Part 62

LAST, last, _adj._ latest: coming after all the others: final: next before the present: utmost: meanest: most improbable or unlikely--also _adv._--_n._ LAST'-COURT, a court held by the jurats in the marshes of Kent to fix rates chargeable for the preservation of these--also LAST.--_adv._ LAST'LY.--LAST DAY (_Scot._), yesterday; LAST HEIR (_Eng. law_), he to whom lands come by escheat for want of lawful heirs.--AT LAST, in conclusion (this from A.S. _on l['a]st_, therefore not from _late_ at all, but from _last_ (1), which is the A.S. _l['a]st_, a trace); BREATHE ONE'S LAST, to die; DIE IN THE LAST DITCH, to fight to the bitter end; FIRST AND LAST, altogether; ON ONE'S LAST LEGS, on the verge of utter failure or exhaustion; PUT THE LAST HAND TO, to finish, put the finishing touch to; THE LAST CAST (see CAST); THE LAST DAY, the Day of Judgment; THE LAST DAYS, TIMES (_B._), the period when the end of the world draws near; TO THE LAST, to the end: till death. [A contr. of _latest_.]

LASTERY, last'[.e]r-i, _n._ (_Spens._) a red colour.

LAT, l[:a]t, _n._ in Indian architecture, an isolated pillar.

LATAKIA, lat-a-k[=e]'a, _n._ a fine kind of tobacco produced at _Latakia_ (_Laodicea ad Mare_) in Syria.

LATCH, lach, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to moisten. [_Leach_.]

LATCH, lach, _n._ a small piece of wood or iron to fasten a door.--_v.t._ to fasten with a latch: to hold, retain: (_obs._) to seize.--_ns._ LATCH'ET, a strap or buckle for fastening a shoe; LATCH'KEY, a key to raise the latch of a door.--ON THE LATCH, not locked, but opened by a latch. [A.S. _laeccan_, to catch.]

LATE, l[=a]t, _adj._ (_comp._ LAT'ER; _superl._ LAT'EST) slow, tardy; behindhand: coming after the expected time: long delayed: far advanced towards the close: last in any place or character: deceased: departed: out of office: not long past--also _adv._--_adj._ LAT'ED (_Shak._), belated, being too late.--_adv._ LATE'LY.--_n._ LATE'NESS, state of being late.--_adv._ LAT'ER.--_adj._ LAT'ISH, somewhat late. [A.S. _laet_, slow; Dut. _laat_, Ice. _latr_, Ger. _lass_, weary; L. _lassus_, tired.]

LATEBRA, lat'eb-ra, _n._ the cavity in the food-yolk of a meroblastic ovum.--_adj._ LAT'EBROUS. [L.--_lat[=e]re_.]

LATEEN, la-t[=e]n', _adj._ applied to a triangular sail, common in the Mediterranean, the Lake of Geneva, &c. [Fr.,--L. _Latinus_, Latin.]

LATENT, l[=a]'tent, _adj._ hid: concealed: not visible or apparent: dormant, undeveloped.--_ns._ L[=A]'TENCE, L[=A]'TENCY.--_adv._ L[=A]'TENTLY.--LATENT HEAT (see HEAT); LATENT LIFE, a phrase describing the physiological condition of organisms in which the functions are for a time suspended without losing the power of future activity; LATENT PERIOD OF A DISEASE, the time that elapses before symptoms show the presence of the disease. [L. _latens_, pr.p. of _lat[=e]re_, to lie hid; Gr. _lanthanein_, to be hidden.]

LATERAL, lat'[.e]r-al, _adj._ belonging to the side: proceeding from or in the direction of the side: (_anat._ and _zool._) situated on one of the sides of the median vertical longitudinal plane of the body: (_physics_) at right angles to a line of motion or strain.--_n._ LATERAL'ITY.--_adv._ LAT'ERALLY.--_adj._ LATERIF[=O]'LIOUS (_bot._), growing by the side of a leaf at its base.--LATERAL FIN, one of the paired side fins of a fish:--opp. to _Vertical fin_. [L. _lateralis_--_latus_, _lat[)e]ris_, a side.]

