More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Lithium
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a metal discovered in 1817. It exists in tourmaline, meteoric stones , mineral waters, coffee, tea, milk, and blood. It is the lightest known solid, being little more than half as heavy as water. It has a bright, silvery, metallic lustre, and melts at 356 deg.F. It resembles potassium in many respects. It can be drawn into a wire and may be welded without heat. Like lead, it may be cut readily with a knife. When burned in oxygen it emits a brilliant red color. Compounds of lithium are used in fireworks on account of the brilliancy they impart to the flame. Its compound with oxygen is called lithia. The latter is a well known ingredient in many mineral waters. The compound known as lithia was discovered in 1817, but the metal was not separated until Bunsen studied its properties in 1855.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: (symbol Li; at. wt.=7), a monatomic element of the alkali group of metals. It is very widely distributed through the mineral kingdom. It can be obtained by reduction of its fused chloride by means of the electric current. The metal has a white color, and fuses idea. The invention of printing natur- at 180°. Lithium appears to be the lightest solid body known, having a density of only 0.5936. Like potassium and sodium, lithium dissolves in anhydrous ammonia, and on evaporating the liquid, it is left behind, with its original appearance and color.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Lode
The Encyclopedia of Founding: The term used for an ore-producing vein. Ore occurs in either beds or mineral veins; in the latter the veins are invariably found to have one of two or three principal directions, being either nearly parallel to the axis of elevation of the district, at right angles to that direction, or at an angle of 45 deg. with it. The first are right-running lodes; the second, cross-courses; and the third, contra-lodes, or counters. See ORE; VEINS.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the technical name for a metalliferous or ore-producing vein. These differ in their length, width and depth, and also in the richness of mineral they contain.
Covered by The Encyclopedia of Founding and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Loki
Aiton's Encyclopedia: or Loke, lo'ke, in Scandinavian mythology, the god of strife and destruction. He was the personification of fire and was thus of a twofold nature, performing now good, now evil deeds. He was a handsome fellow, but his disposition was evil. While he was a companion of the gods and sometimes friendly, he was at heart their enemy. He was the son of Farbauti, whose duty it was to ferry souls across the rivers in the land of the dead. Loki had three children, the Midgard-serpent, the Fenris-wolf, and Hela. At the creation, Loki's part was to give blood to man. Loki caused the death of Baldur, the Good. At last the gods chained Loki and set a serpent to guard him. The serpent would have let fall drops of poison upon his face had not his wife held a bowl to catch the poison. At Ragnarok, Loki was freed, but he and Heimdal fought and both were slain. That Loke represents fire in its various forms becomes clearer with every new fact, every new event in his life. . . . That Loke symbolizes fire is also illustrated by the fact that the common people in Norway, when they hear the fire crackling, say that Loke is whipping his children. . When the sun draws water, they say that Loke is drinking water.--Anderson.
An Encyclopaedia of Occultism: (See Devil .)
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Lorelei
Aiton's Encyclopedia: lo're-li, an imposing cliff, 433 feet high, overhanging the right bank of the Rhine between St. Goar and Oberwessel. It is pierced by a railway tunnel. A footpath--a twenty minute climb--leads to the summit. A fine view of the Rhine may be had. A pool formed by a widening of the river below the rock is famous for salmon. There is a tradition that the Nibelungen treasure lies here. The river at this point flows over a ledge of sunken rock and is broken into dangerous whirlpools and rapids. There is an old legend that a nymph of the Rhine, the Lorelei, had her abode high on the cliff, that when ships were passing she would sit there combing her golden hair and singing a wild strain which so captivated the sailors that they heeded not the danger until they were hurled upon the rocks. As the cliff has always been famous for its echo, it is probable that the story is an idealization of the dangerous rock and its echo. Both poets and painters have made use of the tradition. Heine's poem, The Lorelei, which appeared in 1823, is one of the most popular ballads in the German language. See Rhine ; Heine
Collier's New Encyclopedia: or LURLEI (lōr'), a rock which rises perpendicularly from the Rhine, to the height of 427 feet, near St. Goar. It used to be dangerous to boatmen, and has a celebrated echo. But the name is best known from Heine's song.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Lucania
1000 Classical Characters: See page 161. A district in Lower Italy. Lucanus, M. Annaeus. A native of Corduba in Spain. At an early age he went to Rome, where his rising talents recommended him to the emperor Nero. He unwisely entered into a poetical contest with Nero, in which he obtained an easy victory, which greatly offended the emperor. After this Lucan was exposed to much annoyance from Nero, and was induced to join in a conspiracy against him, on which he was condemned to death, the mode of which he had the liberty of choosing. He decided to have his veins opened in a warm bath, and died quoting some lines from his Pharsalia. Of all his works none but the Pharsalia remains. See page 161. Latona . 2026 Editor's Note: Lucania was a historical region of Southern Italy, named after its native Lucani, an Oscan people. It extended from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto, comprising almost all the modern region of Basilicata and parts of surrounding provinces. (Ed: BR 2026-06-05)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a province of ancient Italy, S. E. of Calabria, and bordering on the Gulf of Tarentum. It was inhabited by an Oscan people, and corresponds nearly to the present province of Potenza and part of Salerno,
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Collier's New Encyclopedia