LEAFLeaf, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leafed; p. pr. & vb. n. Leafing.]
Defn: To shoot out leaves; to produce leaves; to leave; as, the trees leaf in May. Sir T. Browne.
LEAFAGELeaf"age, n.
Defn: Leaves, collectively; foliage.
LEAFCUPLeaf"cup`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A coarse American composite weed (Polymnia Uvedalia).
LEAFEDLeafed, a.
Defn: Having (such) a leaf or (so many) leaves; — used in composition; as, broad-leafed; four-leafed.
LEAFETLeaf"et, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A leaflet.
LEAF-FOOTEDLeaf"-foot`ed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having leaflike expansions on the legs; — said of certain insects; as, the leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus).
LEAFINESSLeaf"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being leafy.
LEAFLESSLeaf"less, a.
Defn: Having no leaves or foliage; bearing no foliage. "Leaflessgroves." Cowper.— Leaf"less*ness, n. Leafless plants, plants having no foliage,though leaves may be present in the form of scales and bracts. SeeLeaf, n., 1 and 2.
LEAFLETLeaf"let, n.
1. A little leaf; also, a little printed leaf or a tract.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the divisions of a compound leaf; a foliole.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A leaflike organ or part; as, a leaflet of the gills of fishes.
LEAF-NOSEDLeaf"-nosed`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a leaflike membrane on the nose; — said of certain bats, esp. of the genera Phyllostoma and Rhinonycteris. See Vampire.
LEAFSTALKLeaf"stalk`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The stalk or petiole which supports a leaf.
LEAFYLeaf"y, a. [Compar. Leafier; superl. Leafiest.]
1. Full of leaves; abounding in leaves; as, the leafy forest. "The leafy month of June." Coleridge.
2. Consisting of leaves. "A leafy bed." Byron.
LEAGUE League, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. legue, lieue, a measure of length, F. lieue, Pr. lega, legua, It. & LL. lega, Sp. legua, Pg. legoa, legua; all fr. LL. leuca, of Celtic origin: cf. Arm. leo, lev (perh. from French), Ir.leige (perh. from English); also Ir. & Gael. leac a flag, a broad, flat stone, W. llech, — such stones having perh. served as a sort of milestone (cf. Cromlech).]
1. A measure of length or distance, varying in different countries from about 2.4 to 4.6 English statute miles of 5.280 feet each, and used (as a land measure) chiefly on the continent of Europe, and in the Spanish parts of America. The marine league of England and the United States is equal to three marine, or geographical, miles of 6080 feet each.
Note: The English land league is equal to three English statute miles. The Spanish and French leagues vary in each country according to usage and the kind of measurement to which they are applied. The Dutch and German leagues contain about four geographical miles, or about 4.6 English statute miles.
2. A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a league. [Obs.]
LEAGUE League, n. Etym: [F.ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. Ally a confederate, Ligature.]
Defn: An alliance or combination of two or more nations, parties, or persons, for the accomplishment of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc. And let there be 'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. Denham.
Note: A league may be offensive or defensive, or both; offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual defense of each other against an enemy. The Holy League, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in 1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion of Protestants from the throne of France. — Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant,2. — The land league, an association, organized in Dublin in 1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure fair rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions have failed to suppress it.
Syn. — Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition; combination; compact; coöperation.
LEAGUELeague, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leagued; p. pr. & vb. n. Leaguing.] Etym:[Cf. F. se liguer. See 2d League.]
Defn: To unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate South.
LEAGUELeague, v. t.
Defn: To join in a league; to cause to combine for a joint purpose; to combine; to unite; as, common interests will league heterogeneous elements.
LEAGUER Lea"guer, n. Etym: [D.leger camp, bed, couch, lair. See Lair, and cf.Beleaguer.]
1. The camp of a besieging army; a camp in general. b. Jonson.
2. A siege or beleaguering. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
LEAGUERLea"guer, v. t.
Defn: To besiege; to beleaguer. [Obs.]
LEAGUERERLea"guer*er, n.
Defn: A besieger. [R.] J. Webster.
LEAK Leak, n. Etym: [Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G.leck, Icel. lekr leaky, Dan. læk leaky, a leak, Sw. läck; cf. AS. hlec full of cracks or leaky. Cf. Leak, v.]
1. A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole which admits water or other fluid, or lets it escape; as, a leak in a roof; a leak in a boat; a leak in a gas pipe. "One leak will sink a ship." Bunyan.
2. The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps. To spring a leak, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to let in water; as, the ship sprung a leak.
LEAKLeak, a.
Defn: Leaky. [Obs.] Spenser.
LEAKLeak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Leaking.] Etym:[Akin to D. lekken, G. lecken, lechen, Icel. leka, Dan. lække, Sw.läcka, AS. leccan to wet, moisten. See Leak, n.]
1. To let water or other fluid in or out through a hole, crevice, etc.; as, the cask leaks; the roof leaks; the boat leaks.
2. To enter or escape, as a fluid, through a hole, crevice, etc. ; to pass gradually into, or out of, something; — usually with in or out. To leak out, to be divulged gradually or clandestinely; to become public; as, the facts leaked out.
LEAKAGELeak"age (, n. Etym: [Cf. D. lekkage, for sense 1.]
1. A leaking; also, the quantity that enters or issues by leaking.
2. (Com.)
Defn: An allowance of a certain rate per cent for the leaking of casks, or waste of liquors by leaking.
LEAKINESSLeak"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being leaky.
LEAKYLeak"y, a. [Compar. Leakier; superl. Leakiest.]
1. Permitting water or other fluid to leak in or out; as, a leaky roof or cask.
2. Apt to disclose secrets; tattling; not close. [Colloq.]
LEALLeal, a. Etym: [OE. leial, another form of loial, F. loyal. SeeLoyal.]