LATERAN, lat'[.e]r-an, _adj._ pertaining to the Church of St John _Lateran_ at Rome, the Pope's cathedral church, on the site of the splendid palace or basilica of Plautius Lateranus (executed 66 A.D.).--LATERAN COUNCILS, five general councils of the Western Church, held in the Lateran basilica (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215, and 1512-17), regarded by Roman Catholics as oecumenical: also an important synod against the Monothelites in 649.

LATERICEOUS, lat-[.e]r-ish'us, _adj._ of brick, or brick-coloured.--Also LATERIT'IOUS. [L. _latericius_--_later_, _lateris_, a brick.]

LATERITE, lat'[.e]r-[=i]t, _n._ an argillaceous sandstone of a reddish or brick colour found in India, esp. in Ceylon. [L. _later_, _lateris_, a brick.]

LATESCENT, l[=a]-tes'ent, _adj._ becoming hidden.--_n._ LATESC'ENCE. [L. _latesc[)e]re_--_lat[=e]re_, to lie hid.]

LATEST, l[=a]t'est, _adj._ superl. of _late_.

LATEX, l[=a]'teks, _n._ (_bot._) the sap of plants after it has been elaborated in the leaves.--_adj._ LATICIF'EROUS, containing or conveying latex. [L.]

LATH, l[:a]th, _n._ a thin cleft slip of wood used in slating, plastering, &c.:--_pl._ LATHS (l[:a]_th_z).--_v.t._ to cover with laths.--_adj._ LATH'EN.--_ns._ LATH'ING, the act or process of covering with laths: a covering of laths; LATH'-SPLIT'TER, one who splits wood into laths.--_adj._ LATH'Y, like a lath.--DAGGER OF LATH, any insufficient means of attack or defence. [A.S. _laettu_; Dut. _lat_, Ger. _latte_, a lath.]

LATHE, l[=a]_th_, _n._ a machine for turning and shaping articles of wood, metal, &c.: the movable swing-frame of a loom carrying the reed for separating the warp threads and beating up the weft. [Ice. _l[:o]dh_.]

LATHE, l[:a]_th_, _n._ a part or division of a county, now existing only in Kent, and consisting of four or five hundreds. [A.S. _l['ae]th_, a district.]

LATHER, la_th_'[.e]r, _n._ a foam or froth made with water and soap: froth from sweat.--_v.t._ to spread over with lather.--_v.i._ to form a lather: to become frothy. [A.S. _le['a]dhor_, lather; Ice. _laudhr_, foam.]

LATIBULUM, l[=a]-tib'[=u]-lum, _n._ a hiding-place, burrow:--_pl._ LATIB'ULA.--_v.i._ LATIB'ULISE, to hibernate. [L.]

LATICLAVE, lat'i-kl[=a]v, _n._ a broad vertical purple stripe running down the front of a Roman senator's tunic. [L. _latus_, broad, _clavus_, a stripe.]

LATICOSTATE, lat-i-kos't[=a]t, _adj._ broad-ribbed.

LATIDENTATE, lat-i-den't[=a]t, _adj._ broad-toothed.

LATIFOLIATE, lat-i-f[=o]'li-[=a]t, _adj._ broad-leafed.--Also LATIF[=O]'LIOUS.

LATIN, lat'in, _adj._ pertaining to ancient Latium (esp. Rome) or its inhabitants, also to all races claiming affinity with the Latins by language, race, or civilisation: written or spoken in Latin.--_n._ an inhabitant of ancient Latium: a member of a modern race ethnically or linguistically related to the ancient Romans or Italians: the language of ancient Rome--the foundation of the modern Romance tongues: a member of the Latin or Roman Catholic Church.--_adj._ L[=A]'TIAN.--_n._ LAT'INER, one who knows Latin: (_obs._) an interpreter.--_v.t._ LAT'IN[=I]SE, to give Latin forms to: to render into Latin.--_ns._ LAT'INISM, a Latin idiom; LAT'INIST, one skilled in Latin; LATIN'ITY, the Latin tongue, style, or idiom.--LATIN CHURCH, the Western Church as distinguished from the Greek or Oriental Church, so named as having employed Latin as its official language: the Roman Catholic Church; LATIN EMPIRE, that portion of the Byzantine Empire seized in 1204 by the Crusaders, and overthrown by the Greeks in 1261; LATIN KINGDOM, the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem ruled by French or Latin kings, and lasting from 1099 to 1187.--CLASSICAL LATIN, the Latin of the writers who flourished from about 75 B.C. to 200 A.D.; DOG LATIN, barbarous Latin; LATE LATIN, the LATIN written by authors between 200 and (_circ._) 600 A.D.; MIDDLE, MEDIEVAL, or LOW LATIN, the Latin of the middle age between 600 and 1500 A.D.; NEW, MODERN, LATIN, Latin as written between 1500 and the present time, mostly used as a scientific medium; THIEVES' LATIN, thieves' cant. [L. _Latinus_, belonging to _Latium_, the district round Rome.]

