A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

lilt --- 1513, "to lift up" (the voice), probably from c.1380 W. Midlands dial. lulten "to sound an alarm," of unknown origin. Possible relatives include Norw. lilla "to sing" and Low Ger. lul "pipe." It is possible that the whole loose group is imitative. Sense of "sing in a light manner" is first recorded 1786.

lily --- O.E. lilie, from L. lilia, pl. of lilium "a lily," cognate with Gk. leirion, both perhaps borrowed from a corrupted pronunciation of an Egyptian word. Used in O.T. to translate Heb. shoshanna and in N.T. to translate Gk. krinon. The color sense of "pale, bloodless" led to lily-livered "cowardly" (1605, in "Macbeth;" see liver; the healthy liver is typically dark reddish-brown). The lily of the valley translates L. lilium convallium (Vulgate), a literal rendition of the Heb. term in Song of Solomon ii.1. It apparently was applied to a particular plant (Convallaria majalis) first by 16c. Ger. herbalists.

lima bean --- 1756, assoc. with Lima, Peru, from which region the plant (Phaseolus lunatus) was introduced to Europe c.1500. The city name is corrupted from Quechua (Inca) rimac, name of a god and his temple, from rima "to speak" (probably a reference to priests who spoke from concealed places in statues of the gods). Among the earliest New World crops to be known in the Old World, Simmonds' "Dictionary of Trade" (1858) describes it as "esteemed," but it has the consistency of a diseased dog kidney.

limb (1) --- O.E. lim "limb, joint, main branch of a tree," from P.Gmc. *limu- (cf. O.N. limr "limb," lim "small branch of a tree"), a variant of *liþu- (cf. O.E. liþ, O.Fris. lith, O.N. liðr, Goth. liþus "a limb;" with prefix ga-, source of Ger. glied "limb, member"), from PIE base *lei- "to bend, be movable, be nimble." The parasitic -b began to appear late 1500s for no reason. In O.E., M.E., and until lately in dial., it could mean "any visible body part."

limb (2) --- 1593, "edge of a quadrant or other instrument," from L. limbus "border, hem, fringe, edge," cognate with Skt. lambate "hangs down," Eng. limp. Astronomical sense of "edge of the disk of a heavenly body" first attested 1677.

limber (adj.) --- 1565, of uncertain origin, possibly from limb on notion of supple boughs of a tree, or from limp "flaccid," or somehow from M.E. lymer "shaft of a cart" (see limber (n.)).

limber (n.) --- detachable forepart of a gun carriage, 1480, probably related to Fr. limonière "wagon with two shafts," from limon "shaft," probably of Celtic origin.

limbo (1) --- region supposed to exist on the border of Hell reserved for pre-Christian saints (Limbus patrum) and unbaptized infants (Limbus infantum);" c.1300, from L. (in) limbo "(on) the edge," abl. of limbus "edge, border" (see limb (2)). Figurative sense of "condition of neglect or oblivion" is from 1642.

limbo (2) --- dance in which the dancer bends backward and passes under a bar, 1956, of W.Indian origin, probably an alteration of limber.

Limburger --- 1817, from Limburg, province in northeast Belgium, where the cheese is made. The place name is from Gmc. *lindo "lime tree" + *burg "fortification.

lime (1) --- chalky mineral used in making mortar, from O.E. lim "sticky substance, birdlime, mortar," from P.Gmc. *leimaz (cf. O.N. lim, Du. lijm, Ger. Leim), from PIE base *(s)lei- "slime, slimy, sticky" (cf. L. limus "slime, mud, mire," linere "to smear;" O.E. slim "slime;" Skt. linati "adheres to, slips into, disappears;" Gk. alinein "to anoint, besmear;" O.Ir. leinam "I follow," lit. "I stick to"). Lime is made by putting limestone or shells in a red heat, which burns off the carbonic acid and leaves a brittle white solid which dissolves easily in water. Birdlime is a viscous sticky stuff prepared from holly bark and used to catch small birds. Limestone is first attested 1523.

