Part 811

Lu"nar (l"nr), a. [L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See Luna, and cf. Lunary.] 1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as, lunar observations.

2. Resembling the moon; orbed. Dryden.

3. Measured by the revolutions of the moon; as, a lunar month.

4. Influenced by the moon, as in growth, character, or properties; as, lunar herbs. Bacon.

Lunar caustic (Med. Chem.), silver nitrate prepared to be used as a cautery; -- so named because silver was called luna by the ancient alchemists. -- Lunar cycle. Same as Metonic cycle. See under Cycle. -- Lunar distance, the angular distance of the moon from the sun, a star, or a planet, employed for determining longitude by the lunar method. - - Lunar method, the method of finding a ship's longitude by comparing the local time of taking (by means of a sextant or circle) a given lunar distance, with the Greenwich time corresponding to the same distance as ascertained from a nautical almanac, the difference of these times being the longitude. -- Lunar month. See Month. -- Lunar observation, an observation of a lunar distance by means of a sextant or circle, with the altitudes of the bodies, and the time, for the purpose of computing the longitude. -- Lunar tables. (a) (Astron.) Tables of the moon's motions, arranged for computing the moon's true place at any time past or future. (b) (Navigation) Tables for correcting an observed lunar distance on account of refraction and parallax. -- Lunar year, the period of twelve lunar months, or 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34.38 seconds.

Lu"nar, n. 1. (Astron.) A lunar distance.

2. (Anat.) The middle bone of the proximal series of the carpus; -- called also semilunar, and intermedium.

Lu*na"ri*an (?), n. [See Lunar, Luna.] An inhabitant of the moon.

Lu"na*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. lunaire. See Lunar.] Lunar. [Obs.] Fuller.

Lu"na*ry, n. [Cf. F. lunaire.] (Bot.) (a) The herb moonwort or "honesty". (b) A low fleshy fern (Botrychium Lunaria) with lunate segments of the leaf or frond.

{ Lu"nate (?), Lu"na*ted (?), } a. [L. lunatus crescent-shaped, p. p. of lunare to bend like a crescent, fr. luna the moon.] Crescent-shaped; as, a lunate leaf; a lunate beak; a lunated cross. Gray.

Lu"na*tic (?), a. [F. lunatique, L. lunaticus, fr. luna the moon. See Lunar.] 1. Affected by lunacy; insane; mad.

Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic.

Wyclif (Matt. xvii. 15).

2. Of or pertaining to, or suitable for, an insane person; evincing lunacy; as, lunatic gibberish; a lunatic asylum.

Lu"na*tic, n. A person affected by lunacy; an insane person, esp. one who has lucid intervals; a madman; a person of unsound mind.

The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, Are of imagination all compact.

Shak.

Lu*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. Lunated.] The period of a synodic revolution of the moon, or the time from one new moon to the next; varying in length, at different times, from about 29¼ to 29 days, the average length being 29 d., 12h., 44m., 2.9s.

Lunch (?), n. [Of uncertain etymol. Cf. Prov. Eng. nunc a lump.] A luncheon; specifically, a light repast between breakfast and dinner.

Lunch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lunched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lunching.] To take luncheon. Smart.

Lunch"eon (?), n. [Prov. E. luncheon, lunchion, lunshin, a large lump of food, fr. lunch. See Lunch.]

1. A lump of food. [Prov. Eng.]

2. A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast, as between breakfast and dinner.

Lunch"eon, v. i. To take luncheon. Beaconsfield.

Lune (?), n. [L. luna moon: cf. F. lune. See Luna.] 1. Anything in the shape of a half moon. [R.]

2. (Geom.) A figure in the form of a crescent, bounded by two intersecting arcs of circles.

3. A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak. [Obs.]