LATIPENNATE, lat-i-pen'[=a]t, _adj._ broad-winged.

LATIROSTRAL, lat-i-ros'tral, _adj._ broad-billed.--Also LATIROS'TRATE.

LATISSIMUS, l[=a]-tis'i-mus, _n._ the broadest muscle which lies upon the back.

LATITUDE, lat'i-t[=u]d, _n._ the distance of a place north or south from the equator, measured in degrees of the meridian: a place as indicated by latitude: the angular distance of a celestial body above the plane of the ecliptic (_apparent_ when the point of view is on the earth's surface, _geocentric_ when at the earth's centre, _heliocentric_ when at the centre of the sun): (_fig._) extent of signification: freedom from restraint: scope: (_obs._) width.--_adjs._ LATITUD'INAL, pertaining to latitude: in the direction of latitude; LATITUDIN[=A]'RIAN, broad or liberal, esp. in religious belief: lax.--_n._ a name applied by contemporaries to a member of a school of liberal and philosophical theologians within the English Church in the later half of the 17th century: one who affects to regard specific creeds, methods of church government, &c. with indifference.--_n._ LATITUDIN[=A]'RIANISM.--_adj._ LATITUD'INOUS, having latitude or large extent.--LATITUDE BY ACCOUNT, in navigation, the latitude calculated from the course and distance sailed since last observation; LATITUDE BY OBSERVATION, the latitude determined from an observation of a heavenly body; MIDDLE LATITUDE, the latitude of the parallel midway between two places situated in the same hemisphere. [Fr.,--L. _latitudo_, _-inis_--_latus_, broad.]

LATRIA, l[=a]-tr[=i]'a, _n._ the kind of supreme worship lawfully offered to God alone--opposed to _Dulia_, that given to saints and angels, and to _Hyperdulia_, that given to the Virgin. [Gr. _latreuein_, to serve.]

LATRINE, lat'rin, _n._ a privy or water-closet in barracks, factories, hospitals, &c. [Fr.,--L. _lavatrina_, _latrina_--_lav[=a]re_, to wash.]

LATROBE, la-tr[=o]b', _n._ a form of stove set into a fireplace, heating the room by radiation, and the rooms above by hot air--from I. _Latrobe_ of Baltimore.

LATROCINIUM, lat-r[=o]-sin'i-um, _n._ the Robber-Council, that held at Ephesus in 449, in which the doctrines of the heretic Eutyches were upheld by means of intimidation--its acts revoked at the oecumenical council of Chalcedon in 451: larceny: right of adjudging and executing thieves. [L., robbery.]

LATTEN, lat'en, _n._ brass or bronze used for crosses: sheet tin, tinned iron-plate. [O. Fr. _laton_ (Fr. _laiton_)--Ger. _latte_, a lath, thin plate.]

LATTER, lat'[.e]r, _adj._ later: coming or existing after: mentioned the last of two: modern: recent: (_Shak._) last.--_adjs._ LATT'ER-BORN (_Shak._), younger; LATT'ER-DAY, belonging to recent times.--_adv._ LATT'ERLY, in latter time: of late.--LATTER-DAY SAINTS (see Mormon); LATTER END (see END); LATTER-MINT, a late kind of mint.--THE FORMER AND THE LATTER RAIN (see RAIN). [A variant of _later_.]

