L , a. 1.
Having the general shape of the (capital) letter
L; as, an L beam, or L-beam.
2. Elevated; -- a symbol for
el. as an abbreviation of elevated in elevated road or railroad. --
n. An elevated road; as, to ride on the L. [Colloq., U. S.]
L (&ebreve;l), n. 1. An
extension at right angles to the length
of a main building, giving to the ground
plan a form
resembling the letter L; sometimes less properly applied to a narrower, or lower, extension in the direction of the length of
the main building; a wing. [Written also ell.]
2. (Mech.) A short right-angled pipe fitting, used in connecting two pipes at right angles. [Written also ell.]
L (&ebreve;l). 1. L is the twelfth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonant. It is usually called a semivowel or liquid. Its form and value are from the Greek, through the Latin, the form of the Greek letter being from the Phœnician, and the ultimate origin prob. Egyptian.
Etymologically, it is most closely related to r and u;
as in pilgrim, peregrine, couch (fr. collocare), aubura (fr. LL. alburnus).
At the end of monosyllables containing a single vowel, it is often
doubled, as in fall, full, bell; but not after digraphs, as in foul, fool, prowl, growl, foal. In English words, the terminating
syllable le is
unaccented, the e is silent, and l is
preceded by a voice glide, as in able, eagle, pronounced ā"b'l, ē"g'l. See Guide to Pronunciation, §
241.
2. As a numeral, L
stands for fifty in the English, as in the Latin
language.
For 50 the Romans used the Chalcidian chi,
&?;, which assumed the less difficult lapidary type, &?;, and was then easily assimilated to L.
I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
Hear it pronounced