leth

n. [ Lauric + ether + alcohol. ] (Chem.) One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. léthalité. ] The quality of being lethal; mortality. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. lethargicus, Gr. lhqargiko`s: cf. F. léthargique. See Lethargy. ] Pertaining to, affected with, or resembling, lethargy; morbidly drowsy; dull; heavy. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ly, adv. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ness, n. -- Le*thar"gic*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lethargized p. pr. & vb. n. Lethargizing ] To make lethargic. [ 1913 Webster ]

All bitters are poison, and act by stilling, and depressing, and lethargizing the irritability. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To lethargize. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -gies [ F. léthargie, L. lethargia, Gr. lhqargi`a, fr. lh`qargos forgetful, fr. lh`qh forgetfulness. See Lethe. ] 1. Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state of inaction or indifference. [ 1913 Webster ]

Europe lay then under a deep lethargy. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. lh`qh, prop., forgetfulness; akin to lanqa`nesqai to forget, lanqa`nein to escape notice. ] 1. (Class. Myth.) A river of Hades whose waters when drunk caused forgetfulness of the past. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Oblivion; a draught of oblivion; forgetfulness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Lethal. ] Death. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]