Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LEASE, v.i. [leez; Sax. lesan, to collect, also to free, deliberate, to redeem; D. leezen; G. lesen, to gather, to cull; to sift, also to read, like L. lego; Dan. leser, Sw. läsa.]

To glean; to gather what harvest men have left. [Obs.] – Dryden.

LEASE, v.t. [Fr. laisser; a different orthography of Eng. let. See Let.]

To let; to demise; to grant the temporary possession of lands, tenements or hereditaments to another for a rent reserved. Also the contract for such letting. – Encyc.

LEAS'ED, pp.

Demised or let, as lands or tenements.

LEASE'HOLD, a.

Held by lease; as, a leasehold tenement. – Swift.

LEAS'ER, n.

A gleaner; a gatherer after reapers.

LEASH, n. [Fr. laisse, lesse; D. letse. Qu. It. laccio, L. laqueus.]

1. A thong of leather, or long line by which a falconer holds his hawk, or a courser his dog. – Shak.
2. Among sportsmen, a brace and a half; tierce; three; three creatures of any kind, especially greyhounds, foxes, bucks and hares. – Shak. Dennis.
3. A band wherewith to tie any thing. – Boyle.

LEASH, v.t.

To bind; to bold by a string. – Shak.

LEASH'ED, pp.

Bound; held by a string.

LEASH'ING, ppr.

Holding by a string.

LEAS'ING, n. [s as z. Sax. leasunge, from lease, leasa, false.]

Falsehood; lies. [Obsolete or nearly so.]

LEAS'OW, n. [Sax. læswe.]

A pasture. [Obs.] – Wickliffe.

LEAST, a. [superl. of Sax. læs, less, contracted from læsest. It can not be regularly formed from little.]

Smallest; little beyond others, either in size or degree; as, the least insect; the least mercy. Least is often used without the noun to which it refers. “I am the least of the apostles,” that is, the least apostle of all the apostles. – 1 Cor. xv.

LEAST, adv.

1. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it. At least, or At the least, to say no more; not to demand or affirm more than is barely sufficient; at the lowest degree. If he has not incurred a penalty, he at least deserves censure. He who tempts, though vain, at least asperses / The tempted with dishonor. – Milton.
2. To say no more. Let useful observations be at least a part of your conversation. The least, in the smallest degree. His faculties are not in the least impaired. At leastwise, in the sense of at least, is obsolete.

LEAS'Y, a. [s as z.]

Thin; flimsy. It is usually pronounced sleazy. – Ascham.

LEAT, n. [Sax. læt, duxit.]

A trench to conduct water to or from a mill.

LEATH'ER, or LETH'ER, a.

Leathern; consisting of leather; as, a leather glove.

LEATH'ER, or LETH'ER, n. [Sax. lether; G. and D. leder; Sw. läder; Dan. læther; Arm. lezr; Ir. leather. The most correct orthography is lether.]

1. The skin of an animal dressed and prepared for use.
2. Dressed hides in general.
3. Skin; in an ironical sense.

LEATH'ER-COAT, n.

An apple with a tough coat or rind. – Shak.

LEATH'ER-DRESS-ER, n.

One who dresses leather; one who prepares hides for use. – Pope.

LEATH'ER-JACK-ET, n.

A fish of the Pacific Ocean. – Cook.

LEATH'ER-MOUTH-ED, a.

By leather-mouthed fish, I mean such as have their teeth in their throat, as the chub. – Walton.

LEATH'ERN, or LETH'ERN, a.

Made of leather; consisting of leather, as, a leathern purse; a leathern girdle.

LEATH'ER-SELL-ER, or LETH'ER-SELL-ER, n.

A seller or dealer in leather.

LEATH'ER-WING-ED, or LETH'ER-WING-ED, a.

Having wings like leather. – Spenser.

LEATH'ER-Y, or LETH'ERY, a.

Resembling leather; tough. – Grew.