Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter L - Page 24
Leo (n.) A northern constellation east of Cancer, containing the bright star Regulus at the end of the handle of the Sickle.
Leo Minor, A small constellation between Leo and the Great Bear.
Leo (n.) (Astrology) A person who is born while the sun is in Leo [syn: Leo, Lion].
Leo (n.) A zodiacal constellation in northern hemisphere between Cancer and Virgo.
Leo (n.) The fifth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about July 23 to August 22 [syn: Leo, Leo the Lion, Lion].
LEO () LeitungsEndgeraet, Optisch Mil., Germany
LEO () Link Everything Online (WWW, TUM)
Leo () A general-purpose systems language, syntactically like Pascal and Y, semantically like C.
["The Leo Programming Language", G. Townsend, CS TR 84-7, U Arizona 1984]. (1996-02-06)
Leo () A general data management environment which can show user-created relationships among any kind data. It can also be used as an outlining editor as it embeds the noweb and CWEB markup languages in an outline context.
Leo is written in pure Python using Tk/tcl and so runs on Windows, Linux and MacOS X. It isdistributed under the Python License. (2006-07-12)
LEO () Low Earth Orbit
Leo-Cedarville, IN -- U.S. town in Indiana
Population (2000): 2782
Housing Units (2000): 939
Land area (2000): 3.733481 sq. miles (9.669670 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.136413 sq. miles (0.353307 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 3.869894 sq. miles (10.022977 sq. km)
FIPS code: 42861
Located within: Indiana (IN), FIPS 18
Location: 41.214899 N, 85.015475 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 46765
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Leo-Cedarville, IN
Leo-Cedarville
Leo, IN
Leo
Leod (n.) People; a nation; a man. [Obs.] -- Piers Plowman. Bp. Gibson.
Leon (n.) A lion. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Leonced (a.) (Her.) See Lionced.
Leonese (a.) Of or pertaining to Leon, in Spain.
Leonese (n. sing. & pl.) A native or natives of Leon.
Leonid (n.) (Astron.) One of the shooting stars which constitute the star shower that recurs near the fourteenth of November at intervals of about thirty-three years; -- so called because these shooting stars appear on the heavens to move in lines directed from the constellation Leo.
Leonine (a.) 獅子的，獅子般的，羅馬教皇Leo的 Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the lion; as, a leonine look; leonine rapacity. -- {Le"o*nine*ly}, adv.
Leonine verse, A kind of verse, in which the end of the line rhymes with the middle; -- so named from Leo, or Leoninus, a Benedictine and canon of Paris in the twelfth century, who wrote largely in this measure, though he was not the inventor. The following line is an example:
Gloria factorum temere conceditur horum.
Leonine (a.) Of or characteristic of or resembling a lion.
Leonine (a.) Unlike a menagerie lion. Leonine verses are those in which a word in the middle of a line rhymes with a word at the end, as in this famous passage from Bella Peeler Silcox:
The electric light invades the dunnest deep of Hades. Cries Pluto, 'twixt his snores: "O tempora! O mores!"
It should be explained that Mrs. Silcox does not undertake to teach pronunciation of the Greek and Latin tongues. Leonine verses are so called in honor of a poet named Leo, whom prosodists appear to find a pleasure in believing to have been the first to discover that a rhyming couplet could be run into a single line.
Leonine (a.) Of or characteristic of or resembling a lion.
Leontodon (n.) (Bot.) A genus of liguliflorous composite plants, including the fall dandelion ({Leontodon autumnale), and formerly the true dandelion; -- called also lion's tooth.
Leontodon (n.) Hawkbit [syn: Leontodon, genus Leontodon]
Leopard (n.) (Zool.) [C] 豹；美洲豹；（紋章上的）獅像 A large, savage, carnivorous mammal ({Felis leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is regarded as a variety of leopard.
Hunting leopard. See Cheetah.
Leopard cat (Zool.) Any one of several species or varieties of small, spotted cats found in Africa, Southern Asia, and the East Indies; esp., Felis Bengalensis.
Leopard marmot. See Gopher, 2.
Leopard (n.) The pelt of a leopard.
Leopard (n.) Large feline of African and Asian forests usually having a tawny coat with black spots [syn: {leopard}, {Panthera pardus}].
