Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LEC'TOR, n. [L. lego, lectus.]

In the ancient church, a reader; a person designated to read parts of the bible, &c., when few other people could read.

LEC'TURE, n. [Fr. lecture, from L. lectura, from lego, to read.]

1. A discourse read or pronounced on any subject; usually a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; as, a lecture on morals, philosophy, rhetoric, or theology.
2. A reading; the act or practice of reading; as in the lecture of the Holy Scripture. [Little used.] – Brown.
3. A magisterial reprimand; a formal reproof. – Addison.
4. A recitation; rehearsal of a lesson. – Eng. Univ.

LEC'TURE, v.i.

1. To read or deliver a formal discourse.
2. To practice reading lectures for instruction. We say, the professor lectures on geometry, or on chimistry.

LEC'TURE, v.i.

1. To instruct by discourses.
2. To instruct dogmatically or authoritatively; to reprove; as, to lecture one for his faults.

LEC'TUR-ED, pp.

Instructed by discourse; reprimanded.

LEC'TUR-ER, n.

1. One who reads or pronounces lectures; a professor or instructor who delivers formal discourses for the instruction of others.
2. A preacher in a church, hired by the parish to assist the rector, vicar or curate. – Johnson.

LEC'TURE-SHIP, n.

The office of a lecturer. – Swift.

LEC'TUR-ING, ppr.

Reading or delivering a discourse; reproving.

LEC'TURN, n.

A reading desk. [Not in use.] – Chaucer.

LED, v. [pret. and pp. of Lead.]

LED-CAP'TAIN, n. [led and captain.]

An obsequious follower or attendant.

LED'EN, n. [Sax. lyden.]

Language; true meaning. [Obs.] – Chaucer. Spenser.

LEDGE, n. [Sax. leger, a layer; D. leggen, to lay, Sax. lecgan.]

1. A stratum, layer or row. The lowest ledge or row should be merely of stone. – Wotton.
2. A ridge; a prominent row; as, a ledge of rocks.
3. A prominent part; a regular part rising or projecting beyond the rest. – Swift.
4. A small molding.
5. A small piece of timber placed athwart ships, under the deck between the beams.
6. A long ridge of rocks near the surface of the sea. – Mar. Dict.

LEDG'ER, n.

The principal book of accounts among merchants; the book into which the accounts of the journal are carried in a summary form.

LED'HORSE, n.

A sumpter-horse.

LEE, n.¹ [plur. Lees; Fr. lie.]

Dregs; sediment. [See Lees.]

LEE, n.² [Sw. lä; Dan. læ. In Sax. hleo, hleow, is a bower or shelter; Scot. le, calm, sheltered; Ice. hle, D. ly, lee, and luw, sheltered from the wind; luwen, to cease blowing; W. clyd, sheltering, warn; Sp. lua, lee. If the Welsh is the same word, it connects these words with L. claudo, cluda, to shut or stop.]

Literally, 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. Under the lee, denotes properly, in the part defended from the wind. Under the lee of the land, is properly, near the shore which breaks the force of the wind. Under the lee of a ship, on the side opposite to that on which the wind blows.

LEE, v.i.

To lie. [Not used. See Lie.] – Chaucer.

LEE'-BOARD, n.

A frame of plank affixed to the side of a flat-bottomed vessel, to prevent it from falling to leeward when close-hauled.

LEECH, n. [Goth. leikeis, Sax. læc, a host or innkeeper, a physician; Dan. läege; læger, to heal; Sw. läkia, to heal; läkiare, a physician; Ir. liagh; Russ. liakar.]

1. A physician; a professor of the art of healing. – Spenser. Dryden. Gay. [This word, in the United States, is nearly or wholly obsolete. Even cow leech is not used.]
2. [Sax. læccan, to seize.] A blood-sucker; an animal of the genus Hirudo a species of aquatic worm, which is used in the medical art for topical bleeding. One large species of this animal is called horse-leech.
3. In seamen's language, the border or edge of a sail, which is sloping or perpendicular; as, the fore-leech, the after-leech, &c.

LEECH'-CRAFT, n.

The art of healing. [Obs.] – Davies.

LEECH'-LINE, n.

Leech-lines are ropes fastened to the middle of the leeches of the main-sail and fore-sail, serving to truss them up to the yards.

LEECH'-ROPE, n.

That part of the bolt-rope to which the skirt or border of a sail is sewed. – Mar. Dict.

LEEF, a.

Kind; fond; pleasing; willing. [Obs. See Lief.] – Spenser.

LEE'-GAGE, n.

A greater distance from the point whence the wind blows, than another vessel has.