prolapse - (n.) a falling down of an organ of the body from its normal position; (v.) to fall or slip down or out of place: Following the birth of her fifth child, her uterus, which had prolapsed, had to be removed. [lapsio, lapsionis, f. - a sliding, gliding; lapsus, lapsus, m. - a falling, slipping, sliding; pro (prep. w/ abl.) - in front of; for; prolabor, prolabi, prolapsus - to slide forward; to fall forward; prolapsio, prolapsionis, f. - a slipping, sliding, falling]
belabor - 1) to beat, hit; 2) to develop in too great detail: That
is a valid point, but don't belabor it.
lachrymose - 1) tending to cause tears; 2) inclined to weep easily: She cries openly, while he, as lachrymose as she, tries to hide his tears. Also: lachrymal (of or pertaining to tears), lachrymator (substance that causes the shedding of tears), lachrymatory, lacrimation or lachrymation or lachrimation (the secretion of tears, especially in abundance), lachrymosity. [lacrima, lacrimae, f. - tear; lacrimabilis, lacrimabile - lamentable; lacrimo, lacrimare, lacrimavi, lacrimatus - to weep]
laconic - using few words; expressing much in a few words; concise: According to an old tale, a young German doctor who had been admonished by his superior for including too many details in his surgery reports, next operated on the mayor of the town for appendicitis. His laconic report contained one word: "Bürgermeisterblinddarmentzündungsoperation (mayoral appendectomy)."
lacustrine - of or pertaining to lakes; growing or found in lakes: The geologists examined the lacustrine sediment for the presence of pollen.
lament - (v.) to express grief (for): She lamented the loss of innocence, not understanding that it is part and parcel of growing up. (n.) an expression of grief. Also: lamentable, lamentableness, lamentation (an expression of grief), lamenter. [lamenta, lamentorum, n. - weeping; lamentabilis, lamentabile - mournful; lamentatio, lamentationis, f. - a weeping, mourning, lamentation]
languish - 1) to lose energy or vitality; to become weak: Many recent retirees languish until they can find a meaningful way of spending their time. 2) to suffer from neglect or inactivity. Also: languisher, languishment. [languidus, languida, languidum - sluggish, weak, faint; languor, languoris, m. - faintness, weariness, sluggishness]
languid - without energy, interest, or enthusiasm; indifferent: At the end of three days of testing, even the best students had become languid. Also: languidness, languish ( to become weak or lose energy), languor (lack of energy or vitality), languorous, languorousness. [langueo, languere - to be faint, be weak; languor, languoris, m. - weariness, sluggishness, lassitude]
lapidary - (n.) a person who cuts, polishes, and engraves
precious stones: A geologist by vocation and a lapidary by avocation,
he planned to spend his retirement making beautiful presents for friends
and relatives. (adj.) 1) having to do with the cutting or engraving
of precious stones; 2) engraved on stone. Also: lapidarian (adj.:
lapidary), lapidation (act of throwing stones at someone or of
stoning someone to death), lapidate (to throw stones at; to stone
to death), lapidify (to turn into stone), lapidification.
[lapidarius, lapidaria, lapidarium - pertaining to stone; lapidatio,
lapidationis, f. - a throwing of stones]
lassitude - weariness, lack of energy: A great deal of student lassitude in the classroom is indirectly attributable to their desire to buy and maintain a car. [lasso, lassare, lassavi, lassatus - to make weary; to tire; lassulus, lassula, lassulum - somewhat tired; lassus, lassa, lassum - weary, tired]
latent - present or potential, but not apparent or realized: Aren’t all mothers convinced that their children possess latent talents that will manifest themselves in due time? Also: latency. [latebra, latebrae, f. - a hiding place; retreat]
latitude - 1) freedom from narrow restrictions (freedom of
action or conduct): Once his boss had granted him the necessary
latitude, John unleashed his creativity and his productivity increased
fourfold. 2) distance in degrees north or south of the equator.
Also: latitudinal. [latitudo, latitudinis, f. - width]
quadrilateral - a plane figure having four sides: Rectangles,
rhombuses, and trapezoids are all quadrilaterals; unlike the first two,
the trapezoid has only two parallel sides. [quattuor - four; latus,
lateris, n. - side]
laud - to praise (highly): The scientists were lauded for
their scrupulously accurate work. Also: laudation (praise,
commendation), laudator, lauder. [laudatio, laudationis, f. -
praise]
lavation - the act or process of washing: Ritualistic lavation is found in many religions; in Christianity, it takes the form of baptism. Also: lavage (the washing out of an organ), lave (to wash). [lavatio, lavationis, f. - a washing] lavish - (v.) to give or spend in great amounts or excessively: Some parents and educators lavish praise on children for each accomplishment, regardless of how small, to encourage them to accomplish more. (adj.) 1) giving or spending freely or too freely; 2) given or spent freely or too freely
legate - representative, envoy, ambassador: The Pope is expected to send a legate to Israel to discuss the delicate matter of Christian shrines in Jerusalem. Also: legateship, legatee (person who receives a legateship), legation (a legate and his/her staff), legationary. [legatio, legationis, f. - legation]
legacy - 1. money or property bequeathed to another; 2. anything handed down from an ancestor: Penniless at death, the old woman nevertheless left her children and grandchildren a priceless legacy of hard work and optimism. [legatum, legati, n. - legacy, bequest]
intellectualize - to give an intellectual quality to: The
students were asked to put emotion aside and to intellectualize the
topic. Also: intellection (process of understanding), intellective,
intellectualism (devotion to intellectual pursuits; the
philosophical position that knowledge is wholly or primarily derived
from reason), intellectualist, intellectualistic, intellectuality,
intellectualization, intellectualizer. [inter (prep. w/ acc.)
