Lighten, līt′n, v.t. to make light or clear: (fig.) to illuminate with knowledge.—v.i. to shine like lightning: to flash: to become less dark.—ns. Light′ning, the electric flash usually followed by thunder: (Shak.) a becoming bright; Light′ning-arrest′er, an apparatus used for protecting telegraph or telephone lines, &c., from lightning-discharges; Light′ning-bug, a sort of phosphorescent beetle or firefly; Light′ning-conduc′tor, Light′ning-rod, a metallic rod for protecting buildings from lightning.
Lignage, līn′āj, n. (Spens.) lineage.
Lign-aloes, līn-al′ōz, Lignaloes, lig-nal′ōz, n. (B.) aloes-wood. [L. lignum, wood, and aloes, aloes.]
Lignum, lig′num, n. wood as contrasted with soft tissues or with bark.—adjs. Lig′neous, wooden: woody: made of wood; Lignif′erous. producing wood.—n. Lignificā′tion.—adj. Lig′niform, resembling wood.—v.t. Lig′nify, to turn into wood.—v.i. to become wood or woody:—pr.p. lig′nifying; pa.p. lig′nifīed.—n. Lig′nīne, pure woody fibre.—adj. Ligniper′dous, destructive of wood.—n. Lig′nīte, brown coal, coal retaining the texture of wood.—adj. Lignit′ic.—ns. Lig′num-cru′cis, wood of the cross: a relic asserted to be a piece of the true cross; Lig′num-vī′tæ, popular name of a South American tree with very hard wood. [L. lignum, wood.]
Ligule, lig′ūl, n. (bot.) the flat part of the leaf of a grass: a strap-shaped petal in certain flowers.—n. Lig′ula, a tongue-like part or organ: in entomology, a fleshy membranaceous or horny anterior part of the labium.—adjs. Lig′ular, pertaining to a ligula; Lig′ulate (bot.), like a bandage or strap: composed of ligules. [L. ligula, dim. of lingua, a tongue.]
Ligure, lī′gūr, or lig′ūr, n. (B.) a precious stone.—n. Lig′urite, a variety of sphene or titanite. [Gr.]
Like, līk, adj. equal in quantity, quality, or degree: similar: likely, probable.—n. the like thing or person: an exact resemblance: a liking.—adv. in the same manner: probably.—conj. as, as if.—v.t. (Shak.) to compare, liken.—ns. Like′liness, Like′lihood.—adj. Like′ly, like the thing required: credible: probable: having reason to expect.—adv. probably.—adj. Like′-mind′ed, having a similar disposition or purpose.—v.t. Lik′en, to represent as like or similar: to compare.—n. Like′ness, resemblance: one who resembles another: that which resembles: a portrait or picture: effigy.—adv. Like′wise, in like wise or manner: also: moreover: too.—Feel like, to be disposed to do anything; Had like, was likely, came near to do something; Look like, to show a likelihood of: to appear similar to; Such like, of that kind. [A.S. líc, seen in ge-líc; Ice. líkr, Dut. ge-lijk, Ger. gleich (=ge-leich).]
Like, līk, v.t. to be pleased with: to approve: to enjoy: (obs.) to please.—n. a liking, chiefly in phrase 'likes and dislikes.'—adjs. Like′able, lovable: amiable; Like′ly, that may be liked: pleasing.—n. Lik′ing, state of being pleased with: inclination: satisfaction in: (B.) condition, plight.—adj. (B.) as in Good′-lik′ing, Well′-lik′ing, in good condition.—On liking, on approval. [Orig. the verb meant 'to be pleasing,' and was used impersonally, as it 'likes me'—i.e. it pleases me, A.S. lícian—líc, like.]
Lilac, lī′lak, n. a pretty flowering shrub, with a flower of a light-purple colour.—adj. having the colour of the lilac flower. [Sp.,—the Pers. lilaj.]
Lill, lil, v.t. (Spens.) to loll.