lime (2) --- type of citrus fruit, 1638, from Sp. lima, from Arabic limah "citrus fruit," a back-formation or a collective noun from limun "lemon" (see lemon).

lime (3) --- linden tree, 1625, from M.E. lynde, from O.E. lind (see linden). The change of -n- to -m- probably began in compounds whose second element began in a labial (e.g. line-bark, line-bast).

limelight --- 1826, popular name for Drummond light, a brilliant light created by the incandescence of lime (1), adopted for lighthouses and later for the Victorian stage, where it illuminated the principal actors, hence the figurative sense of "on stage, at the center of attention" (1877).

limerick --- nonsense verse of five lines, 1896, perhaps from the county and city in Ireland, but if so the connection is obscure. It is usually attributed to a party game in which each guest in turn made up a nonsense verse and all sang a refrain with the line "Will you come up to Limerick?" Or perhaps from Learic, from Edward Lear (1812-88) English humorist who popularized the form. Earliest examples are in French, which further complicates the quest for the origin. First record of the word is in a letter of Aubrey Beardsley. The place name is lit. "bare ground," from Ir. Liumneach, from lom "bare, thin."

limey --- 1888, Australian, New Zealand, and South African slang for "English immigrant;" U.S. use is attested from 1918, originally "British sailor, British warship," short for lime-juicer (1857), in derisive reference to the British Navy's policy (begun 1795) of issuing lime juice on ships to prevent scurvy among sailors. In Amer.Eng., extended to "any Englishman" by 1925.

limit (n.) --- c.1375, "boundary, frontier," from O.Fr. limite "a boundary," from L. limitem (nom. limes) "a boundary, embankment between fields, border," related to limen "threshold." Colloquial sense of "the very extreme, the greatest degree imaginable" is from 1904. The verb is c.1380, from O.Fr. limiter, from L. limitare "to bound, limit, fix," from limes. In British company names, Limited (abbrev. Ltd.), 1855, is short for limited liability company, one in which the liability of partners is limited, usually to the amount of their capital investment.

limn --- c.1420, "to illuminate" (manuscripts), altered from M.E. lumine, "to illuminate manuscripts," from O.Fr. luminer, from L. luminare "illuminate, burnish," from lumen (gen. luminis) "radiant energy, light." Sense of "portray, depict" first recorded 1592.

limousine --- 1902, "enclosed automobile with open driver's seat," from Fr. limousine, from Limousin, region in central France, originally an adj. referring to its chief city, Limoges, from L. Lemovices, name of a people who lived near there, perhaps named in ref. to their elm spears or bows. The L. adj. form of the name, Lemovicinus, is the source of Fr. Limousin. Modern automobile meaning evolved from perceived similarity of the car's profile to a type of hood worn by the inhabitants of that province. Since 1930s, synonymous in Amer.Eng. with "luxury car;" applied from 1972 to vehicles that take people to and from large airports. Abbreviation limo is 1960s, Amer.Eng. Limousine liberal first attested 1969.

limp (adj.) --- 1706, "flaccid, drooping," of obscure origin, perhaps related to limp (v.).

limp (v.) --- c.1400, of uncertain origin, probably from O.E. lemphealt "halting, lame, limping," which has a lone cognate in the rare M.H.G. limphin, and probably ult. is from PIE base *lomb- "slack, loose, to hang down" (cf. Skt. lambate "hangs down," L. limbus "hem, border," M.H.G. lampen "to hang down").

limpet --- O.E. lempedu, from M.L. lampreda "limpet" (see lamprey).

limpid --- 1609, from Fr. limpide, from L. limpidus "clear," from limpa "water goddess, water;" probably cognate with lympha "clear liquid" (see lymph).

linchpin --- 1370s, from M.E. lins "axletree" (from O.E. lynis, from P.Gmc. *luniso) + pin. The peg that holds a wheel on an axle; now mainly figurative.

