The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: L (60)

Each of these 13 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.

Lyautey

LOUIS HUBERT GON- French soldier; born at ZALVE, a Nancy, French Lorraine, in 1854. Member of the French Academy. After a military training he engaged in French colonial service. A pupil of Galleni, Lyautey at Madagascar and Tonking accomplished important work in strengthening the French position in the colonies and pacifying the natives. In 1912 he was appointed Resident-General at Fez, Morocco, at a time when lawlessness reigned unchecked and the Germans were active in fomenting trouble among the Berbers and Arabs. General Lyautey set up advance posts among the malcontents which were influential in civilizing the people. He built up the country by establishing important public works. He trained the Moors to be effective soldiers, sending two army corps to the western front in the European War, where the Moroccans proved their valor. General Lyautey was appointed Minister of War in 1916, but resigned in 1917.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Lycaonia

in ancient geography, a country in Asia Minor, bounded on the E. by Cappadocia, on the N. by Galatia, on the W. by Pisidia, and on the S. by Isauria and Cilicia; its capital was Iconium.

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Lycia

in ancient geography, a country on the S. coast of Asia Minor, extending toward Mount Taurus, and bounded on the W. by Caria, on the N. by Phrygia and Pisidia, and on the E. by Pamphylia. The most ancient inhabitants are said to have been two Semitic races called the Solymi and Termilæ, the former of whom were driven from the coast to the mountains in the N. by adventurers from Crete, under the command of Sarpedon, a brother of Minos, who first gave the country the name of Lycia. Lycia became subject to the Persian and Syrian monarchies, and then to Rome. During the time of its independence it consisted of 23 confederate cities. Many monuments and ruined buildings, exquisite sculptures, coins, and other antiquities, testify to the attainments of the Lycians in civilization and the arts.

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Lycidas

lis'i-das, an elegiac poem by John Milton, published in 1638. The poem was written in memory of Edward King, a friend of Milton's who was drowned in crossing from England to Ireland in 1637. This friend was the most promising of Milton's college acquaintances. His death was mourned by many. His university friends proposed to publish a little volume of verses as a memorial and asked Milton to contribute. Lycidas was the result. Milton undertook the writing with reluctance, but produced a poem which is regarded by many critics as reaching the highest perfection of which English verse is capable. Lycidas is pastoral. There is a prologue and an epilogue. The main body of the poem represents a shepherd mourning for his friend. There are irregularities of meter, which seem to harmonize with the strong feeling displayed. The word, "Lycidas," is a name for a shepherd, and is used often by Theocritus and Virgil.

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Lyck

Germany, a town in East Prussia, 100 miles S. E. of Königsberg. It is an industrial center of considerable importance, machinery, cement goods, and furniture being manufactured chiefly. It was the scene of much fighting during the war, the Russians capturing it in 1914 and holding it for some weeks. Pop. about 15,000.

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Lycomedes

King of the Dolopians, in the island of Scyros, to whose court Achilles was sent, disguised as a maiden, by his mother, Thetis , who was anxious to prevent his going to the Trojan war.

Only in 1000 Classical Characters

Lycopodium

. See Ground Pine

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Lyddite

an explosive, which derives its name from the town of Lydd, Kent, England, where it is manufactured. It consists of fused picric acid (C6H2 (NO2)3 OH). For use in warfare, it is melted at a carefully regulated temperature of 130- 140° C., and poured directly into shells, a space being left in the center for the detonator. Lyddite possesses high chemical and physical stability, is insensitive to percussion, and under proper conditions is safe to manufacture and handle; yet, when detonated, it is very powerful in its bursting effects. Its acidic char acter, however, causes it to react readily with metals, forming picrates of an unstable character. This objectionable characteristic has led to serious accidental explosions and for this reason Lyddite has been to a large extent replaced by Trinitrotoluene (TNT). The products of decomposition when explosion takes place are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocyanic acid, nitric oxide, nitrogen, water, and residual carbon.

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Lydgate

JOHN, an English poet; born in Lydgate, near Newmarket, England, in 1370. He was a monk of Bury St. Edmunds. He translated Benoit de St. Maure's "History of Troy" at the command of Henry V.; wrote a poem on the "Battle of Agincourt," and one on the coronation of Henry VI.; his "Story of Thebes" is written as though it were one of the "Canterbury Tales" of Chaucer. He wrote also ballads that became popular. He died about 1451.

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Lydgate, John

John (1370-1451), an English poet. He studied in both Oxford and Cambridge. He produced many poems, one of which, Troy Book, contains a panegyric on Chaucer. The Story of Thebes and The Dance of Death are other titles. Lydgate was fond of calling himself a disciple of Chaucer.

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Lydia

in ancient geography, a country of Asia Minor, bounded on the W. by Ionia, on the S. by Caria, on the E. by Phrygia, and on the N. by Mysia. . It was celebrated for its fruitful soil and for its mineral wealth, particularly for the gold of the river Pactolus and of the neighboring mines, but was infamous for the corruption of morals which prevailed among its inhabitants, and especially in Sardis, its capital. Lydia attained its highest prosperity under the dynasty of the Mermnade (about 700- 546 b. c.). The first of this dynasty was the half mythical Gyges; the last was the famous Cresus, celebrated for his prodigious wealth.

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Lye

a solution of an alkali; water impregnated with alkaline salt imbibed from the ashes of wood. Used in soapmaking, in neutralizing an acid, in remov. ing grease from objects, such as thin iron plates in the operation of tinning, etc.

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Lyell

SIR CHARLES, a British geologist; born in Kinnordy, Forfarshire, Scotland, Nov. 14, 1797. He was educated at Oxford, began to study law, but afterward resolved to devote his time and fortune to geological research. For this purpose he visited the continent of Europe and the United States. He became professor in King's College, London, in 1831; president of the Geological Society in 1835, 1836, 1836, 1849, and 1850; of the British Association in 1864. He distinguished himself as an opponent of the old catastrophism in geology. His first important work was the "Principles of Geology" (1830-1833). Another important work was the "Antiquity of Man" (1863). Lyell was knighted in 1848, and made a baronet in 1864. His "Life and Letters" were published in 1881. He died in London, England, Feb. 22, 1875.

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