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al form peculiar to any language; the genius or cast of a language. Idiom may be employed loosely and figuratively as a synonym of language or dialect, but in its proper sense it signifies the totality of the general rules of construction which characterize the syntax of a particular language and distinguish it from ot…

Any small crustacean. In a wider sense, the word is often loosely applied to various small invertebrates.

To join by means of joggles, so as to prevent sliding apart; sometimes, loosely, to dowel. The struts of a roof are joggled into the truss posts. Gwilt.

sophers Bacon. A kind of, something belonging to the class of; something like to; -- said loosely or slightingly. In kind, in the produce or designated commodity itself, as distinguished from its value in money. Tax on tillage was often levied in kind upon corn. Arbuthnot.

One of two or more pieces of bone or wood held loosely between the fingers, and struck together by moving the hand; -- called also clapper. Halliwell.

A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.

The loose part of a coat; the lower part of a garment that plays loosely; a skirt; an apron. Chaucer.

Church. -- Latin cross. See Illust. 1 of Cross. -- Latin races, a designation sometimes loosely given to certain nations, esp. the French, Spanish, and Italians, who speak languages principally derived from Latin. Latin Union, an association of states, originally comprising France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy, wh…

Very pleasing; -- applied loosely to almost anything which is not grand or merely pretty; as, a lovely view; a lovely valley; a lovely melody. Indeed these fields Are lovely, lovelier not the Elysian lawns. Tennyson.

at which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement; hence (loosely) any literary composition. Thy lucubrations have been perused by several of our friends. Tatler.

the Cretaceous rocks, especially in America. They were serpentlike in form and in having loosely articulated and dilatable jaws, with large recurved tteth, but they had paddlelike feet. Some of them were over fifty feet long. They are, essentially, fossil sea serpents with paddles. Called also Pythonomarpha, and Mosas…

fly; -- so called because it captures and feeds upon mosquitoes. -- Mosquito netting, a loosely-woven gauzelike fabric for making mosquito bars.

A woman's glove with a long, loosely fitting wrist.

Hence, loosely: Offensive; disagreeable; unpropitious; wet; drizzling; as, a nasty rain, day, sky.

good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially] To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak.

the radical NO, called also the nitroso group. The term is sometimes loosely used to designate certain nitro compounds; as, nitrosyl sulphuric acid. Used also adjectively.

Loosely: A band of instrumental musicians performing in a theater, concert hall, or other place of public amusement.

A Turkish official; one of the dominant tribe of Turks; loosely, any Turk.

Loosely, any unusually magnificent or stately house. Palace car. See under Car. -- Palace court, a court having jurisdiction of personal actions arising within twelve miles of the palace at Whitehall. The court was abolished in 1849. [Eng.] Mozley & W.

A pyramidal form of inflorescence, in which the cluster is loosely branched below and gradually simpler toward the end.