Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Lēaf'-būd, n. p. 759(Bot.) The rudiment of a young branch, or a growing point covered with rudimentary leaves called scales. Lindley.Lēaf'-crowned, a. p. 759Crowned with leaves or foliage. Moore.Lēafed, a. p. 759Having leaves.Lēaf'-făt, n. p. 759The fat which lies in leaves or layers within the body of an animal.Lēaf'-hŏp'per, n. p. 759(Entom.) An hemipterous insect of the genus Tettigonia, of which one species (the T. vitis) is very destructive to the vine.Lēaf'i-ness, n. p. 759A state of being full of leaves.Lēaf'-lärd, n. p. 759Lard made of leaf-fat.Lēaf'less, a. p. 759Destitute of leaves; as, a leafless tree.Lēaf'less-ness, n. p. 759Destitution of leaves.Lēaf'let, n. p. 759A little leaf. 2. (Bot.) One of the divisions of a compound leaf; a foliole.Lēaf'-stalk, n. p. 759(Bot.) The petiole or stalk which supports a leaf.Lēaf'y, a. p. 759Full of leaves; as, the leafy forest.Lēague, n. p. 759A combination or union of two or more parties for the purpose of maintaining friendship, and promoting their mutual interest, or for executing any design in concert. And let there be 'Twixt us and…Lēague, v. i. p. 759To unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate.Lēague, n. p. 759A stone erected on the public roads, at certain distances, in the manner of the modern mile-stones. [Obs.] 2. A measure of length or distance, equal, in England and the United States, to three…Lēag'uer, n. p. 759One who unites in a league; a confederate. Some of the old leaguers were tramping and clanking about the apartment. H. Irving.Lēag'uer, n. p. 759The camp of a besieging army; less often, a camp in general. “Your sutler’s wife in the leaguer.” B. Jonson. I have it in charge to go to the camp or leaguer of our army. W. Scott. 2. Hence…Lēag'uer-er, n. p. 759One belonging to, or engaged in, a leaguer. “Roman leaguerers.” J. Webster.Lēak, n. p. 759A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole in a vessel, that admits water, or permits a fluid to escape. 2. The oozing or passing of water, or other fluid or liquor, through a crack, fissure, or aperture in…Lēak, a. p. 759Leaky. [Obs. and rare.] Spenser.Lēak, v. i. p. 759To let water or other liquor into or out of a vessel, through a hole, crevice, or other defect. To leak out, to find publicity in a clandestine or irregular way; to escape from confinement or secrecy.Lēak'ağe, n. p. 759A leaking; or the quantity of a liquor that enters or issues by leaking. 2. (Com.) An allowance of a certain rate per cent. for the leaking of casks, or the waste of liquors by leaking.Lēak'i-ness, n. p. 759The state of being leaky.Lēak'y, a. p. 759Admitting water or other liquor to leak in or out; as, a leaky vessel; a leaky ship or barrel. 2. Apt to disclose secrets; tattling; not close.Lēal, a. p. 759Faithful; loyal; true. [Scot.] O selfless man and stainless gentleman, Who would, against thine own eye-witness, fain, Have all men true and leal, all women pure. Tennyson. Land of the leal, the…Lēam, n. p. 760A string to lead a dog. “A large blood-hound tied in a leam or band.” W. Scott. 2. A flash or gleam. [Obs.] Holland.Lēam’er, n. p. 760A dog held by a leam.Lēan, v. i. p. 760To deviate or move from a perpendicular position or line; to be in a position thus deviating; as, a leaning column. 2. To incline in opinion or inclination; to conform in conduct; — with to or into.…Lēan, v. t. p. 760To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. “Leant her head upon the back.” E. B. Browning. His fainting limbs against an oak he leans. Dryden.Lēan, v. t. p. 760To conceal. [Obs.] Ray.Lēan, a. p. 760Wanting flesh; meager; not fat; as, a lean body; a lean man or animal. 2. Deficient in good qualities; not rich, fertile, or productive; bare; barren; as, lean earth. 3. Destitute of that which…Lēan, n. p. 760That part of flesh which consists of muscle without the fat.Lēan'-fāced, a. p. 760Having a thin face. 2. (Print.) Slender or narrow; — said of letters whose strokes and stems have not their full width; also said of any letter of slender proportions in comparison with its height.…Lēan'ly, adv. p. 760Meagerly; without fat or plumpness.Lēan'ness, n. p. 760The condition of being lean; lack of fat or plumpness; meagerness; hence, poverty; emptiness; want. 2. (Script.) Want of the favor of God, or of the satisfaction of a good conscience; lack of…Lēan'-tō, n. p. 760(Arch.) A building whose rafters pitch or lean against another building, or against a wall. Gwilt.Lēan'-wit/ted, a. p. 760Having but little sense or shrewdness. Shak.Lēan'y, a. p. 760Lean. [Obs.] Spenser.Lēap, v. i. p. 760To spring or rise from the ground, lifting at the same time both feet, as a man, or with all the feet, as other animals; to jump; to vault; as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a horse. A man…Lēap, v. t. p. 760To pass over by leaping; to spring or bound from one side to the other of; as, to leap a wall, a gate, or a gulf. 2. To copulate with; to cover; — said of the male of certain beasts.Lēap, n. p. 760The act of leaping; a jump; a spring; a bound. 2. Space passed by leaping. ’Tis the convenient leap I mean to try. Dryden. 3. A hazardous or venturesome act; a step. 4. Copulation with, or coverture…Lēap, n. p. 760A basket. [Obs.] Wycliffe. 2. A weel or wicker net in which fish are taken. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Lēap'er, n. p. 760One that leaps; as, a horse is called a good leaper.Lēap'-frŏg, n. p. 760A play among boys, in which one stoops down and another leaps over him by placing his hands on the shoulders of the former.Lēap'ful, n. p. 760A basketful. [Obs.] See LEAP.Lēap'ing-ly, adv. p. 760By leaps.Lēap'-weel, n. p. 760A fishing-leap or basket. [Obs.] Holland.Lēap'-yēar, n. p. 760Bissextile; 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 YEAR.Lēar, v. t. p. 760To learn. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] On that sad book his shame and loss he leared. Spenser.Lēar, n. p. 760That which is learned; lore; lesson. [Obs.] She turns herself back to her wicked lears. Spenser.Lēar, a. p. 760Empty; hollow; as, a lear stomach; the lear ribs. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Lẽarn, v. t. p. 760To gain knowledge of; to acquire new knowledge or ideas from or concerning. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree. Matt. xxiv. 32. 2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. Hast thou not learned me how…Lẽarn, v. i. p. 760To receive information or intelligence. 2. To gain or receive knowledge; to receive instruction; to take pattern; — with of. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.…Lẽarn'a-ble, a. p. 760Capable of being learned.Lẽarn'ed, a. p. 760Versed in literature and science; literate; as, a learned man. 2. Well acquainted with arts; knowing; skillful; — often with in; as, learned in martial arts. The learned lover lost no time. Spenser.…Lẽarn'ed-ly, adv. p. 760With learning or erudition; with skill; as, to discuss a question learnedly. Every coxcomb swears as learnedly as they. Swift.Lẽarn'ed-ness, n. p. 760A state of being learned.Lẽarn'er, n. p. 760A person who learns, or is disposed or apt to learn; a scholar.Lẽarn'ing, n. p. 760The knowledge of principles or facts 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…Lēas'a-ble, a. p. 760Capable of being leased.