Lincoln --- English city, county town of Lincolnshire, O.E. Lindcylene, from L. Lindum Colonia from a Latinized form of British *lindo "pool, lake" (corresponding to Welsh llyn). Originally a station for retired IX Legion veterans.

linden --- the lime tree, O.E., originally an adj., "of linden wood," from O.E. lind "linden" (n.), from P.Gmc. *lindo (cf. O.S. linda, O.N. lind, O.H.G. linta, Ger. linde), probably from PIE *lent- "flexible," with ref. to the tree's pliant bast. "The recent currency of the word is prob. due to its use in translations of German romance, as an adoption of G. linden pl. of linde, or as the first element in the comb. lindenbaum = 'linden-tree.' " [OED]

Lindy Hop --- popular dance, 1931, it originated in Harlem, N.Y., named for Lindy, nickname of U.S. aviator Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-74) who in 1927 made the first solo nonstop trans-Atlantic flight.

line (n.) --- from O.E. line "rope, row of letters," and from O.Fr. ligne, both from L. linea "linen thread, string, line," from phrase linea restis "linen cord," from fem. of lineus (adj.) "of linen," from linum "linen" (see linen). Oldest sense is "rope, cord, string;" extended 1382 to "a thread-like mark" (from sense "cord used by builders for making things level," 1340), also "track, course, direction." Sense of "things or people arranged in a straight line" is from 1557. That of "cord bearing hooks used in fishing" is from c.1300. Meaning "one's occupation, branch of business" is from 1638, probably from misunderstood KJV translation of 2 Cor. x.16, "And not to boast in another mans line of things made ready to our hand," where line translates Gk. kanon, lit. "measuring rod." Meaning "class of goods in stock" is from 1834. Meaning "telegraph wire" is from 1847 (later "telephone wire"), hence lineman (1858). Meaning "policy or set of policies of a political faction" is 1892, Amer.Eng., from notion of a procession of followers; this is the sense in party line. In British army, the Line (1802) is the regular, numbered troops, as distinguished from guards and auxiliaries. In the Navy (1704, e.g. ship of the line) it refers to the battle line. Lines "words of an actor's part" is from 1882. Lines of communication were originally transverse trenches in seigeworks. The baseball line-up (1889) is older than the police version (1907).

line (v.) --- to cover the inner side of, c.1386, from O.E. lin "linen cloth" (see linen). Linen was frequently used in the Middle Ages as a second layer of material on the inner side of a garment.

lineage --- c.1300, from O.Fr. lignage, from ligne "line," from L. linea (see line (n.)).

lineament --- 1432, "distinctive feature of the body, outline," from M.Fr. lineament, from L. lineamentum "contour, outline," from lineare "to reduce to a straight line," from linea (see line (n.)). Fig. sense of "a characteristic" is attested from 1638.

linear --- 1642, from L. linearis "belonging to a line," from linea "string, line" (see line (n.)). Linear A and Linear B (1902-3) were names given to two related forms of linear Minoan writing discovered 1894-1901 in Crete by Sir Arthur Evans.

linen --- cloth from woven flax, 1362, from O.E. linin (adj.) "made of flax," from lin "flax, linen thread, cloth," from W.Gmc. *linam (cf. O.N., O.H.G. lin "flax, linen," Ger. Leinen "linen," Goth. lein "linen cloth"), probably an early borrowing from L. linum "flax, linen," which, along with Gk. linon is from a non-IE language.

liner --- ship belonging to a shipping line, 1838, from line (n.) on notion of a succession of ships plying between ports along regular "lines." Line in this sense first attested 1786 in ref. to stagecoaches. Meaning "cosmetic" first recorded 1926, short for eye-liner. The type of baseball hit was so called since 1874. Liner notes in a record album are attested from 1953.

-ling --- dim. suffix, 1314, from O.E. -ling a nominal suffix (not originally dim.), from P.Gmc. *-linga-; attested in historical Gmc. languages as a simple suffix, but probably representing a fusion of the suffixes represented by Eng. -le (cf. icicle, thimble, handle), O.E. -ol, -ul, -el; and -ing, suffix indicating "person or thing of a specific kind or origin; in masc. nouns also "son of" (cf. farthing, atheling, O.E. horing "adulterer, fornicator"). Both these suffixes had occasional dim. force, but this was only slightly evident in O.E. -ling and its equivalents in Gmc. languages except O.N., where it commonly was used as a dim, suffix, esp. in words designating the young of animals (e.g. gæslingr "gosling"). Thus it is possible that the dim. use that developed in M.E. is from O.N.

