Lector - Leg

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Lector (lĕktŏr), n. [L. See .] (Eccl.) A reader of lections; formerly, a person designated to read lessons to the illiterate.
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Lectual (-t��l), a. [LL. lectualis, fr. L. lectus bed.] (Med.) Confining to the bed; as, a lectual disease.
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Lecture (-t�r; 135), n. [F. lecture, LL. lectura, fr. L. legere, lectum, to read. See .] 1. The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture. [Obs.]
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2. A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.
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3. A reprimand or formal reproof from one having authority.
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4. (Eng. Universities) A rehearsal of a lesson.
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Lecture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lectured (-t�rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lecturing.] 1. To read or deliver a lecture to.
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2. To reprove formally and with authority.
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Lecture, v. i. To deliver a lecture or lectures.
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Lecturer (-ẽr), n. One who lectures; an assistant preacher.
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Lectureship, n. The office of a lecturer.
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Lecturn (lĕktŭrn), n. [LL. lectrinum, fr. lectrum; cf. L. legere, lectum, to read.] Same as . [Written also lectern and lettern.] Fairholt.
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Lecythis (lĕsĭthĭs), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 3 an oil flask.] (Bot.) A genus of gigantic trees, chiefly Brazilian, of the order Myrtaceæ, having woody capsules opening by an apical lid. Lecythis Zabucajo yields the delicious sapucaia nuts. Lecythis Ollaria produces the monkey-pots, its capsules. Its bark separates into thin sheets, like paper, used by the natives for cigarette wrappers.
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Led (lĕd), imp. & p. p. of .
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Coloq. Led captain . An obsequious follower or attendant. [Obs.] Swift. -- Coloq. Led horse , a sumpter horse, or a spare horse, that is led along.
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{ Leden (lĕd'n), Ledden (-d'n) } n. [AS. lēden, lȳden, language, speech. Cf. .] Language; speech; voice; cry. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
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Ledge (lĕj), n. [Akin to AS. licgan to lie, Icel. liggja; cf. Icel. lögg the ledge or rim at the bottom of a cask. See to be prostrate.] [Formerly written lidge.] 1. A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles such a shelf in form or use, as a projecting ridge or part, or a molding or edge in joinery.
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2. A shelf, ridge, or reef, of rocks.
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3. A layer or stratum.
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The lowest ledge or row should be of stone. Sir H. Wotton.
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4. (Mining) A lode; a limited mass of rock bearing valuable mineral.
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5. (Shipbuilding) A piece of timber to support the deck, placed athwartship between beams.
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Ledgement (lĕjm�nt), n. See .
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Ledger(lĕjẽr), n. [Akin to D. legger layer, daybook (fr. leggen to lay, liggen to lie), E. ledge, lie. See to be prostrate.] 1. A book in which a summary of accounts is laid up or preserved; the final book of record in business transactions, in which all debits and credits from the journal, etc., are placed under appropriate heads. [Written also leger.]
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2. (Arch.) (a) A large flat stone, esp. one laid over a tomb. Oxf. Gloss. (b) A horizontal piece of timber secured to the uprights and supporting floor timbers, a staircase, scaffolding, or the like. It differs from an intertie in being intended to carry weight. [Written also ligger.]
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Coloq. Ledger bait , fishing bait attached to a floating line fastened to the bank of a stream, pond, etc. Walton. J. H. Walsh. -- Coloq. Ledger blade ,a stationary shearing blade in a machine for shearing the nap of cloth. -- Coloq. Ledger line . See Leger line, under 3d , a. -- Coloq. Ledger wall (Mining), the wall under a vein; the foot wall. Raymond.
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Ledgment (-m�nt), n. (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 on a plane, so that the dimensions of the different sides may be easily ascertained. Gwilt. [Written also ledgement, legement, and ligement.]
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Ledgy (-�), a. Abounding in ledges; consisting of a ledge or reef; as, a ledgy island.
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Ledum prop. n. A genus of evergreen shrubs of the north temperate regions.
Syn. -- genus Ledum.
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Lee (lē), v. i., To lie; to speak falsely. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Lee, n.; pl. Lees (lēz). [F. lie, perh. fr. L. levare to lift up, raise. Cf. .] That which settles at the bottom, as of a cask of liquor (esp. wine); sediment; dregs; -- used now only in the plural. [Lees occurs also as a form of the singular.] “The lees of wine.” Holland.
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A thousand demons lurk within the lee. Young.
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The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
Is left this vault to brag of. Shak.
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Lee, n. [OE. lee shelter, Icel. hlē, akin to AS. hleó, hleów, shelter, protection, OS. hlèo, D. lij lee, Sw. lä, Dan. læ.] 1. A sheltered place; esp., a place protected from the wind by some object; the side sheltered from the wind; shelter; protection; as, the lee of a mountain, an island, or a ship.
