Word origins

• LaocoönA Trojan priest of Poseidon (or Apollo, depending on the author), whose rules he had defied (or whom he had otherwise offended), who tried to warn his fellow citizens against the Trojan horse. He was killed for this, along with his two sons, by giant snakes sent by Minerva (or Poseidon, or Apollo).
• LaodicenaA historical region of Syria. Capital: Laodicea ad Libanum.
• LaodiceneSynonym of Laodicean.
• lapicideA stonecutter.
• lapidableNubile, mature for sexual intercourse (of a woman).
• lapidariousConsisting of stones; stony.
• lapidateTo throw stones or other objects at, as punishment, sometimes until death.
• lapidationThe practice or act of stoning, sometimes to the point of death, as punishment
• lapideousOf the nature of stone; stony.
• lapidescentCapable of petrifying other bodies.
• lapidificForming or converting into stone; petrifying.
• lapidifyTo become stone or stony.
• lapidistA lapidary (“person who cuts and polishes, engraves, or deals in gems and precious stones; expert in gems and precious stones”).
• lapillusA fragment of lava ejected from a volcano.
• lapis infernalisFused silver nitrate, formerly used in cauterization
• lappaceousResembling the capitulum of burdock; covered with forked points.
• lapsarianOf or pertaining to the fall of man from innocence.
• lapsus aurisAn instance of mishearing, an error in hearing something correctly.
• lapsus calamiSynonym of slip of the pen.
• lapsus digitorumA spelling error in signing.
• lapsus linguaeAn inadvertent remark; a slip of the tongue.
• lapsus memoriaeA slip of memory; an instance of forgetting.
• laquearA lacunar.
• laqueariaThe panels of a coffered ceiling in Ancient Rome; a coffered ceiling.
• laqueariusA gladiator who used a laqueus, or lasso.
• laqueusThe lasso used by a laquearius.
• larariumIn an ancient Roman home, the part of the house set aside as a shrine or chapel for the household gods.
• lares and penatesThe household deities of ancient Rome, respectively overseeing the family and its house and storerooms.
• largificalabounding; ample
• largifluousFlowing copiously; copious, abundant.
• largiloquentgrandiloquent
• largitionThe bestowment of a largess or gift.
• larvateConcealed; obscure; being a masked or doubtful case of disease.
• larvatedMasked; concealed.
• lasciousloose or lustful
• lascivientlascivious
• lascivitylasciviousness
• laserpiciumsilphium resin
• lassitudinousCharacterized by lassitude.
• lastageA duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will.
• latae sententiaeOf a penalty, coming into force as soon as a law is broken, by force of the law itself (such as excommunication for various specified offences).
• latebraThe cavity in the foodyolk of a meroblastic ovum.
• latebricoleOf an animal, especially a spider: living concealed in a hole.
• lateritiousOf the reddish color of bricks.
• latibulateTo retreat and lie hidden; to hide in a corner.
• latibulizeTo retire into a den, or hole, and lie dormant in winter.
• latibulumA concealed hiding place, especially of an animal; a burrow, hole, or lair.
• laticiferousContaining latex; applied to the tissue or tubular vessels in which the latex of the plant is found.
• latifundiumA great landed estate with absentee ownership and labor often in a state of partial servitude.
• LatinityThe quality of a particular person's Latin speech or writing; the Latin language, as an area of study or interest.
• latinizeTo translate something into the Latin language; or make a word similar in appearance or form to a Latin word.
• latissimus dorsiA large, flat, dorsolateral muscle on the trunk, posterior to the arm, and partly covered by the trapezius on its median dorsal region.
• latisternalHaving a broad breastbone, or sternum (said of Pithecina, a former taxonomic classification that is now probably Pitheciidae or Pithecia)
• latitationThe act of concealment or hiding.
• latitudinarianNot restrained; not confined by precise limits.
• latitudinousHaving latitude, or broad range; wide-ranging or of broad scope
• lato sensuIn the broad sense; broadly.
• latosolA lateritic soil of forested temperate or tropical regions.
• latrabilityThe ability or tendency to bark.
• latrantSynonym of barking, particularly (figurative) snarling, bitterly or angrily complaining.
• latrateTo bark; to make doglike noises.
• latrationBarking, an instance of barking.
• latrocinyTheft or robbery.
• latronA robber or brigand; one who plunders.
• latus rectumThe chord passing through a focus of a conic section, parallel to the directrix and terminated both ways by the curve. It is the parameter of the principal axis.
• laudabilitylaudableness
• laudationThe act of lauding; high praise or commendation.
• laudativelaudatory
• lauditspraise
• lauraceousBelonging to, or resembling, a natural order (Lauraceae) of trees and shrubs having aromatic bark and foliage, and including laurel, sassafras, cinnamon, true camphor, etc.
• lauriferousProducing, or bringing, laurel
• laurophyllousHaving leaves like those of the bay laurel.
• laurustinusSynonym of laurestine.
• lautiouslySumptuously, elegantly, in an elegant or sumptuous manner.
• lavationwashing or cleansing.
• law merchantA body of commercial law.
• law of nationsSynonym of international law.
• laxationThe act of loosening or slackening, or the state of being loosened or slackened.
• laxatorA muscle whose contraction loosens some part. Modern anatomy general defines this as a group of tendons.
• LazicaA region and kingdom in eastern shore of Black Sea corresponding to the ancient Colchis.
• lazulinePale blue
• l.c.in the place cited
• lecticaA kind of Roman litter, typically with bedding, curtains, and four legs.
• lectio difficiliorThe more difficult reading, held to be the more likely when faced with two manuscripts that disagree on a particular reading, according to the principle of lectio difficilior potior.
• lectisterniumAn ancient "feast of the gods", at which images of the gods were set on couches around a feast table.
• legacy hunterOne that strives after an inheritance.
• legataryA legatee.
• legatorA testator.
• legificOf or pertaining to lawmaking.
• legislatrixA female legislator.
• leguleianLegal
• LemegetonThe Lesser Key of Solomon, a notable grimoire compiled in the mid-17th century.
• lemniscusOne of two oval bodies hanging from the interior walls of the body in the Acanthocephala.
• lemuresThe spirits or ghosts of the dead, considered as malignant.
• LenaeusDionysus/Bacchus
• lenienceLeniency: mercy or forgiveness in the assignment of punishment.
• lenifyTo assuage or mitigate; to soften (fever/pain/effects etc.).
• lenimentSomething that soothes; a sedative or comforter.
• lenisRelatively weakly articulated, hence unaspirated and possibly voiced; especially as compared to the others of a group of homorganic consonants.
• lenitiveAnalgesic, able to reduce pain or suffering.