- among, between; intellego, intellegere, intellexi, intellectus
- understand]
lenity - gentleness (toward others), mildness: Also: leniency, lenient, lenitive (softening, mitigating; soothing), lenitiveness. [lenio, lenire, lenivi, lenitus - to soften, make mild, assuage, mitigate; lenis, lene - soft, smooth, gentle; lenitudo, lenitudinis, f. - softness, gentleness, mildness]
lionize - to treat (someone) as a celebrity: The new state champions were lionized in parades through town, introductions to city officials, award presentations at civic banquets, and a victory assembly at their school. Also: lionization, lionizer.
alleviate - to make easier to bear; to relieve: Is it
ethical for a physician to alleviate the suffering of a terminally ill
patient if the patient's life is shortened thereby? Also: alleviation,
alleviative (alleviating), alleviatory (alleviative), alleviator.
legislation - 1) the act of making laws; 2) the laws made: Pending
legislation includes a bill to construct bicycle paths between all major
cities in the U.S. Also: legislative (of legislation or a
legislature). [fero, ferre, tuli, latus - to bring; latio,
lationis, f. - a bringing]
libel - any false or malicious written or printed statement
that tends to damage a person's reputation or expose him/her to ridicule
or contempt: A person who writes the truth may offend against
prudence and charity, but he/she cannot be sued for libel. Also:
libeler (one who libels), libelous. [libellus, libelli, m.
- small book]
libertarian - a person who advocates freedom of thought, expression, and action: As a libertarian, she opposes censorship of every kind. Also: libertarianism. [libertas, libertatis, f. - freedom]
liberal - 1) generous; 2) not restricted to the literal
meaning: Christian fundamentalists will have nothing to do with
liberal interpretations of the Bible. 3) tolerant of the views of
others. Also: liberalness, liberalism (the quality or state of
being liberal; liberal ideas), liberality (generosity), illiberal
(intolerant, narrow- minded), illiberality, illiberalness,
illiberalism. [liberalis, liberale - pertaining to freedom;
generous; liberalitas, liberalitatis, f. - generosity]
illicit - not permitted for legal or moral reasons: What one person considers good clean fun another person considers illicit pleasure. Who’s right? Also: illicitness, licit (legal, lawful). [licitus, licita, licitum - permitted, lawful]
ligament - 1) tough tissue connecting bones and holding organs
in place; 2) a tie, bond: Communal values are the ligaments of
society, binding groups and individuals together. [ligamentum,
ligamenti, n. - bandage]
liminal - having to do with the point at which one perception or condition passes over into another: In some rites of passage, in the liminal state between childhood and adulthood, for example, the ritual subject is expected to demonstrate a readiness to accept higher responsibilities of adulthood and the ability to carry out these responsibilities. Also: limen (point at which one perception or condition passes over into another), liminality. [limes, limitis, m. - cross path; path; boundary]
delineate - 1) to sketch or trace the outline of; 2) to describe with precision; to portray: In a formal speech delivered to their classmates, the candidates for the presidency of the Senior Class delineated their ideas for a successful senior year. Also: delineable, delineation, delineative (serving to delineate), delineator.
bilingual - 1) in two languages; 2) knowing two languages: From
childhood on, he has spoken German at home and English outside the home;
as a result, he is thoroughly bilingual. Also: bilingualism,
bilinguality (bilingualism), multilingual (knowing several
languages), multilingualism. [bis - twice; bilinguis,
bilingue - speaking two languages; two-tongued]
litigation - the art or process of contesting legally: 2) a lawsuit. Also: litigable, litigant (person engaged in a lawsuit), litigate (to contest legally; to carry on a lawsuit), litigative, litigator, litigious (1 - pertaining to litigation; 2 - excessively inclined to litigate), litigiousness. [litigator, litigatoris, m. - party to a lawsuit; litigiosus, litigiosa, litigiosum - quarrelsome, contentious; litigo, litigare, litigavi, litigatus - to dispute, quarrel]
litigious - 1) inclination, especially excessive, to litigate: Because of a litigious segment of the American population, homeowners are advised to be well insured against lawsuits resulting from personal injury. 2) of lawsuits; 3) argumentative. Also: litigable, litigant (person engaged in a lawsuit), litigate (to contest legally; to carry on a lawsuit), litigation, litigative, litigator, litigiousness. [litigator, litigatoris, m. - party to a lawsuit; litigo, litigare, litigavi, litigatus - to dispute, quarrel]
alliteration - the repetition of the same sound, usually a
consonant, in close succession: In his well-known poem "The
Raven," Edgar Allan Poe makes extensive use of alliteration.
