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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.

Licensee

The person to whom a license is given.

Licenser

One who gives a license; as, a licenser of the press.

Licentious

Characterized by license; passing due bounds; excessive; abusive of freedom; wantonly offensive; as, a licentious press.

Lich

A dead body; a corpse.

Lichanura

A genus of boas of western North America.

lichee

A Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) cultivated especially in the Philippines and India for its edible fruit, the litchi nut; sometimes placed in the genus Nephelium.

Lichen

One of a class of cellular, flowerless plants, (technically called Lichenes), having no distinction of leaf and stem, usually of scaly, expanded, frond-like forms, but sometimes erect or pendulous and variously branched. They derive their nourishment from the air, and generate by means of spores. The species are very widely distributed, and form irregular spots or patches, usually of a greenish or yellowish color, upon rocks, trees, and various bodies, to which they adhere with great tenacity. They are often improperly called rock moss or tree moss.

Lichened

Belonging to, or covered with, lichens.

Lichenic

Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, lichens.

Lichenin

A substance isomeric with starch, extracted from several species of moss and lichen, esp. from Iceland moss.

Lichenography

A description of lichens; the science which illustrates the natural history of lichens.

Lichenous

Of, pertaining to, or resembling, lichens; abounding in lichens; covered with lichens.

Lichwort

An herb, the wall pellitory. See Pellitory.

Licitation

The act of offering for sale to the highest bidder.

Lick

A slap; a quick stroke.

Licker

One who, or that which, licks.

Lickerish

Eager; craving; urged by desire; eager to taste or enjoy; greedy.

Licorice

A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza (Glycyrrhiza glabra), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions.

Lictor

An officer who bore an ax and fasces or rods, as ensigns of his office. His duty was to attend the chief magistrates when they appeared in public, to clear the way, and cause due respect to be paid to them, also to apprehend and punish criminals.

Lidless

Having no lid, or not covered with the lids, as the eyes; hence, sleepless; watchful.

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