Defn: Faithful; loyal; true.All men true and leal, all women pure. Tennyson.Land of the leal, the place of the faithful; heaven.
LEAMLeam, n. & v. i.
Defn: See Leme. [Obs.] Holland.
LEAMLeam, n. Etym: [See Leamer, Lien.]
Defn: A cord or strap for leading a dog. Sir W. Scott.
LEAMER Leam"er, n. Etym: [F. limier, OF. liemier, fr. L. ligamen band, bandage. See Lien.]
Defn: A dog held by a leam.
LEAN Lean, v. t. Etym: [Icel. leyna; akin to G. läugnen to deny, AS. l, also E. lie to speak falsely.]
Defn: To conceal. [Obs.] Ray.
LEAN Lean, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaned, sometimes Leant (p. pr. & vb. n. Leaning.] Etym: [OE. lenen, AS. hlinian, hleonian, v. i.; akin to OS. hlinon, D. leunen, OHG. hlinen, linen, G. lehnen, L. inclinare, Gr. clivus hill, slope. sq. root40. Cf. Declivity, Climax, Incline, Ladder.]
1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning column. "He leant forward." Dickens.
2. To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; — with to, toward, etc. They delight rather to lean to their old customs. Spenser.
3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like; — with on, upon, or against. He leaned not on his fathers but himself. Tennyson.
LEAN Lean, v. t. Etym: [From Lean, v. i. ; AS. hl, v. t., fr. hleonian, hlinian, v. i.]
Defn: To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. Mrs.Browning.His fainting limbs against an oak he leant. Dryden.
LEAN Lean, a. [Compar. Leaner; superl. Leanest.] Etym: [OE. lene, AS. hl; prob. akin to E. lean to incline. See Lean, v. i. ]
1. Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; not plump; meager; thin; lank; as, a lean body; a lean cattle.
2. Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness; deficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; — used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. "No lean wardrobe." Shak. Their lean and fiashy songs. Milton. What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. Num. xiii. 20. Out of my lean and low ability I'll lend you something. Shak.
3. (Typog.)
Defn: Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; — opposed to fat; as lean copy, matter, or type.
Syn.— slender; spare; thin; meager; lank; skinny; gaunt.
LEANLean, n.
1. That part of flesh which consist principally of muscle without the fat. The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy. Goldsmith.
2. (Typog.)
Defn: Unremunerative copy or work.
LEAN-FACEDLean"-faced`, a.
1. Having a thin face.
2. (Typog.)
Defn: slender or narrow; — said of type the letters of which have thin lines, or are unusually narrow in proportion to their height. W. Savage.
LEANINGLean"ing, n.
Defn: The act, or state, of inclining; inclination; tendency; as, a leaning towards Calvinism.
LEANLYLean"ly, adv.
Defn: Meagerly; without fat or plumpness.
LEANNESSLean"ness, n. Etym: [AS. hlænnes.]
Defn: The condition or quality of being lean.
LEAN-TOLean"-to`, a. (Arch.)
Defn: Having only one slope or pitch; — said of a roof.— n.
Defn: A shed or slight building placed against the wall of a larger structure and having a single-pitched roof; — called also penthouse, and to-fall. The outer circuit was covered as a lean-to, all round this inner apartment. De Foe.
LEAN-WITTEDLean"-wit`ted, a.
Defn: Having but little sense or shrewdness.
LEANYLean"y, a.
Defn: Lean. [Obs.] Spenser.
LEAPLeap, n. Etym: [AS. leáp.]
1. A basket. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. A weel or wicker trap for fish. [Prov. Eng.]
LEAP Leap, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaped, rarely Leapt; p. pr. & vb. n. Leaping.] Etym: [OE. lepen, leapen, AS. hleápan to leap, jump, run; akin to OS. ahl, OFries. hlapa, D. loopen, G. laufen, OHG. louffan, hlauffan, Icel. hlaupa, Sw. löpa, Dan. löbe, Goth. ushlaupan. Cf. Elope, Lope, Lapwing, Loaf to loiter.]
1. To spring clear of the ground, with the feet; to jump; to vault; as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a horse. Bacon. Leap in with me into this angry flood. Shak.
2. To spring or move suddenly, as by a jump or by jumps; to bound; to move swiftly. Also Fig. My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky. Wordsworth.
LEAPLeap, v. t.
1. To pass over by a leap or jump; as, to leap a wall, or a ditch.
2. To copulate with (a female beast); to cover.
3. To cause to leap; as, to leap a horse across a ditch.
LEAPLeap, n.
1. The act of leaping, or the space passed by leaping; a jump; a spring; a bound. Wickedness comes on by degrees, . . . and sudden leaps from one extreme to another are unnatural. L'Estrange. Changes of tone may proceed either by leaps or glides. H. Sweet.
2. Copulation with, or coverture of, a female beast.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A fault.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: A passing from one note to another by an interval, especially by a long one, or by one including several other and intermediate intervals.
LEAPERLeap"er, n. Etym: [AS. hleápere.]
Defn: One who, or that which, leaps.
LEAPERLeap"er, n. Etym: [See 1st Leap.]
Defn: A kind of hooked instrument for untwisting old cordage.
LEAPFROGLeap"frog`, n.
Defn: A play among boys, in which one stoops down and another leaps over him by placing his hands on the shoulders of the former.
LEAPFULLeap"ful, n. Etym: [See 1st Leap.]
Defn: A basketful. [Obs.]
LEAPINGLeap"ing, a. & n.
Defn: from Leap, to jump. Leaping house, a brothel. [Obs.] Shak.— Leaping pole, a pole used in some games of leaping.— Leaping spider (Zoöl.), a jumping spider; one of the Saltigradæ.
LEAPINGLYLeap"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By leaps.
LEAP YEARLeap" year`
Defn: . Bissextile; a year containing 366 days; every fourth year which leaps over a day more than a common year, giving to February twenty-nine days. See Bissextile.