lingam --- phallic emblem under which Siva is worshipped, 1719, from Skt. linga (nom. lingam) "mark, token, sign, emblem," of unknown origin.

linger --- c.1300, lenger "reside, dwell," freq. of lengen "to tarry," from O.E. lengan "prolong, lengthen," from P.Gmc. *langijanan (cf. Du. lengen "to lengthen"), source of O.E. lang "long."

lingerie --- 1835 (but not in widespread use until 1852), from Fr. lingerie "things made of linen," also "laundry room, linen shop" (15c.), from O.Fr. linge "linen" (12c.), from L. lineus (adj.) "of linen," from linum "flax, linen" (see linen). Originally introduced in Eng. as a euphemism for scandalous under-linen.

lingo --- foreign speech, 1660, possibly a corrupt form of lingua franca (q.v.), or from Prov. lingo "language, tongue," from O.Prov. lenga, from L. lingua "tongue" (see lingual).

lingua franca --- 1678, from It., lit. "Frankish tongue." Originally a form of communication used in the Levant, a stripped-down It. peppered with Spanish, French, Greek, Arabic, and Turkish words. The name is probably from the Arabic custom, dating back to the Crusades, of calling all Europeans Franks.

lingual --- 1650, from M.L. lingualis "of the tongue," from L. lingua "tongue," also "speech, language," from Old L. dingua, from PIE *dnghwa- (cf. O.E. tunge, Goth. tuggo "tongue," see tongue). Altered by assoc. with lingere "to lick."

linguine --- 1948, from It. linguine, pl. of linguina "little tongue," dim. of lingua "tongue," from L. lingua "tongue" (see lingual).

linguist --- 1588, "a master of language, one who uses his tongue freely," from L. lingua "language, tongue" (see lingual). Meaning "a student of language" first attested 1641. Linguistics "the science of languages" is from 1847. The use of linguistic to mean "of or pertaining to language or languages" is "hardly justifiable etymologically," according to OED, but "has arisen because lingual suggests irrelevant associations."

liniment --- c.1420, from L.L. linimentum "a soft ointment," from L. linire, earlier linere "to daub, smear," from PIE base *(s)lei- "slime, slimy, sticky" (see lime (1)).

lining --- stuff with which garments are lined, 1378, from M.E. linen "to line" (see line (v.)).

link (n.) --- c.1440, "one of a series of rings or loops which form a chain," probably from O.N. *hlenkr (cf. O.Swed. lænker "chain, link," Norw. lenke, Dan. lænke), from P.Gmc. *khlankijaz (cf. Ger. lenken "to bend, turn, lead," gelenk "articulation, joint, link," O.E. hlencan (pl.) "armor"), from PIE base *qleng- "to bend." The verb (1387) is believed to be from the noun, though it is attested earlier. Missing link between man and apes dates to 1880.

links --- undulating sandy ground, 1728, from Scottish/Northumbrian link "sandy, rolling ground near seashore," from O.E. hlinc "rising ground, ridge;" perhaps from the same P.Gmc. root as lean (v.); cf. O.E. hlinan "to lean." This type of landscape in Scotland was where golf first was played; the word has been part of the names of golf courses since at least 1728.

linnet --- small finch-like songbird, c.1530, from M.Fr. linette "grain of flax," dim. of lin "flax," from L. linum "linen" (see linen). Flaxseed forms much of the bird's diet. O.E. name for the bird was linetwige, with second element perhaps meaning "pluck." This yielded M.E. and dial. lintwhite.

linoleum --- 1860, coined by Eng. inventor Frederick Walton from L. linum "flax, linen" + oleum "oil." Originally, a preparation of solidified linseed oil used to coat canvas for making floor coverings; the word was applied to the flooring material itself after 1878. The Linoleum Manufacturing Company was formed 1864.

