Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 854

Limaceous

Li*ma"ceous (?), a. [L. limax, limacis, slug, snail: cf. F. limacé.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to, or like, Limax, or the slugs.

Limacina

Lim`a*ci"na (?), n. [NL., From L. limax, limacis, a slug.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small spiral pteropods, common in the Arctic and Antarctic seas. It contributes to the food of the right whales.

Limaon

Li`ma`on" (?), n. [F. limaon, lit., a snail.] (Geom.) A curve of the fourth degree, invented by Pascal. Its polar equation is r = a cos + b.

Limaille

Li"maille (?), n. [F., fr. limer to file. See Limation.] Filings of metal. [Obs.] An ounce . . . of silver lymaille." Chaucer.

Liman

Li"man (?), n. [F. limon, fr. L. limus slime.] The deposit of slime at the mouth of a river; slime.

Limation

Li*ma"tion (?), n. [L. limatus, p. p. of limare to file, fr. lima file : cf. F. limation.] The act of filing or polishing.

Limature

Li"ma*ture (?), n. [L. limatura. See Limation.]

1. The act of filing.

2. That which is filed off; filings. Johnson.

Limax

Li"max (?), n. [L.] (Zoöl.) A genus of airbreathing mollusks, including the common garden slugs. They have a small rudimentary shell. The breathing pore is on the right side of the neck. Several species are troublesome in gardens. See Slug.

Limb

Limb (?), n. [OE. lim, AS. lim; akin to Icel. limr limb, lim branch of a tree, Sw. & Dan. lem limb; cf. also AS. li, OHG. lid, gilid, G. glied, Goth. lipus. Cf. Lith, Limber.]

1. A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.

2. An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.

A second Hector for his grim aspect, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. Shak.

3. A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else. Shak.

That little limb of the devil has cheated the gallows. Sir W. Scott.

4. An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock. Limb of the law, a lawyer or an officer of the law. [Colloq.] Landor.

Limb

Limb, v. t.

1. To supply with limbs. [R.] Milton.

2. To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.

Limb

Limb, n. [L. limbus border. Cf. Limbo, Limbus.] A border or edge, in certain special uses. (a) (Bot.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade. (b) (Astron.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon. (c) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.

Limbat

Lim"bat (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A cooling periodical wind in the Isle of Cyprus, blowing from the northwest from eight o'clock, A. M., to the middle of the day or later.

Limbate

Lim"bate (?), a. [L. limbatus, fr. limbus border, edge. See Limbus.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Bordered, as when one color is surrounded by an edging of another.

Limbec

Lim"bec (?), n. [Abbrev. of alembic.] An alembic; a still. [Obs.] Spenser. Shak.

Limbec

Lim"bec, v. t. To distill. [Obs.] Dryden.

Limbed

Limbed (?), a. Having limbs; -- much used in composition; as, large-limbed; short-limbed.

Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, Limbed and full grown. Milton.

Limber

Lim"ber (?), n. [For limmer, Icel. limar branches, boughs, pl. of lim; akin to E. limb. See Limb a branch.]

1. pl. The shafts or thills of a wagon or carriage. [Prov. Eng.]

2. (Mil.) The detachable fore part of a gun carriage, consisting of two wheels, an axle, and a shaft to which the horses are attached. On top is an ammunition box upon which the cannoneers sit.

3. pl. (Naut.) Gutters or conduits on each side of the keelson to afford a passage for water to the pump well. Limber boards (Naut.), short pieces of plank forming part of the lining of a ship's floor immediately above the timbers, so as to prevent the limbers from becoming clogged. -- Limber box ∨ chest (Mil.), a box on the limber for carrying ammunition. -- Limber rope, Limber chain ∨ Limber clearer (Naut.), a rope or chain passing through the limbers of a ship, by which they may be cleared of dirt that chokes them. Totten. -- Limber strake (Shipbuilding), the first course of inside planking next the keelson.

