LEAP, l[=e]p, _v.i._ to move with bounds: to spring upward or forward: to jump: to rush with vehemence.--_v.t._ to bound over: to cause to take a leap: to cover or copulate (of some beasts):--_pr.p._ leap'ing; _pa.t._ leaped or leapt (lept); _pa.p._ leaped, rarely leapt.--_n._ act of leaping: bound: space passed by leaping: sudden transition.--_ns._ LEAP'-FROG, a play in which one boy places his hands on the back of another stooping in front of him, and vaults over his head; LEAP'ING-HOUSE (_Shak._), a brothel; LEAP'ING-TIME (_Shak._), youth; LEAP'-YEAR, every fourth year--of 366 days, adding one day in February.--LEAP IN THE DARK, an act of which we cannot foresee the consequences. [A.S. _hleapan_, pa.t. _hleop_; Ger.
_laufen_, to run.]
LEAP, l[=e]p, _n._ a basket: a wicker net. [A.S. _leap_.]
LEAR, l[=e]r, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to learn.--_n._ that which is learned, a lesson: (_Scot._) learning.
LEARN, l[.e]rn, _v.t._ to acquire knowledge of, to get to know: to gain power of performing: (_prov._) to teach.--_v.i._ to gain knowledge: to improve by example.--_adjs._ LEARN'ABLE, that may be learned; LEARN'ED, having learning: versed in literature, &c.: skilful.--_adv._ LEARN'EDLY.--_ns._ LEARN'EDNESS; LEARN'ER, one who learns: one who is yet in the rudiments of any subject; LEARN'ING, what is learned: knowledge: scholarship: skill in languages or science.--NEW LEARNING, the awakening to classical learning in England in the 16th century, led by Colet, Erasmus, Warham, More, &c. [A.S. _leornian_; Ger. _lernen_; cf. A.S. _l['ae]ran_ (Ger. _lehren_), to teach.]
LEASE, l[=e]s, _n._ a contract letting a house, farm, &c. for a term of years: the duration or term of tenure: any tenure.--_v.t._ to let for a term of years:--_pr.p._ leas'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ leased.--_adjs._ LEAS'ABLE; LEASE'HOLD, held by lease or contract.--_n._ a tenure held by lease.--_ns._ LEASE'HOLDER; LEAS'ER, one who leases. [Fr. _laisser_, to leave--L. _lax[=a]re_, to loose, _laxus_, loose.]
LEASE, l[=e]z, _v.i._ (_prov._) to glean.--_n._ LEAS'ING, gleaning. [A.S.
_lesan_, to gather.]
LEASE, l[=e]s, _n._ in weaving, the plane in which the warp-threads cross: this system of crossing.
LEASH, l[=e]sh, _n._ a lash or line by which a hawk or hound is held: a brace and a half, three.--_v.t._ to hold by a leash: to bind. [O. Fr.
_lesse_ (Fr. _laisse_), a thong to hold a dog by--L. _laxus_, loose.]
LEASING, l[=e]z'ing, _n._ falsehood, lies: lying. [A.S. _lasung_--_leas_, false, loose; Goth. _laus_, Ice. _los_.]
LEASOWE, l[=e]'s[=o], _n._ a pasture.--_v.t._ to feed or pasture. [A.S.
_l['ae]s_, a meadow.]
LEAST, l[=e]st, _adj._ (serves as superl. of LITTLE) little beyond all others: smallest.--_adv._ in the smallest or lowest degree.--_advs._ LEAST'WAYS, LEAST'WISE, at least: however.--AT LEAST, or AT THE LEAST, at the lowest estimate: at any rate. [A.S. _laest_, contr. from _laesast_, from _laessa_ (adj.), less, _laes_ (adv.).]
LEAST, l[=e]st, _conj._ (_Spens._). Same as LEST.
LEAT, LEET, l[=e]t, _n._ (_prov._) a trench for bringing water to a mill-wheel.