Note: Every year whose number is divisible by four without a remainder is a leap year, excepting the full centuries, which, to be leap years, must be divisible by 400 without a remainder. If not so divisible they are common years. 1900, therefore, is not a leap year.
LEARLear, v. t.
Defn: To learn. See Lere, to learn. [Obs.]
LEARLear, n.
Defn: Lore; lesson. [Obs.] Spenser.
LEARLear, a.
Defn: See Leer, a. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
LEARLear, n.
Defn: An annealing oven. See Leer, n.
LEARNLearn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Learned, or Learnt (p. pr. & vb. n.Learning.] Etym: [OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS.linon, for lirnon, OHG. lirnen, lernen, G. lernen, fr. the root ofAS. l to teach, OS. lerian, OHG.leran, G. lehren, Goth. laisjan, alsoGoth lais I know, leis acquainted (in comp.); all prob. from a rootmeaning, to go, go over, and hence, to learn; cf. AS. leoran to go .Cf. Last a mold of the foot, lore.]
1. To gain knowledge or information of; to ascertain by inquiry, study, or investigation; to receive instruction concerning; to fix in the mind; to acquire understanding of, or skill; as, to learn the way; to learn a lesson; to learn dancing; to learn to skate; to learn the violin; to learn the truth about something. "Learn to do well." Is. i. 17. Now learn a parable of the fig tree. Matt. xxiv. 32.
2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. [Obs.] Hast thou not learned me how To make perfumes Shak.
Note: Learn formerly had also the sense of teach, in accordance with the analogy of the French and other languages, and hence we find it with this sense in Shakespeare, Spenser, and other old writers. This usage has now passed away. To learn is to receive instruction, and to teach is to give instruction. He who is taught learns, not he who teaches.
LEARNLearn, v. i.
Defn: To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction; as, this child learns quickly. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29. To learn by heart. See By heart, under Heart. — To learn by rote, to memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding.
LEARNABLELearn"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be learned.
LEARNEDLearn"ed, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to learning; possessing, or characterized by,learning, esp. scholastic learning; erudite; well-informed; as, alearned scholar, writer, or lawyer; a learned book; a learned theory.The learnedlover lost no time. Spenser.Men of much reading are greatly learned, but may be little knowing.Locke.Words of learned length and thundering sound. Goldsmith.The learned, learned men; men of erudition; scholars.— Learn"ed*ly, adv. Learn"ed*ness, n.Every coxcomb swears as learnedly as they. Swift.
LEARNERLearn"er, n.
Defn: One who learns; a scholar.
LEARNINGLearn"ing, n. Etym: [AS. leornung.]
1. The acquisition of knowledge or skill; as, the learning of languages; the learning of telegraphy.
2. The knowledge or skill received by instruction or study; acquired knowledge or ideas in any branch of science or literature; erudition; literature; science; as, he is a man of great learning. Book learning. See under Book.
Syn.— Literature; erudition; lore; scholarship; science; letters. SeeLiterature.
LEASABLELeas"a*ble, a. Etym: [From 2d Lease.]
Defn: Such as can be leased.
LEASE Lease, v. i. Etym: [AS. lesan to gather; akin to D. lezen to gather, read, G. lesen, Goth. lisan to gather; cf. Lith lesti to peck.]
Defn: To gather what harvesters have left behind; to glean. [Obs.]Dryden.
LEASELease, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leased; p. pr. & vb. n. Leasing.] Etym:[F.laisser, OF. laissier, lessier, to leave, transmit, L. laxare toloose, slacken, from laxus loose, wide. See Lax, and cf. Lesser.]
1. To grant to another by lease the possession of, as of lands, tenements, and hereditaments; to let; to demise; as, a landowner leases a farm to a tenant; — sometimes with out. There were some [houses] that were leased out for three lives. Addison.
2. To hold under a lease; to take lease of; as, a tenant leases his land from the owner.
LEASELease, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. lais. See Lease, v. t.]
1. A demise or letting of lands, tenements, or hereditaments to another for life, for a term of years, or at will, or for any less interest than that which the lessor has in the property, usually for a specified rent or compensation.
2. The contract for such letting.
3. Any tenure by grant or permission; the time for which such a tenure holds good; allotted time. Our high-placed Macbeth Shall live the lease of nature. Shak. Lease and release a mode of conveyance of freehold estates, formerly common in England and in New York. its place is now supplied by a simple deed of grant. Burrill. Warren's Blackstone.
LEASEHOLDLease"hold`, a.
Defn: Held by lease.
LEASEHOLDLease"hold`, n.
Defn: A tenure by lease; specifically, land held as personalty under a lease for years.
LEASEHOLDERLease"hold`er, n.
Defn: A tenant under a lease.— Lease"hold`ing, a. & n.
LEASERLeas"er, n. Etym: [From 1st Lease.]
Defn: One who leases or gleans. [Obs.] Swift.
LEASERLeas"er, n.
Defn: A liar. [Obs.] See Leasing.
LEASHLeash, n. Etym: [OE. lese, lees, leece, OF. lesse, F. laisse,LL.laxa, fr. L. laxus loose. See Lax.]
1. A thong of leather, or a long cord, by which a falconer holds his hawk, or a courser his dog. Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash. Shak.
2. (Sporting)
Defn: A brace and a half; a tierce; three; three creatures of anykind, especially greyhounds, foxes, bucks, and hares; hence, thenumber three in general.[I] kept my chamber a leash of days. B. Jonson.Then were I wealthier than a leash of kings. Tennyson.
3. (Weaving)
Defn: A string with a loop at the end for lifting warp threads, in a loom.
LEASHLeash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Leashing.]
Defn: To tie together, or hold, with a leash.
LEASINGLeas"ing, n. Etym: [AS. leásung, fr. leás loose, false, deceitful.See -less, Loose, a.]
