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.
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.Lēdg'ment, n. p. 761See LEDGEMENT.Lĕdg'y, a. p. 761Abounding in ledges.Lēd'-hôrse, n. p. 761A sumpter-horse.Lee, n. p. 761The coarser parts of a liquor, which settle at its bottom; sediment; dregs; — commonly in the plural. [Written also in the singular lees.] His full draught of pleasure from a cask . . . A thousand…Lee, n. p. 761(Naut.) A calm or sheltered place; a place defended from the wind; hence, that part of the hemisphere toward which the wind blows, as opposed to that from which it proceeds. By the lee (Naut.)…Lee, n. p. 762The same as LEA, q. v. 2. The same as LYE, q. v.Lee, v. i. p. 762To lie. [Obs.] See LIE.Lee, a. p. 762(Naut.) Of, or pertaining to, the part or side opposite to that against which the wind blows; — opposed to weather; as, the lee side of a vessel. Lee board, a frame of plank affixed to the side of a…Leech, n. p. 762A physician; a professor of the art of healing. [Nearly obs.] [Written also leach.] 2. [Zoöl.] A cotyled worm (Hirudo [or Sanguisuga] medicinalis), largely used for the local abstraction of blood.…Leech, n. p. 762(Naut.) The border or edge of a sail at the sides. [Written also leach.] Leech-line, a line attached to the leech-ropes of sails, passing up through blocks on the yards, to haul the leeches by.…Leech, v. t. p. 762See LEACH.Leech, v. t. p. 762To treat with medicine; to heal. Let those leech his wounds for whose sake he encountered them. W. Scott. 2. To bleed by the use of leeches.Leech'-crāft, n. p. 762The art of healing. [Obs.]Leef, a. p. 762Kind; fond; pleasing; willing. [Obs.] See LIEF. Spenser.Leek, n. p. 762(Bot.) A plant of the genus Allium (A. porrum), but without a proper bulb, having, in the place of this, a cylindrical body of succulent leaves, which are eatable. It is regarded by Welshmen as a…Lee'lite, n. p. 762(Min.) A variety of feldspar; — so named from Dr. Lee. Dana.Leer, v. i. p. 762To look obliquely; to turn the eye and cast a look from a corner, either in contempt, defiance, or frowning, or with sly allurement. I will leer upon him as he comes by. Shak.Leer, v. t. p. 762To allure with smiles. “To gild a face with smiles, and leer a man to ruin.” Dryden.Leer, n. p. 762The cheek. [Obs.] Holinshed. 2. Complexion; hue; face. [Obs.] Here is a young lad framed of another leer. Shak. 3. An oblique view. With jealous leer malign Eyed them askance. Milton. 4. An affected…Leer, n. p. 762A kind of tape or braid, often an ornamental kind. Halliwell. Leer side, the left side, as that on which a leer or ornament was worn. “A silver clasp on the leer side.” B. Jon.Leer, a. p. 762Empty; destitute; wanting; as, (a.) Empty of contents. “A leer stomach.” [Prov. Eng.] Gifford. (b.) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not ridden; as, a leer horse; hence, led in the train of…Leer'ing-ly, adv. p. 762With an arch, oblique look or smile.Lees, n. p. 762See LEE.Leese, v. t. p. 762To lose. [Obs.] See LOSE. I have seen many so ready to grip and gird, as they would rather leese their friend than their jest. Lord Burleigh.Leese, v. t. p. 762To hurt. [Obs.]Leet, n. p. 762(Eng. Law.) A court; a court of criminal jurisdiction within a township or manor; a jurisdiction for a township; a petty inquest for local police; an assemblage of persons to nominate for some…Leet'-āle, n. p. 762A feast or merry-making in the time of leet. [Obs.]Leet'-man, n. p. 762One subject to the jurisdiction of a leet court.Lee'ward, a. p. 762(Naut.) Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the part toward which the wind blows; as, a leeward ship.