Lecanoric
(Lec`a*no"ric) a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid which is obtained
from several varieties of lichen (Lecanora, Roccella, etc.), as a white, crystalline substance, and is called
also orsellic, or diorsellinic acid, lecanorin, etc.
Lecanorin
(Lec`a*no"rin) n. (Chem.) See Lecanoric.
Lech
(Lech) v. t. [F. lécher. See Lick.] To lick. [Obs.]
Leche
(Le*che") n. See water buck, under 3d Buck.
Lecher
(Lech"er) n. [OE. lechur, lechour, OF. lecheor, lecheur, gormand, glutton, libertine, parasite,
fr. lechier to lick, F. lécher; of Teutonic origin. See Lick.] A man given to lewdness; one addicted, in an
excessive degree, to the indulgence of sexual desire, or to illicit commerce with women.
Lecher
(Lech"er), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lechered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lechering.] To practice lewdness.
Lecherer
(Lech"er*er) n. See Lecher, n. Marston.
Lecherous
(Lech"er*ous) a. Like a lecher; addicted to lewdness; lustful; also, lust-provoking. "A lecherous
thing is wine." Chaucer. — Lech"er*ous*ly, adv. — Lech"er*ous*ness, n.
Lechery
(Lech"er*y) n. [OE. lecherie, OF. lecherie. See Lecher.]
1. Free indulgence of lust; lewdness.
2. Selfish pleasure; delight. [Obs.] Massinger.
Lecithin
(Lec"i*thin) n. [Gr. le`kiqos the yolk of an egg.] (Physiol. Chem.) A complex, nitrogenous
phosphorized substance widely distributed through the animal body, and especially conspicuous in the
brain and nerve tissue, in yolk of eggs, and in the white blood corpuscles.
Lectern
(Lec"tern) n. See Lecturn.
Lectica
(||Lec*ti"ca) n.; pl. Lecticæ [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) A kind of litter or portable couch.
Lection
(Lec"tion) n. [L. lectio, fr. legere, lectum, to read. See lesson, Legend.]
1. (Eccl.) A lesson or selection, esp. of Scripture, read in divine service.
2. A reading; a variation in the text.
We ourselves are offended by the obtrusion of the new lections into the text.
De Quincey. Lectionary
(Lec"tion*a*ry) n.; pl. -ries [LL. lectionarium, lectionarius : cf. F. lectionnaire.] (Eccl.) A
book, or a list, of lections, for reading in divine service.
Lector
(Lec"tor) n. [L. See Lection.] (Eccl.) A reader of lections; formerly, a person designated to read
lessons to the illiterate.
Lectual
(Lec"tu*al) a. [LL. lectualis, fr. L. lectus bed.] (Med.) Confining to the bed; as, a lectual disease.
Lecture
(Lec"ture) n. [F. lecture, LL. lectura, fr. L. legere, lectum, to read. See Legend.]
1. The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture. [Obs.]
2. A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes,
a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.