Defn: The act of lying; falsehood; a lie or lies. [Archaic] Spenser.Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. Ps. v. 6.Blessed be the lips that such a leasing told. Fairfax.Leasing making (Scots Law), the uttering of lies or libels upon thepersonal character of the sovereign, his court, or his family. Bp.Burnet.
LEASOWLea"sow, n. Etym: [AS. lesu, læsu.]
Defn: A pasture. [Obs.]
LEASTLeast, a. Etym: [OE. last, lest, AS. l, l, superl. of l less. SeeLess, a.] [Used as the superlative of little.]
Defn: Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space.
Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun. I am the least of the apostles. 1 Cor. xv. 9. At least, or At the least, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See However. He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor. Milton. Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback. Sir P. Sidney. — In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner, etc. "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke xvi. 10. — Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities.
Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum.
LEASTLeast, adv.
Defn: In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
LEASTLeast, conj.
Defn: See Lest, conj. [Obs.] Spenser.
LEASTWAYS; LEASTWISELeast"ways`, Least"wise`, adv.
Defn: At least; at all events. [Colloq.] At leastways, or At leastwise, at least. [Obs.] Fuller.
LEASYLea"sy, a. Etym: [AS. leás void, loose, false. Cf. Leasing.]
Defn: Flimsy; vague; deceptive. [Obs.] Ascham.
LEATLeat, n. Etym: [Cf. Lead to conduct.]
Defn: An artificial water trench, esp. one to or from a mill. C.Kingsley.
LEATHER Leath"er, n. Etym: [OE. lether, AS. le; akin to D. leder, leêr, G. leder, OHG. ledar, Icel. le, Sw. läder, Dan. læder.]
1. The skin of an animal, or some part of such skin, tanned, tawed, or otherwise dressed for use; also, dressed hides, collectively.
2. The skin. [Ironical or Sportive]
Note: Leather is much used adjectively in the sense of made of, relating to, or like, leather. Leather board, an imitation of sole leather, made of leather scraps, rags, paper, etc. — Leather carp (Zoöl.) , a variety of carp in which the scales are all, or nearly all, absent. See Illust. under Carp. — Leather jacket. (Zoöl.) (a) A California carangoid fish (Oligoplites saurus). (b) A trigger fish (Balistes Carolinensis). — Leather flower (Bot.), a climbing plant (Clematis Viorna) of the Middle and Southern States having thick, leathery sepals of a purplish color. — Leather leaf (Bot.), a low shrub (Cassandra calyculata), growing in Northern swamps, and having evergreen, coriaceous, scurfy leaves. — Leather plant (Bot.), one or more New Zealand plants of the composite genus Celmisia, which have white or buff tomentose leaves. — Leather turtle. (Zoöl.) See Leatherback. — Vegetable leather. (a) An imitation of leather made of cotton waste. (b) Linen cloth coated with India rubber. Ure.
LEATHERLeath"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leathered; p. pr. & vb. n. Leathering.]
Defn: To beat, as with a thong of leather. [Obs. or Colloq.] G.Eliot.
LEATHERBACKLeath"er*back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large sea turtle (Sphargis coriacea), having no bony shell on its back. It is common in the warm and temperate parts of the Atlantic, and sometimes weighs over a thousand pounds; — called also leather turtle, leathery turtle, leather-backed tortoise, etc.
LEATHERET; LEATHERETTELeath"er*et, Leath`er*ette", n. Etym: [Leather + et, F. -ette.]
Defn: An imitation of leather, made of paper and cloth.
LEATHERHEADLeath"er*head`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The friar bird.
LEATHERNLeath"ern, a.
Defn: Made of leather; consisting of. leather; as, a leathern purse."A leathern girdle about his loins." Matt. iii. 4.
LEATHERNECKLeath"er*neck`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sordid friar bird of Australia (Tropidorhynchus sordidus).
LEATHERWOODLeath"er*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small branching shrub (Dirca palustris), with a white, soft wood, and a tough, leathery bark, common in damp woods in the Northern United States; — called also moosewood, and wicopy. Gray.
LEATHERYLeath"er*y, a.
Defn: Resembling leather in appearance or consistence; tough. "A leathery skin." Grew.
LEAVELeave, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Leaving]
Defn: To send out leaves; to leaf; — often with out. G. Fletcher.
LEAVELeave, v. t. Etym: [See Levy.]
Defn: To raise; to levy. [Obs.]An army strong she leaved. Spenser.
LEAVELeave, n. Etym: [OE. leve, leave, AS. leáf; akin to leóf pleasing,dear, E. lief, D. oorlof leave, G. arlaub, and erlauben to permit,Icel. leyfi. Lief.]
1. Liberty granted by which restraint or illegality is removed; permission; allowance; license. David earnestly asked leave of me. 1 Sam. xx. 6. No friend has leave to bear away the dead. Dryden.
2. The act of leaving or departing; a formal parting; a leaving; farewell; adieu; — used chiefly in the phrase, to take leave, i. e., literally, to take permission to go. A double blessing is a'double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave. Shak. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren. Acts xviii. 18. French leave. See under French.
Syn.— See Liberty.
LEAVE Leave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Left; p. pr. & vb. n. Leaving.] Etym: [OE. leven, AS. l, fr. laf remnant, heritage; akin to lifian, libban, to live, orig., to remain; cf. belifan to remain, G. bleiben, Goth. bileiban. Live, v.]
1. To withdraw one's self from; to go away from; to depart from; as, to leave the house. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife. Gen. ii. 24.
2. To let remain unremoved or undone; to let stay or continue, in distinction from what is removed or changed. If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes Jer. xlix. 9. These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matt. xxiii. 23. Besides it leaveth a suspicion, as if more might be said than is expressed. Bacon.
