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Any boldly projecting sculptured ornament; esp., the ornamental termination of a pinnacle, and then synonymous with finial; -- called also knob, and knosp. Knop sedge (Bot.), the bur reed (Sparganium); - - so called from its globular clusters of seed vessels. Prior.

An ornamental tie, as of a ribbon.

Ornamental work produced by inlaying steel with gold, -- a variety of damascening much used in the arts of India.

Intellectual exertion; mental effort; as, the labor of compiling a history.

ind of feldspar commonly showing a beautiful play of colors, and hence much used for ornamental purposes. The finest specimens come from Labrador. See Feldspar.

Any intricate or involved inclosure; especially, an ornamental maze or inclosure in a park or garden.

Affectedly pensive; languidly sentimental. -- Lack`a*dai"si*cal*ly, adv.

made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made.

d or carved, or simply colored, sprinkled with gold or the like; -- said especially of Oriental work of this kind.

A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]

The expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality.

Of or pertaining to monumental inscriptions; as, lapidary adulation. Lapidary style, that style which is proper for monumental and other inscriptions; terse; sententious.

d redder flowers. -- Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola. -- West Indian laurel, Prunus occidentalis.

resence of a court. [Obs.] See Wager of law, under Wager. Avogadro's law (Chem.), a fundamental conception, according to which, under similar conditions of temperature and pressure, all gases and vapors contain in the same volume the same number of ultimate molecules; -- so named after Avogadro, an Italian scientist. S…

is often marked by yellow spots or veins of sulphide of iron, and is much valued for ornamental work. Called also lapis lazuli, and Armenian stone.

That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information. He shall never know That I had any light of this from thee. Shak.

making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [R.] Ball lightning, a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth. -- Chain lightning, lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes. -- Heat lightning, more or l…

Damaged by accidental exposure to light; light-fogged; -- said of plates or films.

A person of small impotance or mental ability. [Colloq., Chiefly U. S.]

To illumine, as books or parchments, with ornamental figures, letters, or borders.