Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Lēase, n. p. 760A demise or letting of lands or tenements to another for life, for a term of years, or at will, or for any less interest than the lessor has in the property, for a rent or compensation reserved. 2.…Lēase, v. t. p. 760To grant the temporary possession of lands, tenements, or hereditaments, to another, for a rent reserved; to let; to demise; as, to lease a farm or house.Lēase, v. i. p. 760To gather what harvest-men have left behind; to glean. [Obs.] Dryden.Lēase, n. p. 760A pasture; also, a common. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]Lēase'hōld, a. p. 760Held by lease; as, a leasehold tenement.Lēase'hōld, n. p. 760A tenure held by lease.Lēase'hōld·er, n. p. 760A tenant under a lease.Lēas'er, n. p. 760One who leases or gleans. 2. One who practices leasing; a liar. [Obs.] See LEASING.Lēash, n. p. 760A thong of leather, or long line, by which a falconer holds his hawk, or a courser his dog. “Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash.” Shak. 2. (Sporting.) A brace and a half; tierce; three; three…Lēash, v. t. p. 760To bind; to hold by a string.Lēas'ing, n. p. 760Falsehood; lies. [Obs.] Blessed be the lips that such a leasing told. Fairfax. Leasing-making, the making of lies. “He was . . . condemned to die as guilty of leasing-making.” Burnet.Lēa'sōw, n. p. 760A pasture. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Lēast, a. p. 760Smallest; little beyond others, either in size or degree; as, the least insect; the least mercy. 2. Of the smallest worth or importance; most insignificant. ☞ Least is often used without the noun to…Lēast, adv. p. 760In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.Lēast, conj. p. 760Same as LEST, which see. [Obs.] Spenser.Lēast'wāys or Lēast'wīse, adv. p. 760At least; however; at all events. Dickens. At leastways, or at leastwise, at least. [Obs.] Fuller.Lēa'sy, a. p. 760Thin; flimsy; vague; uncertain; deceptive. [Obs.] Ascham.Lēat, n. p. 760An artificial trench to conduct water to or from a mill.Lēath'er, n. p. 760The skin of an animal dressed and prepared for use. 2. Dressed hides collectively. 3. Undressed skin; and, hence, skin in general: — so called in irony or sport. Halliwell.Lēath'er, v. t. p. 760To beat, as with a thong of leather. [Obs. or low.]Lēath'er-cōat, n. p. 760An apple with a tough coat or rind; the golden russet. Halliwell.Lēath'er-drēss'er, n. p. 760One who dresses leather; one who prepares hides for use.Lēath’er-flow’er, n. p. 760(Bot.) A climbing plant (Clematis viorna), having thick leathery sepals of a purplish color. It is found in the Middle and Southern States. Gray.Lēath'er-mouthed, a. p. 760Having a mouth like leather, that is, smooth and without teeth. By leather-mouthed fish, I mean such as have their teeth in their throat, as the chub. Walton.Lēath'ern, a. p. 761Made of leather; consisting of leather; as, a leathern purse; a leathern girdle.Lēath'er-winged, a. p. 761Having wings like leather; — said of the bat. Spenser.Lēath'er-wood, n. p. 761(Bot.) A small branching shrub (Dirca palustris), with a white, soft wood, and a tough, leathery bark. It is common in damp woods in the Northern States; — called also moose-wood, and wicopy. Gray.Lēath'er-y, a. p. 761Resembling leather; tough. “A leathery skin.” Grew.Leave, n. p. 761Liberty 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. A…Leave, v. t. p. 761To withdraw or depart from; to quit for a longer or shorter time. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife. Gen. ii. 24. 2. To part from never to return…Leave, v. i. p. 761To cease; to desist. He searched, and 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.Lēave, v. i. p. 761To send out leaves; to leaf;—often with out.Lēave, v. t. p. 761To raise; to levy. [Obs.] “An army strong she leaved.” Spenser.Leaved, a. p. 761Furnished with foliage or leaves. 2. Having a leaf, or made with leaves or folds; as, a two-leaved gate.Leave'less, a. p. 761Destitute of leaves; leafless. [Obs.]Leav'en, n. p. 761Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce, fermentation, as in dough; especially, a mass of sour dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in…Lĕav'en, v. t. p. 761To excite fermentation in; to raise and make light, as dough or paste. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor. v. 6. 2. To taint; to imbue. With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he…Lēav'en-ing, n. p. 761The act of making light by means of leaven. 2. That which leavens or makes light. Bacon.Lēav'en-ōus, a. p. 761Containing leaven; tainted. Milton.Lēav'er, n. p. 761One who leaves or relinquishes; one who forsakes.Lēaves, n. p. 761pl. of leaf. (Arch.) Ornaments of carved work, resembling the leaf of certain plants or trees, forming part of the more ornamental capitals, — introduced also into festoons, scrolls, wreaths, &c.…Lēave'-tāk'ing, n. p. 761Taking of leave; parting compliments.Lēav'i-ness, n. p. 761State of being full of leaves.Lēav'ings, n. pl. p. 761Things left; remnant; relics. “The leavings of Pharsalia.” Addison. 2. Refuse; offal.Lēav'y, a. p. 761Full of leaves; covered with leaves; leafy. [Obs.] “Upon steep Ossa leafy Pelion.” Chapman.Lēb'an or Lēb'ban, n. p. 761Coagulated sour milk diluted with water; — a common beverage among the Arabs.Le-cān'o-măn'cy, n. p. 761Divination practiced with water in a basin, by throwing three stones into it, and invoking the demon whose aid was sought.