Lady, lā′di, n. the mistress of a house: a wife: a title of the wives of knights, and all degrees above them, and of the daughters of earls and all higher ranks: a title of complaisance to any woman of refined manners:—pl. Ladies (lā′diz).—ns. Lā′dybird, a genus of little beetles, usually brilliant red or yellow—also Lā′dybug, Lā′dycow; Lā′dy-chap′el, a chapel dedicated to 'Our Lady,' the Virgin Mary, usually behind the high altar, at the extremity of the apse; Lā′dyday, the 25th March, the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin; Lā′dyfern, one of the prettiest varieties of British ferns, common in moist woods, with bipinnate fronds sometimes two feet long; Lā′dy-fly (same as Ladybird); Lā′dyhood, condition, character of a lady.—adj. Lā′dyish, having the airs of a fine lady.—ns. Lā′dyism, affectation of the airs of a fine lady; Lā′dy-kill′er, a man who fancies his fascinations irresistible to women: a general lover.—adj. Lā′dy-like, like a lady in manners: refined: soft, delicate.—ns. Lādy-love, a lady or woman loved: a sweetheart; Lādy's-bed′straw, the plant Galium verum; Lā′dy's-bow′er, the only British species of clematis—also Traveller's joy; Lā′dy's-fing′er, a name for many plants: a piece of confectionery; Lā′dyship, the title of a lady; Lā′dy's-maid, a female attendant on a lady, esp. in matters relating to the toilet; Lādy's-man′tle, a genus of herbaceous plants having small, yellowish-green flowers; Lā′dy's-slipp′er, a genus of orchidaceous plants, remarkable for the large inflated lip of the corolla; Lā′dy's-smock, the Bitter Cress, a meadow-plant, with whitish, blush-coloured flowers.—Ladies' companion, a small bag used for carrying women's work; Ladies' man, one fond of women's society.—My ladyship, Your ladyship, a form of expression used in speaking to, or of, one who has the rank of a lady. [A.S. hláf-dige—hláf, a loaf, dǽgee, a kneader, or=hláfweardige (i.e. loaf-keeper, see ward), and thus a contr. fem. of Lord.]
Lætare, lē-tā′rē, n. the fourth Sunday in Lent, named from the first word in the service for the festival. [L. lætāre, to rejoice—lætus, joyful.]
Lag, lag, adj. slack: sluggish: coming behind.—n. he who, or that which, comes behind: the fag-end: (slang) an old convict.—v.i. to move or walk slowly: to loiter.—v.t. (slang) to commit to justice:—pr.p. lag′ging; pa.p. lagged.—adj. Lag′-bell′ied, having a drooping belly.—n. Lag′-end (Shak.), the last or long-delayed end.—adj. Lag′gard, lagging: slow: backward.—ns. Lag′gard, Lag′ger, one who lags behind: a loiterer: an idler.—adv. Lag′gingly, in a lagging manner. [Celt., as W. llag, loose, Gael. lag, feeble; cf. L. laxus, loose.]
Lagena, la-jē′na, n. a wine-vase, amphora: the terminal part of the cochlea in birds and reptiles:—pl. Lagē′næ. [L.]
Lager-beer, lä′ger-bēr, n. a kind of light beer very much used in Germany.—Also La′ger. [Ger. lagerbier—lager, a store-house, bier, beer.]
Laggen, lag′en, n. (Burns) the angle between the side and bottom of a wooden dish.
Lagomys, lā-gō′mis, n. a genus of rodents, much resembling hares or rabbits. [Gr. lagōs, a hare, mys, a mouse.]
Lagoon, Lagune, la-gōōn′, n. a shallow pond into which the sea flows. [It. laguna—L. lacuna.]
Lagophthalmia, lag-of-thal′mi-a, n. inability to close the eye.—adj. Lagophthal′mic.
Lagopus, la-gō′pus, n. a genus of grouse, the ptarmigans.—adj. Lagop′odous, having furry feet.—n. Lagos′toma, hare-lip.—adj. Lagō′tic, rabbit-eared.