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Levity

The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk; relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or floating upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; -- opposed to gravity.

Levo-

A prefix from L. laevus Pertaining to, or toward, the left; as, levorotatory. Turning the plane of polarized light to the left; as, levotartaric acid; levoracemic acid; levogyratory crystals, etc.

levodopa

A substance used as a therapy for Parkinson's Disease; the L form of Dopa; L-dihydroxyphenylalanine; L-hydroxytyrosine (C9H11NO4); also called L-dopa. In the body it is converted by the enzyme dopa-decarboxylase into dopamine, the form in which it is active in the brain, affecting neural impulse transmission.

Levogyrate

Turning or twisting the plane of polarization of light towards the left, as levulose, levotartaric acid, etc.; levorotatory.

Levorotation

Rotation in the direction of an outgoing right-handed screw; counter-clockwise rotation; -- applied chiefly to the turning of the plane of polarization of light.

Levorotatory

Turning or rotating the plane of polarization of light towards the left; -- applied to crystals and compounds exhibiting optical activity, such as levulose, left-handed quartz crystals, etc. Opposite of dextrorotatory.

Levulin

A substance resembling dextrin, obtained from the bulbs of the dahlia, the artichoke, and other sources, as a colorless, spongy, amorphous material. It is so called because by decomposition it yields levulose.

Levulinic

Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid (called also acetyl-propionic acid), C5H8O3, obtained by the action of dilute acids on various sugars (as levulose).

Levulosan

An unfermentable carbohydrate obtained by gently heating levulose.

Levulose

A sirupy variety of sugar, rarely obtained crystallized, occurring widely in honey, ripe fruits, etc., and hence called also fruit sugar; also called fructose. Chemical formula: C6H12O6. It is called levulose, because it rotates the plane of polarization of light to the left, in contrast to dextrose, the other product of the hydrolysis of sucrose.

Levy

To seize property, real or personal, or subject it to the operation of an execution; to make a levy; as, to levy on property; the usual mode of levying, in England, is by seizing the goods.

Levynite Levyne

A whitish, reddish, or yellowish, transparent or translucent mineral, allied to chabazite.

Lew

Lukewarm; tepid.

Lewd

Not clerical; laic; laical; hence, unlearned; simple.

Lewisson Lewis

An iron dovetailed tenon, made in sections, which can be fitted into a dovetail mortise; -- used in hoisting large stones, etc.

Lex

Law; as, lex talionis, the law of retaliation; lex terr/, the law of the land; lex fori, the law of the forum or court; lex loci, the law of the place; lex mercatoria, the law or custom of merchants.

lexical

Of or pertaining to a lexicon, to lexicography, or words; according or conforming to a lexicon.

lexicalize

To make into a word, coin into a word; as, The concept expressed by German "Gemuetlichkeit" is not lexicalized in English.

Lexicography

The art, process, or occupation of making a lexicon or dictionary; the principles which are applied in making dictionaries; as, with so many words lexicography can be interesting in parts but at length is rather tedious labor.

Lexicology

The science of the derivation and signification of words; that branch of learning which treats of the signification and application of words.

Lexicon

A vocabulary, or book containing an alphabetical arrangement of the words in a language or of a considerable number of them, with the definition of each; a dictionary; especially, a dictionary of the Greek, Hebrew, or Latin language.

Lexigraphy

The art or practice of defining words; definition of words.

Lexiphanic

Using, or interlarded with, pretentious words; bombastic; as, a lexiphanic writer or speaker; lexiphanic writing.

Ley

Fallow; unseeded.

Leyden phial Leyden jar

A glass jar or bottle used to accumulate electricity. It is coated with tin foil, within and without, nearly to its top, and is surmounted by a brass knob which communicates with the inner coating, for the purpose of charging it with electricity. It is so named from having been invented in Leyden, Holland.

Leymus

A genus that in some classifications overlaps the genus Elymus.

Leyte

The name of an island in the Pacific Ocean and of a battle in World War II, at which the American forces experienced the first use of Kamikaze aircraft by the Japanese. The return of U. S. troops to the Philippines after their expulsion by the Japanese began with landings on Leyte Island in October 1944.

LF

Low frequency, a term used to refer to radio waves of a frequency from 30 to 300 kilohertz. Contrasted to HF, high frequency.

LH

An abbreviation for luteinizing hormone, a gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the pituitary and stimulates ovulation in female mammals, and stimulates androgen release in male mammals.

Lhasa

The capital city of Tibet; it is the sacred city of Lamaism.

