Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Dictionary: LEFT-HAND'I-NESS – LEG'ER-DE-MAIN
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LEFT-HAND'I-NESS, n.
Awkwardness. – Chesterfield.
LEG, n. [Dan. læg; It. lacca.]
- The limb of an animal, used in supporting the body and in walking and running; properly, that part of the limb from the knee to the foot, but in a more general sense, the whole limb, including the thigh, the leg and the foot.
- The long or slender support of any thing; as, the leg of a table. To make a leg, to bow; a phrase introduced probably by the practice of drawing the right leg backward. [Little used.] – Locke. Swift. To stand on one's own legs, to support one's self; to trust to one's own strength or efforts without aid.
LEG'A-CY, n. [Sp. legado; Fr. legs; L. legatum, from lego, to send, to bequeath; Eth. ለከአ laka, Ar. أَلَكَ alaka, to send. Class Lg, No 1.]
A bequest; a particular thing, or certain sum of money given by last will or testament. Good counsel is the best legacy a father can leave to his child. – L'Estrange.
LEG'A-CY-HUNT-ER, n.
One who flatters and courts for legacies.
LE'GAL, a. [Fr.; from L. legalis, from lex, legis, law.]
- According to law; in conformity with law; as, a legal standard or test; a legal procedure.
- Lawful; permitted by law; as, a legal trade. Any thing is legal which the laws do not forbid.
- According to the law of works, as distinguished from free grace; or resting on works for salvation. – Scott. Milton.
- Pertaining to law; created by law. The exception must be confined to legal crimes. – Paley. So we use the phrase, criminal law.
LE-GAL'I-TY, n.
- Lawfulness; conformity to law.
- In theology, a reliance on works for salvation. – Scott.
LE'GAL-IZE, v.i.
- To make lawful; to render conformable to law; to authorize. What can legalize revenge?
- To sanction; to give the authority of law to that which is done without law or authority. Irregular proceedings may be legalized by a subsequent act of the legislature.
LE-GAL-I'ZED, pp.
Made lawful.
LE-GAL-I'Z-ING, ppr.
Making lawful.
LE'GAL-LY, adv.
Lawfully; according to law; in a manner permitted by law.
LEG'A-TA-RY, n. [Fr. legataire; L. legatarius, from lego, to bequeath.]
A legatee; one to whom a legacy is bequeathed. [But legatee is generally used.]
LEG'ATE, n. [Fr. legat; L. legatus, from lego, to send. See Lackey.]
- An embassador; but especially,
- The pope's embassador to a foreign prince or state; a cardinal or bishop sent as the pope's representative or commissioner to a sovereign prince. Legates are of three kinds; legates a latere, or counselors and assistants of his holiness, legates de latere, who are not cardinals, and legates by office. – Encyc.
LEG-A-TEE', n. [L. lego, to send.]
One to whom a legacy is bequeathed. – Swift.
LEG'ATE-SHIP, n.
The office of a legate.
LEG'A-TINE, a.
- Pertaining to a legate; as, legatine power. – Shak.
- Made by or proceeding from a legate; as, a legatine constitution.
LE-GA'TION, n. [L. legatio, from lego, to send.]
An embassy; a deputation; properly a sending, but generally, the person or persons sent as envoys or embassadors to a foreign court. – Bacon.
LEGATO, adv. [Legato.]
In music, directs the notes to be performed in a close, smooth, gliding manner.
LE-GA'TOR, n. [L.]
A testator; one who bequeaths a legacy. [Little used.] – Dryden.
LEGE, v.t.
To allege; to lighten. [Not in use.] – Chaucer.
LE'GEND, n. [It. leggenda; L. legenda, from lego, to read; originally, in the Romish church, a book of service or lessons to be read in worship.]
- A chronicle or register of the lives of saints, formerly read at matins and at the refectories of religious houses. Hence,
- An idle or ridiculous story told respecting saints. – Encyc.
- Any memorial or relation. – Johnson.
- An incredible, unauthentic narrative. – Blackmore.
- An inscription, particularly on medals and on coins. – Addison.
LE'GEND, v.t.
To tell or narrate, as a legend. – Hall.
LEG'END-A-RY, a.
Consisting of legends; strange; fabulous.
LEG'END-A-RY, n.
A book of legends; a relater of legends. – Sheldon.
LEG'ER, n. [D. leggen, to lie, Sax. lecgan.]
Any thing that lies in a place; that which rests or remains; sometimes used as a noun, but more frequently as an adjective, as, a leger ambassador, that is, resident; but the word is now obsolete, except in particular phrases. A leger-line, in music, a line added to the staff of five lines, when more lines than five are wanted, for designating notes ascending or descending. A leger-book, or leger, a book that lies in the counting-house, the book into which merchants carry a summary of the accounts of the journal; usually and properly written ledger.
LEG'ER-DE-MAIN, n. [Fr. leger, It. leggiero, light, slight, and Fr. de main, of hand. See Light.]
Slight of hand; a deceptive performance which depends on dexterity of hand; a trick performed with such art and adroitness, that the manner or art eludes observation. The word is sometimes used adjectively; as, a legerdemain trick.