Limber

Lim"ber v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limbered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Limbering.] (Mil.) To attach to the limber; as, to limber a gun. To limber up, to change a gun carriage into a four-wheeled vehicle by attaching the limber. <-- (b) to render limber, esp. to perform light exercises so as to stretch the muscles and tendons gently in preparation for vigorous activity (and thus to avoid straining the muscles by too sudden exertion after prolonged inactivity) -->

Limber

Lim"ber, a. [Akin to lim, a. See Limp, a.] Easily bent; flexible; pliant; yielding. Milton.

The bargeman that doth row with long and limber oar. Turbervile.

Limber

Lim"ber, v. t. To cause to become limber; to make flexible or pliant. Richardson.

Limberness

Lim"ber*ness, n. The quality or state of being limber; flexibleness. Boyle.

Limbless

Limb"less (?), a. Destitute of limbs.

Limbmeal

Limb"meal` (?), adv. [See Limb, and Piecemeal.] Piecemeal. [Obs.] To tear her limbmeal." Shak.

Limbo, Limbus

Lim"bo (?), Lim"bus (?), n. [L. limbus border, edge in limbo on the border. Cf. Limb border.]
1. (Scholastic Theol.) An extramundane region where certain classes of souls were supposed to await the judgment.
As far from help as Limbo is from bliss. Shak.

A Limbo large and broad, since called The Paradise of fools. Milton.
&hand; The limbus patrum was considered as a place for the souls of good men who lived before the coming of our Savior. The limbus infantium was said to be a similar place for the souls of unbaptized infants. To these was added, in the popular belief, the limbus fatuorum, or fool's paradise, regarded as a receptacle of all vanity and nonsense.
2. Hence: Any real or imaginary place of restraint or confinement; a prison; as, to put a man in limbo. <-- hence: a state of waiting, or uncertainty, in which final judgment concerning the outcome of a decision is postponed, perhaps indefinitely; neglect for an indefinite time -->
3. (Anat.) A border or margin; as, the limbus of the cornea. <-- 4. A West Indian dance contest, in which participants must dance under a pole which is lowered successively until only one participant can successfully pass under, without falling. [MW10 Jamaican E limba to bend, fr. E. limber (1950)]. Often performed at celebrations, such as weddings. (1950-1996) -->
Limbous
Lim"bous (?), a. [See Limbus.] (Anat.) With slightly overlapping borders; -- said of a suture.
Lime
Lime (?), n. [See Leam a string.] A thong by which a dog is led; a leash. Halliwell.
Lime
Lime, n. [Formerly line, for earlier lind. See Linden.] (Bot.) The linden tree. See Linden.
Lime
Lime, n. [F. lime; of Persian origin. See Lemon.] (Bot.) A fruit allied to the lemon, but much smaller; also, the tree which bears it. There are two kinds; Citrus Medica, var. acida which is intensely sour, and the sweet lime (C. Medica, var. Limetta) which is only slightly sour.
Lime
Lime, n. [AS. līm; akin to D. lijm, G. leim, OHG. līm, L. limus mud, linere to smear, and E. loam. . Cf. Loam, Liniment.]
1. Birdlime.
Like the lime That foolish birds are caught with. Wordsworth.

2. (Chem.) Oxide of calcium; the white or gray, caustic substance, usually called quicklime, obtained by calcining limestone or shells, the heat driving off carbon dioxide and leaving lime. It develops great heat when treated with water, forming slacked lime, <-- ##sic, and thus intended (see slack, v.t.), but now it should be "slaked lime" -->and is an essential ingredient of cement, plastering, mortar, etc.<-- CaO --> &hand; Lime is the principal constituent of limestone, marble, chalk, bones, shells, etc. Caustic lime, calcium hydrate or slacked lime; also, in a less technical sense, calcium oxide or quicklime.<-- Calcium hydroxide = slaked lime --> -- Lime burner, one who burns limestone, shells, etc., to make lime. -- Lime light. See Calcium light under Calcium.<-- as one word, limelight means the center of public attention, esp. in the phrase "in the limelight" --> -- Lime pit, a limestone quarry. -- Lime rod, Lime twig, a twig smeared with birdlime; hence, that which catches; a snare. Chaucer.
Lime
Lime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Liming.] [Cf. AS. gelīman to glue or join together. See Lime a viscous substance.]
1. To smear with a viscous substance, as birdlime.
These twigs, in time, will come to be limed. L'Estrange.

