lith

¹ American  

[lith] / lɪθ /

noun

British Dialect.

1. an arm or leg; limb.

2. a joint, as of the finger.

3. a segment, as of an orange.

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lith- ² American  

1. variant of litho- before a vowel.

   lithic.

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-lith ³ American  

1. a combining form meaning “stone” (acrolith; megalith; paleolith ); sometimes occurring in words as a variant form of -lite (batholith; laccolith ).

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lith. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. lithograph.

2. lithographic.

3. lithography.

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Lith. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Lithuania.

2. Lithuanian. Also Lith

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-lith ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating stone or rock Compare -lite

   megalith

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Lith. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Lithuania(n)

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Usage

Basic definitions of lith- and -lith Lith- and -lith are combining forms meaning “stone.” They come from the Greek líthos, meaning “stone.”What does lith- mean?Lith- is a combining form used like a prefix. It is used in medicine, especially in pathology, and in science, especially in geology.In pathology terms, lith- specifically refers to a calculus, "a stone, or concretion, formed in the gallbladder, kidneys, or other parts of the body." The word calculus itself literally means “little stone” in calculus.Lith- is a variant of litho-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use litho- article.What does -lith mean?The combining form -lith is used like a suffix meaning “stone.” It is used in scientific and medical terms, especially in geology and pathology.In pathology, it specifically refers to a calculus, "a stone, or concretion, formed in the gallbladder, kidneys, or other parts of the body." The word calculus itself literally means “little stone” in calculus.In geology, -lith is occasionally used as a variant of -lite and its variant -lyte, combining forms used to name minerals or fossils.The corresponding form of -lith combined to the beginning of words is litho- and lith-. Learn more about their specific applications in our Words That Use articles for the terms.Closely related to -lith is -lithic, as in Paleolithic.

Etymology

Origin of lith¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, Old High German lid, Old Norse lithr, Gothic lithus limb, member; akin to German Glied

Origin of -lith³

litho-

Example Sentences

Ageyn þe lith, 2141, opposed to the light, on which the light shines.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown

More remotely with the Sansc. lî, liquere, and directly with Welsh lleithio, to moisten, llyddo, to pour, Gael. lith, a pool, smooth water, Goth. leithus, Ang.-Sax. lidh, liquor, poculum, potus, I connect the following.

From The River-Names of Europe by Ferguson, Robert

Ther wille not be went, ne lete ther lond ne lith.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown

And the young bull in the field, with his wrinkled, sad face, you are afraid if he rises to his feet, though he is all wistful and pathetic, like a mono- lith, arrested, static.

From Look! We Have Come Through! by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)

Robert comes to the rescue, 1888 “Ya! leue, ya!” quod roberd sone, “We hauen ful god lith of þe mone.”

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown