laird --- c.1450, Scot. and northern England dialectal variant of lord, from M.E. laverd (see lord). Attested as a surname from 1257.
laissez-faire --- 1825, from Fr., lit. "let (people) do (as they think best)," from laissez "let" + faire "to do" (from L. facere; see factitious). Phrase chosen to express the ideal of government non-interference in business and industry. A term from 18c. Fr. free-trade economists, usually attributed to Gournay.
laity --- 1541, "body of people not in religious orders," Anglo-Fr. laite, from lay (adj.).
lake (1) --- body of water, c.1205, from O.Fr. lack, from L. lacus "pond, lake," also "basin, tank," related to lacuna "hole, pit," from PIE *lak- (cf. Gk. lakkos "pit, tank, pond," O.C.S. loky "pool, puddle, cistern," O.Ir. loch "lake, pond"). The common notion is "basin." There was a Gmc. form of the word, which yielded cognate O.N. lögr "sea flood, water," O.E. lacu "stream," lagu "sea flood, water," leccan "to moisten" (see leak). The N.Amer. Great Lakes so called from 1665. Laker "boat made for sailing on the Great Lakes" is from 1887.
lake (2) --- deep red coloring matter, 1616, from Fr. laque (see lac), from which it was obtained.
la-la --- nonsense refrain in songs, probably from O.E. la, a common exclamation; but la-la is imitative of babbling speech in many languages (cf. Gk. lalage "babble, prattle," Skt. lalalla "imitation of stammering" L. lallare "to sing to sleep, lull," Ger. lallen "to stammer," Lith. laluoti "to stammer").
lam --- flight, as in on the lam, 1897, from a U.S. slang verb meaning "to run off" (1886), of uncertain origin, perhaps somehow from the first element of lambaste, which was used in British student slang for "beat" since 1596; if so, it would give the word the same etymological sense as beat it.
lama --- Buddhist priest of Mongolia or Tibet, 1654, from Tibetan blama "chief, high priest," with silent b-.
Lamarckian --- 1846, of or pertaining to Fr. botanist and zoologist J.B.P. Lamarck (1744-1829), especially his view that the process of evolution includes the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
lamb --- O.E. lamb, from P.Gmc. *lambaz (cf. O.N., O.Fris., Goth. lamb, M.H.G. lamp, Ger. lamm "lamb"). Common to the Gmc. languages, but with no known cognates outside them. O.E. plural was lomberu. Applied to persons (especially young Church members, gentle souls, etc.) from late O.E. Also sometimes used ironically for cruel or rough characters (e.g. Kirke's Lambs in wars of 1684-86).
lambada --- sensual Brazilian dance, 1988, from Port., lit. "a beating, a lashing."
lambaste --- 1637, from lam (1595, ult. from O.N. lemja "to beat, to lame") + baste "to thrash." (see baste).
lambent --- 1647, from fig. use of L. lambentem (nom. lambens), prp. of lambere "to lick," from PIE base *lab- (cf. Gk. laptein "to sip, lick," O.E. lapian "to lick, lap up, suck").
Lambert --- masc. proper name, from Fr., from Ger. Lambert, from O.H.G. Lambreht, from lant "land" + beraht "bright." O.E. cognate was Landbeorht. The popularity of the name from 12c. is probably due to immigration from Flanders, where St. Lambert of Maestricht was highly venerated. Attested as a surname from 1142.
Lambeth --- used metonymically for "Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury," 1859, from the archbishop's palace in Lambeth, a South London borough. The Lambeth Walk was a Cockney song and dance, popularized in Britain 1937 in the revue "Me and my Gal," named for a street in the borough.
lambic --- strong Belgian beer, 1889, related to Fr. alambic "a still" (see alembic).
lame (adj.) --- O.E. lama, from P.Gmc. *lamon (cf. O.N. lami, Du., O.Fris. lam, Ger. lahm "lame"), "weak-limbed," lit. "broken," from PIE base *lem- "to break" (cf. O.C.S. lomiti "to break," Lith. luomas "lame"). Sense of "socially awkward" is attested from 1942. Verb meaning "to make lame" is attested from c.1300. Lame-duck was originally (18c.) "any disabled person or thing;" modern sense of "public official serving out term after an election" first recorded 1863 in Amer.Eng., attributed to Vice President Andrew Johnson, in reference to Col. Forney. Lame-brain (n.) is first recorded 1929.
