15-letter words containing d, i, s, l
- jewish calendar — the lunisolar calendar used by the Jews, in which time is reckoned from 3761 bc: regarded as the year of the Creation. The months, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar, have either 29 or 30 days. Originally a new month was declared when the new moon was sighted in Jerusalem, but when this became impossible, a complex formula was devised to keep Rosh Chodesh near to the new moon. In addition, to keep the harvest festivals in the right seasons, there is a Metonic cycle of 14 years, in five of which an additional month is added after Shevat. The year according to biblical reckoning begins with Nisan, and the civil year begins with Tishri; the years are numbered from Tishri
- joint-household — a type of extended family composed of parents, their children, and the children's spouses and offspring in one household.
- jubilate-sunday — Also called Jubilate Sunday. the third Sunday after Easter: so called from the first word of the 65th Psalm in the Vulgate, which is used as the introit.
- jurisprudential — the science or philosophy of law.
- kailyard school — a school of writers describing homely life in Scotland, with much use of Scottish dialect: in vogue toward the close of the 19th century.
- kaleidoscopical — Alternative form of kaleidoscopic.
- kangaroo island — an island in the Indian Ocean, off South Australia. Area: 4350 sq km (1680 sq miles)
- keeling islands — Cocos Islands
- keyboard skills — ability to input information using a keyboard
- labyrinthodonts — Plural form of labyrinthodont.
- lackadaisically — without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt.
- ladies' gallery — a gallery in the old House of Commons set aside for women spectators
- ladies'-tobacco — pussy-toes.
- ladies'-tresses — any of a genus (Spiranthes) of wild orchids with small, white flowers arranged spirally on spikes
- ladrone islands — a group of 15 small islands in the Pacific, E of the Philippines: divided into Guam, a possession of the U.S., and the North Marianas, formally under U.S. trusteeship. 453 sq. mi. (1127 sq. km).
- lady's-earrings — any of several plants having pendent flowers thought to resemble earrings, as the jewelweed or the fuchsia.
- laminated glass — Laminated glass is safety glass in which a transparent plastic film is placed between plates of glass.
- land of promise — Promised Land.
- laundry service — clothes-washing business
- leading counsel — the more senior of two counsels
- leading strings — strings or straps formerly used to guide and support a young child learning to walk
- learned society — an organization devoted to the scholarly study of a particular field or discipline, as modern languages, psychology, or history.
- least sandpiper — a small, American sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, related to the stints of Europe.
- leeward islands — a group of islands in the Caribbean, in the N Lesser Antilles between Puerto Rico and Martinique
- lesser dionysia — (in ancient Attica) the wine feasts, processions, and dramatic performances composing one of the festivals honoring Dionysus, held in the middle of December.
- leukodystrophic — Of or pertaining to leukodystrophy.
- liberal judaism — Reform Judaism.
- liberal studies — a supplementary arts course for those specializing in scientific, technical, or professional studies
- light and shade — If you say that there is light and shade in something such as a performance, you mean you like it because different parts of it are different in tone or mood.
- lightheadedness — Alternative spelling of light-headedness.
- line of apsides — a line joining the lower and higher apsides, forming the major axis of the orbit
- line of descent — someone's line of descent is all the people they are descended from
- listed building — (in Britain) a building officially recognized as having special historical or architectural interest and therefore protected from demolition or alteration
- listed security — a security that is quoted on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and appears in its Official List of Securities
- living standard — standard of living.
- loaded question — a question containing a hidden trap or implication
- locomotive shed — a shed in which locomotives are kept
- lofoten islands — group of Norwegian islands within the Arctic Circle, off the NW coast of Norway: c. 550 sq mi (1,424 sq km)
- logical address — virtual address
- longshore drift — beach drift.
- longsightedness — Farsight; farsightedness; far sight; long sight.
- lord it over sb — If someone lords it over you, they act in a way that shows that they think they are better than you, especially by giving lots of orders.
- lord of misrule — (in England) a person formerly chosen to direct the Christmas revels and sports.
- lord privy seal — a cabinet minister without portfolio.
- lords spiritual — a bishop or archbishop belonging to the House of Lords.
- louis d'orleans — Louis Philippe Joseph [lwee fee-leep zhaw-zef] /lwi fiˈlip ʒɔˈzɛf/ (Show IPA), Duc (Philippe Égalité) 1747–93, French political leader.
- loving-kindness — tender kindness motivated by or expressing affection.
- lower east side — a section in the borough of Manhattan, New York: noted for its immigrant culture.
- loyalty islands — a group of coral islands in the S Pacific belonging to the French territory of New Caledonia. 761 sq. mi. (1970 sq. km).
- lymphoid tissue — of, relating to, or resembling lymph.