Kyd
THOMAS, an English dramatist; flourished in the 16th century. He was one of the most popular English writers of tragedies before Shakespeare, and helped prepare the way for him.
His two most successful plays were "The Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo," and "Oratio." The were very popular and were frequently acted, not only in England, but in Germany and in Holland; but the former was much ridiculed by Shakespeare and his contemporaries for its bombastic rant.
KYOTO. See KIOTo.
On coul L, 1, the 12th letter in the English alphabet, generally regarded as a semivowel or a liquid. In shape it has been derived from that of the Oriental lamed.
L. has only one sound in English, as in love, long, like, etc. Lis frequently interchanged with r, of which it is considered to be a later modification: thus the Latin lavendula has become in English lavender; the Latin peregrinus (French pelerin) has become the English pilgrim; the Latin sinoplum, English sinoper. L has become an n, as in postern, Latin posterula (Old French posterle, posterne). In some Romance words it has been weakened to u, as in hauberk =Old French halberc, halbert; auburn = Latin alburnum. From several words it has disappeared, as from each Anglo-Saxon ælc; which = Anglo-Saxon hwylc; such = Anglo-Saxon iwylc; as Anglo-Saxon ealswa (also). On the other hand it has intruded into could = Anglo-Saxon cuthe, coude; myrtle = Latin myrtus; manciple = Old French mancipe; Latin mancipium; participle = Old French participe; Latin participium; syllable Latin syllaba. In Anglo- Saxon 1, like r, was frequently preceded by h, which has since been dropped, as in loaf Anglo-Saxon hláf; lot hlot, = etc.
As an initial Lis used: For book (Latin liber), for law or laws, in D. C.
L. Doctor of Civil Law, LL. D. Legum Doctor; in mathematics for logarithm; in music for left: as L. H. left hand, and in stage directions for left, or prompt side.
As a symbol L is used: 1. In numeration: For 50; with a line drawn above it 50,000. 2. In chemistry: For LITHIUM (q. v.). 3. In English commercial transactions: For a pound or pounds; as L (usually written £) s. d.-pounds, shillings, and pence. L railroads, the name given in American cities to the lines of intramural transportation which are elevated above the surface of the earth. The Lis a symbolic representation of the first syllable in the word elevated. LA (lä), in music the 6th of the seven syllables-ut, or, do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, sirepresenting the seven sounds in the diatonic scale.