2. To entangle; to insnare.
We had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must take the chance. Tennyson.

3. To treat with lime, or oxide or hydrate of calcium; to manure with lime; as, to lime hides for removing the hair; to lime sails in order to whiten them.
Land may be improved by draining, marling, and liming. Sir J. Child.

4. To cement. Who gave his blood to lime the stones together." Shak. <-- Lime, lime-colored. adj. having a yellowish-green color like that of the lime. -- n. the lime color. -->
Limehound
Lime"hound` (?), n. [Lime a leash + hound.] A dog used in hunting the wild boar; a leamer. Spenser.
Limekiln
Lime"kiln` (?), n. A kiln or furnace in which limestone or shells are burned and reduced to lime.
Limenean
Li*men"e*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Lima, or to the inhabitants of Lima, in Peru. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Lima.
Limer
Lim"er (?), n. A limehound; a limmer. Chaucer.
Limestone
Lime"stone` (?), n. A rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime. It sometimes contains also magnesium carbonate, and is then called magnesian or dolomitic limestone. Crystalline limestone is called marble.
Lime twig
Lime twig. See under 4th Lime.
Lime-twigged
Lime"-twigged` (?), a. Beset with snares; insnared, as with birdlime. L. Addison.
Limewater
Lime"wa`ter (?), n. Water impregnated with lime; esp., an artificial solution of lime for medicinal purposes.
Limicolæ
Li*mic"o*læ (?), n. pl. [L. limicola a dweller in the mud; limus mud + colere to dwell.] (Zoöl.) A group of shore birds, embracing the plovers, sandpipers, snipe, curlew, etc. ; the Grallæ.
Limicoline
Li*mic"o*line (?), a. (Zoöl.) Shore-inhabiting; of or pertaining to the Limicolæ.
Liminess
Lim"i*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being limy.
Limit
Lim"it (?), n. [From L. limes, limitis: cf. F.limite; -or from E. limit, v. See Limit, v. t.]
1. That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent; as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the limits of human knowledge or endeavor.
As eager of the chase, the maid Beyond the forest's verdant limits strayed. Pope.

2. The space or thing defined by limits.
The archdeacon hath divided it Into three limits very equally. Shak.

3. That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period itself; the full time or extent.
The dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak.

The limit of your lives is out. Shak.

4. A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance.
I prithee, give no limits to my tongue. Shak.

5. (Logic & Metaph.) A determining feature; a distinguishing characteristic a differentia.
6. (Math.) A determinate quantity, to which a variable one continually approaches, and may differ from it by less than any given difference, but to which, under the law of variation, the variable can never become exactly equivalent. Elastic limit. See under Elastic. -- Prison limits, a definite, extent of space in or around a prison, within which a prisoner has liberty to go and come. Syn. -- Boundary; border; edge; termination; restriction; bound; confine.
Limit
Lim"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limited; p. pr. & vb. n. Limiting.] [F. limiter, L. limitare, fr. limes, limitis, limit; prob. akin to limen threshold, E. eliminate; cf. L. limus sidelong.] To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate, circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as, to limit the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to limit one's ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of a word. Limiting parallels (Astron.), those parallels of latitude between which only an occultation of a star or planet by the moon, in a given case, can occur.
Limit
Lim"it, v. i. To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region; as, a limiting friar. [Obs.]
Limitable
Lim"it*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being limited.
Limitaneous
Lim`i*ta"ne*ous (?), a. [L. limitancus. See Limit, v. t.] Of or pertaining to a limit. [Obs.]
Limitarian
Lim`i*ta"ri*an (?), a. Tending to limit.
Limitary
Lim"i*ta*ry (?), a. [L.limitaris. See Limit , v. t.]
1. Placed at the limit, as a guard. Proud limitary cherub." Milton.
2. Confined within limits; limited in extent, authority, power, etc. The limitary ocean." Trench.
The poor, limitary creature calling himself a man of the world. De Quincey.

