Webster Essential Vocabulary

J – L

jamb(JAM) n. 1. a side post or any part of a frame for a window or door;

2. a pillar of ore
   
   
   • When a door is closed, its front and rear edges are in contact with the
     jambs.
   
   
   • Some metallic ores are found in jambs.
     jocular(JAHK yoo loer) adj. 1. joking; humorous; 2. said as a joke
   
   
   
   

• It is good to go through life with a jocularoutlook on things.


• When Jill said you look like a million, she was being jocular.
  [-ly adv.] [Syn. witty]
  laconic(luh KAH nik) adj. using few words; brief; to the point


• Calvin Coolidge was a very laconicpresident, rarely wasting words.


• Most people prefer not to be laconicfor fear of hurting others’ feelings.
  [-ally adv.] [Syn. concise]
  lambaste(lam BAYST) vt. 1. to beat soundly; thrash; 2. to scold or denounce


• Killer Kowalski lambastedmost of his ring opponents.


• Ashley’s mother lambastedher verbally for getting home after curfew.
  [-d, lambasting] [Syn. thrash]
  laudable(LAW duh bl) adj. worthy of praise


• Mother Teresa’s work with the poor was very laudable.


• The rescue workers did a laudablejob saving the miners after the shaft
  collapsed.
  [laudably adv.] [praiseworthy]
  laudatory(LAW duh TAW ree) adj. expressing praise or commendation;
  eulogistic
  
  
  • The mayor was laudatoryin his evaluation of the fire department’s work.
  
  
  • The president had nothing but laudatorywords for the work of the armed
    forces.
    [lauditorily adv.]
    ledger(LED joer) n. 1. the book for final entry of credits and debits; 2. a long
    horizontal board that helps support ceiling or floor joists
  
  
  
  

•A ledgeris a bookeeper’s best friend, if kept properly.

• All expenses of a business as well as all money taken in must be entered in
  a ledger.


• Every front porch’s sides and front are supported by ledgerboards.
  lethargy(LETH er jee) n. 1. sleepiness or drowsiness; 2. lack of energy to an
  abnormal degree


• A feeling of lethargyovertook Antoine as he neared the end of the long
  drive.


• Often, lethargyis a sign of the onset of an illness.
  [lethargic adj., lethargically adv.]

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