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• lith
  lith

  noun

  an arm or leg; limb.
• lith-
  lith-

  variant of litho- before a vowel.
• -lith
  -lith

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

  abbreviation

  lithograph.
• Lith.
  Lith.

  abbreviation

  Lithuania.

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

see origin at litho-

Example Sentences

Obiit Joh’es duk Lancastr’.Ferthermore in this yere84 deyde the duke of Lancastre, and lith entered at seynt Poules at London.

From A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483 Written in the Fifteenth Century, and for the First Time Printed from MSS. in the British Museum by Nicolas, Nicholas Harris, Sir

A Caitif that lith hiere: What wolde ye, my Ladi diere?

From Confessio Amantis, or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins by Macaulay, G. C. (George Campbell)

Now lith and lysten, gentylmen, And that of myrthes loveth to here; Two of them were single men, The third had a wedded fere.

From Ballads of Robin Hood and other Outlaws Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Fourth Series by Sidgwick, Frank

Her form was lith as the willow, her eyes sparkled like the morning star, her step was that of a bounding fawn, and her fingers were skilful in weaving the quills of the porcupine.

From The Lost Hunter A Tale of Early Times by Adams, John Turvill

Lond and lede, or ledes, or lith, frequently occur unequivocally in this latter sense, thus:— "He was the first of Inglond that gaf God his tithe Of isshue of bestes, of londes, or of lithe."

From Notes and Queries, Number 27, May 4, 1850 by Various