Linotype --- 1888, Amer.Eng., trademark name, from line o' type, for a composing machine invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-99), popular in newspaper publication early 20c.

linseed --- O.E. linsæd "seed of flax," widely regarded in ancient times as a source of medical treatments, from lin "flax" (see linen) + sæd "seed."

linsey-woolsey --- 1483, originally a cloth woven from linen and wool, the words altered for the sake of a jingling sound. Linsey is attested from 1435, apparently meaning "coarse linen fabric."

lint --- 1375, "flax prepared for spinning," also "refuse of flax used as kindling," somehow from O.E. lin "flax" (see linen), perhaps by infl. of M.Fr. linette "grain of flax," dim. of lin "flax," from L. linum "flax, linen." Later "flax refuse used as tinder or for dressing wounds" (c.1400). Still used for "flax" in Scot. in Burns' time. Applied in Amer.Eng. to stray cotton fluff.

lintel --- 1315, from O.Fr. lintel "threshold," probably from V.L. *limitaris "threshold," from L. limitaris (adj.) "that is on the border," from limes (gen. limitis) "border, boundary" (see limit). Altered by infl. of L. limen "threshold."

Linzertorte --- 1906, from Ger., from Linzer (adj.) "of Linz," city in Austria + torte "tart."

lion --- c.1175, from O.Fr. lion, from L. leonem (nom. leo), from Gk. leon (gen. leontos), from a non-I.E. language, perhaps Semitic (cf. Heb. labi "lion," pl. lebaim; Egyptian labai, lawai "lioness"). A general Gmc. borrowing (cf. Ger. Löwe) found in most European languages, often via Germanic (cf. O.C.S. liva, Pol. lew, Czech lev, O.Ir. leon, Welsh lew). Used figuratively from c.1200 in an approving sense, "one who is fiercely brave," and a disapproving one, "tyrannical leader, greedy devourer." Verb lionize "to treat (someone) as a celebrity" was used by Scott, 1809, and preserves lion in the sense of "person of note who is much sought-after" (1715), originally in ref. to the lions formerly kept in the Tower of London (referred to thus from late 16c.), objects of general curiosity that every visitor in town was taken to see. Lion's share "the greatest portion" is attested from 1790.

Lionel --- masc. proper name, from Fr., lit. "young lion."

lip --- O.E. lippa, from P.Gmc. *lepjon (cf. O.Fris. lippa, M.Du. lippe, Ger. Lefze, Swed. läpp, Dan. læbe), from PIE *leb- (cf. L. labium). Transf. sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1592. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1579) "utter even the slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from 1330. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip-reading is first attested 1874; lipstick is from 1880; lip gloss from 1939. Lip-service in ref. to "something proffered but not performed" first attested 1644.

lipid --- organic substance of the fat group, from Fr. lipide, coined 1923 by G. Bertrand from Gk. lipos "fat, grease" (see leave (v.)) + chemical suffix -ide.

Lipizzan --- 1911, from Lipizza, home of the former Austrian Imperial Stud; term used to designate horses originally bred there. The city is modern-day Lipica near Trieste in Slovenia (Lipizza is the It. form of the name).

liposuction --- 1983, from Gk. lipos "fat" (see leave (v.)) + suction (q.v.).

liquefy --- 1425, from O.Fr. liquefier, from L. liquefacere "make liquid, melt," from liquere "be fluid" + facere "to make" (see factitious).

liqueur --- sweetened, flavored alcoholic liquor, 1729, from Fr., from O.Fr. licour "liquid." See liquor, which is the same word but borrowed earlier.

liquid (adj.) --- 1382, from O.Fr. liquide, from L. liquidus "fluid, liquid, moist," from liquere "be fluid," related to liqui "to melt, flow." Of sounds, from 1637. Financial sense of "capable of being converted to cash" is first recorded 1818. The noun is 1709, from the adj.

liquidate --- c.1575, "to reduce to order, to set out clearly" (of accounts), from L.L. liquidatus, pp. of liquidare "to melt, make liquid or clear, clarify," from L. liquidus (see liquid). Sense of "clear away" (a debt) first recorded 1755. The meaning "wipe out, kill" is from 1924, possibly from Rus. likvidirovat.