3. To cease from; to desist from; to abstain from. Now leave complaining and begin your tea. Pope.
4. To desert; to abandon; to forsake; hence, to give up; torelinquish.Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Mark x. 28.The heresies that men do leave. Shak.
5. To let be or do without interference; as, I left him to his reflections; I leave my hearers to judge. I will leave you now to your gossiplike humor. Shak.
6. To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver; to commit; to submit — with a sense of withdrawing one's self from; as, leave your hat in the hall; we left our cards; to leave the matter to arbitrators. Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way. Matt. v. 24. The foot That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks. Shak.
7. To have remaining at death; hence, to bequeath; as, he left a large estate; he left a good name; he left a legacy to his niece. To leave alone. (a) To leave in solitude. (b) To desist or refrain from having to do with; as, to leave dangerous chemicals alone. — To leave off. (a) To desist from; to forbear; to stop; as, to leave off work at six o'clock. (b) To cease wearing or using; to omit to put in the usual position; as, to leave off a garment; to leave off the tablecloth. (c) To forsake; as, to leave off a bad habit. — To leave out, to omit; as, to leave out a word or name in writing. — To leave to one's self, to let (one) be alone; to cease caring for (one).
Syn. - To quit; depart from; forsake; abandon; relinquish; deliver; bequeath; give up; forego; resign; surrender; forbear. See Quit.
LEAVELeave, v. i.
1. To depart; to set out. [Colloq.] By the time I left for Scotland. Carlyle.
2. To cease; to desist; to leave off. "He . . . began at the eldest, and left at the youngest." Gen. xliv. 12. To leave off, to cease; to desist; to stop. Leave off, and for another summons wait. Roscommon.
LEAVEDLeaved, a. Etym: [From Leaf.]
Defn: Bearing, or having, a leaf or leaves; having folds; — used in combination; as, a four-leaved clover; a two-leaved gate; long- leaved.
LEAVELESSLeave"less, a.
Defn: Leafless. [Obs.] Carew.
LEAVEN Leav"en, n. Etym: [OE. levain, levein, F. levain, L. levamen alleviation, mitigation; but taken in the sense of, a raising, that which raises, fr. levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
1. Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce, fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough, produces a general change in the mass, and renders it light; yeast; barm.
2. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke xii. 1.
LEAVENLeav"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leavened; p. pr. & vb. n. Leavening.]
1. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor. v. 6.
2. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate. With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he leavens also his prayer. Milton.
LEAVENINGLeav"en*ing, n.
1. The act of making light, or causing to ferment, by means of leaven.
2. That which leavens or makes light. Bacon.
LEAVENOUSLeav"en*ous, a.
Defn: Containing leaven. Milton.
LEAVERLeav"er, n.
Defn: One who leaves, or withdraws.
LEAVESLeaves, n.,
Defn: pl. of Leaf.
LEAVE-TAKINGLeave"-tak`ing, n.
Defn: Taking of leave; parting compliments. Shak.
LEAVINESSLeav"i*ness, n. Etym: [Fr. Leaf.]
Defn: Leafiness.[Obs.]
LEAVINGSLeav"ings, n. pl.
1. Things left; remnants; relics.
2. Refuse; offal.
LEAVYLeav"y, a.
Defn: Leafy. [Obs.] Chapman.
LEBAN; LEBBANLeb"an, Leb"ban, n.
Defn: Coagulated sour milk diluted with water; — a common beverage among the Arabs. Also, a fermented liquor made of the same.
LECAMALe*ca"ma, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hartbeest.
LECANOMANCYLe*can"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: divination practiced with water in a basin, by throwing three stones into it, and invoking the demon whose aid was sought.
LECANORICLec`a*no"ric, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid which is obtained from several varieties of lichen (Lecanora, Roccella, etc.), as a white, crystalline substance, and is called also orsellic, or diorsellinic acid, lecanorin, etc.
LECANORINLec`a*no"rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Lecanoric.
LECHLech, v. t. Etym: [F. lécher. See Lick.]
Defn: To lick. [Obs.]
LECHELe*che", n.
Defn: See water buck, under 3d Buck.
LECHERLech"er, n. Etym: [OE.lechur, lechour, OF.lecheor, lecheur, gormand,glutton, libertine, parasite, fr. lechier to lick, F. lécher; ofTeutonic origin. See Lick.]
Defn: A man given to lewdness; one addicted, in an excessive degree, to the indulgence of sexual desire, or to illicit commerce with women.
LECHERLech"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lechered; p. pr. & vb. n. Lechering.]
Defn: To practice lewdness.
LECHERERLech"er*er, n.
Defn: See Lecher, n. Marston.
LECHEROUSLech"er*ous, a.
Defn: Like a lecher; addicted to lewdness; lustful; also, lust-provoking. "A lecherous thing is wine." Chaucer.— Lech"er*ous*ly, adv.— Lech"er*ous*ness, n.
LECHERYLech"er*y, n. Etym: [OE. lecherie, OF. lecherie. See Lecher.]
1. Free indulgence of lust; lewdness.
2. Selfish pleasure; delight. [Obs.] Massinger.
LECITHINLec"i*thin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A complex, nitrogenous phosphorized substance widely distributed through the animal body, and especially conspicuous in the brain and nerve tissue, in yolk of eggs, and in the white blood corpuscles.
LECTERN lec"tern, n.
Defn: See Lecturn.
LECTICALec*ti"ca, n.; pl. Lecticæ. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A kind of litter or portable couch.
LECTION Lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. lectio, fr. legere, lectum, to read. See lesson, Legend.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: A lesson or selection, esp. of Scripture, read in divine service.
2. A reading; a variation in the text. We ourselves are offended by the obtrusion of the new lections into the text. De Quincey.
LECTIONARY Lec"tion*a*ry, n.; pl. -ries. Etym: [LL. lectionarium, lectionarius : cf. F. lectionnaire.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A book, or a list, of lections, for reading in divine service.