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We lurked under lee. Morte d'Arthure.
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Desiring me to take shelter in his lee. Tyndall.
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2. (Naut.) That part of the hemisphere, as one stands on shipboard, toward which the wind blows. See , a.
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Coloq. By the lee , Coloq. To bring by the lee . See under , and . -- Coloq. Under the lee of , on that side which is sheltered from the wind; as, to be under the lee of a ship.
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Lee, a. (Naut.) Of or pertaining to the part or side opposite to that against which the wind blows; -- opposed to weather; as, the lee side or lee rail of a vessel.
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Coloq. Lee gauge . See , n. (Naut.) -- Coloq. Lee shore , the shore on the lee side of a vessel. -- Coloq. Lee tide , a tide running in the same direction that the wind blows. -- Coloq. On the lee beam , directly to the leeward; in a line at right angles to the length of the vessel and to the leeward.
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{ Leeangle, Liangle } (?), n. [From native name.] A heavy weapon of the Australian aborigines with a sharp-pointed end, about nine inches in length, projecting at right angles from the main part.
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Leeboard (lēbōrd), n. A board, or frame of planks, lowered over the side of a vessel to lessen her leeway when closehauled, by giving her greater draught.
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Leech (lēch), n. See 2d .
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Leech, v. t. See , v. t.
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Leech, n. [Cf. LG. leik, Icel. līk, Sw. lik boltrope, stående liken the leeches.] (Naut.) The border or edge at the side of a sail. [Written also leach.]
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Coloq. Leech line , a line attached to the leech ropes of sails, passing up through blocks on the yards, to haul the leeches by. Totten. -- Coloq. Leech rope , that part of the boltrope to which the side of a sail is sewed.
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Leech, n. [OE. leche, læche, physician, AS. lǣce; akin to Fries. lētza, OHG. lāhhī, Icel. læknari, Sw. läkare, Dan. læge, Goth. lēkeis, AS. lācnian to heal, Sw. läka, Dan. læge, Icel. lækna, Goth. lēkinōn.] 1. A physician or surgeon; a professor of the art of healing. [Written also leach.] [Archaic] Spenser.
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Leech, heal thyself. Wyclif (Luke iv. 23).

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those species used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of Europe, and allied species.
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☞ In the mouth of bloodsucking leeches are three convergent, serrated jaws, moved by strong muscles. By the motion of these jaws a stellate incision is made in the skin, through which the leech sucks blood till it is gorged, and then drops off. The stomach has large pouches on each side to hold the blood. The common large bloodsucking leech of America (Macrobdella decora) is dark olive above, and red below, with black spots. Many kinds of leeches are parasitic on fishes; others feed upon worms and mollusks, and have no jaws for drawing blood. See . , and .
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3. (Surg.) A glass tube of peculiar construction, adapted for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.
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Coloq. Horse leech , a less powerful European leech (Hæmopis vorax), commonly attacking the membrane that lines the inside of the mouth and nostrils of animals that drink at pools where it lives.
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Leech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leeched (lēcht); p. pr. & vb. n. Leeching.] 1. To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds. [Archaic]
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2. To bleed by the use of leeches.
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Leechcraft (-krȧft), n. The art of healing; skill of a physician. [Archaic] Chaucer.
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{ Leed, Leede (lēd) }, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A caldron; a copper kettle. [Obs.] “A furnace of a leed.” Chaucer.
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Leef (lēf), a. & adv. See . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Leek (lēk), n. [AS. leác; akin to D. look, G. lauch, OHG. louh, Icel. laukr, Sw. lök, Dan lög. Cf. .] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Allium (Allium Porrum), having broadly linear succulent leaves rising from a loose oblong cylindrical bulb. The flavor is stronger than that of the common onion.
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Coloq. Wild leek , in America, a plant (Allium tricoccum) with a cluster of ovoid bulbs and large oblong elliptical leaves.
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Leeme (lēm), v. & n. See . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Leep (lēp), obs. strong imp. of . Leaped.
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Leer (lēr), v. t. To learn. [Obs.] See , to learn.
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Leer, a. [OE. lere; akin to G. leer, OHG. & OS. lāri.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Empty; destitute; wanting; as: (a) Empty of contents. “A leer stomach.” Gifford. (b) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not ridden; as, a leer horse. B. Jonson. (c) Wanting sense or seriousness; trifling; trivolous; as, leer words.
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Leer, n. An oven in which glassware is annealed.