LATTICE, lat'is, _n._ a network of crossed laths or bars, called also LATT'ICE-WORK: anything of lattice-work, as a window: (_her._) a bearing of vertical and horizontal bars crossing each other.--_v.t._ to form into open work: to furnish with a lattice.--_ns._ LATT'ICE-BRIDGE, a bridge with its sides consisting of cross-framing like lattice-work; LATT'ICE-GIRD'ER, a girder of which the web consists of diagonal pieces arranged like lattice-work; LATT'ICE-LEAF, an aquatic plant, native to Madagascar, so called from the singular resemblance of the leaves to open lattice-work--otherwise _Lattice-plant_, _Lace-leaf_, _Water-yam_, or _Ouvirandrano_.--RED LATTICE (_Shak._), a frame of lattice-work painted red, formerly used to fill the windows of an ale-house. [Fr. _lattis_--_latte_, a lath.]

LAUD, lawd, _v.t._ to praise in words or with singing: to celebrate.--_n._ commendation: praise in divine worship: (_pl._) in the R.C. Church, the prayers immediately following matins, constituting with the latter the first of the seven canonical hours.--_adj._ LAUD'ABLE, worthy of being praised.--_n._ LAUD'ABLENESS.--_adv._ LAUD'ABLY.--_ns._ LAUD[=A]'TION, praise: honour paid; LAUD'ATIVE, a panegyric, a eulogium.--_adj._ LAUD'ATORY, containing praise: expressing praise.--_n._ that which contains praise.--_n._ LAUD'ER. [L. _laud[=a]re_--_laus_, _laudis_, praise.]

LAUDANUM, lawd'a-num, _n._ a preparation of opium: tincture of opium. [Same word as _ladanum_, transferred to a different drug.]

LAUGH, l[:a]f, _v.i._ to express mirth or joy by an explosive inarticulate sound of the voice and peculiar facial distortion: to be gay or lively: make merry (with _at_), to flout.--_v.t._ to express with a laugh: to affect in some way by laughter.--_n._ the sound caused by merriment.--_adj._ LAUGH'ABLE, ludicrous.--_n._ LAUGH'ABLENESS.--_adv._ LAUGH'ABLY.--_ns._ LAUGH'ER; LAUGH'ING-GAS, a gas which excites laughter, called nitrous oxide, used as an anaesthetic in minor surgical operations, as in dentistry; LAUGH'ING-JACK'ASS, the great kingfisher of Australia.--_adv._ LAUGH'INGLY, in a laughing manner.--_ns._ LAUGH'ING-STOCK, an object of ridicule, like something stuck up to be laughed at; LAUGH'TER, act or noise of laughing.--LAUGH A THING OFF, to treat as if worthy only of a laugh; LAUGH IN ONE'S SLEEVE, to laugh inwardly; LAUGH ONE OUT OF, to make a person abandon a habit, &c., by laughing at him for it; LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE MOUTH, to be made feel disappointment or sorrow, esp. after boasting, &c.; LAUGH TO SCORN, to deride or jeer at.--HAVE THE LAUGH ON ONE'S SIDE, to be able to laugh at another through getting the better of him by superior dexterity, &c. [A.S. _hlihan_; Ger. _lachen_, Goth. _hlahjan_; prob. imit.]

LAUNCE, l[:a]ns, _n._ Same as LANCE.

LAUNCE, l[:a]ns, _n._ (_Spens._) a balance. [L. _lanx_, _lancis_, a plate, a scale of a balance.]

LAUNCH, LANCH, l[:a]nsh, _v.t._ to throw as a lance or spear: (_Shak._) to pierce or cut with a lance: to send forth: to cause to slide into the water.--_v.i._ to go forth, as a ship into the water: to come into new relations, make a transition.--_n._ act of launching or moving a newly-built ship from the stocks into the water: the largest boat carried by a man-of-war: (_Spens._) a lancing.--_n.pl._ LAUNCH'ING-WAYS, the timbers on which a ship is launched.--_n._ STEAM'-LAUNCH, a large passenger-boat propelled by steam-power, and used largely on rivers. [O. Fr. _lanchier_, _lancier_ (Fr. _lancer_). See LANCE.]

LAUND, lawnd, _n._ (_Shak._) a park. [O. Fr. _lande_; prob. Celt. See LAWN.]

LAUNDRESS, lawn'dres, _n._ a woman who washes and irons clothes.--_n._ LAUN'DER, a washerwoman or washerman: a trough for conveying water.--_v.t._ to wash and iron, as clothes: (_Shak._) to wet, wash.--_ns._ LAUN'DRY, a place where clothes are washed and dressed; LAUN'DRY-MAN, -MAID, a male, female, worker in a laundry. [M. E. _lavander_--O. Fr. _lavandier_--L., gerundive of _lav[=a]re_ to wash.]