LECTORLec"tor, n. Etym: [L. See Lection.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A reader of lections; formerly, a person designated to read lessons to the illiterate.
LECTUALLec"tu*al, a. Etym: [LL. lectualis, fr. L. lectus bed.] (Med.)
Defn: Confining to the bed; as, a lectual disease.
LECTURE Lec"ture, n. Etym: [F. lecture, LL. lectura, fr. L. legere, lectum, to read. See Legend.]
1. The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture. [Obs.]
2. A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.
3. A reprimand or formal reproof from one having authority.
4. (Eng. Universities)
Defn: A rehearsal of a lesson.
LECTURELec"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lectured; p. pr. & vb. n. Lecturing.]
1. To read or deliver a lecture to.
2. To reprove formally and with authority.
LECTURELec"ture, v. i.
Defn: To deliver a lecture or lectures.
LECTURERLec"tur*er, n.
Defn: One who lectures; an assistant preacher.
LECTURESHIPLec"ture*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a lecturer.
LECTURN Lec"turn, n. Etym: [LL. lectrinum, fr. lectrum; cf. L. legere, lectum, to read.]
Defn: A choir desk, or reading desk, in some churches, from which the lections, or Scripture lessons, are chanted or read; hence, a reading desk. [Written also lectern and lettern]. Fairholt.
LECYTHISLec"y*this, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 3 an oil flask.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of gigantic trees, chiefly Brazilian, of the order Myrtaceæ, having woody capsules opening by an apical lid. Lecythis Zabucajo yields the delicious sapucaia nuts. L. Ollaria produces the monkey-pots, its capsules. Its bark separates into thin sheets, like paper, used by the natives for cigarette wrappers.
LEDLed, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Lead. Led captain. An obsequious follower or attendant.[Obs.] Swift.— Led horse, a sumpter horse, or a spare horse, that is led along.
LEDEN; LEDDENLed"en, Led"den n. Etym: [AS. l, l, language, speech. Cf. Leod.]
Defn: Language; speech; voice; cry. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
LEDGE Ledge, n. Etym: [Akin to AS. licgan to lie, Icel. liggja; cf. Icel. lögg the ledge or rim at the bottom of a cask. See Lie to be prostrate.] [Formerly written lidge.]
1. A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles such a shelf in form or use, as a projecting ridge or part, or a molding or edge in joinery.
2. A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks.
3. A layer or stratum. The lowest ledge or row should be of stone. Sir H. Wotton.
4. (Mining)
Defn: A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral.
5. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A piece of timber to support the deck, placed athwartship between beams.
LEDGEMENTLedge"ment, n.
Defn: See Ledgment.
LEDGER Ledg"er, n. Etym: [Akin to D. legger layer, daybook (fr. leggen to lay, liggen to lie), E. ledge, lie. See Lie to be prostrate.]
1. A book in which a summary of accounts is laid up or preserved; the final book of record in business transactions, in which all debits and credits from the journal, etc., are placed under appropriate heads. [Written also leger.]
2. (Arch.) (a) A large flat stone, esp. one laid over a tomb. Oxf. Gloss. (b) A horizontal piece of timber secured to the uprights and supporting floor timbers, a staircase, scaffolding, or the like. It differs from an intertie in being intended to carry weight. [Written also ligger.] Ledger bait, fishing bait attached to a floating line fastened to the bank of a stream, pond, etc. Walton. J. H. Walsh. — Ledger line. See Leger line, under 3d Leger, a. — Ledger wall (Mining), the wall under a vein; the foot wall. Raymond.
LEDGMENT Ledg"ment, n. (Arch.) (a) A string-course or horizontal suit of moldings, such as the base moldings of a building. Oxf. Gloss. (b) The development of the surface of a body on a plane, so that the dimensions of the different sides may be easily ascertained. Gwilt. [Written also ledgement, legement, and ligement.]
LEDGYLedg"y, a.
Defn: Abounding in ledges; consisting of a ledge or reef; as, a ledgy island.
LEELee, v
Defn: , i, To lie; to speak falsely. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEE Lee, n.; pl. Lees. Etym: [F. lie, perh. fr. L. levare to lift up, raise. Cf. Lever.]
Defn: That which settles at the bottom, as, of a cask of liquor (esp. wine); sediment; dregs; — used now only in the plural. [Lees occurs also as a form of the singular.] "The lees of wine." Holland. A thousand demons lurk within the lee. Young. The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees Is left this vault to brag of. Shak.
LEE Lee, n. Etym: [OE. lee shelter, Icel. hl, akin to AS. hleó, hleów, shelter, protection, OS. hlèo, D. lij lee, Sw. lä, Dan. læ.]
1. A sheltered place; esp., a place; protected from the wind by some object; the side sheltered from the wind; shelter; protection; as, the lee of a mountain, an island, or a ship. We lurked under lee. Morte d'Arthure. Desiring me to take shelter in his lee. Tyndall.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: That part of the hemisphere, as one stands on shipboard, toward which the wind blows. See Lee, a. By the lee, To bring by the lee. See under By, and Bring. — Under the lee of, on that side which is sheltered from the wind; as, to be under the lee of a ship.
LEELee, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the part or side opposite to that against which the wind blows; — opposed to weather; as, the lee side or lee rail of a vessel. Lee gauge. See Gauge, n. (Naut.) — Lee shore, the shore on the lee side of a vessel. — Lee tide, a tide running in the same direction that the wind blows. — On the lee beam, directly to the leeward; in a line at right angles to the length of the vessel and to the leeward.
LEEANGLE; LIANGLELee"an`gle, Li"an`gle, n. [From native name.]
Defn: A heavy weapon of the Australian aborigines with a sharp- pointed end, about nine inches in length, projecting at right angles from the main part.
LEEBOARDLee"board`, n.
Defn: A board, or frame of planks, lowered over the side of a vessel to lessen her leeway when closehauled, by giving her greater draught.