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Leer, n. [OE. lere cheek, face, look, AS. hleór cheek, face; akin to OS. hlear, hlior, OD. lier, Icel. hlȳr.] 1. The cheek. [Obs.] Holinshed.
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2. Complexion; aspect; appearance. [Obs.]
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A Rosalind of a better leer than you. Shak.
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3. A distorted expression of the face, or an indirect glance of the eye, conveying a sinister or immodest suggestion.
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With jealous leer malign
Eyed them askance. Milton.
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She gives the leer of invitation. Shak.
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Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer. Pope.
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Leer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leered (lērd); p. pr. & vb. n. Leering.] To look with a leer; to look askance with a suggestive expression, as of hatred, contempt, lust, etc.; to cast a sidelong lustful or malign look.
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I will leerupon him as a' comes by. Shak.
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The priest, above his book,
Leering at his neighbor's wife. Tennyson.
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Leer, v. t. To entice with a leer, or leers; as, to leer a man to ruin. Dryden.
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Leere (lēr), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] Tape or braid; an ornament. Halliwell.
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Coloq. Leere side , the left side, as that on which a leere or ornament was worn. B. Jonson.
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Leeringly, adv. In a leering manner.
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Lees (lēz), n. pl. Dregs. See 2d .
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Lees (lēs), n. A leash. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Leese (lēz), v. t. [See .] To lose. [Obs.]
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They would rather leese their friend than their jest. Lord Burleigh.
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Leese, v. t. [Cf. F. léser, L. laesus, p. p. of laedere.] To hurt. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Leet (lēt), obs. imp. of , to allow. Chaucer.
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Leet, n. [Cf. AS. hlēt share, lot.] A portion; a list, esp. a list of candidates for an office. [Scot.]
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Leet, n. [LL. leta. Cf. F. lit de justice a solemn sitting of the king in Parliament, L. lis, litis, a lawsuit, It., Sp., & Pg. lite.] (Eng. Hist.) A court-leet; the district within the jurisdiction of a court-leet; the day on which a court-leet is held. Shak.
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☞ The original intent of the court-leet was to view the frankpledges or freemen within the liberty; hence called the view of frankpledge. Latterly it has fallen into almost entire disuse. Burrill. Warren's Blackstone.
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Coloq. Leet ale , a feast or merrymaking in time of leet. [Obs.]
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Leet, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.) The European pollock.
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Leetman (-m�n), n.; pl. Leetmen (-m�n). One subject to the jurisdiction of a court-leet.
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Leeward (lēwẽrd or lūẽrd), a. (Naut.) Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the part or side toward which the wind blows; -- opposed to windward; as, a leeward berth; a leeward ship. -- n. The lee side; the lee. -- adv. Toward the lee.
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Leeway (lēwā), n. (Naut.) The lateral movement of a ship to the leeward of her course; drift.
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Left (lĕft), imp. & p. p. of .
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Left, a. [OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD. lucht, luft; cf. AS. left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyftādl palsy; or cf. AS. lēf weak.] 1. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side; -- opposed to right, when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the left hand, or arm; the left ear. Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals.
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2. Situated so that the left side of the body is toward it; as, the left side of a deliberative meeting is that to the left of the presiding officer; the left wing of an army is that to the left of the center to one facing an enemy.
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Coloq. Left bank of a river , that which is on the left hand of a person whose face is turned downstream. -- Coloq. Left bower . See under 2d . -- Coloq. Left center , the members whose sympathies are, in the main, with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They sit between the Center and the extreme Left. -- Coloq. Over the left shoulder , or Coloq. Over the left , an old but still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief; as, he said it, and it is true, -- over the left.
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Left, n. 1. That part of surrounding space toward which the left side of one's body is turned; as, the house is on the left when you face North.
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Put that rose a little more to the left. Ld. Lytton.
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2. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand side of the presiding officer. See , and .
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left brain, n. The left cerebral hemisphere of the brain; in humans, it controls motor activity on the right side of the body, and in most people is the primary location for control of language, logic, and mathematical thought.
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left-brain, a. Of or pertaining to the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain.
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left-brained, a. Exhibiting intellectual or personality characteristics suggesting dominance of linguistic or logical modes of thought, which are usually controlled by the left cerebral hemisphere; as, left-brained pedants unable to appreciate music; also referred to as linear. See {3}. Contrasted with right-brained.
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left field, leftfield n. (Baseball) the part of the outfield on the catcher's or batter's left.
Syn. -- left.
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Left-hand (lĕfthănd), a. Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than the right; as, the left-hand side; the left-hand road.
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Coloq. Left-hand rope , rope laid up and twisted over from right to left, or against the sun; -- called also water-laid rope.
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Left-handed, a. 1. Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.
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2. Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left-handed compliment.
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The commendations of this people are not always left-handed and detractive. Landor.