Leopard, () (Heb. namer, so called because spotted, Cant. 4:8), was that great spotted feline which anciently infested the mountains of Syria, more appropriately called a panther (Felis pardus). Its fierceness (Isa. 11:6), its watching for its prey (Jer. 5:6), its swiftness (Hab. 1:8), and the spots of its skin (Jer. 13:23), are noticed. This word is used symbolically (Dan. 7:6; Rev. 13:2).
Leopard (n.) [ C ] (B2) 豹 A large wild cat that has yellow fur with black spots on it and lives in Africa and southern Asia.
Leopard's bane () (Bot.) A name of several harmless plants, as Arnica montana, Senecio Doronicum, and Paris quadrifolia.
Syn: leopardbane, leopard's-bane.
Leopardwood (n.) (Bot.) See Letterwood.
Compare: Letterwood
Letterwood (n.) (Bot.) The beautiful and highly elastic wood of a tree of the genus Brosimum ({Brosimum Aubletii"> Brosimum ({Brosimum Aubletii), found in Guiana; -- so called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to hieroglyphics; also called snakewood, and leopardwood. It is much used for bows and for walking sticks.
Leotard (n.) A tight-fitting garment of stretchy material that covers the body from the shoulders to the thighs (and may have long sleeves or legs reaching down to the ankles); worn by ballet dancers and acrobats for practice or performance [syn: leotard, unitard, body suit, cat suit].
Leotard (n.) [ C ] （女舞蹈演員或女運動員穿的） 緊身衣，體操服，緊身連衣褲 A tight piece of clothing that covers the body but not the legs, usually worn by female dancers or women doing physical exercise.
Leotard (n.) A leotard is a unisex skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso but leaves the legs exposed. The garment was first made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870). There are sleeveless, short-sleeved and long-sleeved leotards. A variation is the unitard, which also covers the legs.
Leotards are worn by acrobats, gymnasts, dancers, figure skaters, athletes, actors, and circus performers both as practice garments and performance costumes. They are often worn together with ballet skirts on top and tights[1] or sometimes bike shorts as underwear. As a casual garment, a leotard can be worn with a belt; it can also be worn under overalls or short skirts.
Leotards are entered through the neck (in contrast to bodysuits which generally have snaps at the crotch, allowing the garment to be pulled on over the head). Scoop-necked leotards have wide neck openings and are held in place by the elasticity of the garment. Others are crew necked or polo necked and close at the back of the neck with a zipper or snaps.
Lep (obs. strong imp.) of Leap. Leaped. -- Chaucer.
Lepadite (n.) (Zool.) Same as Lepadoid.
Lepadoid (n.) (Zool.) A stalked barnacle of the genus Lepas, or family Lepadidae; a goose barnacle. Also used adjectively.
Lepal (n.) (Bot.) A sterile transformed stamen.
Lepas (n.) (Zool.) Any one of various species of Lepas, a genus of pedunculated barnacles found attached to floating timber, bottoms of ships, Gulf weed, etc.; -- called also goose barnacle. See Barnacle.
Leper (n.) A person affected with leprosy.
Leper (n.) A person afflicted with leprosy [syn: leper, lazar].
Leper (n.) A pariah who is avoided by others
Lepered (a.) Affected or tainted with leprosy.
Leperize (v. t.) To affect with leprosy.
Leperous (a.) Leprous; infectious; corrupting; poisonous. "The leperous distillment." -- Shak.
Lepid (a.) Pleasant; jocose. [R.]
The joyous and lepid consul. -- Sydney Smith.
Compare: Iridoline
Iridoline (n.) (Chem.) A nitrogenous base C10H9N, extracted from coal-tar naphtha, as an oily liquid. It is a member of the quinoline series, and is probably identical with lepidine. Iridosmine
Lepidine (n.) (Chem.) An organic base, C9H6.N.CH3, metameric with quinaldine, and obtained by the distillation of cinchonine.
Lepidodendrid (n.) (Paleon.) One of an extinct family of trees allied to the modern club mosses, and including Lepidodendron and its allies.
Lepidodendroid (a.) (Paleon.) Allied to, or resembling, Lepidodendron.
Lepidodendroid (n.) (Paleon.) A lepidodendrid.
Lepidodendron (n.) (Paleon.) A genus of fossil trees of the Devonian and Carboniferous ages, having the exterior marked with scars, mostly in quincunx order, produced by the separation of the leafstalks.