liquor --- 1225, likur "any matter in a liquid state," from O.Fr. licour, from L. liquorem (nom. liquor) "liquid, liquidity," from liquere "be fluid." Sense of "fermented or distilled drink" (especially wine) first recorded c.1300. To liquor up "get drunk" is from 1845.

lira --- It. monetary unit, 1617, from It. lira, lit. "pound," from L. libra (see Libra).

lisp (v.) --- late O.E. awlyspian, from wlisp (adj.) "lisping," probably of imitative origin (cf. M.Du., O.H.G. lispen, Dan. læspe, Swed. läspa). The noun is first attested 1625.

lissome --- c.1800, variant of lithesome (1768, see lithe).

list (n.) --- catalogue consisting of names in a row or series, 1602, from M.E. liste "border, edging, stripe" (c.1280), from O.Fr. liste "border, band, row, group," also "strip of paper," or from O.It. lista "border, strip of paper, list," both from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. lista "strip, border, list," O.N. lista "border, selvage," O.E. liste "border"), from P.Gmc. *liston, from PIE *leizd- "border, band." The sense of "enumeration" is from strips of paper used as a sort of catalogue. The O.E. word survives in archaic lists "place of combat," at the boundary of fields.

list (v.1) --- tilt, lean, especially of a ship, 1880, earlier (1626) lust, of unknown origin, perhaps an unexplained spelling variant of M.E. lysten "to please, desire, wish, like" (see listless) with a sense development on the notion of "leaning" toward what one desires (cf. incline).

list (v.2) --- hear, hearken, now poetic or obsolete, from O.E. hlystan "hear, hearken," from hlyst "hearing," from P.Gmc. *khlustiz, from PIE *kleu- "to hear" (see listen).

listen --- O.E. hlysnan "to listen," from P.Gmc. *khlusinon (cf. O.H.G. hlosen "to listen," Ger. lauschen "to listen"), from PIE base *kleu- "hearing, to hear" (cf. Skt. srnoti "hears," srosati "hears, obeys;" Avestan sraothra "ear;" M.Pers. srod "hearing, sound;" Lith. klausau "to hear," slove "splendor, honor;" O.C.S. slusati "to hear," slava "fame, glory," slovo "word;" Gk. klyo "hear, be called," kleos "report, rumor, fame glory," kleio "make famous;" L. cluere "to hear oneself called, be spoken of;" O.Ir. ro-clui-nethar "hears," clunim "I hear," clu "fame, glory," cluada "ears;" Welsh clywaf "I hear;" O.E. hlud "loud," hleoðor "tone, tune;" O.H.G. hlut "sound;" Goth. hiluþ "listening, attention"). The -t- probably is by influence of O.E. hlystan (see list (v.2)). For vowel evolution, see bury.

Listerine --- 1879, Amer.Eng., formulated by Dr. Joseph Lawrence and Jordan Wheat Lambert as a multi-purpose disinfectant and anti-septic for surgery. In 1895, after it was discovered to kill germs commonly found in the mouth, the Lambert Company started marketing it as an oral antiseptic. Named for Joseph Lord Lister (1827-1912), F.R.S., O.M., English surgeon, who revolutionized modern surgery by applying Pasteur's discoveries and performing the first ever antiseptic surgery in 1865. Lister objected in vain to the use of his name on the product. Lister (attested from 1286, an Anglian surname) is from M.E. lit(t)e "to dye" + fem. suffix -ster, hence, "a dyer."

listless --- c.1440, from M.E. liste "pleasure, joy, delight," from O.E. lystan, from P.Gmc. *lustijanan "pleasure" (cf. Du. lusten, Ger. lüsten, O.N. lysta), from the same root as O.E. lust "desire" (see lust).

litany --- 1225, from M.L. letania, from L.L. litania, from Gk. litaneia "litany, an entreating," from lite "prayer, supplication, entreaty," of unknown origin. From notion of monotonous enumeration of petitions came generalized sense of "repeated series," 19c., borrowed from Fr.

-lite --- comb. form meaning "stone," from Fr. -lite, variant of -lithe, from Gk. lithos "stone."