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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

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

Nay, it is only the very oldest American families that can disclaim all complicity in having, as Lord Auchinleck put it, "garred kings ken that they had a lith in their necks."

From America To-day, Observations and Reflections by Archer, William

According to a northern version of the ballad, he makes a plectrum from 'a lith of her finger bane.'

From The Balladists Famous Scots Series by Geddie, John

O nith saw she þer-inne a lith, 1252 A swiþe fayr, a swiþe bryth, Al so brith, al so shir, So it were a blase of fir.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown

Qu. cut in pieces, from the same root as to lith, divide the joints.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown