lower

n. [ Obs. ] 1. Cloudiness; gloominess. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A frowning; sullenness. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. relating to small or noncapital letters which were kept in the lower half of a compositor's type case. Also See minuscule, minuscular. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lowered p. pr. & vb. n. Lowering. ] [ From Low, a. ] 1. To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down; as, to lower a bucket into a well; to lower a sail or a boat; sometimes, to pull down; as, to lower a flag. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lowered softly with a threefold cord of love
Down to a silent grave. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reduce the height of; as, to lower a fence or wall; to lower a chimney or turret. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To depress as to direction; as, to lower the aim of a gun; to make less elevated as to object; as, to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of; as, to lower the temperature of anything; to lower one's vitality; to lower distilled liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To bring down; to humble; as, to lower one's pride. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To reduce in value, amount, etc.; as, to lower the price of goods, the rate of interest, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease; as, the river lowered as rapidly as it rose. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Lowered p. pr. & vb. n. Lowering. ] [ OE. lowren, luren; cf. D. loeren, LG. luren. G. lauern to lurk, to be on the watch, and E. leer, lurk. ] 1. To be dark, gloomy, and threatening, as clouds; to be covered with dark and threatening clouds, as the sky; to show threatening signs of approach, as a tempest. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the clouds that lowered upon our house. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To frown; to look sullen. [ 1913 Webster ]

But sullen discontent sat lowering on her face. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Print.) Pertaining to, or kept in, the lower case; -- used to denote the small letters, in distinction from capitals and small capitals; as, lowercase letters a and b and c etc.. Contrasted with uppercase. See the Note under 1st Case, n., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. same as low-class. Contrasted with middle-class and upper-class.
Syn. -- low-class. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. an undergraduate who is not yet a senior.
Syn. -- underclassman. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. pointed downward; as, with lowered eyes. Opposite of raised. [ WordNet 1.5 ]