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, lath, _n._ a thin cleft slip of wood used in slating, plastering, &c.:--_pl._ LATHS (la_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. _lo_.]
LATHE, la_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. _leaor_, lather; Ice. _laur_, 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, laf, _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, lans, _n._ Same as LANCE.
LAUNCE, lans, _n._ (_Spens._) a balance. [L. _lanx_, _lancis_, a plate, a scale of a balance.]
LAUNCH, LANCH, lansh, _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.]