Lepidoganoid (n.) (Zool.) Any one of a division ({Lepidoganoidei) of ganoid fishes, including those that have scales forming a coat of mail. Also used adjectively.
Lepidolite (n.) (Min.) A species of mica, of a lilac or rose-violet color, containing lithia. It usually occurs in masses consisting of small scales. See Mica.
Lepidolite (n.) A mineral of the mica group; an important source of lithium.
Lepidomelane (n.) (Min.) An iron-potash mica, of a raven-black color, usually found in granitic rocks in small six-sided tables, or as an aggregation of minute opaque scales. See Mica.
Compare: Mica
Mica (n.) (Min.) The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and glimmer.
Note: The important species of the mica group are: muscovite, common or potash mica, pale brown or green, often silvery, including damourite (also called hydromica and muscovy glass); biotite, iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black; lepidomelane, iron, mica, black; phlogopite, magnesia mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite, lithia mica, rose-red, lilac.
Mica (usually muscovite, also biotite) is an essential constituent of granite, gneiss, and mica slate; biotite is common in many eruptive rocks; phlogopite in crystalline limestone and serpentine.
Mica diorite (Min.), An eruptive rock allied to diorite but containing mica (biotite) instead of hornblende.
Mica powder, A kind of dynamite containing fine scales of mica.
Mica schist, Mica slate (Geol.), A schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some feldspar.
Lepidomelane (n.) A mica that is a biotite containing iron.
Lepidopter (n.) (Zool.) One of the Lepidoptera.
Lepidoptera (n. pl.) (Zool.) An order of insects, which includes the butterflies and moths. They have broad wings, covered with minute overlapping scales, usually brightly colored.
Note: They have a tubular proboscis, or haustellum, formed by the two slender maxill[ae]. The labial palpi are usually large, and the proboscis, when not in use, can be coiled up spirally between them. The mandibles are rudimentary. The larv[ae], called caterpillars, are often brightly colored, and they commonly feed on leaves. The adults feed chiefly on the honey of flowers. Lepidopteral
Lepidoptera (n.) Moths and butterflies [syn: Lepidoptera, order Lepidoptera].
Lepidopteral (a.) Alt. of Lepidopterous
Lepidopterous (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Lepidoptera.
Lepidopterous (a.) See lepidopteral.
Lepidopterist (n.) (Zool.) One who studies the Lepidoptera.
Lepidopterist (n.) An entomologist who specializes in the collection and study of butterflies and moths [syn: lepidopterist, lepidopterologist, butterfly collector].
Lepidosauria (n. pl.) (Zool.) A division of reptiles, including the serpents and lizards; the Plagiotremata.
Lepidosauria (n.) Diapsid reptiles: lizards; snakes; tuataras [syn: Lepidosauria, subclass Lepidosauria]
Lepidosiren (n.) (Zool.) An eel-shaped ganoid fish of the order Dipnoi, having both gills and lungs. It inhabits the rivers of South America. The name is also applied to a related African species ({Protopterus annectens). The lepidosirens grow to a length of from four to six feet. Called also doko. Lepidote
Lepidote (a.) Alt. of Lepidoted
Lepidoted (a.) (Bot.) Having a coat of scurfy scales, as the leaves of the oleaster.
Lepisma (n.) (Zool.) A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by seven unequal bristles. A common species (Lepisma saccharina) is found in houses, and often injures books and furniture. Called also shiner, silver witch, silver moth, and furniture bug.
Lepisma (n.) Type genus of the Lepismatidae: silverfish [syn: Lepisma, genus Lepisma].
Lepismoid (a.) (Zool.) Like or pertaining to the Lepisma.
Leporine (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to a hare; like or characteristic of, a hare.
Lepra (n.) (Med.) Leprosy.
Note: The term lepra was formerly given to various skin diseases, the leprosy of modern authors being Lepra Arabum. See Leprosy.
Lepre (n.) Leprosy. [Obs.] -- Wyclif.
Leprose (a.) (Nat. Hist.) Covered with thin, scurfy scales.
Leprose (a.) Rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf [syn: lepidote, leprose, scabrous, scaly, scurfy].
Leprosity (n.) The state or quality of being leprous or scaly; also, a scale. -- Bacon.
Leprosy (n.) (Med.) 麻瘋病，腐敗 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, anaesthesia 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.
