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n. 1. A small, medicated candy intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat. 2. a. A four-sided planar figure with a diamondlike shape; a rhombus that is not a square. b. Something having this shape, especially a heraldic device. [Middle English, rhombus, from Old French losenge, perhaps akin to Provençal lausa, flagstone, roofing slate (from a source akin to Latin lausiae, stone chips, perhaps of Celtic origin ) or from Arabic lawzīnaj, confection made from almonds (from Middle Persian lawzēnak : lawz- ultimately from early Aramaic *lawz-, almond; see lwz in the Appendix of Semitic roots + Middle Persian -ēnak, n. suffix).] |
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