lax
    adj 1: lacking in rigor or strictness; "such lax and slipshod
           ways are no longer acceptable"; "lax in attending
           classes"; "slack in maintaining discipline" [syn: lax,
           slack]
    2: pronounced with muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively
       relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in `bet') [ant: tense]
    3: lacking in strength or firmness or resilience; "a lax rope";
       "a limp handshake" [ant: tense]
    4: emptying easily or excessively; "loose bowels" [syn: lax,
       loose]

Lax \Lax\, n.
   A looseness; diarrhea.
   [1913 Webster]

Lax \Lax\ (l[a^]ks), a. [Compar. Laxer (l[a^]ks"[~e]r);
   superl. Laxest.] [L. laxus Cf. Laches, Languish,
   Lease, v. t., Leash.]
   1. Not tense, firm, or rigid; loose; slack; as, a lax
      bandage; lax fiber.
      [1913 Webster]

            The flesh of that sort of fish being lax and spongy.
                                                  --Ray.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Not strict or stringent; not exact; loose; weak; vague;
      equivocal.
      [1913 Webster]

            The discipline was lax.               --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            Society at that epoch was lenient, if not lax, in
            matters of the passions.              --J. A.
                                                  Symonds.
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            The word "[ae]ternus" itself is sometimes of a lax
            signification.                        --Jortin.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Having a looseness of the bowels; diarrheal.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Loose; slack; vague; unconfined; unrestrained;
        dissolute; licentious.
        [1913 Webster]

LAX

   LAnguage eXample.

   A toy language used to illustrate compiler design.

   ["Compiler Construction", W.M. Waite et al, Springer 1984].

   (1994-12-07)