King James Bible Dictionary

(Heb. kinnim), the creatures employed in the third plague sent upon Egypt (Exodus 8:16-18). They were miraculously produced from the dust of the land. "The entomologists Kirby and Spence place these minute but disgusting insects in the very front rank of those which inflict injury upon man. A terrible list of examples they have collected of the ravages of this and closely allied parasitic pests." The plague of lice is referred to in Psalms 105:31.

Some have supposed that the word denotes not lice properly, but gnats. Others, with greater probability, take it to mean the "tick" which is much larger than lice.

(Heb. cinnam, cinnim). this word occurs in the Authorized Version only in (Exodus 8:16-18) and in (Psalms 105:31) both of which passages have reference to the third great plague of Egypt. The Hebrew word has given occasion to whole pages of discussion. Some commentators, and indeed modern writers generally, suppose that gnats are the animals intended by the original word; while, on the other hand, the Jewish rabbis, Josephus and others, are in favor of the translation of the Authorized Version. Upon the whole it appears that there is not sufficient authority for departing from this translation. Late travellers (e.g. Sir Samuel Baker) describe the visitation of vermin in very similar terms:

"It is as though the very dust were turned into lice." The lice which he describes are a sort of tick, not larger than a grain of sand, which when filled with blood expand to the size of a hazel nut.

Canon Cook.

LICE, plu of louse.

Exodus 8:16-19
Psalms 105:31

LICE-BANE, noun A plant.

LI'CENSE, noun [Latin licentia, from liceo, to be permitted.]

1. Leave; permission; authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act. A license may be verbal or written; when written, the paper containing the authority is called a license A man is not permitted to retail spirituous liquors till he has obtained a license

2. Excess of liberty; exorbitant freedom; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum.

License they mean, when they cry liberty.

LI'CENSE, verb transitive

1. To permit by grant of authority; to remove legal restraint by a grant of permission; as, to license a man to keep an inn.

2. To authorize to act in a particular character; as, to license a physician or a lawyer.

3. To dismiss. [Not in use.]

LI'CENSER, noun One who grants permission; a person authorized to grant permission to others; as a licenser of the press.

LICEN'TIATE, noun [from Latin licentia.]

1. One who has a license; as a licentiate in physic or medicine.

2. In Spain, one who has a degree; as a licentiate in law or divinity. The officers of justice are mostly distinguished by this title.

LICEN'TIATE, verb transitive To give license or permission.

LICEN'TIOUS, adjective [Latin licentiosus.]

1. Using license; indulging freedom to excess; unrestrained by law or morality; loose; dissolute; as a licentious man.

2. Exceeding the limits of law or propriety; wanton; unrestrained; as licentious desires. licentious thoughts precede licentious conduct.

LICEN'TIOUSLY, adverb With excess of liberty; in contempt of law and morality.

See Adultery
Adultery; Lasciviousness

LICEN'TIOUSNESS, noun Excessive indulgence of liberty; contempt of the just restraints of law, morality and decorum. The licentiousness of authors is justly condemned; the licentiousness of the press is punishable by law.

Law is the god of wise men; licentiousness is the god of fools.