Chapter 895

Lere (?) , n. [See Lore knowledge.] Learning; lesson; lore. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Lere <Xpage=844>

Lere , v. t. & i. [OE. leeren , leren , AS. l<?/ran . See Lore , Learn .] To learn; to teach. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lere <Xpage=844>

Lere , a. Empty. [Obs.] See Lere , a.

Lere <Xpage=844>

Lere , n. [AS. lira flesh; cf. Icel l\'91r thigh.] Flesh; skin. [Obs.] "His white leer ."

Chaucer.

Lered <Xpage=844>

Ler"ed (?) , a. [From lere , v. t. ] Learned. [Obs.] " Lewed man or lered ."

Chaucer.

Lern\'91a <Xpage=844>

Ler*n\'91"a (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. Lernaeus Lern\'91an, fr. Lerna , Gr. <?/, a forest and marsh near Argos, the mythological abode of the hydra.] (Zo\'94l.) A Linn\'91an genus of parasitic Entomostraca, -- the same as the family Lern\'91id\'91 .

&hand; The genus is restricted by modern zo\'94logists to a limited number of species similar to Lern\'91a branchialis found on the gills of the cod.

Lern\'91acea <Xpage=844>

Ler`n\'91*a"ce*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Lern\'91a .] (Zo\'94l.) A suborder of copepod Crustacea, including a large number of remarkable forms, mostly parasitic on fishes. The young, however, are active and swim freely. See Illustration in Appendix.

Lernean <Xpage=844>

Ler*ne"an (?) , n. [See Lern\'91a .] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family ( Lern\'91id\'91 ) of parasitic Crustacea found attached to fishes and other marine animals. Some species penetrate the skin and flesh with the elongated head, and feed on the viscera. See Illust . in Appendix.

L\'82rot <Xpage=844>

L\'82`rot" (?) , n. [F.] (Zo\'94l.) A small European rodent ( Eliomys nitela ), allied to the dormouse.

Les <Xpage=844>

Les (?) , n. A leash. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lesbian <Xpage=844>

Les"bi*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the island anciently called Lesbos , now Mitylene, in the Grecian Archipelago.

Lese <Xpage=844>

Lese (?) , v. t. To lose. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lese-majesty <Xpage=844>

Lese`-maj"es*ty (?) , n. See Leze majesty .

Lesion <Xpage=844>

Le"sion (?) , n. [F. lesion , L. laesio , fr. laedere , laesum , to hurt, injure.] A hurt; an injury. Specifically: (a) (Civil Law) Loss sustained from failure to fulfill a bargain or contract . Burrill . (b) (Med.) Any morbid change in the exercise of functions or the texture of organs.

Dunglison.

-less <Xpage=844>

-less (?) . [AS. le\'a0s loose, false; akin to OS. l<?/s loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose , lose . &root;127. See Lose , and cf. Loose , Leasing .] A privative adjective suffix, denoting without , destitute of , not having ; as wit less , child less , father less .

Less <Xpage=844>

Less (l&ecr;s) , conj. Unless. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Less <Xpage=844>

Less , a. [OE. lesse , AS. l&aemac;ssa ; akin to OFries. l&emac;ssa ; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser , Lest , Least . Less has the sense of the comparative degree of little .] Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.

&hand; The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less , n.

Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.

Less <Xpage=844>

Less , adv. [AS. l<?/s . See Less , adj ., and cf. Lest .] Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.

Less <Xpage=844>

Less , n. 1. A smaller portion or quantity.

The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less . Ex. xvi. 17.

2. The inferior, younger, or smaller.

The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.

Less <Xpage=844>

Less , v. t. To make less; to lessen. [Obs.]

Gower.

Lessee <Xpage=844>

Les*see" (?) , n. [F. laiss\'82 , p. p. of laisser . See Lease , v. t. ] (Law) The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease.

Blackstone.

Lessen <Xpage=844>

Less"en (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lessened (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening .] [From Less , a. ] To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.

Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. Calamy.

St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. Atterbury.

Syn. -- To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade.

Lessen <Xpage=844>

Less"en , v. i. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened .

The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.

Lessener <Xpage=844>

Less"en*er (?) , n. One who, or that which, lessens.

His wife . . . is the lessener of his pain, and the augmenter of his pleasure. J. Rogers (1839).

Lesser <Xpage=844>

Less"er (?) , a. [This word is formed by adding anew the compar. suffix -er (in which r is from an original s ) to less . See Less , a. ] Less; smaller; inferior.

God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 15.

