laurence

n. a common first name for a man.

n. a masculine given name of Latin origin, derived from Laurentius.

“Laurence was named after his grandfather, who was a famous doctor.”

“The biography provides a detailed account of Laurence Olivier's early years in the theatre and his rise to international stardom.”

n. an old name for a lazy person.

n. a personification of indolence or laziness, often used in the phrase 'Lazy Laurence'.

“He was such a lazy Laurence that he wouldn't even get out of bed for breakfast.”

“The local folklore warned children that Lazy Laurence would cast a spell of sleepiness over anyone who shirked their chores in the heat of the day.”

Archaic · Dialect

n. an old, traditional name for a fox.

n. a traditional name for a fox, similar to the use of 'Reynard'.

“In the old story, Laurence the fox tried to trick the farmer.”

“The poet employed the name Laurence to evoke the cunning nature of the fox as it prowled the edges of the estate.”

Archaic · British English