A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Lesty], adj. cunning, skilful, S3. See [Liste].

[ Les-when], conj. lest at some time, H. See [Lasse].

[ Lesynge], sb. loss, PP; lesyng, S3, C2, PP; losyng, S2. See [Lesen].

[ Leten], v. (1) to let, cause, permit, (2) to let go, (3) to leave, forsake, neglect, desist, (4) to behave, pretend, (5) to esteem, S, S2, C3, H; laten, S; leoten, S; læte, S; late, imp. s., S2; lat, C2; lest, 2 pr. s., S; letiþ, pr. s., S2; lates, S2; lattis, H; læt, pt. s., S; let, S2, S3; leet, S2, C2; i-leten, pp., S; latun, W; laten, H.—AS. lǽtan, létan, pt. lét, léot, pp. laten; cp. Icel. láta.

[ Leten], v. to delay, S; laten, S.—AS. latian. Cf. [Letten].

[ Letherien], v. to be in a lather, SkD; liðeri, pr. s. subj., S.—ONorth. leðrian, to anoint (John 11. 2), from AS. léaðor, lather (Voc.); cp. Icel. lauðr, froth.

[ Lette], sb. delay, S, S3, C2; let, S2.

[ Letten], v. to hinder, to make late, PP, S2, S3, C2; let, pr. s., S, PP; lette, pt. s., S, C2; letted, S3; lettid, H.—AS. lettan: Icel. letja: Goth. latjan, to be late.

[ Lettere], sb. hinderer, S2, PP.

[ Lettre], sb. writing, C2, PP; lettres, pl., C3, PP.—AF. lettre; Lat. littera.