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.
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.Lē-cān'ō-rā, n. p. 761(Bot.) A genus of lichens, from one species of which (L. tartarea) the dye cudbear is obtained. Baird.Le-cān'/o-rīne, n. p. 761(Chem.) A crystallizable substance obtained from the lichen Lecanora tartarea.Lēe'ca Gūm p. 761A kind of gum obtained from the olive-tree;— so called from Lecca, in Calabria.Lēch, v. t. p. 761To lick. [Obs.]Lēch'er, n. p. 761A man given to lewdness; one addicted, in an excessive degree, to the indulgence of sexual desire, and an illicit commerce with women.Lĕch'er, v. i. p. 761To practice lewdness; to indulge lust.Lēch'er-er, n. p. 761The same as LECHER. Marston.Lēch'er-ōus, a. p. 761Like a lecher; addicted to lewdness; prone to indulge lust; lustful; lewd. 2. Provoking lust. Chaucer.Lĕch'er-ōus-ly, adv. p. 761In a lecherous manner; lustfully; lewdly.Lēch'er-ōus-ness, n. p. 761Strong propensity to indulge the sexual appetite; lust.Lēch'er-y, n. p. 761Free indulgence of lust; practice of indulging the animal appetite. 2. Hence, pleasure; delight. [Obs.] What resisting lechery it is to enter An ordinary, cap-a-pie, trimmed like a gallant; The…Lēc'tern, n. p. 761See LECTURN.Lee-tĭ'ēa, n. p. 761(Rom. Antiq.) A kind of couch or litter in which persons in a lying position were carried from one place to another. They were divided into two classes, namely, those used for carrying the dead, and…Lēe'tion, n. p. 761A difference or variety in copies of a manuscript or book; a reading. We ourselves are offended by the obtrusion of the new lections into the text. De Quincey. 2. A lesson or portion of Scripture…Lēe'tion-a-ry, n. p. 761The Roman Catholic service-book, containing portions of Scripture, or lections.Lēe'tor, n. p. 761(Anc. Church.) A reader; a person designated to read parts of the Bible, &c., when few other people could read.Lēct'ū-al, a. p. 761(Med.) Confining to the bed; as, a lectual disease.Lēct'ŭre, n. p. 761<br>1. A reading; the act or practice of reading; as, in the lecture of Holy Scripture. [Obs.] Browne.<br>2. A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for…Lēct'ūre, v. t. p. 761To instruct by discourses. 2. To instruct authoritatively; to reprove; — with for; as, to lecture one for his faults.Lēct'ûre, v. i. p. 761To read or deliver a formal discourse. 2. To practice reading lectures for instruction; as, the professor lectures on geometry, or on chemistry.Lēct'ür-er, n. p. 761One who reads or pronounces lectures; a professor or an instructor who delivers formal discourses for the instruction of others. 2. A preacher in a church, hired by the parish to assist the rector…Lēct'ûre-ship, n. p. 761The office of a lecturer.Lē'e'turn, n. p. 761A choir-desk, or reading-desk, in churches, from which the lections, or Scripture lessons, are chanted or read; hence, a reading-desk. [Written also lectern and lethern.] Fairholt.Lĕd, imp. & p. p. p. 761of lead.Lĕd'-căp'tain, n. p. 761An obsequious follower or attendant.Lēd’en, n. p. 761Language; speech. [Obs.] “And could the leden of the gods unfold.” Spenser.Lédge, n. p. 761A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles such a shelf in form or use. The lowest ledge or row should be merely of stone. Wotton. 2. A shelf of rocks; a ridge; often, a ridge…Lédge'ment, n. p. 761(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 stretched out on a plane, so that the…Lēd'ger, n. p. 761A book in which a summary of accounts is laid up or preserved; the final book of record in business transactions, to which the accounts from the journal, &c., are transferred. [Written also leger.]…Lĕdʹger-līne, n. p. 761See LEGER-LINE.