LEECHLeech, n.
Defn: See 2d Leach.
LEECHLeech, v. t.
Defn: See Leach, v. t.
LEECH Leech, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. leik, Icel. lik, Sw. lik boltrope, stliken the leeches.] (Naut.)
Defn: The border or edge at the side of a sail. [Written also leach.] Leech line, a line attached to the leech ropes of sails, passing up through blocks on the yards, to haul the leeches by. Totten. — Leech rope, that part of the boltrope to which the side of a sail is sewed.
LEECH Leech, n. Etym: [OE. leche, læche, physician, AS. l; akin to Fries. l, OHG. lahhi, Icel. læknari, Sw. läkare, Dan. læge, Goth. l, AS. lacnian to heal, Sw. läka, Dan.læge, Icel. lækna, Goth. l.]
1. physician or surgeon; a professor of the art of healing. [Written also leach.] [Archaic] Spenser. Leech, heal thyself. Wyclif (Luke iv. 23).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those species used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of Europe, and allied species.
Note: In the mouth of bloodsucking leeches are three convergent, serrated jaws, moved by strong muscles. By the motion of these jaws a stellate incision is made in the skin, through which the leech sucks blood till it is gorged, and then drops off. The stomach has large pouches on each side to hold the blood. The common large bloodsucking leech of America (Macrobdella decora) is dark olive above, and red below, with black spots. Many kinds of leeches are parasitic on fishes; others feed upon worms and mollusks, and have no jaws for drawing blood. See Bdelloidea. Hirudinea, and Clepsine.
3. (Surg.)
Defn: A glass tube of peculiar construction, adapted for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum. Horse leech, a less powerful European leech (Hæmopis vorax), commonly attacking the membrane that lines the inside of the mouth and nostrils of animals that drink at pools where it lives.
LEECHLeech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leeched; p. pr. & vb. n. Leeching.]
1. To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds. [Archaic]
2. To bleed by the use of leeches.
LEECHCRAFTLeech"craft`, n.
Defn: The art of healing; skill of a physician. [Archaic] Chaucer.
LEED; LEEDELeed, Leede, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A caldron; a copper kettle. [Obs.] "A furnace of a leed."Chaucer.
LEEFLeef, a. & adv.
Defn: See Lief. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEEK Leek, n. Etym: [AS.leác; akin to D. look, G. lauch, OHG. louh, Icel. laukr, Sw. lök, Dan lög. Cf. Garlic.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Allium (A. Porrum), having broadly linear succulent leaves rising from a loose oblong cylindrical bulb. The flavor is stronger than that of the common onion. Wild leek , in America, a plant (Allium tricoccum) with a cluster of ovoid bulbs and large oblong elliptical leaves.
LEEMELeeme, v. & n.
Defn: See Leme. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEEPLeep, obs. strong imp.
Defn: of Leap. leaped.
LEERLeer, v. t.
Defn: To learn. [Obs.] See Lere, to learn.
LEERLeer, a. Etym: [OE. lere; akin to G. leer, OHG. & OS. lari.] [Obs. orProv. Eng.]
Defn: Empty; destitute; wanting; as: (a) Empty of contents. "A leer stomach." Gifford. (b) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not ridden; as, a leer horse. B. Jonson. (c) Wanting sense or seriousness; trifling; trivolous; as, leer words.
LEERLeer, n.
Defn: An oven in which glassware is annealed.
LEER Leer, n. Etym: [OE.lere cheek, face, look, AS. hleór cheek, face; akin to OS. hlear, hlior, OD. lier, Icel. hl.]
1. The cheek. [Obs.] Holinshed.
2. complexion; aspect; appearance. [Obs.] A Rosalind of a better leer than you. Shak.
3. A distorted expression of the face, or an indirect glance of the eye, conveying a sinister or immodest suggestion. With jealous leer malign Eyed them askance. Milton. She gives the leer of invitation. Shak. Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer. Pope.
LEERLeer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leered; p. pr. & vb. n. Leering.]
Defn: To look with a leer; to look askance with a suggestiveexpression, as of hatred, contempt, lust, etc. ; to cast a sidelonglustful or malign look.I will leer him as a'comes by. Shak.The priest, above his book, Leering at his neighbor's wife. Tennyson.
LEERLeer, v. t.
Defn: To entice with a leer, or leers; as, to leer a man to ruin.Dryden.
LEERELeere, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Tape or braid; an ornament. Halliwell. Leere side, the left side, as that on which a leere or ornament was worn. B. Jonson.
LEERINGLYLeer"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a leering manner.
LEESLees, n. pl.
Defn: Dregs. See 2d Lee.
LEESLees, n.
Defn: A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEESELeese, v. t. Etym: [See Lose.]
Defn: To lose. [Obs.]They would rather leese their friend than their jest. Lord Burleigh.
LEESELeese, v. t. Etym: [Cf. f. léser, L.laesus, p. p. of laedere.]
Defn: To hurt. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
LEETLeet, obs. imp.
Defn: of Let, to allow. Chaucer.
LEETLeet n. Etym: [Cf. AS. hl share, lot.]
Defn: A portion; a list, esp. a list of candidates for an office.[Scot.]
LEET Leet, n. Etym: [LL.leta. Cf. F. lit de justice a solemn sitting of the king in Parliament, L. lis, litis, a lawsuit, It., Sp., & Pg. lite.] (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A court-leet; the district within the jurisdiction of a court- leet; the day on which a court-leet is held. Shak.
Note: The original intent of the court-leet was to view the frankpledges or freemen within the liberty; hence called the view of frankpledge. Latterly it has fallen into almost entire disuse. Burrill. Warren's Blackstone. Leet ale, a feast or merrymaking in time of leet. [Obs.]
LEETLeet, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European pollock.
LEETMANLeet"man, n.; pl. Leetmen (.