Note: The disease now called leprosy, also designated as Lepra or Lepra Arabum, and Elephantiasis Gr[ae]corum, 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.
Leprosy (n.) Chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae [syn: {leprosy}, {Hansen's disease}].
Leprosy, () (Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected with it, in Lev. 13; 14; Num. 12:10-15, etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances under which it might develop itself, (1) without any apparent cause (Lev. 13:2-8); (2) its reappearance (9-17); (3) from an inflammation (18-28); (4) on the head or chin (29-37); (5) in white polished spots (38, 39); (6) at the back or in the front of the head (40-44).
Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city (Num. 5:1-4; 12:10-15, etc.). This disease was regarded as an awful punishment from the Lord (2 Kings 5:7; 2 Chr. 26:20). (See MIRIAM; GEHAZI; UZZIAH.)
This disease "begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms, gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white wherever they appear, crusting the affected parts with white scales, and causing terrible sores and swellings. From the skin the disease eats inward to the bones, rotting the whole body piecemeal." "In Christ's day no leper could live in a walled town, though he might in an open village. But wherever he was he was required to have his outer garment rent as a sign of deep grief, to go bareheaded, and to cover his beard with his mantle, as if in lamentation at his own virtual death. He had further to warn passers-by to keep away from him, by calling out, 'Unclean! unclean!' nor could he speak to any one, or receive or return a salutation, since in the East this involves an embrace."
That the disease was not contagious is evident from the regulations regarding it (Lev. 13:12, 13, 36; 2 Kings 5:1). Leprosy was "the outward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption; a meet emblem in its small beginnings, its gradual spread, its internal disfigurement, its dissolution little by little of the whole body, of that which corrupts, degrades, and defiles man's inner nature, and renders him unmeet to enter the presence of a pure and holy God" (Maclear's Handbook O.T). Our Lord cured lepers (Matt. 8:2, 3; Mark 1:40-42). This divine power so manifested illustrates his gracious dealings with men in curing the leprosy of the soul, the fatal taint of sin.
Leprous (a.) Infected with leprosy; pertaining to or resembling leprosy. "His hand was leprous as snow." -- Ex. iv. 6.
Leprous (a.) (Nat. Hist.) Leprose. -- Lep"rous*ly, adv. -- Lep"rous*ness, n.
Leprous (a.) Relating to or resembling or having leprosy.
Lepry (n.) Leprosy. [Obs.] -- Holland.
Leptiform (a.) (Zool) Having a form somewhat like leptus; -- said of active insect larvae having three pairs of legs. See Larva.
Leptocardia (n. pl.) (Zool.) 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 Amphioxus. [Written also Leptocardii.]
Leptocardian (a.) (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Leptocardia.
Leptocardian (n.) (Zool.) One of the Leptocardia.
Leptodactyl (n.) (Zool.) A bird or other animal having slender toes. [Written also lepodactyle.]
Leptodactylous (a.) Having slender toes.
Leptology (n.) A minute and tedious discourse on trifling things.
Leptomeningitis (n.) (Med.) Inflammation of the pia mater or of the arachnoid membrane.
Leptomeningitis (n.) Inflammation of the leptomeninges.
Leptorhine (a.) (Anat.) Having the nose narrow; -- said esp. of the skull. Opposed to platyrhine.
Leptorhine (a.) Having a long narrow nose [syn: leptorrhine, leptorhine, leptorrhinian, leptorrhinic] [ant: broadnosed, catarrhine, catarrhinian, platyrhine, platyrhinian, platyrrhine, platyrrhinian, platyrrhinic]
Leptostraca (n. pl.) (Zool.) An order of Crustacea, including Nebalia and allied forms.
Leptothrix (n.) (Biol.) A genus of bacteria, characterized by having their filaments very long, slender, and indistinctly articulated.
Leptothrix (a.) (Biol.) Having the form of a little chain; -- applied to bacteria when, as in multiplication by fission, they form a chain of filiform individuals.
Leptus (n.) (Zool.) The six-legged young, or larva, of certain mites; -- sometimes used as a generic name. See Harvest mite, under Harvest.
Compare: Granulite
Granulite (n.) [From Granule.] (Geol.) A whitish, granular rock, consisting of feldspar and quartz intimately mixed; -- sometimes called whitestone, and leptynite.
Leptynite (n.) (Min.) See Granulite.
