Lose1, v. t.
(lōōz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lost; p. pr. & vb. n. Losing.] [A-S. leósan, forleósan, O. Sax. forleosan, farlios(an), O. Fries. forlisa, Goth. liusan, fraliusan, O. H. Ger. farliosan, M. H. Ger. verlieren, D. verliezen, L. Ger. verlēsen, N. H. Ger. verlieren, Dan. forlise, Sw. förlisa, förlora, O. Eng. lesen, lese, leese. Cf. Loose.] 1. To set free from; to cause to part with unwillingly; to be rid of unintentionally; to loose; to forfeit; as, to lose a book, a record, a dollar. O false heart! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory. Baret. 2. To forfeit by unsuccessful contest; not to gain or win; to forfeit; as, to lose money in gaming; to lose a battle; to lose favor. Who strive to sit out losing hands are lost. Herbert. 3. To part with; to be deprived of; to possess no longer; — opposed to keep; as, to lose men in battle; to lose an arm or a leg by a shot or by amputation; to lose one's life or honor; to lose business. If the salt hath lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? Matt. v. 13. 4. Not to employ or enjoy; to throw away; to employ ineffectually; to waste; to squander; as, to lose a day; to lose a fortune by gaming; to lose the benefits of instruction; and the like. The unhappy have but hours, and these they lose. Dryden.
- To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; as, to lose the way.
- To perplex or bewilder. “Lost in the maze of words.” Pope.
- To ruin; to destroy; as, to lose a ship by a storm.
The woman that deliberates is lost. Addison. 8. To be deprived of the view of; to cease to view; as, he lost his companion in the crowd. Like following life in creatures we dissect, We lose it in the moment we detect. Pope. 9. To fail to obtain. He shall in no wise lose his reward. Matt. x. 42. To lose ground, to fall behind; to suffer gradual loss or disadvantage. — To lose heart, to lose courage; to become timid. “The mutineers lost heart.” Macaulay. — To lose one's self, to be bewildered; also, to slumber; to have the memory and reason suspended.