lowering

Multiple Entries:
  lower    lour  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lower1

▶adjective comparative of low1.

• 1 less high in position, status, or amount.

  ■ (often Lower) Geology & Archaeology denoting an older (and hence typically deeper) part of a stratigraphic or archaeological division: the Lower Cretaceous.

• 2 [in place names] situated to the south.

▶adverb in or into a lower position.

– derivatives
lowermost adjective.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lower2

▶verb

• 1 cause to move downward.

• 2 make or become less in amount, extent, or value.

  ■ (lower oneself) demean oneself.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lower3

▶verb & noun variant spelling of lour.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lour /ˈlaʊə/ (also lower)

▶verb

• 1 (of a person) scowl.

• 2 (of the sky) look dark and threatening.

▶noun

• 1 a scowl.

• 2 a louring appearance of the sky.

– derivatives
louring adjective,
louringly adverb,
loury adjective.

– origin ME: of unknown origin.