Part 796

3. In a low or mean condition; humbly; meanly.

4. In time approaching our own.

In that part of the world which was first inhabited, even as low down as Abraham's time, they wandered with their flocks and herds.

Locke.

5. With a low voice or sound; not loudly; gently; as, to speak low. Addison.

The . . . odorous wind Breathes low between the sunset and the moon.

Tennyson.

6. With a low musical pitch or tone.

Can sing both high and low.

Shak.

7. In subjection, poverty, or disgrace; as, to be brought low by oppression, by want, or by vice. Spenser.

8. (Astron.) In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; -- said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution; as, the moon runs low, that is, is comparatively near the horizon when on or near the meridian.

Low (?), v. t. To depress; to lower. [Obs.] Swift.

Low"bell` (?), n. [Low a flame + bell.] 1. A bell used in fowling at night, to frighten birds, and, with a sudden light, to make them fly into a net.

The fowler's lowbell robs the lark of sleep.

King.

2. A bell to be hung on the neck of a sheep.

A lowbell hung about a sheep's . . . neck.

Howell.

Low"bell`, v. t. To frighten, as with a lowbell.

Low"born` (?), a. Born in a low condition or rank; -- opposed to highborn.

Low"bred` (?), a. Bred, or like one bred, in a low condition of life; characteristic or indicative of such breeding; rude; impolite; vulgar; as, a lowbred fellow; a lowbred remark.

Low"-church` (?), a. Not placing a high estimate on ecclesiastical organizations or forms; -- applied especially to Episcopalians, and opposed to high-church. See High Church, under High.

Low"-church`ism (?), n. The principles of the low-church party.

Low"-church`man (?), n.; pl. -men (&?;). One who holds low-church principles.

Low"-church`man*ship, n. The state of being a low-churchman.

Low"er (?), a. Compar. of Low, a.

Low"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lowered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lowering.] [From Low, a.] 1. To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down; as, to lower a bucket into a well; to lower a sail or a boat; sometimes, to pull down; as, to lower a flag.