lamé (n.) --- silk interwoven with metallic threads, 1922, from Fr., earlier "thin metal plate" (1586), from M.Fr. lame, from L. lamina, lamna "thin piece or flake of metal."
lamentation --- 1375, from L. lamentationem (nom. lamentatio) "wailing, moaning, weeping," from lamentatus, pp. of lamentari, from lamentum "a wailing," from PIE base *la- "to shout, cry," probably ultimately imitative. Replaced O.E. cwiþan. Back-formation lament is from 1591 (n.), 1530 (v.).
lamia --- 1382, from Gk., "female vampire," lit. "swallower, lecher," from laimos "throat, gullet." Probably cognate with L. lemures "spirits of the dead" (see lemur). Used in early translations of the Bible for screech owls and sea monsters.
laminate (v.) --- 1664, "to beat or roll into thin plates," from L. lamina "thin piece of metal or wood." Many modern senses are from the noun meaning "an artificial thin layer" (1939), especially a type of plastic adhesive.
Lammas --- Aug. 1 harvest festival with consecration of loaves, O.E. hlafmæsse, lit. "loaf mass," from hlaf (see loaf) + mæsse (see mass).
lamp --- c.1200, from O.Fr. lampe (12c.), from L. lampas, from Gk. lampas "torch, lamp, beacon, meteor, light," from lampein "to shine," from PIE base *lap- "to shine" (cf. Lith. lope "light," O.Ir. lassar "flame"). Replaced O.E. leohtfæt "light vessel." Lamp-black (1598) is a pigment made from pure, fine carbon, originally from the soot produced by burning oil in lamps.
lampoon (n.) --- 1645, from Fr. lampon, of unknown origin, said by Fr. etymologists to be from lampons "let us drink," popular refrain for scurrilous 17c. songs, from lamper "to drink, guzzle," a nasalized form of laper "to lap." The verb is first attested 1657.
lamprey --- c.1200, from O.Fr. lampreie, from M.L. lampreda, from L.L. lampetra "lamprey," probably lit. "lick-rock," from L. lambere "to lick" + petra "rock." The animals attach themselves to things with their sucker-like mouths.
Lancaster --- Loncastre (1086) "Roman Fort on the River Lune," a Celtic river name probably meaning "healthy, pure." The Lancastrians in the War of the Roses took their name from their descent from John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster.
lance --- c.1290, from O.Fr. lance, from L. lancea "light spear" (It. lancia, Sp. lanza, Ger. Lanze), possibly of Celt-Iberian origin. The verb meaning "to pierce with a lance" is from c.1300; the surgical sense (properly with ref. to a lancet) is from 1474. Lance corporal (1786) is from obsolete lancepesade "officer of lowest rank" (1578), from O.It. lancia spezzata "old soldier," lit. "broken lance."
Lancelot --- O.Fr., double-dim. of Frank. Lanzo, a hypocoristic name formed from some one of the Gmc. names in Land-; cf. O.E. Landbeorht "land-bright," in O.Fr. Lambert.
lancer --- 1590, originally "soldier armed with a lance," from Fr. lancier, from O.Fr. lance (see lance).
lancet --- 1392, from O.Fr. lancette "small lance," dim. of lance.
land (n.) --- O.E. land, lond, "ground, soil," also "definite portion of the earth's surface, home region of a person or a people, territory marked by political boundaries," from P.Gmc. *landom (cf. O.N., O.Fris. Du., Ger., Goth. land), from PIE *lendh- "land, heath" (cf. O.Ir. land, Middle Welsh llan "an open space," Welsh llan "enclosure, church," Breton lann "heath," source of Fr. lande; O.C.S. ledina "waste land, heath," Czech lada "fallow land"). Etymological evidence and Goth. use indicates the original sense was "a definite portion of the earth's surface owned by an individual or home of a nation." Meaning early extended to "solid surface of the earth," which had been the sense of the root of Mod.Eng. earth. Original sense of land in Eng. is now mostly found under country. Landlocked is first attested 1622. Landlord in modern usage first recorded 1419; landlady is from 1536. To take the lay of the land is a nautical expression. Landed "possessed of land" is late O.E. gelandod. In the Amer.Eng. exclamation land's sakes (1846) land is a euphemism for Lord.