LAURA, law'ra, _n._ an early kind of monastic community, its cells separate structures, the inmates living in solitude, meeting only for common services in the chapel--found only in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine. [Most prob. Gr. _laura_, an alley, lane.]

LAUREATE, law're-[=a]t, _adj._ crowned with laurel.--_n._ one crowned with laurel: a poet-laureate.--_v.t._ to crown with laurel, in token of literary merit: to confer a degree upon.--_ns._ LAU'REATESHIP, office of a laureate; LAURE[=A]'TION, act of laureating or conferring a degree; P[=O]'ET-LAU'REATE, formerly one who received a degree in grammar (i.e. poetry and rhetoric) at the English universities: a poet bearing that honorary title, a salaried officer in the royal household, appointed to compose annually an ode for the king's birthday and other suitable occasions.

LAUREL, law'rel, _n._ the bay-tree, used by the ancients for making honorary wreaths: a crown of laurel, honours gained (freq. in _pl._): any species of the genus _Laurus_.--_adjs._ LAU'REL; LAU'RELLED, crowned with laurel.--_n._ LAU'REL-WA'TER, a sedative and narcotic water distilled from the leaves of the cherry-laurel.--_adjs._ LAURIF'EROUS, producing laurel; LAU'RIGER, laurel-wearing.--_n_ LAURUST[=I]'NUS, an evergreen shrub. [Fr. _laurier_--L. _laurus_.]

LAURENTIAN, law-ren'shi-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Lorenzo_ or LAURENTIUS dei Medici, or to the Laurentian library founded by him at Florence: of or pertaining to the river St _Lawrence_: applied to a series of rocks covering a large area in the region of the Upper Lakes of North America.

LAUWINE, law'vin, _n._ (_Byron_) an avalanche. [Ger., from Low L. _lavina_, prob. L. _labi_, to fall.]

LAV, lav, _n._ word--in _lavengro_, word-master. [Gypsy.]

LAVA, l[:a]'va, _n._ the melted matter discharged from a burning mountain, that flows down its sides. [It. _lava_, a stream--L. _lav[=a]re_, to wash.]

LAVE, l[=a]v, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to wash: to bathe.--_ns._ L[=A]'VABO, the ritual act of washing the celebrant's fingers after the offertory, before proceeding with the eucharistic service--from _Lavabo manus meas in innocentia_ (Ps. xxvi. 6): a stone basin in monasteries for washing in before meals or religious exercises: a modern convenience or lavatory of similar kind; L[=A]'VAGE, a washing out; LAV[=A]'TION, a washing or cleansing; LAV'ATORY, a place for washing: a medieval stone table in monasteries, &c., on which bodies were washed before burial: (_med._) a lotion for a diseased part; L[=A]'VER, a large vessel for laving or washing. [Fr. _laver_--L. _lav[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_; Gr. _louein_, to wash.]

LAVE, l[=a]v, _n._ (_Scot._) what is left, the remainder. [A.S. _l['a]f_; Ice. _leif_. See LEAVE.]

LAVE, l[=a]v, _v.t._ to lade or throw out (as water from a boat). [A.S. _lafian_, pour out water; Ger. _laben_, refresh. Conn. with L. _lav[=a]re_, to wash, dub.]

LAVENDER, lav'en-d[.e]r, _n._ an odoriferous plant, probably so called from its being laid with newly washed clothes: a pale-lilac colour, the colour of lavender blossoms.--_v.t._ to sprinkle with lavender.--_n._ LAV'ENDER-WA'TER, a perfume composed of spirits of wine, essential oil of lavender, and ambergris.--LAY IN LAVENDER, to lay by carefully, as clothes, with sprigs of lavender in them; OIL OF LAVENDER, an aromatic oil distilled from lavender flowers and stems, used as a stimulant and tonic. [M. E. _lavendre_--Fr. _lavande_--L. _lav[=a]re_, to wash.]

LAVER. See LAVE (1).

LAVER, l[=a]v'[.e]r, _n._ the fronds of certain marine plants, sometimes used as food. [L. _laver_.]

