Low life

Low Low (l[=o]), a. [Compar. {Lower} (l[=o]"[~e]r); superl. {Lowest}.] [OE. low, louh, lah, Icel. l[=a]gr; akin to Sw. l[*a]g, Dan. lav, D. laag, and E. lie. See {Lie} to be prostrate.] [1913 Webster] 1. Occupying an inferior position or place; not high or elevated; depressed in comparison with something else; as, low ground; a low flight. [1913 Webster]

2. Not rising to the usual height; as, a man of low stature; a low fence. [1913 Webster]

3. Near the horizon; as, the sun is low at four o'clock in winter, and six in summer. [1913 Webster]

4. Sunk to the farthest ebb of the tide; as, low tide. [1913 Webster]

5. Beneath the usual or remunerative rate or amount, or the ordinary value; moderate; cheap; as, the low price of corn; low wages. [1913 Webster]

6. Not loud; as, a low voice; a low sound. [1913 Webster]

7. (Mus.) Depressed in the scale of sounds; grave; as, a low pitch; a low note. [1913 Webster]

8. (Phon.) Made, as a vowel, with a low position of part of the tongue in relation to the palate; as, [a^] ([a^]m), [add] ([add]ll). See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 5, 10, 11. [1913 Webster]

9. Near, or not very distant from, the equator; as, in the low northern latitudes. [1913 Webster]

10. Numerically small; as, a low number. [1913 Webster]

11. Wanting strength or animation; depressed; dejected; as, low spirits; low in spirits. [1913 Webster]

12. Depressed in condition; humble in rank; as, men of low condition; the lower classes. [1913 Webster]

Why but to keep ye low and ignorant ? --Milton. [1913 Webster]

13. Mean; vulgar; base; dishonorable; as, a person of low mind; a low trick or stratagem. [1913 Webster]

14. Not elevated or sublime; not exalted in thought or diction; as, a low comparison. [1913 Webster]

In comparison of these divine writers, the noblest wits of the heathen world are low and dull. --Felton. [1913 Webster]

15. Submissive; humble. ``Low reverence.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

16. Deficient in vital energy; feeble; weak; as, a low pulse; made low by sickness. [1913 Webster]

17. Moderate; not intense; not inflammatory; as, low heat; a low temperature; a low fever. [1913 Webster]

18. Smaller than is reasonable or probable; as, a low estimate. [1913 Webster]

19. Not rich, high seasoned, or nourishing; plain; simple; as, a low diet. [1913 Webster]

Note: Low is often used in the formation of compounds which require no special explanation; as, low-arched, low-browed, low-crowned, low-heeled, low-lying, low-priced, low-roofed, low-toned, low-voiced, and the like. [1913 Webster]

{Low Church}. See {High Church}, under {High}.

{Low Countries}, the Netherlands.

{Low German}, {Low Latin}, etc. See under {German}, {Latin}, etc.

{Low life}, humble life.

{Low milling}, a process of making flour from grain by a single grinding and by siftings.

{Low relief}. See {Bas-relief}.

{Low side window} (Arch.), a peculiar form of window common in medi[ae]val churches, and of uncertain use. Windows of this sort are narrow, near the ground, and out of the line of the windows, and in many different situations in the building.

{Low spirits}, despondency.

{Low steam}, steam having a low pressure.

{Low steel}, steel which contains only a small proportion of carbon, and can not be hardened greatly by sudden cooling.

{Low Sunday}, the Sunday next after Easter; -- popularly so called.

{Low tide}, the farthest ebb of the tide; the tide at its lowest point; low water.

{Low water}. (a) The lowest point of the ebb tide; a low stage of the in a river, lake, etc. (b) (Steam Boiler) The condition of an insufficient quantity of water in the boiler.

{Low water alarm} or {Low water indicator} (Steam Boiler), a contrivance of various forms attached to a boiler for giving warning when the water is low.

{Low water mark}, that part of the shore to which the waters recede when the tide is the lowest. --Bouvier.

{Low wine}, a liquor containing about 20 percent of alcohol, produced by the first distillation of wash; the first run of the still; -- often in the plural. [1913 Webster]