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ion; a group; a hand; a clique; as, a knot of politicians. "Knots of talk." Tennyson. His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries. Shak. Palms in cluster, knots of Paradise. Tennyson. As they sat together in small, separate knots, they discussed doctrinal and metaphysical points of belief. Sir W. Scott.…

A "tear-bottle;" a narrow-necked vessel found in sepulchers of the ancient Romans; -- so called from a former notion that the tears of the deceased person's friends were collected in it. Called also lachrymal or lacrymal.

Of or pertaining to Laconia, a division of ancient Greece; Spartan. -- n.

A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II. Nares. In his hand a launcegay, A long sword by his side. Chaucer.

superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.

Belonging, or relating, to Latium, a country of ancient Italy. See Latin.

A broad stripe of purple on the fore part of the tunic, worn by senators in ancient Rome as an emblem of office.

The language of the ancient Romans.

m of principles and laws found in the codes and treatises of the lawmakers and jurists of ancient Rome, and incorporated more or less into the laws of the several European countries and colonies founded by them. See Civil law (above). -- Statute law, the law as stated in statutes or positive enactments of the legislat…

o makes laws for a state or community; a member of a legislative body. The legislators in ancient and heroical times. Bacon. Many of the legislators themselves had taken an oath of abjuration of his Majesty's person and family. E. Phillips.

Of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos, now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.

cer. He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2. Thess. ii. 7. Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And lets me from the saddle. Tennyson.

Of, pertaining to, or in accordance with, a law of the ancient Israelites and other tribes and races, according to which a woman, whose husband died without issue, was married to the husband's brother. The firstborn son of a leviratical marriage was reckoned and registered as the son of the deceased brother. Alford.…

Of or pertaining to Libya, the ancient name of that part of Africa between Egypt and the Atlantic Ocean, or of Africa as a whole.

y; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity. Joan of Are, A light of ancient France. Tennyson.

ors; -- opposed to collateral; as, a lineal descent or a lineal descendant. The prime and ancient right of lineal succession. Locke.

A kind of linen cloth anciently used in England, originally imported from Brittany. Shak.

Of or pertaining to Lombardy of the Lombards. Lombardic alphabet, the ancient alphabet derived from the Roman, and employed in the manuscript of Italy. -- Lombardic architecture, the debased Roman style of architecture as found in parts of Northern Italy. F. G. Lee. Lombardy poplar. (Bot.) See Poplar.…

, a hardy perennial herbaceous plant, a native of high lands in Great Britain. (b) A name anciently given to the Sweet William. Dr. Prior. -- London rocket (Bot.), a cruciferous plant (Sisymbrium Irio) which sprung up in London abundantly on the ruins of the great fire of 1667.

, the highest in rank of the judges of the Supreme Court of Scotland. -- Lord keeper, an ancient officer of the English crown, who had the custody of the king's great seal, with authority to affix it to public documents. The office is now merged in that of the chancellor. -- Lord lieutenant, a representative of Briti…