LAVEROCK, lav'[.e]r-ock, _n._ (_prov._) a lark. [Cf. _Lark_.]

LAVISH, lav'ish, _v.t._ to expend profusely: to waste.--_adj._ bestowing profusely: prodigal: extravagant: unrestrained.--_adv._ LAV'ISHLY.--_ns._ LAV'ISHMENT, LAV'ISHNESS. [From LAVE (3).]

LAVOLT, la-volt', LAVOLTA, la-vol'ta, _n._ (_Shak._) an old dance in which there were much turning and high leaping. [It. _la volta_, the turn.]

LAW, law, _n._ a rule of action established by authority: statute: the rules of a community or state: a rule or principle of science or art: the whole jurisprudence or the science of law: established usage: that which is lawful: the whole body of persons connected professionally with the law: litigation: a theoretical principle educed from practice or observation: a statement or formula expressing the constant order of certain phenomena: (_theol._) the Mosaic code or the books containing it.--_v.t._ (_coll._) to give law to, determine.--_v.i._ (_obs._) to go to law.--_adj._ LAW'-ABID'ING, obedient to the law.--_ns._ LAW-BIND'ING; LAW'-BOOK, a book treating of law or law cases; LAW'-BREAK'ER, one who violates a law; LAW'-BURR'OWS (_Scots law_), a writ requiring a person to give security against doing violence to another; LAW'-CALF, a book-binding in smooth, pale-brown calf; LAW'-DAY, a day of open court.--_adj._ LAW'FUL, allowed by law: rightful.--_adv._ LAW'FULLY.--_ns._ LAW'FULNESS; LAW'GIVER, one who enacts laws: a legislator.--_adj._ LAW'GIVING, legislating.--_n._ LAW'ING, going to law: litigation: (_obs._) the practice of cutting off the claws and balls of a dog's forefeet to hinder it from hunting: (_Scot._) a reckoning at a public-house, a tavern bill.--_adj._ LAW'LESS.--_adv._ LAW'LESSLY.--_ns._ LAW'LESSNESS; LAW'-LIST, an annual publication containing all information regarding the administration of law and the legal profession; LAW'-LORD, a peer in parliament who holds or has held high legal office: in Scotland, a judge of the Court of Session; LAW'-MAK'ER, a lawgiver; LAW'-MAN, one of a select body with magisterial powers in some of the Danish towns of early England; LAW'-MER'CHANT, a term applied to the customs which have grown up among merchants in reference to mercantile documents and business; LAW'-MONG'ER, a low pettifogging lawyer; LAW'-ST[=A]'TIONER, a stationer who sells parchment and other articles needed by lawyers; LAW'SUIT, a suit or process in law; LAW'-WRIT'ER, a writer on law: a copier or engrosser of legal papers; LAW'YER, a practitioner in the law: (_N.T._) an interpreter of the Mosaic Law: the stem of a brier.--LAW LATIN, Latin as used in law and legal documents, being a mixture of Latin with Old French and Latinised English words; LAW OF NATIONS, now international law, originally applied to those ethical principles regarded as obligatory on all communities; LAW OF NATURE (see NATURE); LAW OF THE LAND, the established law of a country; LAWS OF ASSOCIATION (see ASSOCIATION); LAWS OF MOTION (see MOTION); LAWFUL DAY, one on which business may be legally done--not a Sunday or a public holiday.--BOYLE'S (erroneously called MARIOTTE'S) LAW (_physics_), in gases, the law that, for a given quantity at a given temperature, the pressure varies inversely as the volume--discovered by Robert _Boyle_ in 1662, and treated in a book by Mariotte in 1679; BREHON LAW (see BREHON); CANON LAW (see CANON); CASE LAW, law established by judicial decision in

