L, l, indecl. n. or (on account of littera) f., the eleventh letter of the Latin alphabet (I and J being counted as one), in form modified from a Λ, like the Greek, but with the angle downward. In sound it was identical with Gr. lambda, Engl.
I l. L has, according to Pliny, a threefold power: the slight sound of the second l , when doubled, as in ille, Metellus; a full sound, when it ends words or syllables, or follows a consonant in the same syllable, as in sol, silva, flavus, clarus; and a middle sound in other cases, as in lectus , Prisc. 1, 7, 38 (p. 555 P.). In transcriptions of Greek words in Latin and of Latin words in Greek letters, it always corresponds to Λ.
II In etymology it represents,
1 Usually an original l; cf. alius, ἄλλος; lego, λέγω; leo, λέων; lavo, λούω, etc.—
2 Sometimes an r , as in lilium, λείριον; balbus, βάρβαρος; latrare, Sanscr. ra-, to bark; lateo, Sanscr. rah-, to abandon; luceo, Sanscr. ruc-, etc.; cf. also the endings in australis, corporalis, liberalis, and in stellaris, capillaris, maxillaris.—
3 Sometimes a d; cf. lacrima, δάκρυον; levir, Sanscr. dēvar, Gr. δαήρ; oleo, odor, Gr. ὄζω, ὄδωδα; uligo, udus; adeps, Sanscr lip-, to smear, Gr. ἄλειφαρ.
III Before l an initial guttural or t is often dropped, as latus for tlatus, lis for stlis, lamentum from clamo; lac, cf. Gr. γαλακτ-; and a preceding c, d, n, r, s , or x is omitted or assimilated, as sella for sedula (sed-la), corolla for coronula (coronla), prelum for prem-lum (from premo), āla = ax-la (axilla); so, libellus for liberulus (liber), alligo for ad-ligo, ullus for unulus. In the nominative of nouns the ending s is not added after l , as in consul, vigil; and l final occurs in Latin only in such words.
IV L stands alone,
A As a numeral for 50.—
B As an abbreviation, usually for Lucius; rarely for libens, locus, or libertus.