L Flashcards
Laborious
requiring considerable effort or perseverance.
Labyrinthine
- (of a network) like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting
- (of a system) intricate and confusing
Lachrymose
causing tears; tearful
Lackluster
lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring
Laconic
brief and to the point; effectively cut short
Lam
a hasty escape; flight
Lambast(e)
censure severely or angrily; beat with a cane
Lament
a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
Lampoon
publicly mock or ridicule
Lassitude
weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy; a feeling of lack of interest or energy; a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
Lasso
a long noosed rope used to catch animals
Latent
present but not yet active; developed or visible
Latitude
- scope for freedom of action or thought;
- an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
Laudable
worthy of praise.
Laudatory
expressing or giving praise
Lavish
giving or producing freely, liberally or generously
Lax
not rigorous, strict, or careful; loose; lenient.
Layperson
a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject.
Leash
restraint consisting of a rope used to restrain an animal
Leaven
a substance used to produce fermentation in dough
Leeway
(of a ship or plane) sideways drift; a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
Legacy
Bequest or inheritance
Lethargy (adj. Lethargic)
a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness); inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy; weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy
Levee
an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river
Leviathan
the largest or most massive thing of its kind
Levity
lack of seriousness
Levy
impose and collect
Libel
statement that damages reputation
Liberality
free giving; generosity
Liberate
grant freedom to; grant freedom to; free from confinement; give equal rights to; of women and minorities
Libertine
unrestrained by convention or morality
Lien
legal claim until a debt on it is repaid
Ligneous
consisting of or resembling wood
The interior is filled with a powder that under the microscope appears to be made up of ligneous filaments mixed with a few spores.
Limerick
a humorous rhymed verse form of five lines
“It was no problem,” said Ms. Campbell, who lives in Lake Oswego, Ore., and uses her iPad daily to write limericks and reread classic novels.
Limn
depict or describe in painting or words
Limp
lacking strength; walking unevenly
Linen
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
Lionize
to view or treat (someone) as a celebrity or extraordinary person.
Lionize
give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity
Literal
limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
Lithe
(especially of a person’s body) thin, supple, and graceful
Livid
Furiously angry, enraged
Lizard
relatively long-bodied reptile with legs and a tapering tail
Loafer
a person who is idle and does no work
Lofty
- of imposing height; especially standing out above others;
- having or displaying great dignity or nobility; of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
Loll
- rest to sit or stand in a lazy way
- hang (dog’s tongue)
Long-Winded
speaking or writing at too great a length, especially in a dull or tiresome way; verbose.
Loom
a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile
Lope
move along with long strides; run easily
Loquacious
given to talking much or excessively; garrulous.
Lucid
easy to understand; articulate; clear.
Lucrative
producing monetary gain; profitable.
Lucubrate
write in scholarly fashion
Luculent
easily understood; lucid; clear
Ludicrous
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce; incongruous; inviting ridicule
Ludology
study of games; gaming, esp video games
Lugubrious
mournful; excessively sad
Lull
become quiet or less active
Lumber
move in a clumsy, noisy way
Luminary
a celebrity who is an inspiration to others
Luminous
softly bright or radiant
Lure
to attract, as by a desirable quality.
Lurid
sensational; shocking or dramatic.
Lurk
be out of view ready to attack
Lustrous
being bright; polished
