n. [ See Labefy. ] The act of labefying or making weak; the state of being weakened; decay; ruin. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is in it such a labefaction of all principles as may be injurious to morality. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. labefacere; labare to totter + facere to make. ] To weaken or impair. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. label sort of ribbon or fringe, label in heraldry, F. lambeau shred, strip, rag; of uncertain origin; cf. L. labellum, dim. of labrum lip, edge, margin, G. lappen flap, patch, rag, tatter (cf. Lap of a dress), W. llab, llabed, label, flap, Gael. leab, leob, slice, shred, hanging lip. ] 1. A tassel. [ Obs. ] Huloet. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A slip of silk, paper, parchment, etc., affixed to anything, and indicating, usually by an inscription, the contents, ownership, destination, etc.; as, the label of a bottle or a package. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A slip of ribbon, parchment, etc., attached to a document to hold the appended seal; also, the seal. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A writing annexed by way of addition, as a codicil added to a will. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Her.) A barrulet, or, rarely, a bendlet, with pendants, or points, usually three, especially used as a mark of cadency to distinguish an eldest or only son while his father is still living. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A brass rule with sights, formerly used, in connection with a circumferentor, to take altitudes. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Gothic Arch.) The name now generally given to the projecting molding by the sides, and over the tops, of openings in mediæval architecture. It always has a square form, as in the illustration. Arch. Pub. Soc. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. In mediæval art, the representation of a band or scroll containing an inscription. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Labeled r Labelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Labeling or Labelling. ] 1. To affix a label to; to mark with a name, etc.; as, to label a bottle or a package. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To affix in or on a label. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who labels. [ Written also labeller. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. L. Labella E. Labellums [ L., dim. of labrum lip. ] 1. (Bot.) The lower or apparently anterior petal of an orchidaceous flower, often of a very curious shape. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A small appendage beneath the upper lip or labrum of certain insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. labens, p. pr. of labi to slide, glide. ] Slipping; sliding; gliding. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]