land (v.1) --- to bring to land, c.1300, from land (n.). Originally of ships; of fish, in the angling sense, from 1613; hence fig. sense of "to obtain" (a job, etc.), first recorded 1854. Of aircraft, attested from 1916. Landing for boats is from 1609; of stairs, first attested 1789. Landfall "sighting of land" (1627) is from fall in the sense of "happen."
land (v.2) --- to make contact, to hit home (of a punch, etc.), altered from lend in a playful sense.
landau --- four-wheeled carriage, 1743, from Landau, town in Germany where they first were made.
landlubber --- sailor's term of contempt for a landsman, c.1700, from land (n.) + lubber (q.v.).
landmark --- O.E. landmearc, from land (n.) + mearc (see mark). Originally "object set up to mark the boundaries of a kingdom, estate, etc." Modern fig. sense of "event, etc., considered a high point in history" is from 1859.
landscape --- 1603, "painting representing natural scenery," from Du. landschap, from M.Du. landscap "region," from land "land" + -scap "-ship." Originally introduced as a painters' term. O.E. had cognate landscipe. Meaning "tract of land with its distinguishing characteristics" is from 1886. The verb meaning "to lay out lawns, gardens, etc., plant trees for the sake of beautification" is first recorded 1927, from the noun.
landslide --- 1856, Amer.Eng., from land (n.) + slide. Earlier was landslip (1679), still preferred in Britain. In the political sense, landslide "lopsided electoral victory" is attested from 1888.
lane --- O.E. lane, lanu "narrow hedged-in road," common Gmc. (cf. O.Fris. lana, M.Du. lane, Du. laan "lane," O.N. lön "row of houses"), of unknown origin.
lang syne --- c.1500, Scot. variant of long since; popularized in Burns' song, 1788.
language --- c.1290, from O.Fr. langage (12c.), from V.L. *linguaticum, from L. lingua "tongue," also "speech, language" (see lingual).
languedoc --- language of medieval France south of the Loire, 1664, from Fr. langue d'oc "speech of the south of France," lit. "the language of 'yes,' " from oc the word used for "yes" in southern France, from L. hoc "this;" as opposed to langue d'oïl, from the way of saying "yes" in the north of France (Mod.Fr. oui); each from a different word in L. phrase hoc ille (fecit) "this he (did)." The langue d'oïl has developed into standard Modern French.
languid --- 1597, from L. languidus "faint, listless," from languere "be weak or faint," from PIE base *(s)leg- "to be slack" (see lax).
languish --- c.1300, from languiss-, pp. stem of O.Fr. languir "be listless," from V.L. *languire, from L. languere "be weak or faint" (see lax).
languor --- c.1300, "disease, distress, mental suffering," from O.Fr. languor, from L. languorem (nom. languor) "faintness, feebleness, lassitude," from languere "be weak or faint" (see lax). Sense shifted to "faintness, weariness" (1656) and "habitual want of energy" (1825).
Lanier --- surname, is from O.Fr. lainier "wool-monger," from L. lana "wool."
lank --- O.E. hlanc "loose and empty, slender, flaccid," from P.Gmc. *khlankaz, perhaps from a root meaning "flexible" (cf. Ger. lenken "to bend, turn aside"). Lanky was originally (1637) "straight and flat," used of hair; sense of "awkwardly tall and thin" is first recorded 1818.
lanolin --- 1885, from Ger., coined by Ger. physician Mathias Eugenius Oscar Liebreich (1838-1908) from L. lana "wool" + oleum "oil, fat" + chemical suffix -in.
lantern --- c.1300, from O.Fr. lanterne, from L. lanterna, altered (by influence of L. lucerna "lamp") from Gk. lampter "torch," from lampein "to shine" (see lamp). Variant lanthorn (16c.-19c.) was folk etymology based on the common use of horn as a translucent cover. Lantern-jaws "hollow, long cheeks" is from a resemblance noted since at least 1362.
lanthanum --- metallic rare earth element, 1841, coined by Swedish chemist and mineralogist Carl Gustav Mosander (1797-1858), who discovered it in 1839, from Gk. lanthanein "to lie hidden, escape notice," because the element was "concealed" in rare minerals.
lanyard --- alternate spelling (influenced by nautical yard (2) "long beam used to support a sail") of M.E. lainer, "thong for fastening parts of armor or clothing" (c.1386), from O.Fr. laniere "thong, lash," from lasniere, from lasne "strap, thong," apparently altered (by metathesis and influence of O.Fr. las "lace") from nasliere, from Frank. *nastila, from P.Gmc. *nastila- (cf. O.H.G. nestila "lace, strap, band," Ger. nestel "string, lace, strap"), from PIE base *ned- "to knot."
