Part 6416

<h1>Laxation</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax*a"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>laxatio</ets>, fr. <ets>laxare</ets> to loosen, fr. <ets>laxus</ets> loose, slack.]</ety> <def>The act of loosening or slackening, or the state of being loosened or slackened.</def>

<h1>Laxative</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax"a*tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>laxativus</ets> mitigating, assuaging: cf. F. <ets>laxatif</ets>. See <er>Lax</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Having a tendency to loosen or relax.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Med.)</fld> <def>Having the effect of loosening or opening the intestines, and relieving from constipation; -- opposed to <i>astringent</i>.</def> -- <def2><tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Med.)</fld> <def>A laxative medicine. See the Note under <er>Cathartic</er>.</def></def2>

<h1>Laxativeness</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax"a*tive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being laxative.</def>

<h1>Laxator</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax*a"tor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[NL., fr. L. <ets>laxare</ets>, <ets>laxatum</ets>, to loosen.]</ety> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>That which loosens; -- esp., a muscle which by its contraction loosens some part.</def>

<h1>Laxi-ty</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax"i-ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>laxitas</ets>, fr. <ets>laxus</ets> loose, slack: cf. F. <ets>laxit\'82</ets>, See <er>Lax</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <def>The state or quality of being lax; want of tenseness, strictness, or exactness.</def>

<h1>Laxly</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax"ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a lax manner.</def>

<h1>Laxness</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lax"ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being lax; laxity.</def>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>imp.</tt> <def>of <er>Lie</er>, to recline.</def>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>lai</ets>, L. <ets>laicus</ets>, Gr. <?/ of or from the people, lay, from <?/, <?/, people. Cf. <er>Laic</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; <as>as, a <ex>lay</ex> person; a <ex>lay</ex> preacher; a <ex>lay</ex> brother.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.</def><mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession; unprofessional; <as>as, a <ex>lay</ex> opinion regarding the nature of a disease</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Lay baptism</col> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld>, <cd>baptism administered by a lay person. <i>F. G. Lee</i>.</cd> -- <col>Lay brother</col> <fld>(R. C. Ch.)</fld>, <cd>one received into a convent of monks under the three vows, but not in holy orders.</cd> -- <col>Lay clerk</col> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld>, <cd>a layman who leads the responses of the congregation, etc., in the church service. <i>Hook</i>.</cd> -- <col>Lay days</col> <fld>(Com.)</fld>, <cd>time allowed in a charter party for taking in and discharging cargo. <i>McElrath</i>.</cd> -- <col>Lay elder</col>. <cd>See 2d <er>Elder</er>, 3, note.</cd></cs>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The laity; the common people.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The learned have no more privilege than the <b>lay</b>. <i>B. Jonson.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Lay</h1> <Xpage=836>

<hw>Lay</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A meadow. See <er>Lea</er>.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>