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3. Having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch when seen in front; -- said of a twist, a rotary motion, etc., looked at from a given direction.
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Coloq. Left-handed marriage , a morganatic marriage. See . -- Coloq. Left-handed screw , a screw constructed to advance away from the observer, when turned, as in a nut, with a left-handed rotation. An ordinary wood screw is right-handed.
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{ Left-handedness, Left-handiness (-ĭnĕs), } n. The state or quality of being left-handed; awkwardness.
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An awkward address, ungraceful attitudes and actions, and a certain left-handiness (if I may use the expression) proclaim low education. Chesterfield.
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lefthander, left-hander n. a person who uses the left hand with greater skill than the right; a left-handed{1} person.
Syn. -- lefty, southpaw.
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leftish adj. Inclined toward the political left.
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leftist adj. same as .
Syn. -- left-of-center, left-wing.
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leftist n. a person who belongs to the political left.
Syn. -- socialist, collectivist, left-winger.
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left-of-center adj. same as .
Syn. -- leftist, left-wing.
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Left-off (-ŏf; 115), a. Laid aside; cast-off.
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leftover adj. 1. not used up; remaining after use of part; as, unusable leftover auto parts.
Syn. -- left over(predicate), left(predicate), odd, remaining, unexpended.
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2. Specifically: remaining from a previous meal; -- of food; as, leftover food served at a later meal.
Syn. -- cooked-over, warmed-over, reheated.
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leftover n. An unused part or portion; -- used especially of food remaining uneaten from a previous meal; as, to have leftovers for dinner.
Syn. -- remnant.
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left-slanting adj. slanting toward the left; -- of handwriting. Such handwriting is usually found in left-handed writers
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Leftward (-wẽrd), adv. Toward or on the left side.
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Rightward and leftward rise the rocks. Southey.
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left-wing a. 1. Of or pertaining to the political left or its ideology.
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2. Believing in or supporting tenets of the political left.
Syn. -- leftist, left-of-center.
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left wing n. Those trying to reform the established order, particularly in political matters, to enhance the condition of the common people; -- sometimes applied to those advocating overthrow of an existing government by radical means.
Syn. -- left, left wing, leftists, political left.
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left-winger n. 1. a person who belongs to the political left.
Syn. -- socialist, collectivist, leftist.
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lefty n. 1. a person who uses the left hand with greater skill than the right; a left-handed person.
Syn. -- lefthander, southpaw.
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2. a baseball pitcher who throws the ball with the left hand.
Syn. -- left-handed pitcher, left-hander, southpaw.
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Leful (lēfụl), a. See . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Leg (lĕg), n. [Icel. leggr; akin to Dan. læg calf of the leg, Sw. lägg.] 1. A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running, climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and foot.
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2. That which resembles a leg in form or use; especially, any long and slender support on which any object rests; as, the leg of a table; the leg of a pair of compasses or dividers.
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3. The part of any article of clothing which covers the leg; as, the leg of a stocking or of a pair of trousers.
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4. A bow, esp. in the phrase to make a leg; probably from drawing the leg backward in bowing. [Obs.]
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He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks for a favor he never received. Fuller.
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5. A disreputable sporting character; a blackleg. [Slang, Eng.]
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6. (Naut.) The course and distance made by a vessel on one tack or between tacks.
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7. (Steam Boiler) An extension of the boiler downward, in the form of a narrow space between vertical plates, sometimes nearly surrounding the furnace and ash pit, and serving to support the boiler; -- called also water leg.
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8. (Grain Elevator) The case containing the lower part of the belt which carries the buckets.
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9. (Cricket) A fielder whose position is on the outside, a little in rear of the batter.
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10. (Math.) Either side of a triangle distinguished from the base or, in a right triangle, from the hypotenuse; also, an indefinitely extending branch of a curve, as of a hyperbola.
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11. (Telephony) A branch or lateral circuit connecting an instrument with the main line.
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12. (Elec.) A branch circuit; one phase of a polyphase system.
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Coloq. A good leg (Naut.), a course sailed on a tack which is near the desired course. -- Coloq. Leg bail , escape from custody by flight. [Slang] -- Coloq. Legs of an hyperbola (or other curve) (Geom.), the branches of the curve which extend outward indefinitely. -- Coloq. Legs of a triangle , the sides of a triangle; -- a name seldom used unless one of the sides is first distinguished by some appropriate term; as, the hypothenuse and two legs of a right-angled triangle. Coloq. On one's legs , standing to speak. -- Coloq. On one's last legs . See under . -- Coloq. To have legs (Naut.), to have speed. -- Coloq. To stand on one's own legs , to support one's self; to be independent.
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