Laocoon --- Trojan priest of Apollo, from L. Laocoon, from Gk. Laukoun, from laos "people" + koeo "I mark, perceive."
Laodicean --- lukewarm in religion, 1564, from Laodicea, Syrian city (modern Latakia) whose early Christians were chastised in the Bible for indifference to their religion [Rev. iii.14-16].
lap (n.) --- O.E. læppa "skirt or flap of a garment," from P.Gmc. *lapp- (cf. M.Du. lappe, O.H.G. lappa, Ger. Lappen "rag, shred," O.N. leppr "patch, rag"), from PIE base *leb- "be loose, hang down." In 17c. the word was a euphemism for "female pudenda." Sense of "lower part of a shirt" led to that of "upper legs of seated person" (c.1290). Lapdog is from 1645; figurative sense of "subservient person" is from 1980s. Lap dance first recorded 1993.
lap (v.1) --- take up liquid with the tongue, from O.E. lapian, from P.Gmc. *lapajanan (cf. O.H.G. laffen "to lick," O.S. lepil, Ger. Löffel "spoon"), from PIE imitative base *lab- (cf. Gk. laptein "to sip, lick," L. lambere "to lick"). Meaning "splash gently" first recorded 1823, based on similarity of sound.
lap (v.2) --- to lay one part over another, c.1225, from lap (n.). The sense of "to get a lap ahead (of someone) on a track" is from 1847, on notion of "overlapping." The noun meaning "a turn around a track" (1861) is from this sense.
lapel --- 1751 (implied in lapelled), from lap (n.) + -el, dim. suffix.
lapidary (n.) --- one skilled in working with precious stones, 1382, from O.Fr. lapidaire, from L. lapidarius "stonecutter," originally an adj. "of or working with stone," from lapis (gen. lapidis) "stone."
lapis lazuli --- 1398, from M.L. "stone of azure," from L. lapis "stone" + M.L. lazuli, gen. of lazulum, from Arabic lazuward (see azure).
Lapland --- 1580, from Lapp, the Swedish name for this Finnic people (their name for themselves was Sabme), which probably originally was an insulting coinage (cf. M.H.G. lappe "simpleton"); but in Eng. traditionally the home of witches and wizards who had power to conjure winds and tempests.
Lapp --- 1859; see Lapland.
lappet --- a small flap, 1573, from M.E. lappe "lap" (see lap (n.)) + -et, dim. suffix.
lapse --- 1526, "slip of the memory," from M.Fr. laps "lapse," from L. lapsus "a slipping and falling, flight (of time), falling into error," from labi "to slip, glide, fall." Meaning "a moral slip" is from 1582; that of "a falling away from one's faith" is from 1660. Legal sense of "termination of a right or privilege" first recorded 1570. The verb is first attested 1641.
lapwing --- M.E. lappewinke (1390), lapwyngis (c.1430), folk etymology alteration of O.E. hleapewince, lit. "leaper-winker," from hleapan "to leap" + wince "totter, waver, move rapidly," related to wincian "to wink." Said to be "in reference to its irregular flapping manner of flight" [Barnhart], but the lapwing also flaps around on the ground pretending to have a broken wing to lure egg-hunters away from its nest, which seems a more logical explanation. Its Gk. name was polyplagktos "luring on deceitfully."
larboard --- left-hand side of a ship (to a person on board and facing the bow), c.1300, ladde-borde, perhaps lit. "the loading side," if this was the side on which goods were loaded onto a ship, from laden "to load" + bord "ship's side." Altered 16c. on influence of starboard, then largely replaced by port (1). to avoid confusion of similar-sounding words. The O.E. term was bæcboard, lit. "back board" (see starboard).