## particular cases, in contradistinction to _statute law_; COMMON LAW (see

COMMON); CRIMINAL LAW, the law which relates to crimes and their punishment; CROWN LAW, that part of the common law of England which is applicable to criminal matters; CUSTOMARY LAW (see CONSUETUDINARY); EMPIRICAL LAW, a law induced from observation or experiment, and though valid for the particular instances observed, not to be relied on beyond the conditions on which it rests; FEDERAL LAW, law prescribed by the supreme power of the United States, as opposed to _state_ law; FOREST LAW, the code of law which was drawn up to preserve the forests, &c., forming the special property of the English kings; GRESHAM'S LAW (_polit. econ._), the law that of two forms of currency the inferior or more depreciated tends to drive the other from circulation, owing to the hoarding and exportation of the better form; GRIMM'S LAW (_philol._), the law formulating certain changes or differences which the mute consonants exhibit in corresponding words in the Teutonic branches of the Aryan family of languages--stated by Jacob _Grimm_ (1785-1863); INTERNATIONAL LAW (see INTERNATIONAL); JUDICIARY LAW, that part of the law which has its source in the decisions and adjudications of the courts; KEPLER'S LAWS, three laws of planetary motion discovered by Johann _Kepler_ (1571-1630)--viz. (1) the orbits of the planets are ellipses with the sun at one focus; (2) the areas described by their _radii vectores_ in equal times are equal; (3) the squares of their periodic times vary as the cubes of their mean distances from the sun; LYNCH LAW (see LYNCH); MAINE LAW, a prohibitory liquor law passed by the legislature of _Maine_ State, U.S.A., in 1851; MARITIME, MARTIAL, MERCANTILE, MILITARY LAW (see the _adjs._); MAY LAWS, several Prussian enactments (1873-74) directed to control the action of the Church, and limit its interference in civil matters, largely modified in 1887--often called FALK LAWS, from the introducer; MORAL LAW, that portion of the Old Testament which relates to moral principles, especially the ten commandments; MOSAIC, MUNICIPAL, NATURAL LAW (see the _adjs._); OHM'S LAW, the basis of electrical measurements, established in 1827 by _Ohm_ (1787-1854), that the resistance of a conductor is measured by the ratio of the electromotive force between its two ends to the current flowing through it; POOR-LAW, -LAWS, laws providing for the support of paupers at the public expense; POSITIVE LAW, law owing its force to human sanction as opposed to divine law; PRIVATE LAW (see PRIVATE); ROMAN LAW, the system of law developed by the ancient Romans, and often termed the _civil law_ (q.v.); SALIC LAW (see SALIAN); STATUTE LAW (see STATUTE); SUMPTUARY LAW (see SUMPTUARY); VERNER'S LAW (_philol._), a law stated by Karl _Verner_ in 1875, showing the effect of the position of accent in the shifting of the original Aryan mute consonants, and _s_, into Low German, and explaining the most important anomalies in the application of Grimm's law; WRITTEN LAW, statute law as distinguished from the common law.--HAVE THE LAW OF (_coll._), to enforce the law against; LAY DOWN THE LAW, to state authoritatively or dictatorially. [M. E. _lawe_--A.S. _lagu_, from _licgan_, to lie; Ice. _l[=o]g_.]

LAWK, lawk, _interj._ implying surprise. [For _Lord!_]

LAWN, lawn, _n._ a sort of fine linen or cambric.--_adj._ made of lawn.--_adj._ LAWN'Y.--LAWN SLEEVES, wide sleeves of lawn worn by Anglican bishops. [Prob. from Fr. _Laon_, a town near Rheims.]

LAWN, lawn, _n._ an open space between woods: a space of ground covered with grass, generally in front of or around a house or mansion.--_ns._ LAWN'-MOW'ER, a machine for cutting the grass on a lawn; LAWN'-SPRINK'LER, a machine for watering a lawn by sprinkling from a hose with perforated swivel-collar; LAWN'-TENN'IS, a game played with a ball and rackets on an open lawn or other smooth surface by two, three, or four persons.--_adj._ LAWN'Y. [A corr. of _laund_, _lawnd_.]

LAX, laks, _adj._ slack: loose: soft, flabby: not strict in discipline or morals: loose in the bowels.--_adj._ LAX'ATIVE, having the power of loosening the bowels.--_n._ a purgative or aperient medicine.--_ns._ LAX'ATIVENESS, LAX'ITY, LAX'NESS, state or quality of being lax; LAX[=A]'TOR, a muscle that relaxes an organ or part; LAX'IST, one holding loose notions of moral laws, or of their application.--_adv._ LAX'LY. [L. _laxus_, loose.]

LAY, _pa.t._ of _lie_, to lay one's self down.