Lere (n.) Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Lere (v. t. & i.) To learn; to teach. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Lere (a.) Empty. [Obs.] See Leer, a.
Lere (n.) Flesh; skin. [Obs.] "His white leer." -- Chaucer.
Lered (a.) Learned. [Obs.] " Lewed man or lered." -- Chaucer.
Lernaea (n.) (Zool.) A Linnaean genus of parasitic Entomostraca, -- the same as the family Lernaeidae.
Note: The genus is restricted by modern Zoologists to a limited number of species similar to Lern[ae]a branchialis found on the gills of the cod.
Lernaeacea (n. pl.) (Zool.) 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.
Lernean (n.) (Zool.) One of a family ({Lernaeidae) 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. lerot
Lerot (n.) (Zool.) A small rodent ({Eliomys nitela) of Europe and Northern Africa, allied to the dormouse.
Lerot (n.) Dormouse of southern Europe and northern Africa.
Les (n.) A leash. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Lesbian (a.) Of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos, now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.
Lesbian (a.) Amatory; erotic; -- in allusion to the reputed sensuality of the Lesbian people and literature; as, Lesbian novels. [archaic]
Lesbian (a.) Homosexual; -- applied to female homosexuals.
Lesbian (n.) A female homosexual.
Syn: dyke[vulgar, deprecatory]. [PJC]
Lesbian (a.) 1: Of or relating to or characterized by homosexual relations between woman [syn: lesbian, sapphic]
Lesbian (n.) A female homosexual [syn: lesbian, tribade, gay woman].
Lesbian (n.) A resident of Lesbos
Lese (v. t.) To lose. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Lese-majesty (n.) 【律】冒犯君主罪；大不敬 See Leze majesty.
Leze majesty (n.) (Law) Any crime committed against the sovereign power, or against a ruler.
Leze majesty (n.) Any affront to the dignity of an eminent or respected person.
Leze majesty (n.) An attack against an institution or custom revered by the majority in a society.
Lesion (n.) A hurt; an injury. Specifically:
Lesion (n.) (Civil Law) Loss sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract.
Lesion (n.) (Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of organs.
Lesion (n.) Any localized abnormal structural change in a bodily part.
Lesion (n.) An injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin) [syn: wound, lesion].
Lesion, () contracts. In the civil law this term is used to signify the injury suffered, in consequence of inequality of situation, by one who does not receive a full equivalent for what he gives in a commutative contract.
Lesion, () The remedy given for this injury, is founded on its being the effect of implied error or imposition; for in every commutative contract, equivalents are supposed to be given and received. Louis. Code, 1854. Persons of full age, however, are not allowed in point of law to object to their agreements as being injurious, unless the injury be excessive. Poth. Oblig. P. 1, c. 1, s. 1, art. 3, Sec. 4. But minors are admitted to restitution, not only against any excessive inequality, but against any inequality whatever. Poth. Oblig. P. 1, c. 1, s. 1, art. 3, Sec. 5; Louis. Code, art. 1858.
Lesion, () Courts of chancery relieve upon terms of redemption and set aside contracts entered into by expectant heirs dealing for their expectancies, on the ground of mere inadequacy of price. 1 Vern. 167; 2 Cox, 80; 2 Cas. in Ch. 136; 1 Vern. 141; 2 Vern. 121; 2 Freem. 111; 2 Vent. 359; 2 Vern. 14; 2 Rep. in Ch. 396; 1 P. W. 312; 1 Bro. C. C. 7; 3 P. Wms. 393, n.; 2 Atk. 133; 2 Ves. 125; 1 Atk. 301; 1 Wils. 286; 1 Wils. 320; 1 Bro. P. 6. ed. Toml. 198; 1 Bro. C. C. 1; 16 Ves. 512; Sugd. on Vend. 231, n. k.; 1 Ball & B. 330; Wightw. 25; 3 Ves. & Bea. 117; 2 Swanst. R. 147, n.; Fonb. notes to the Treatise of Equity, B, 1, c. 2, s. 9. A contract cannot stand where the party has availed himself of a confidential situation, in order to obtain some selfish advantage. Note to Crowe v. Ballard. 1 Ves. jun. 125; 1 Hov. Supp. 66, 7. Note to Wharton v. May. 5 Ves. 27; 1 Hov. Supp. 378. See Catching bargain; Fraud; Sale.