larceny --- c.1460, from Anglo-Fr. larcin (1292), from O.Fr. larrecin "theft," from L. latrocinium "robbery," from latro (gen. latronis) "robber, bandit," also "hireling, mercenary," ult. from Gk. latron "pay, hire, wages." The former distinction between grand and petty larceny was of property valued at more than, or less than, 12 pence.
larch --- 1548, from Ger. Lärche, from M.H.G. larche, from O.H.G. *larihha, from L. larix (gen. laricis), probably a loan-word from an Alpine Gaulish language, corresponding phonetically to O.Celt. *darik- "oak" (see Druid and tree).
lard --- c.1420, "fat of a swine," from O.Fr. larde "bacon fat," from L. lardum "lard, bacon," probably cognate with Gk. larinos "fat," laros "pleasing to the taste."
larder --- c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. larder "a place for meats," from M.L. lardarium "a room for meats," from L. lardum "lard, bacon" (see lard).
lares --- Roman tutelary gods, household deities, 1586, from L., pl. of lar.
large --- c.1175, "bountiful," from O.Fr. large "broad, wide," from L. largus "abundant, copious, plentiful, liberal," of unknown origin. Main modern meaning "extensive, big" emerged c.1300. An older sense of "liberated, free" is preserved in at large (1399). Adj. phrase larger-than-life first attested 1937 (bigger than life is from 1641).
largesse --- gift generously given, c.1225, from O.Fr. largesse "a bounty, munificence," from V.L. *largitia "abundance," from L. largus "abundant" (see large).
lariat --- 1832, Amer.Eng., from Sp. la reata "the rope," from reatar "to tie again," from atar "to tie," from L. aptare "to join."
lark (n.) --- songbird, O.E. lawerce (late O.E. laferce), from P.Gmc. *laiw(a)rikon (cf. O.S. lewerka, O.N. lævirik, Du. leeuwerik, Ger. Lerche), of unknown origin. Some O.E. and O.N. forms suggest a compound meaning "treason-worker," but there is no folk tale to explain or support this. The plant larkspur (1578) is so called from resemblance to the bird's large hind claws.
lark (v.) --- spree, frolic, 1811, possibly shortening of skylark (1809), sailors' slang "play rough in the rigging of a ship" (larks were proverbial for high-flying), or from Eng. dial. lake/laik "to play" (c.1300, from O.N. leika "to play") with intrusive -r- common in southern British dialect. The verb lake, considered characteristic of Northern English vocabulary, is the opposite of work but lacks the other meanings of play.
larrup --- to beat, thrash, 1823, of unknown origin, possibly related to Du. larpen "to thrash." First mentioned as a Suffolk dialect word.
larva --- 1651, "a ghost, specter," from L. larva, earlier larua "ghost," also "mask;" applied in biological sense 1768 by Linnaeus because immature forms of insects "mask" the adult forms. On the double sense of the L. word, Carlo Ginzburg, among other students of mythology and folklore, has commented on "the well-nigh universal association between masks and the spirits of the dead."
larynx --- 1578, from M.Fr., from Gk. larynx (gen. laryngos) "the upper windpipe," probably from laimos "throat," influenced by pharynx "throat, windpipe." Laryngitis (1822) is Medical L., from larynx + -itis (q.v.).
lasagna --- pasta cut in long, wide strips; a dish made from this, 1760, from It. (pl. is lasagne), from V.L. *lasania, from L. lasanum "a pot," from Gk. lasanon "pot with feet, trivet."
lascivious --- c.1425, from L.L. lasciviosus (used in a scolding sense by Isidore and other early Church writers), from L. lascivia "lewdness, playfulness," from lascivus "lewd, playful," from PIE *las-ko-, from *las- "to be eager, wanton, or unruly" (cf. Skt. -lasati "yearns," lasati "plays, frolics," Hittite ilaliya- "to desire, covet," Gk. laste "harlot," O.C.S. laska "flattery," Slovak laska "love," O.Ir. lainn "greedy," Goth. lustus, O.E. lust "lust").
laser --- 1960, acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," on pattern of 1955 MASER. A verb, lase, was coined 1962.
lash (n.) --- c.1330, las "a blow, a stroke," later "flexible part of a whip" (c.1381), possibly imitative. The verb "to strike out" is first attested c.1330 and may be the source of the noun. Lash out "to strike out violently" is from 1567.
