L, the twelfth letter of the English alphabet, is usually denominated a semi-vowel, or a liquid. It represents an imperfect articulation, formed by placing the tip of the tongue against the gum that incloses the roots of the upper teeth; but the sides of the tongue not being in close contact with the roof of the mouth, the breath of course not being entirely intercepted, this articulation is attended with an imperfect sound. The shape of the letter is evidently borrowed from that of the oriental lamed, or lomad, nearly coinciding with the Samaritan 2.

THE twelfth letter of the English Alphabet, is usually denominated a semi-vowel, or a liquid. It represents an imperfect articulation, formed by placing the tip of the tongue against the gum that incloses the roots of the upper teeth; but the sides of the tongue not being in close contact with the roof of the mouth, the breath of course not being entirely intercepted, this articulation is attended with an imperfect sound. The shape of the letter is evidently borrowed from that of the Oriental lamed, or lomad, nearly coinciding with the Samaritan ל. L has only one sound in English, as in like, canal. At the end of monosyllables, it is often doubled, as in fall, full, tell, bell; but not after diphthongs and digraphs; foul, fool, prowl, growl, foal, &c. being written with a single l. With some nations, l and r are commutable; as in Greek λιριον, L. lilium; It. scorta, an escort, Sp. and Port. escolta. Indeed l and r are letters of the same organ. By some nations of Celtic origin, l at the beginning of words is aspirated and doubled in writing, as in the W. lled, L. latus; llan, a lawn; llawr, a floor; Sp. llamar, L. clamo. In some words l is mute, as in half, calf, walk, talk, chalk. In our mother tongue, the Anglo-Saxon, l is sometimes preceded by h, and aspirated, as in hlaf, loaf; hladan, to lade or load; hlot, lot; hlinian, hleonian, to lean, Gr. κλινω, L. clino. In the latter word the Saxon h represents the Greek x and Latin c, as it does in many other words. In English words, the terminating syllable le is unaccented, the e is silent, and l has a feeble sound; as in able, eagle, pronounced abl, eagl. As a numeral, L. denotes 50, and with a dash, {L with super-macron}, 50,000. As an abbreviation, in Latin, it stands for Lucius; and L. L. S. for a sesterce, or two libræ and a half. – Encyc.

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 "b'l, ***emacr]"g'l. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 241.

2. 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.]
3. Having the general shape of the (capital) letter L; as, an L beam, or L-beam.
4. 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).

5. A short right-angled pipe fitting, used in connecting two pipes at right angles.
   
   
   [Written also ell.]
6. Elevated; -- a symbol for el. as an abbreviation of elevated in elevated road or railroad.
   
   
   -- n.