&hand; Lesser is used for less , now the compar. of little , in certain special instances in which its employment has become established by custom; as, Lesser Asia (i. e., Asia Minor), the lesser light, and some others; also in poetry, for the sake of the meter, and in prose where its use renders the passage more euphonious.

The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Shak.

The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. Pope.

By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law. Locke.

Lesser <Xpage=844>

Less"er , adv. Less. [Obs.]

Shak.

Lesses <Xpage=844>

Les"ses (?) , n. pl. [F. laiss\'82es , from laisser to leave. See Lease , v. t. ] The leavings or dung of beasts.

Lesson <Xpage=844>

Les"son (?) , n. [OE. lessoun , F. le<?/on lesson, reading, fr. L. lectio a reading, fr. legere to read, collect. See Legend , and cf. Lection .] 1. Anything read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner; something, as a portion of a book, assigned to a pupil to be studied or learned at one time.

2. That which is learned or taught by an express effort; instruction derived from precept, experience, observation, or deduction; a precept; a doctrine; as, to take or give a lesson in drawing . " A smooth and pleasing lesson ."

Milton.

Emprinteth well this lesson in your mind. Chaucer.

3. A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction; as, here endeth the first lesson .

4. A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning.

She would give her a lesson for walking so late. Sir. P. Sidney.

5. (Mus.) An exercise; a composition serving an educational purpose; a study.

Lesson <Xpage=844>

Les"son , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lessoned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessoning .] To teach; to instruct.

Shak.

To rest the weary, and to soothe the sad, Doth lesson happier men, and shame at least the bad. Byron.

Lessor <Xpage=844>

Les"sor (?) , n. [See Lessee , Lease , v. t. ] (Law) One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease.

Blackstone.

Lest <Xpage=844>

Lest (?) , v. i. To listen. [Obs.]

Chaucer. Spenser.

Lest <Xpage=844>

Lest , n. [See List to choose.] Lust; desire; pleasure. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lest <Xpage=844>

Lest , a. Last; least. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Lest <Xpage=844>

Lest , conj. [OE. leste , fr. AS. <?/<?/ l<?/s <?/ the less that, where <?/ is the instrumental case of the definite article, and <?/ is an indeclinable relative particle, that , who , which . See The , Less , a. ] 1. For <?/ear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Prov. xx. 18.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth he standeth take heed lest he fall. I Cor. x. 12.

2. That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension .

I feared Lest I might anger thee. Shak.

-let <Xpage=844>

-let (?) . [From two French dim. endings -el (L. -ellus ) and -et , as in brace let .] A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in stream let , arm let .

Let <Xpage=844>

Let (?) , v. t. [OE. letten , AS. lettan to delay, to hinder, fr. l\'91t slow; akin to D. letten to hinder, G. verletzen to hurt, Icel. letja to hold back, Goth. latjan . See Late .] To retard; to hinder; to impede; to oppose. [Archaic]

He was so strong that no man might him let . Chaucer.

He who now letteth will let , until he be taken out of the way. 2. Thess. ii. 7.

Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And lets me from the saddle. Tennyson.

Let <Xpage=844>

Let , n. 1. A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; -- common in the phrase without let or hindrance , but elsewhere archaic.

Keats.

Consider whether your doings be to the let of your salvation or not. Latimer.

2. (Lawn Tennis) A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net in passing over.

Let <Xpage=844>

Let , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Let ( Letted (?) , [Obs] .); p. pr. & vb. n. Letting .] [OE. leten , l\'91ten (past tense lat , let , p. p. laten , leten , lete ), AS. l&aemac;tan (past tense l&emac;t , p. p. l&aemac;ten ); akin to OFries. l&emac;ta , OS. l\'betan , D. laten , G. lessen , OHG. l\'bezzan , Icel. l\'beta , Sw. l\'86ta , Dan. lade , Goth. l&emac;tan , and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. Alas , Late , Lassitude , Let to hinder.] 1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.]

He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let Chaucer.

Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother Nature all her care she lets . Spenser.

Let me alone in choosing of my wife. Chaucer.

2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

3. To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e ., cause to be made; let bring, i. e. , cause to be brought. [Obs.]

This irous, cursed wretch Let this knight's son anon before him fetch. Chaucer.

He . . . thus let do slay hem all three. Chaucer.

Anon he let two coffers make. Gower.

4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; -- either affirmatively, by positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent.

&hand; In this sense, when followed by an infinitive, the latter is commonly without the sign to ; as to let us walk, i. e. , to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose.

Pharaoh said, I will let you go Ex. viii. 28.

If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. Shak.

5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to rent; to hire out; -- often with out ; as, to let a farm; to let a house; to let out horses.

6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; -- often with out ; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering.

&hand; The active form of the infinitive of let , as of many other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house to let ( i. e. , for letting, or to be let). This form of expression conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See Gerund , 2. " Your elegant house in Harley Street is to let ." Thackeray. In the imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a hortative force. " Rise up, let us go." Mark xiv. 42 . " Let us seek out some desolate shade." Shak.

To let alone , to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering with. -- To let blood , to cause blood to flow; to bleed. -- To let down . (a) To lower . (b) To soften in tempering; as to let down tools, cutlery, and the like. <-- to let (someone) down. to disappoint (someone) by filing to perform as expected. --> -- To let drive &or; fly , to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under Drive , and Fly . -- To let in &or; into. (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface for the purpose . To let loose , to remove restraint from; to permit to wander at large. -- To let off (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun . (b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation . [Colloq.] To let out . (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner . (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord . (c) To lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job . (d) To divulge. -- To let slide , to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] " Let the world slide ." Shak.

Let <Xpage=844>

Let , v. i. 1. To forbear. [Obs.]

Bacon.

2. To be let or leased; as, the farm lets for $500 a year . See note under Left , v. i.

To let on , to tell; to tattle; to divulge something. [Low] -- To let up , to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm lets up . [Colloq.]

Let-alone <Xpage=844>

Let"-a*lone" (?) , a. Letting alone.

The let-alone principle, doctrine, &or; policy . (Polit. Econ.) See Laissez faire .

Letch <Xpage=844>

Letch (?) , v. & n. See Leach .

Letch <Xpage=844>

Letch , n. [See Lech , Lecher .] Strong desire; passion. ( Archaic .)

Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others. De Quincey.

Letchy <Xpage=844>

Letch"y (?) , a. See Leachy .

Lete <Xpage=844>

Lete (?) , v. t. To let; to leave. [Obs.]

Leten <Xpage=844>

Let"en (?) , obs. p. p. of Lete .

Chaucer.

Lethal <Xpage=844>

Leth"al (?) , n. [ L auric + eth er + al cohol.] (Chem.) One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.

<page="845"> Page 845

Lethal <Xpage=845>

Le"thal (?) , a. [L. lethalis , letalis , fr. lethum , letum , death: cf. F. l\'82thal .] Deadly; mortal; fatal. "The lethal blow." W. Richardson . -- Le"thal*ly , adv.

Lethality <Xpage=845>

Le*thal"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. l\'82thalit\'82 .] The quality of being lethal; mortality.

Lethargic, Lethargical <Xpage=845>

Le*thar"gic (?) , Le*thar"gic*al (?) , a. [L. lethargicus , Gr. <?/: cf. F. l\'82thargique . See Lethargy .] Pertaining to, affected with, or resembling, lethargy; morbidly drowsy; dull; heavy. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ly , v. -- Le*thar"gic*al*ness , n. -- Le*thar"gic*ness , n.

Lethargize <Xpage=845>

Leth"ar*gize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lethargized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Lethargizing (?) .] To make lethargic.

All bitters are poison, and act by stilling, and depressing, and lethargizing the irritability. Coleridge.

Lethargy <Xpage=845>

Leth"ar*gy (?) , n. ; pl. -gies (#) . [F. l\'82thargie , L. letgargia , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ forgetful, fr. <?/ forgetfulness. See Lethe .] 1. Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked.

2. A state of inaction or indifference.

Europe lay then under a deep lethargy . Atterbury.

Lethargy <Xpage=845>

Leth"ar*gy , v. t. To lethargize. [Obs.]

Shak.

Lethe <Xpage=845>

Le"the (?) , n. [See Lethal .] Death. [Obs.]

Shak.

Lethe <Xpage=845>

Le"the (l&emac;"th&esl;) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, prop., forgetfulness; akin to <?/ to forget, <?/ to escape notice.] 1. (Class. Myth.) A river of Hades whose waters when drunk caused forgetfulness of the past.

2. Oblivion; a draught of oblivion; forgetfulness.

Lethean <Xpage=845>

Le*the"an (?) , a. [L. Letha<?/us , Gr. <?/ or <?/.] Of or pertaining to Lethe; resembling in effect the water of Lethe.

Milton. Barrow.

Letheed <Xpage=845>

Le"theed (?) , a. Caused by Lethe. " Letheed dullness." [Obs.]

Shak.

Letheon <Xpage=845>