3. Limiting, or tending to limit; restrictive.
Doctrines limitary, if not subversive of the papal power. Milman.

Limitary
Lim"i*ta*ry, n.; pl. -ries ().
1. That which serves to limit; a boundary; border land. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. A limiter. See Limiter, 2.
Limitate
Lim"i*tate (?), a. [L. limitatus, p. p. of limitare to limit. See Limit, v. t. ] Bounded by a distinct line.
Limitation
Lim`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. limitatio: cf. F. Limitation. See Limit, v. t.]
1. The act of limiting; the state or condition of being limited; as, the limitation of his authority was approved by the council.
They had no right to mistake the limitation . . . of their own faculties, for an inherent limitation of the possible modes of existence in the universe. J. S. Mill.

2. That which limits; a restriction; a qualification; a restraining condition, defining circumstance, or qualifying conception; as, limitations of thought.
The cause of error is ignorance what restraints and limitations all principles have in regard of the matter whereunto they are applicable. Hooker.

3. A certain precinct within which friars were allowed to beg, or exercise their functions; also, the time during which they were permitted to exercise their functions in such a district. Chaucer. Latimer.
4. A limited time within or during which something is to be done.
You have stood your limitation, and the tribunes Endue you with the people's voice. Shak.

5. (Law) (a) A certain period limited by statute after which the claimant shall not enforce his claims by suit. (b) A settling of an estate or property by specific rules. (c) A restriction of power; as, a constitutional limitation. Wharton. Bouvier. To know one's own limitations, to know the reach and limits of one's abilities. A. R. Wallace.
Limited
Lim"it*ed (?), a. Confined within limits; narrow; circumscribed; restricted; as, our views of nature are very limited. Limited company, a company in which the liability of each shareholder is limited by the number of shares he has taken, so that he can not be called on to contribute beyond the amount of his shares. [Eng.] Mozley & W.
Limitedly
Lim"it*ed*ly, adv. With limitation.
limitedness
lim"it*ed*ness, n. The quality of being limited.
Limiter
Lim"it*er (?), n.
1. One who, or that which, limits.
2. A friar licensed to beg within certain bounds, or whose duty was limited to a certain district. [Formerly written also limitour.] Chaucer.
A limitour of the Gray Friars, in the time of his limitation, preached many times, and had one sermon at all times. Latimer.

Limitive
Lim"it*ive (?), a. Involving a limit; as, a limitive law, one designed to limit existing powers. [R.]
Limitless
Lim"it*less, a. Having no limits; unbounded; boundless. Davies (Wit's Pilgr.).
Limitour
Lim"it*our (?), n. See Limiter, 2.
Limmer
Lim"mer (?), a. Limber. [Obs.] Holland.
Limmer
Lim"mer, n. [F. limier. See Leamer.]
1. A limehound; a leamer.
2. (Zoöl.) A mongrel, as a cross between the mastiff and hound.
3. A low, base fellow; also, a prostitute. [Scot.]
Thieves, limmers, and broken men of the Highlands. Sir W. Scott.

4. (Naut.) A man rope at the side of a ladder.
Limn
Limn (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Limned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Limning (?).] [OE. limnen, fr. luminen, for enluminen, F. enluminer to illuminate, to limn, LL. illuminare to paint. . See Illuminate, Luminous.]
1. To draw or paint; especially, to represent in an artistic way with pencil or brush.
Let a painter carelessly limn out a million of faces, and you shall find them all different. Sir T. Browne.

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