Also: alliterate (to use alliteration), alliterative (of
or pertaining to alliteration), alliterativeness.
littoral - pertaining to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean: When ocean waves approach a coast at an angle, they produce a littoral current, which flows near and parallel to the shore.
locative - (adj.) denoting a case whose function is to indicate place: Latin has a locative case; English does not. (n.) 1. the locative case; 2. a word in the locative case. [locatio, locationis, f. - a placing; a leasing; locatorius, locatoria, locatorium - having to do with leasing; locator, locatoris, m. - a lessor; locus, loci, m. - a place]
collocation - a placing together or side by side; arrangement: Since Latin is a highly inflected language and English is not, the collocation of words in sentences plays a less important role in Latin in conveying meaning than in English. Also: collocate, collocational, collocative. [conlocatio, conlocationis, f. - arrangement, placing; conloco, conlocare, conlocavi, conlocatus - to place, arrange, station]
elongate - to lengthen, extend: If you elongate a rectangle
by the factor x (x>1) and narrow it by the factor 1/x, you keep the
area unchanged. Also: elongation, elongative.
circumlocution - a roundabout expression or way of expressing
something: Good writers avoid circumlocutions. Also: circumlocutional,
circumlocutionary, circumlocutory (characterized by circumlocution).
[circum (prep. w/ acc.) - around]
lucrative - profitable, moneymaking: She moved facilely from one lucrative endeavor to another until that was no longer satisfying; then she became a teacher. Also: lucre (money, often with a negative connotation). [lucrosus, lucrosa, lucrosum - profitable; lucrum, lucri, n. - gain, profit]
ineluctable - incapable of being evaded; unavoidable, inevitable, inescapable: In ancient Greek tragedy, the fate of the hero is ineluctable. Also: ineluctability. [eluctor, eluctari, eluctatus - to struggle out; overcome]
allude (to) - to refer to indirectly or casually: The
literature teacher was criticized for alluding often to things of which
the students had no knowledge. Also: allusion (an indirect or
casual reference), allusive (having to do with or containing an
allusion or allusions), allusiveness. [adludo, adludere,
adlusi, adlusus - to play, jest, sport]
lugubrious - sad, mournful, gloomy, especially in an exaggerated manner: With little apparent understanding of characterization or of genuine pathos, the author emphasizes plot and exaggerates emotion in his melodramatic, lugubrious novels. Also: lugubriousness, lugubriosity. [lugeo, lugere, luxi, luctus - mourn; lament]
luminary - 1) a celestial light-giving body, such as the sun or the moon; 2) someone who has achieved prominence and esteem in his or her profession: Among the luminaries of cosmological writing are Carl Sagan, the author of the 1980-masterpiece Cosmos, and Stephen Hawking, whose companion works A Brief History of Time (1988) and The Universe in a Nutshell (2001) have been been read by millions. Also: lumen (in optics, a unit of light), luminance (luminosity), luminesce, luminescence, luminiferous (producing light), luminism (a 19th-century style of art which featured realism and the effects of light), luminostity (condition of radiating or reflecting light), luminous. [luminosus, luminosa, luminosum - full of light; bright] luminous - 1) emitting light; shining: In addition to moon, stars, planets, asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites, man-made satellites and spacecraft are now, for the first time in the history of our world, numbered among the luminous objects of the night sky. 2) well-lighted; 3) enlightening. Also: lumen (in optics, a unit of light), luminance (luminosity), luminary, luminesce, luminescence, luminiferous (producing light), luminism (a 19th-century style of art which featured realism and the effects of light), luminostity (condition of radiating or reflecting light). [luminosus, luminosa, luminosum - full of light; bright]
lunar - of or pertaining to the moon: Almost everyone has heard of the "Intrepid," the lunar module that took Apollo 12 astronauts to the moon in 1969. Also: lunacy, lunate (crescent-shaped), lunatic, lunation (period of time from one new moon to the next, about 29 1/2 days). [lunaris, lunare - of the moon]
lupine - 1) of or pertaining to wolves: Dogs with lupine characteristics, such as German Shepherds, probably do a better job of deterring robbers than do tiny dogs like chihuahuas. 2) savage, ravenous. [lupa, lupae, f. - she-wolf; prostitute; lupinus, lupina, lupinum - of or pertaining to a wolf]
lurid - 1. terrible, shocking, ghastly: Most of the protestors did not object to the story but to the lurid details with which it was portrayed. 2. shining with a red glow; 3. pale. Also: luridness. [luror, luroris, m. - ghastliness]
elucidate - to make clear; to explain: An article in
today's newspaper elucidates President Truman's decision to use the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. Also: elucidation, elucidative,
elucidator. [lucidus, cf. lucid] |
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