List

n. [A-S. list, a list of cloth; Sw. list, Dan. list, liste, border; Icel. listi, fillet; D. lijst, O. H. Ger. listō, border, fringe; M. H. Ger. liste, N. H. Ger. leiste; hence Fr. liste, Pr., Sp., It., & L. Lat. lista, Ger. & Dan. liste, Sw. lista, D. lijst, a roll or catalogue.]

1Sense 1. The outer edge or selvedge of cloth; a strip of cloth forming the border, particularly of broad-cloth, and serving to strengthen it; a strip of cloth; a fillet. “Gartered with a red and blue list.” Shak.

2Sense 2. A limit or boundary; a border.

The very list, the very utmost bound, Of all our purposes. Shak.

3Sense 3. A roll or catalogue, that is, a row or line; as, a list of names; a list of books; a list of articles; a list of ratable estate.

4Sense 4. (Arch.) A little square molding; a fillet;—called also listel.

Civil list (Great Britain and U. S.), the civil officers of government, as judges, embassadors, secretaries, &c. Hence, the revenues or appropriations of public money for the support of the civil officers. More recently, the civil list, in England, embraces only the expenses of the reigning monarch’s household.

Synonyms—Roll; catalogue; register; inventory; schedule.—LIST, ROLL, CATALOGUE, REGISTER, INVENTORY, SCHEDULE. A list is properly a simple series of names, &c., in a brief form, such as might naturally be entered in a narrow strip of paper. A roll was originally a list containing the names of persons belonging to a public body (as Parliament, &c.), which was rolled up and laid aside among its archives. A catalogue is a list of persons or things arranged in order, and usually containing some description of the same, more or less extended. A register is designed for record or preservation. An inventory is a list of articles, found on hand in a store of goods, or in the estate of a deceased person, or under similar circumstances. A schedule is a formal list or inventory prepared for legal or business purposes. A list must be complete; a catalogue must be properly arranged; a schedule must have the titles and descriptions explicitly given, and be properly attested.

n. [Fr. lice, Pr. lissa, Sp. liza, It. lizza, liccia, L. Lat. liciae, from Lat. licium, thread, girdle.] A line inclosing or forming the extremity of a piece of ground, or field of combat; hence, in the plural (lists), the ground or field inclosed for a race or combat.

To enter the lists, to accept a challenge, or engage in contest.

[imp. & p. p. LISTED; p. pr. & vb. n. LISTING.] [From list, a roll.]

1Sense 1. To sew together, as strips of cloth, so as to make a party-colored show, or to form a border.

2Sense 2. To cover with a list, or with strips of cloth; as, to list a door; hence, to mark as if with list. “The tree that stood white-listed through the gloom.” Tennyson.

3Sense 3. To inclose for combat; as, to list a field.

4Sense 4. To enroll; to register in a list or catalogue; to enlist.

They may be listed among the upper serving-men of some great household. Milton.

5Sense 5. To engage in the public service, as soldiers.

I will list you for my soldier. W. Scott.

[See infra.] To listen or hearken to. Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain, If with too credent ear you list his songs. Shak.

To engage in public service by enrolling one's name; to enlist.

[A.-S. lystan, lustan. See LUST.] 1. To lean or incline; to be propense; hence, to desire or choose; to please. “Them that add to the Word of God what them listeth.” Hooker. Let other men think of your devices as they list. Whitgift. 2. [See LISTEN.] To hearken; to attend; to listen. Stand close and list to him. Shak.

n. 1. Inclination; tendency; desire. [Obs.] “Liberty, list, and leisure to begin . . . this violent schism.” Fuller. 2. (Naut.) An inclination to one side; as, the ship has a list to port. Mar. Dict.