laborious adj.#demanding much work or care; tedious. In putting together his dictionary of the English language, Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task.#labyrinth n.# maze. Hiding from Indian Joe, Tom and Becky soon lost themselves in the labyrinth of secret underground caves. labyrinthine, adj. #laceration n.#torn, ragged wound. The stock car driver needed stitches to close up the lacerations he received in the car crash.#lachrymose adj.#producing tears. His voice has a lachrymose quality more appropriate to a funeral than a class reunion.#lackadaisical adj.#lacking purpose or zest; halfhearted; languid. Because Gatsby had his mind more on his love life than on his finances, he did a very lackadaisical job of managing his money.#lackluster adj.#dull. We were disappointed by the lackluster performance.#laconic adj.# brief and to the point. Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words.#laggard adj.# slow; sluggish. The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders. lag, n., v.#lament v.# grieve; express sorrow. Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat. Iamentation, n.#lampoon v.# ridicule. This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls. also n.#languid adj.#weary; sluggish; listless. Her siege of illness left her languid and pallid.#languish v.#lose animation; lose strength. Left at Miss Minchin's school for girls while her father went off to war, Sarah Crewe refused to languish; instead, she hid her grief and actively befriended her less fortunate classmates.#languor n.#lassitude; depression. His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to parties and to the theater.#lap v.#take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently. The kitten neatly lapped up her milk. The waves softly lapped against the pier.#larceny n.#theft. Because of the prisoner's record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petty larceny.#larder n.#pantry; place where food is kept. The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder.#largess n.#generous gift. Lady Bountiful distributed largess to the poor.#lassitude n.# languor; weariness. After a massage and a long soak in the hot tub, I gave in to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap.#latent adj.#potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden. Polaroid pictures are popular at parties, because you can see the latent photographic image gradually appear before your eyes.#lateral adj.#coming from the side. In order to get good plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.#latitude n.#freedom from narrow limitations. I think you have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter.#laud v.# praise. The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason's efforts to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis. laudable, laudatory, adj. #lavish adj.# generous; openhanded; extravagant; wasteful. Her wealthy suitors wooed her with lavish gifts. also v.#lax adj.#careless. We dislike restaurants where the service is lax and inattentive.#leaven v.#cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven. As bread dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume.#lecherous adj.#lustful; impure in thought and deed. The villain of the play, a lecherous old banker, lusted after the poor farmer's beautiful daughter.#leery adj.#suspicious; cautious. Don't eat the sushi at this restaurant; I'm a bit leery about how fresh the raw fish is.#legacy n.#a gift made by a will. Part of my legacy from my parents is an album of family photographs.#legend n.#explanatory list of symbols on a map. The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for public camp sites. (secondary meaning)#legerdemain n.#sleight of hand. The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain.#leniency n.#mildness; permissiveness. Considering the gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of the sentence.#lethal adj.#deadly. It is unwise to leave lethal weapons where children may find them.#lethargic adj.# drowsy; dull. The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if she was about to nod off.#levitate v.#float in the air (especially by magical means). As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate about three feet above the table.#levity n.# lack of seriousness; lightness. Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew: such levity is improper in church. #levy v.#impose (a fine); collect (a payment). Crying "No taxation without representation," the colonists demonstrated against England's power to levy taxes.#lewd adj.#lustful. They found his lewd stories objectionable.#lexicographer n.#compiler of a dictionary. The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compiling and editing the work.#lexicon n.#dictionary. I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.#liability n.#drawback; debts. Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was eventually able to overcome.#liaison n.#contact keeping parts of an organization in communication; go-between; secret love affair. As the liaison between the American and British forces during World War II, the colonel had to ease tensions between the leaders of the two armies. Romeo's romantic liaison with Juliet ended in tragedy.#libel n.#defamatory statement; act of writing something that smears a person's character. If Batman wrote that the Joker was a dirty, rotten, mass-murdering criminal, could the Joker sue Batman for libel?#liberator n.#one who sets free. Simon Bolivar, who led the South American colonies in their rebellion against Spanish rule, is known as the great liberator. liberate, v.#libretto n.#text of an opera. The composer of an opera's music is remembered more frequently than the author of its libretto.#licentious adj.#amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained. Unscrupulously seducing the daughter of his host, Don Juan felt no qualms about the immorality of his licentious behavior. #lilliputian adj.#extremely small. Tiny and delicate, the model was built on a lilliputian scale. also n.#limber adj.#flexible. Hours of ballet classes kept him limber.#limerick n.#humorous short verse. The limerick form is the best; its meter is pure anapest. A limerick's fun for most everyone, and the word may occur on your test.#limpid adj.#clear; transparent; lucid. We could see swarms of colorful tropical fish in the limpid waters of the peaceful cove.#linchpin n.#something that holds or links various parts together. The linchpin in the district attorney's case was a photograph showing the defendant shaking hands with the hired killer.#lineage n.#descent; ancestry. He traced his lineage back to Mayflower days.#linger v.# loiter or dawdle; continue or persist. Hoping to see Juliet pass by, Romeo lingered outside the Capulet house for hours. Though Mother made stuffed cabbage on Monday, the smell lingered around the house for days.#linguistic adj.#pertaining to language. Exposed to most modern European languages in childhood, she grew up to be a linguistic prodigy.#liniment n.#ointment; lotion; salve. The trainer carefully applied the liniment to the quarterback's bruise, gently rubbing it into the skin.#lionize v.#treat as a celebrity. She enjoyed being lionized and adored by the public.#liquidate v.#settle accounts; clear up. He was able to liquidate all his debts in a short period of time.#list v.#tilt; lean over. That flagpole should be absolutely vertical; instead, it lists to one side. (secondary meaning)#listless adj.# Iacking in spirit or energy. We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.#litany n.#supplicatory prayer. On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity.#lithe adj.# flexible; supple. Her figure was lithe and willowy.#litigation n.#lawsuit. Try to settle this without involving any lawyers; I do not want to become bogged down in litigation. Iitigant, n.#livid adj.#lead-colored; black and blue; enraged. His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy.#loath adj.#reluctant; disinclined. Fearing for their son's safety, the overprotective parents were loath to let him go on the class trip.#loathe v.#detest. Booing and hissing, the audience showed how much they loathed the wicked villain.#lofty adj.# very high. Though Barbara Jordan's fellow students used to tease her about her lofty ambitions, she rose to hold one of the highest positions in the land.#log n.#record of a voyage or flight; record of day to day activities. "Flogged two seamen today for insubordination" wrote Captain Bligh in the Bounty's log. To see how much work I've accomplished recently, just take a look at the number of new files listed on my computer log.#loiter v.#hang around; linger. The policeman told him not to loiter in the alley.#loll v.#lounge about. They lolled around in their chairs watching television.#longevity n.#long life. When he reached ninety, the old man was proud of his longevity.#loom v.#appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged or distorted form). The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly above the small boy.#lope v.#gallop slowly. As the horses loped along, we had an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery.#loquacious adj.#talkative. Though our daughter barely says a word to us these days, put a phone in her hand and see how loquacious she can be: our phone bills are out of sight! loquacity, n.#lout n.#clumsy person. That awkward lout dropped my priceless vase!#low v.#moo. From the hilltop, they could see the herd like ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low.#lucid adj.#easily understood; clear; intelligible. Ellen makes an excellent teacher: her explanations of technical points are lucid enough for a child to grasp.#lucrative adj.#profitable. He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession.#ludicrous adj.#ridiculous; laughable; absurd. Gwen tried to keep a straight face, but Bill's suggestion was so ludicrous that she finally had to laugh.#lugubrious adj.#mournful. Gloomy Gus walked around town with a lugubrious expression on his face.#lull n.#moment of calm. Not wanting to get wet, they waited under the awning for a lull in the rain.#lull v.#soothe; cause one to relax one's guard; subside. The mother's gentle song lulled the child to sleep. Malcolm tried to come up with a plausible story to lull his mother's suspicions, but she didn't believe a word he said.#lumber v.#move heavily or clumsily. Still somewhat torpid after its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods.#luminary n.#celebrity; dignitary. A leading light of the American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary whose name lives on.#luminous adj.#shining; issuing light. The sun is a luminous body.#lummox n.#big, clumsy, often stupid person. Because he was highly overweight and looked ungainly, John Candy often was cast as a slow-witted lummox.#lunar adj.#pertaining to the moon. Lunar craters can be plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope.#lunge v.#quickly dive forward; thrust. The wide receiver lunged forward to grab the football. With his sword, Dartagnan lunged at his adversary.#lurid adj.# wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome. Do the lurid cover stories in the Enquirer actually attract people to buy that trashy tabloid?#lurk v.#stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows."#luscious adj.#pleasing to taste or smell. The ripe peach was luscious.#luster n.#shine; gloss. The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing.#lustrous adj.#shining. Her large and lustrous eyes lent a touch of beauty to an otherwise plain face.#luxuriant adj.# abundant; rich and splendid; fertile. Lady Godiva was completely covered by her luxuriant hair.#