Less (v. t.) To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] -- Gower.
Less (conj.) Unless. [Obs.] -- B. Jonson.
Less (a.) 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.
Note: The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n.
Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. -- E. A. Freeman.
Less (adv.) Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Less (n.) A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. -- Ex. xvi. 17.
Less (n.) The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The less is blessed of the better. -- Heb. vii. 7.
-less () A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
Less (adv.) Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly" [syn: less, to a lesser extent] [ant: more, to a greater extent].
Less (adv.) Comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days" [ant: more].
Less (a.) (Comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old" [ant: more than, more(a)].
Less (a.) (Usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; "no less than perfect."
Less (a.) (Nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer; "less than three weeks"; "no less than 50 people attended"; "in 25 words or less."
Lessee (n.) The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease. -- Blackstone.
Lessee (n.) A tenant who holds a lease [syn: leaseholder, lessee].
Lessee, () He to whom a lease is made. The subject will be considered by taking a view, 1. Of his rights. 2. Of his duties.
Lessee, () He has a right to enjoy the premises leased for the term mentioned in the lease, and to use them for the purpose agreed upon. He may, unless, restrained by the covenants in the lease, either assign it, or underlet the premises. 1 Cruise, Dig. 174. By an assignment of the lease is meant the transfer of all the tenant's interest in the estate to another person; on the contrary, an underletting is but a partial transfer of the property leased, the lessee retaining a reversion to himself.
Lessee, () The duties of the lessee are numerous. First, he is bound to fulfill all express covenants he has entered into in relation to the premises leased; and, secondly, he is required to fulfill all implied covenants, which the relation of lessee imposes upon him towards the lessor. For example, he is bound to put the premises to no other use than that for which it was hired; when a farm is let to him for common farming purposes, he cannot open a mine and dig ore which may happen to be in the ground; but if the mine has been opened, it is presumed both parties intended it should be used, unless the lessee were expressly restrained; 1 Cruise, Dig. 132. He is required to use the property in a tenant-like and proper manner; to take reasonable care of it and to restore it at the end of his term, subject only to the deterioration produced by ordinary wear and the reasonable use for which it was demised. 12 M. & W. 827. Although he is not bound, in the absence of an express covenant, to rebuild in case of destruction by fire or other accident, yet he must keep the house in a habitable state if he received it in good order. See Repairs. The lessee is required to restore the property to the lessor at the end of the term.
Lessee, () The lessee remains chargeable, after an assignment of his term, as before, unless the lessor has accepted the assignee; and even then he continues liable in covenant on an express covenant, as for repairs, or to pay rent; 2 Keb. 640; but not for the performance of an implied one, or, as it is usually termed, a covenant in law. By the acceptance, he is discharged from debt for arrears of future rent. Cro. Jac. 309, 334; Ham. on Parties, 129, 130.
Vide Estate for years; Lease;, Notice to quit: Tenant for years; Underlease.
Lessened (imp. & p. p.) of Lessen.
Lessening (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Lessen.
Lessen (v. t.) 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.
Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. -- Calamy.
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.
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.
The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. -- Atterbury.
Lessen (v.) Decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper" [syn: decrease, diminish, lessen, fall] [ant: increase].
Lessen (v.) Make smaller; "He decreased his staff" [syn: decrease, lessen, minify] [ant: increase].
Lessen (v.) Wear off or die down; "The pain subsided" [syn: subside, lessen].
Lessener (n.) One who, or that which, lessens.
His wife . . . is the lessener of his pain, and the augmenter of his pleasure. -- J. Rogers (1839).
Lesser (adv.) Less. [Obs.] --Shak.
Lesser (a.) Less; smaller; inferior.
God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. -- Gen. i. 15.
Note: 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.
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. -- Shak.
The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. -- Pope.
By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law. -- Locke.
Lesser (a.) Of less size or importance; "the lesser anteater"; "the lesser of two evils" [ant: greater].
Lesser (a.) Smaller in size or amount or value; "the lesser powers of Europe"; "the lesser anteater."
Lesses (v. t.) The leavings or dung of beasts.
Lesson (n.) 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.
Lesson (n.) 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.
Emprinteth well this lesson in your mind. -- Chaucer.
Lesson (n.) A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction; as, here endeth the first lesson.
Lesson (n.) A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning.
She would give her a lesson for walking so late. -- Sir. P. Sidney.