LEATHER, leth'[.e]r, _n._ the prepared skin of an animal, tanned, tawed, or otherwise dressed.--_adj._ consisting of leather.--_ns._ LEATH'ER-CLOTH, a textile fabric coated on one face with certain mixtures of a flexible nature when dry, so as to resemble leather--called also _American leather-cloth_, or simply _American cloth_; LEATH'ER-COAT (_Shak._), an apple with a rough coat or rind, the golden russet; LEATHERETTE', cloth or paper made to look like leather; LEATH'ER-HEAD, a blockhead: an Australian bird with a bare head--called also _Monk_ and _Friar_: LEATH'ERING, a thrashing; LEATH'ER-JACK'ET, one of various fishes; LEATH'ER-KNIFE, a knife of curved form for cutting leather.--_adj._ LEATH'ERN, made or consisting of leather.--_p.adj._ LEATH'ER-WINGED (_Spens._), having wings like leather.--_adj._ LEATH'ERY, resembling leather: tough.--FAIR LEATHER, leather not artificially coloured; MOROCCO LEATHER (see MOROCCO); PATENT LEATHER, leather with a finely varnished surface--also JAPANNED or LACQUERED LEATHER; RUSSIA LEATHER, a fine brownish-red leather with a characteristic odour; SPLIT LEATHER, leather split by a machine, for trunk-covers, &c.; WHITE LEATHER, tawed leather, having its natural colour.
[A.S. _leer_, leather; Dut. and Ger. _leder_.]
LEAVE, l[=e]v, _n._ permission: liberty granted: formal parting of friends: farewell. [A.S. _leaf_, permission, cog. with _leof_, dear. See LIEF.]
LEAVE, l[=e]v, _v.t._ to allow to remain: to abandon, resign: to quit or depart from: to have remaining at death: to bequeath: to refer for decision.--_v.i._ to desist: to cease: to depart:--_pr.p._ leav'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ left.--LEAVE ALONE, to let remain undisturbed; LEAVE IN THE DARK, to conceal information from; LEAVE OFF, to desist, to terminate: to give up using; LEAVE OUT, to omit.--GET LEFT (_coll._), to be beaten or left behind; TAKE FRENCH LEAVE (see FRENCH); TAKE LEAVE, to assume permission: to part, say farewell. [A.S. _l['ae]fan_, to leave a heritage (_laf_), _lifian_, to be remaining.]
LEAVE, l[=e]v, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to levy, to raise.
LEAVE, l[=e]v, _v.i._ to put out leaves.--_adj._ LEAVED, furnished with leaves: made with folds.
LEAVEN, lev'n, _n._ the ferment which makes dough rise in a spongy form: anything that makes a general change, whether good or bad.--_v.t._ to raise with leaven: to taint.--_n._ LEAV'ENING.--_adj._ LEAV'ENOUS, containing leaven. [Fr. _levain_--L. _levamen_--_lev[=a]re_, to raise--_levis_, light.]
LEAVES, l[=e]vz, _pl._ of _leaf_.
LEAVINGS, l[=e]v'ingz, _n.pl._ things left: relics: refuse.--_n._ LEAV'ING-SHOP, an unlicensed pawnshop.
LEAVY, l[=e]v'i, _adj._ (_Shak._). Same as LEAFY.
LECHER, lech'[.e]r, _n._ a man addicted to lewdness.--_v.i._ to practise lewdness.--_adj._ LECH'EROUS, lustful: provoking lust.--_adv._ LECH'EROUSLY.--_ns._ LECH'EROUSNESS, LECH'ERY. [O. Fr. _lecheor_--_lecher_, to lick; from Old High Ger. _lechon_, Ger. _lecken_, Eng. _lick_.]
LECTERN, lek't[.e]rn, _n._ a reading-desk in churches from which the Scripture lessons are read.--_ns._ (_obs._) LEC'TURN, LET'TERN. [Low L.
_lectrinum_--Low L. _lectrum_, a pulpit--Gr. _lektron_, a couch.]
LECTION, lek'shun, _n._ a reading: a variety in a manuscript or book: a portion of Scripture read in divine service.--_ns._ LEC'TIONARY, a book for use in worship, containing lessons for particular days; LEC'TOR, a reader: a reader of Scripture in the ancient churches; LEC'TRESS, a female reader.
[L. _lection-em_--_leg[)e]re_, _lectum_, to read.]
LECTUAL, lek't[=u]-al, _adj._ confining to the bed.
LECTURE, lek't[=u]r, _n._ a discourse on any subject, esp. a professional or tutorial discourse: an expository and discursive religious discourse, usually based on an extended passage of Scripture rather than a single text: an endowed lectureship, as the Bampton, Hulsean, &c.: a formal reproof.--_v.t._ to instruct by discourses: to instruct authoritatively: to reprove.--_v.i._ to give a lecture or lectures.--_ns._ LEC'TURER, one who lectures: one of a class of preachers in the Church of England, chosen by the vestry and supported by voluntary contributions; LEC'TURESHIP, the office of a lecturer. [See LECTION.]
LED, led, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of lead, to show the way.--_adj._ under leading or control, esp. of a farm or place managed by a deputy instead of the owner or tenant in person.--LED CAPTAIN, an obsequious attendant, a henchman; LED HORSE, a spare horse led by a servant, a sumpter-horse or pack-horse.
