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61 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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laity
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n. laypersons; persons not connected w/ the clergy
The Laity does not always understand the clergy's problems |
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lambaste
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v. beat; thrash verbally or physically
the champion lambasted his opponent |
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lampoon
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v. ridicule
this article lampoons... |
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lancet
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n. small surgical tool for making incisions
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languid
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adj. weary; sluggish; listless
illness made her languid and pallid (pale/faint) |
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languish
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v. lose animation or strength
even during such hardships, she refused to languish |
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languor
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n. lassitude; depression
he could not overcome his languor |
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lank
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adj. long and thin
lanky! |
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lap
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v. take in food w/ one's tongue; splash gently
the cat lapped her milk |
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larceny
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n. theft
he was charged w/ larceny |
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larder
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n. pantry; place where food is kept
he checked the larder for food |
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largess
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n. generous gift
She distributed largess to the poor |
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lascivious
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adj. lustful
lascivious impulses |
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lassitude
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n. languor; weariness
I surrendered to my growing lassitude and took a nap |
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latitude
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n. freedom from narrow limitations
I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter |
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laud
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v. praise
lauded for her efforts to raise money |
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lax
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adj. careless
service at this restaurant is lax and inattentive |
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leaven
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v. cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven
as bread dough is leavened, it puffs up |
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lechery
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n. gross lewdness; lustfulness
In his youth he led a life of lechery and debauchery (excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance) |
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lectern
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n. reading desk
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leery
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adj. suspicious; cautious
i'm leery about how fresh this sushi is |
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legacy
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n. a gift made by a will
part of my legacy from my parents |
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legerdemain
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n. sleight of hand
sleight = skill / dexterity The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain |
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leonine
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adj. like a lion
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levee
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n. earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding
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levity
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n. lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity
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levy
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v. impose (a fine); collect (a payment)
levy taxes |
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lewd
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adj. lustful
they found his lewd stories objectionable (causing objection/dispute) |
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lexicographer
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n. compiler of a dictionary
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lexicon
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n. dictionary
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liability
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n. drawback; debts
Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was able to overcome |
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liaison
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n. contact that keeps parties in communication; go-between; secret love affair
Romeo's romantic liaison w/ Juliet |
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libel
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n. defamatory statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character
sue him for libel |
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libertine
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n. debauched (excessive indulgence; debased)person, roue (licentious; dissolute person - immoral)
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libidinous
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adj. lustful
libidinous behavior |
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libido
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n. emotional urges behind human activity
suppress the libido |
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libretto
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n. text of an opera
the author of the libretto |
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licentious
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adj. amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained
licentious behavior |
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lien
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n. legal claim on a property
lien upon the estate |
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ligneous
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adj. like wood
Petrified wood is ligneous in appearance |
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lilliputian
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adj. extremely small
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limber
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adj. flexible
Ballet classes kept him limber |
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limbo
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n. region near heaven or hell where certain souls are kept; a prison (slang)
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limn
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v. draw; outline; describe
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limpid
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adj. clear
the limpid stream |
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lineaments
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n. features, esp of the face
he sketched the lineaments of her face |
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lionize
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v. treat as a celebrity
She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public. |
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liquidate
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v. settle accounts; clear up
liquidate all his debts |
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list
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v. tilt; lean over
the flagpole lists to one side |
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listless
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adj. lacking in spirit or energy
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litany
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n. supplicatory (humble prayer) prayer
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lithe
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adj. flexible; supple (flexible; limber)
Her figure was lithe and willowy |
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litigation
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n. lawsuit
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litotes
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n. understatement for emphasis
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livid
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adj. lead-colored; black and blue; ashen; enraged
his face was so livid w/ rage |
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loath
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adj. reluctant; disinclined
we were both loath for him to go |
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lode
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n. metal-bearing vein (body of ore/metal)
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lofty
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adj. very high
lofty ambitions |
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loll
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v. lounge about
They lolled around their chairs watching TV |
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loom
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v. appear or take shape ( usu in an enlarged or distorted form)
The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly above the small boy |
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lope
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v. gallop slowly
the horsees loped along |