Lherzolite

An igneous rock consisting largely of chrysolite, with pyroxene and picotite (a variety of spinel containing chromium).

Li

A Chinese measure of distance, being a little more than one third of a mile.

Liable

Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; answerable; as, the surety is liable for the debt of his principal.

Liage

Union by league; alliance.

liaise

To form or maintain a liaison{3}.

liaison

A union, or bond of union; an intimacy; an interrelationship.

Liana Liane

A luxuriant woody plant, climbing high trees and having ropelike stems. The grapevine often has the habit of a liane. Lianes are abundant in the forests of the Amazon region.

Liangle Leeangle

A heavy weapon of the Australian aborigines with a sharp-pointed end, about nine inches in length, projecting at right angles from the main part.

Liar

A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who lies.

Liard

A French copper coin of one fourth the value of a sou.

Lias

The lowest of the three divisions of the Jurassic period; a name given in England and Europe to a series of marine limestones underlying the O/lite. See the Chart of Geology.

Liassic

Of the age of the Lias; pertaining to the Lias formation. Same as Lias.

Lib

To castrate.

Libant

Sipping; touching lightly.

Libation

The act of pouring a liquid or liquor, usually wine, either on the ground or on a victim in sacrifice, in honor of some deity; also, the wine or liquid thus poured out.

Libel

To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with against.

Libelant

One who libels; one who institutes a suit in an ecclesiastical or admiralty court.

Libellee

The party against whom a libel has been filed; -- corresponding to defendant in a common law action. The defendant in an action of libel.

libellulid

A dragon fly; -- from Libellula, the name of the typical genus.

Libelous

Containing or involving a libel; defamatory; containing that which exposes some person to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule; as, a libelous pamphlet.

Liber

The inner bark of plants, lying next to the wood. It usually contains a large proportion of woody, fibrous cells, and is, therefore, the part from which the fiber of the plant is obtained, as that of hemp, etc.

Liberal

One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.

Liberalism

Liberal principles; the principles and methods of the liberals in politics or religion; specifically, the principles of the Liberal party.

Liberalistic

Pertaining to, or characterized by, liberalism; as, liberalistic opinions.

Liberality

The quality or state of being liberal; liberal disposition or practice; freedom from narrowness or prejudice; generosity; candor; charity.

Liberalize

To make liberal; to free from narrow views or prejudices; to make less strict.

Liberate

To release from restraint or bondage; to set at liberty; to free; to manumit; to disengage; as, to liberate a slave or prisoner; to liberate the mind from prejudice; to liberate gases.

liberated

released from chemical combination, or as a consequence of chemical reaction; -- of a gas.

liberating

giving freedom from restriction or restraint.

Liberation

The act of liberating or the state of being liberated.

Liberator

One who, or that which, liberates; a deliverer.

Liberian

A native or inhabitant of Liberia.

Liberty

The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; -- opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection.

Libethenite

A mineral of an olive-green color, commonly in orthorhombic crystals. It is a hydrous phosphate of copper.

libidinal

Of or pertaining to the libido; caused by libido; as, libidinal gratification; libidinal impulses.

Libidinosity

The state or quality of being libidinous; libidinousness.

Libidinous

Having lustful desires; characterized by lewdness; sensual; lascivious.

libido

Sexual desire; the sexual instinct; the sex drive.

Libra Librae

The Balance; the seventh sign in the zodiac, which the sun enters at the autumnal equinox in September, marked thus / in almanacs, etc. A southern constellation between Virgo and Scorpio.

Librarian

One who has the care or charge of a library.

Library

A considerable collection of books kept for use, and not as merchandise; as, a private library; a public library.

Libration point

any one of five points in the plane of a system of two large astronomical bodies orbiting each other, as the Earth-moon system, where the gravitational pull of the two bodies on an object are approximately equal, and in opposite directions. A solid object moving in the same velocity and direction as such a libration point will remain in gravitational equilibrium with the two bodies of the system and not fall toward either body.

Libratory

Balancing; moving like a balance, as it tends to an equipoise or level.

Libretto

A book containing the words of an opera or extended piece of music. The words themselves.

Libriform

Having the form of liber, or resembling liber.

Libya

A country in Northern Africa, between Egypt and Tunisia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It also borders on Algeria, Chad, Niger, and Sudan. It is an Arabic-speaking country with over 97% of the population Sunni Moslem. The population in 1995 was about 5,248,000. The capital is Tripoli.

Libyan

Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, the country Libya or its inhabitants.

License

To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as, to license a man to preach.

Licensed

Having a license; permitted or authorized by license; as, a licensed victualer; a licensed traffic.

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