lash (v.) --- bind, 1624, originally nautical, from M.Fr. lachier, from O.Fr. lacier "to lace" (see lace).
lass --- c.1300, from a Scandinavian source, probably akin to O.Swed. løsk kona "unmarried woman," but also perhaps related to O.N. loskr "idle, weak," W.Fris. lask "light, thin." "Used now only of mean girls" [Johnson, who also has lasslorn "forsaken by his mistress"]. Scottish dim. lassie first recorded 1725.
lassitude --- 1533, from M.Fr. lassitude, from L. lassitudinem (nom. lassitudo) "faintness, weariness," from lassus "faint, tired, weary," from PIE base *lad- "slow, weary" (cf. O.E. læt "sluggish, slow;" see late (adj.)).
lasso --- 1807 (v.); 1808 (n.), Amer.Eng., from Sp. lazo, from L. laqueum (nom. laqueus) "noose, snare" (see lace).
last (adj., adv.) --- following all the others, from O.E. latost (adj.) and lætest (adv.), superl. of læt (adj.) and late (adv.). Cognate with O.Fris. lest, Du. laatst, O.H.G. laggost, Ger. letzt). Adj. Last-ditch "on the last line of defense" is from 1715, attributed to William of Orange. Last hurrah is from the title of Edwin O'Connor's 1956 novel. Last word "final, definitive statement" is from 1881.
last (n.) --- shoemaker's block, from O.E. læste, from last "track, footprint, trace," from P.Gmc. *laistaz (cf. O.N. leistr "the foot," O.H.G. leist "track, footprint," Goth. laistjan "to follow," O.E. læran "to teach").
last (v.) --- endure, from O.E. læstan "to continue, endure," earlier "accomplish, carry out," lit. "to follow a track," from P.Gmc. *laistijanan (cf. Goth. laistjan "to follow," O.Fris. lasta "to fulfill, to pay (duties)," Ger. leisten "to perform, achieve, afford"). Related to last (n.), not to last (adj.).
latch (v.) --- O.E. læccan "to grasp or seize," from P.Gmc. *lakkijanan. Not found in other Gmc. languages; probably from PIE *(s)lagw- "to seize" (see analemma). The noun is first recorded 1331, from the verb. Latchkey (1825) is a key to draw back the latch of a door; latchkey child first recorded 1944, Amer.Eng., in ref. to children who come home from school while both parents are at work.
late (adj.) --- O.E. læt "occurring after the customary or expected time," originally "slow, sluggish," from P.Gmc. *latas (cf. O.N. latr "sluggish, lazy," M.Du., O.S. lat, Ger. laß "idle, weary," Goth. lats "weary, sluggish, lazy," latjan "to hinder"), from PIE base *lad- "slow, weary" (cf. L. lassus "faint, weary, languid, exhausted," Gk. ledein "to be weary"). The sense of "deceased" (as in the late Mrs. Smith) is from 1490, from an adv. sense of "recently." Of women's menstrual periods, attested colloquially from 1962. Later "farewell" attested from 1954 in U.S. slang, short for see you later.
latent --- 1459, from L. latentem (nom. latens), prp. of latere "to lie hidden," from PIE *laidh-, from base *la- "to be hidden" (cf. Gk. lethe "forgetfulness, oblivion," O.C.S. lajati "to lie in wait for").
lateral --- 1561 (implied in laterally), from L. lateralis "belonging to the side," from latus (gen. lateris) "side" (see oblate (n.)). As a type of pass to the side in U.S. football, it is attested from 1934.
Lateran --- 1297, popular name of cathedral church of St. John Lateran at Rome, which is built on the site of the palace of the Plautii Laterani, a Roman family. As a papal headquarters, it was the site of five general councils of the Western Church.
latex --- 1662, "body fluid," from L. latex (gen. laticis) "liquid, fluid," probably from Gk. latax "dregs," from PIE base *lat- "wet" (cf. M.Ir. laith "beer," Welsh llaid "mud, mire," Lith. latakas "pool, puddle," O.N. leþja "filth"). Used 1835 to mean "milky liquid from plants." Meaning "water-dispersed polymer particles" (used in rubber goods, paints, etc.) is from 1937.
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