust. [Archaic]
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Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others. De Quincey.
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2. A . [slang]
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Letchy (-�), a. See .
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Lete (lĕt), v. t. To let; to leave. [Obs.]
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Leten (lĕt�n), obs. p. p. of . Chaucer.
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Lethal (lĕthăl), n. [Lauric + ether + alcohol.] (Chem.) One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.
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