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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster [798]

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also leit·mo·tiv noun [ORIGIN: G Leitmotiv, fr. leiten to lead + Motiv motive]

: a dominant recurring theme

lem·ming noun [ORIGIN: Norw]

: any of various short-tailed rodents found mostly in northern regions and noted for recurrent mass migrations

lem·on noun 1 : an acid yellow usu. nearly oblong citrus fruit; also : a citrus tree that bears lemons

2 : something (as an automobile) unsatisfactory or defective

— lem·ony adjective

Synonyms

bummer, dud, failure, fizzle, flop, loser, turkey, washout—more at FAILURE

lem·on·ade noun : a beverage of lemon juice, sugar, and water

lemon curd noun : a custard made with lemon juice, butter, sugar, and eggs

lem·on·grass noun : a tropical Asian grass grown for its lemon-scented foliage used as a seasoning

le·mur noun : any of various arboreal primates largely of Madagascar that have large eyes, very soft woolly fur, and a long furry tail

Len·a·pe noun, plural Lenape or Lenapes : DELAWARE

lend verb lent ; lend·ing 1 : to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned

2 : AFFORD, FURNISH

3 : ACCOMMODATE

— lend·er noun

lend–lease noun : the transfer of goods and services to an ally to aid in a common cause with payment made by a return of the items or their use in the cause or by a similar transfer of other goods and services

length noun 1 a : the longer or longest dimension of an object

b : a measured distance

2 : duration or extent in time or space

3 : the length of something taken as a unit of measure

4 : a single piece of a series of pieces that may be joined together

— at length

1 : in full

2 : FINALLY

Synonyms

distance, lead, remove, spread, stretch, way—more at DISTANCE

length·en verb : to make or become longer

Synonyms

draw out, elongate, extend, prolong, protract, stretch—more at EXTEND

length·wise adverb : in the direction of the length

— lengthwise adjective

lengthy adjective length·i·er; -est 1 : protracted excessively

2 : drawn out in length esp. of time : EXTENDED, LONG

Synonyms

extended, far, great, long—more at LONG

le·ni·en·cy noun : the quality or state of being lenient; also : a lenient disposition or practice

Synonyms

charity, clemency, mercy, quarter—more at MERCY

le·nient adjective : of mild and tolerant disposition or effect

— le·ni·ent·ly adverb

len·i·tive adjective : alleviating pain or harshness

len·i·ty noun : the quality or state of being lenient : LENIENCY

lens noun [ORIGIN: L lent-, lens lentil; so called fr. the shape of a convex lens]

1 : a curved piece of glass or plastic used singly or combined in an optical instrument for forming an image; also : a device for focusing radiation other than light

2 : a transparent body in the eye that focuses light rays on receptors at the back of the eye

Lent noun : a 40-day period of penitence and fasting observed from Ash Wednesday to Easter by many churches

— Lent·en adjective

len·til noun : a Eurasian annual legume grown for its flat edible seeds and for fodder; also : its seed

Leo noun [ORIGIN: L, lit., lion]

1 : a zodiacal constellation between Cancer and Virgo usu. pictured as a lion

2 : the 5th sign of the zodiac in astrology; also : one born under this sign

le·o·nine adjective : of, relating to, or resembling a lion

leop·ard noun : a large usu. tawny and black-spotted cat of southern Asia and Africa

le·o·tard noun : a close-fitting garment worn esp. by dancers and for exercise

lep·er noun 1 : a person affected with leprosy

2 : OUTCAST

lep·re·chaun noun : a mischievous elf of Irish folklore

Synonyms

brownie, dwarf, elf, fairy, fay, gnome, hobgoblin, pixie, puck, troll—more at FAIRY

lep·ro·sy noun : a chronic bacterial disease marked esp. if not treated by slow-growing swellings with deformity and loss of sensation of affected parts

— lep·rous adjective

lep·tin noun : a hormone that is produced by fat-containing cells and plays a role in body weight regulation

les·bi·an noun [ORIGIN:

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