LEDEN, led'n, _n._ (_Spens._) language, dialect, speech. [A.S. _l['ae]den_, Latin speech--L. _Latinum_, Latin.]
LEDGE, lej, _n._ a shelf on which articles may be laid: that which resembles such a shelf: a ridge or shelf of rocks: a layer: a small moulding: a lode in mining.--_adj._ LEDG'Y, abounding in ledges. [Skeat explains as Scand., allied to Sw. _lagg_, Ice. _logg_, Norw. _logg_ (pl.
_legger_); cf. also Norw. _lega_, a couch; all from Ice. _liggja_; Sw.
_ligga_, Dan. _ligge_, to lie.]
LEDGER, lej'[.e]r, _n._ the principal book of accounts among merchants, in which the entries in all the other books are entered: (_Shak._) a resident, esp. an ambassador: a bar, stone, &c., made to lie flat, a piece of timber used in making a scaffolding, a horizontal slab, as over a tomb.--_adj._ lying in a certain place, stationary. [Skeat explains _ledger-book_ as one that lies always ready, from Dut. _legger_, one that lies down, _leggen_, to lie, a common corr. of _liggen_, to lie (like _lay_ for _lie_ in English).]
LEDUM, l[=e]'dum, _n._ a genus of ericaceous plants. [Gr. _l[=e]don_, ladanum.]
[Illustration]
LEE, l[=e], _n._ the quarter toward which the wind blows.--_adj._ as in LEE'-SIDE, the sheltered side of a ship.--_ns._ LEE'-BOARD, a board lowered on the lee-side of a vessel, and acting like a keel or centre-board to prevent her from drifting to leeward; LEE'-GAGE, the sheltered or safe side:--opp. to _Weather-gage_; LEE'-SHORE, the shore opposite to the lee-side of a ship; LEE'-TIDE, a tide running in the same direction as the wind is blowing.--_adj._ LEE'WARD, pertaining to, or in, the direction toward which the wind blows.--_adv._ toward the lee.--_n._ LEE'WAY, the distance a ship is driven to leeward of her true course: a falling behind.--MAKE UP LEEWAY, to make up for time lost; UNDER THE LEE, on the side sheltered from the wind, under shelter from the wind. [A.S. _hleow_, shelter; Ice. _hle_, Low Ger. _lee_; prov. Eng. _lew_.]
LEE, l[=e], _n._ (_Spens._) a river: also the same as LEA.
LEECH, l[=e]ch, _n._ the edge of a sail at the sides. [Ice. _lik_, a leech-line; Dan. _lig_; Sw. _lik_, a bolt-rope.]
LEECH, l[=e]ch, _n._ a blood-sucking worm: a physician.--_v.t._ to apply leeches to.--_ns._ LEECH'CRAFT, LEECH'DOM. [A.S. _l['ae]ce_, one who heals; cf. Goth. _leikeis_.]
LEEF, l[=e]f, _adj._ an obsolete form of _lief_.
LEEFANG, l[=e]'fang, _n._ a rope through the clew of a jib, holding it amidships while lacing on the bonnet.
LEEK, l[=e]k, _n._ a well-known biennial species of the onion family, esteemed for cooking--national emblem of Wales.--EAT THE LEEK, to be compelled to take back one's words or put up with insulting treatment--from the scene between Fluellen and Pistol in _Henry V_. [A.S. _leac_, a leek, a plant, present also in _Char-lock_, _Gar-lic_, _Hem-lock_.]
LEER, l[=e]r, _n._ a sly, sidelong look: (_Shak._) complexion, colour.--_v.i._ to look askance: to look archly or obliquely.--_adv._ LEER'INGLY, with a leering look. [A.S. _hleor_, face, cheek; Ice. _hlr_.]
LEES, l[=e]z, _n.pl._ sediment or dregs that settle at the bottom of liquor. [Fr. _lie_--Low L. _lia_.]
LEESE, l[=e]z, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to lose. [A.S. _leosan_, to lose.]
LEET, l[=e]t, _n._ (_Scot._) a selected list of candidates for an office.--SHORT LEET, a small list of selected candidates--for the final choice. [Ice. _leiti_, a share; cf. A.S. _hlet_, _hlt_, forms of _hlot_, lot.]
LEET, l[=e]t, _n._ an ancient English court, esp. the assembly of the men of a township: the district subject to such: the right to hold such a court.--_n._ COURT'-LEET (see COURT). [A.S. _l['ae]th_.]