Defn: One subject to the jurisdiction of a court-leet.
LEEWARDLee"ward, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the part or side toward which the wind blows; — opposed to windward; as, a leeward berth; a leeward ship. — n.
Defn: The lee side; the lee. — adv.
Defn: Toward the lee.
LEEWAYLee"way`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The lateral movement of a ship to the leeward of her course; drift.
LEFTLeft, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Leave.
LEFT Left, a. Etym: [OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD.lucht, luft; cf. AS.left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyftadl palsy; or cf. AS.l weak.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side; — opposed to right, when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the left ear. Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals. Left bank of a river, that which is on the left hand of a person whose face is turned downstream. — Left bower. See under 2d Bower. — Left center, the members whose sympathies are, in the main, with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They sit between the Center and the extreme Left. — Over the left shoulder, or Over the left, an old but still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief; as, he said it, and it is true, — over the left.
LEFTLeft, n.
1. that part of surrounding space toward which the left side of one's body is turned; as, the house is on the left when you face North. Put that rose a little more to the left. Ld. Lytton.
2. those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand side of the presiding officer. See Center, and Right.
LEFT-HANDLeft"-hand`, a.
Defn: Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than the right; as, the left-hand side; the left-hand road. Left-hand rope, rope laid up and twisted over from right to left, or against the sun; — called also water-laid rope.
LEFT-HANDEDLeft"-hand`ed, a.
1. Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.
2. Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left-handed compliment. The commendations of this people are not always left-handed and detractive. Landor.
3. Having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch when seen in front; — said of a twist, a rotary motion, etc., looked at from a given direction. Left-handed marriage, a morganatic marriage. See Morganatic. — Left-handed screw, a screw constructed to advance away from the observer, when turned, as in a nut, with a left-handed rotation. An ordinary wood screw is right-handed.
LEFT-HANDEDNESS; LEFT-HANDINESSLeft"-hand`ed*ness, Left"-hand`i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being left-handed; awkwardness.An awkward address, ungraceful attitudes and actions, and a certainleft-handiness (if I may use the expression) proclaim low education.Chesterfield.
LEFT-OFFLeft"-off", a.
Defn: Laid a side; cast-off.
LEFTWARDLeft"ward, adv.
Defn: Toward or on the left side.Rightward and leftward rise the rocks. Southey.
LEFULLe"ful, a.
Defn: See Leveful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
LEG Leg, n. Etym: [Icel. leggr; akin to Dan. læg calf of the leg, Sw. lägg.]
1. A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and foot.
2. That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any long and slender support on which any object rests; as, the leg of a table; the leg of pair of compasses or dividers.
3. The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg; as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.
4. A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing. [Obs.] He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for a favor he never received. Fuller.
5. A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. [Slang, Eng.]
6. (Naut.)
Defn: The course and distance made by a vessel on one tack or between tacks.
7. (Steam Boiler)
Defn: An extension of the boiler downward, in the form of a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; — called also water leg.
8. (Grain Elevator)
Defn: The case containing the lower part of the belt which carries the buckets.
9. (Cricket)
Defn: A fielder whose position is on the outside, a little in rear of the batter. A good leg (Naut.), a course sailed on a tack which is near the desired course. — Leg bail, escape from custody by flight. [Slang] — Legs of an hyperbola (or other curve) (Geom.), the branches of the curve which extend outward indefinitely. — Legs of a triangle, the sides of a triangle; — a name seldom used unless one of the sides is first distinguished by some appropriate term; as, the hypothenuse and two legs of a right-angled triangle. On one's legs, standing to speak. — One's last legs. See under Last. — To have legs (Naut.), to have speed. — To stand on one's own legs, to support one's self; to be independent.
LEGLeg, v. t.
Defn: To use as a leg, with it as object: (a) To bow. [Obs.] (b) To run [Low]
LEGACY Leg"a*cy, n.; pl.Legacies. Etym: [L. (assumed) legatia, for legatum, from legare to appoint by last will, to bequeath as a legacy, to depute: cf. OF. legat legacy. See Legate.]
1. A gift of property by will, esp. of money or personal property; a bequest. Also Fig.; as, a legacy of dishonor or disease.
2. A business with which one is intrusted by another; a commission; - - obsolete, except in the phrases last legacy, dying legacy, and the like. My legacy and message wherefore I am sent into the world. Tyndale. He came and told his legacy. Chapman. Legacy duty, a tax paid to government on legacies. Wharton. — Legacy hunter, one who flatters and courts any one for the sake of a legacy.
LEGAL Le"gal, a. Etym: [L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law; prob. orig., that which lies or is fixed (cf. L. lectus bed), and if so akin to E. lie, law: cf. F. légal. Cf. Lie to be prostrate, Loyal, Leal.]
1. Created by, permitted by, in conformity with, or relating to, law; as, a legal obligation; a legal standard or test; a legal procedure; a legal claim; a legal trade; anything is legal which the laws do not forbid.
2. (Theol.) (a) According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. (b) According to the old or Mosaic dispensation; in accordance with the law of Moses
3. (Law)
Defn: Governed by the rules of law as distinguished from the rules of equity; as, legal estate; legal assets. Bouvier. Burrill. Legal cap. See under Cap. — Legal tender. (a) The act of tendering in the performance of a contract or satisfaction of a claim that which the law prescribes or permits, and at such time and place as the law prescribes or permits. (b) That currency, or money, which the law authorizes a debtor to tender and requires a creditor to receive. It differs in different countries.
Syn.— Lawful; constitutional; legitimate; licit; authorized. SeeLawful.
LEGALISMLe"gal*ism, n.
Defn: Strictness, or the doctrine of strictness, in conforming to law.
LEGALISTLe"gal*ist, n.
Defn: One who practices or advocates strict conformity to law; in theology, one who holds to the law of works. See Legal, 2 (a).