Leach, lēch, n. Same as Leech.
Lead, lēd, v.t. to show the way by going first: to guide by the hand: to direct: to precede: to transport or carry: to allure.—v.i. to go before and show the way: to have a tendency: to exercise dominion:—pr.p. lead′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. led.—n. first place: precedence: direction: (naut.) the course of a running rope from end to end: the right of playing the first card in a round or trick: a main conductor in electrical distribution.—ns. Lead′er, one who leads or goes first: a chief: the leading editorial article in a newspaper (also Leading article): principal wheel in any machinery; Leaderette′, a brief newspaper leader; Lead′ership, state or condition of a leader or conductor; Lead′ing-bus′iness, the acting of the principal parts or rôles in plays; Lead′ing-mō′tive (Ger. leit-motif), in dramatic music, a principal theme: a theme, usually of but few tones, by which any personage or particular emotion is indicated by suggestion as often as it occurs; Lead′ing-ques′tion, a legal term for a question so put to a witness as to suggest the answer that is wished or expected.—n.pl. Lead′ing-strings, strings used to lead children when beginning to walk: vexatious care or custody.—Lead apes in hell (see Ape); Lead astray, to draw into a wrong course, to seduce from right conduct; Lead by the nose, to make one follow submissively; Lead in prayer, to offer up prayer in an assembly, uniting the prayers of others; Lead off, to begin or take the start in anything; Lead on, to persuade to go on, to draw on; Lead one a dance (see Dance); Lead up to, to bring about by degrees, to prepare for anything by steps or stages. [A.S. lǽdan, to lead, lád, a way; Ger. leiten, to lead.]
Lead, led, n. a well-known metal of a bluish-white colour: the plummet for sounding at sea: a thin plate of lead separating lines of type: (pl.) sheets of lead for covering roofs, a flat roof so covered.—v.t. to cover or fit with lead: (print.) to separate lines with leads.—n. Lead′-arm′ing, tallow, &c., placed in the hollow of a sounding-lead, to ascertain the nature of the bottom.—adjs. Lead′ed, fitted with or set in lead: (print.) separated by leads, as the lines of a book, &c.; Lead′en, made of lead: heavy: dull; Lead′en-heart′ed, having an unfeeling heart; Lead′en-step′ping (Milt.), moving slowly.—ns. Lead′-glance, lead ore, galena; Lead′-mill, a mill for grinding white-lead: a leaden disc charged with emery for grinding gems; Lead′-pen′cil, a pencil or instrument for drawing, &c., made of blacklead; Lead′-poi′soning, or Plumbism, poisoning by the absorption and diffusion of lead in the system, its commonest form, Lead or Painter's Colic; Leads′man, a seaman who heaves the lead.—adj. Lead′y, like lead. [A.S. leád; Ger. loth.]
Leaf, lēf, n. one of the lateral organs developed from the stem or axis of the plant below its growing-point: anything beaten thin like a leaf: two pages of a book: one side of a window-shutter, &c.:—pl. Leaves (lēvz).—v.i. to shoot out or produce leaves:—pr.p. leaf′ing; pa.p. leafed.—ns. Leaf′age, leaves collectively: abundance of leaves: season of leaves or leafing; Leaf′-bridge, a form of drawbridge in which the rising leaf or leaves swing vertically on hinges; Leaf′-bud, a bud producing a stem with leaves only; Leaf′iness; Leaf′-in′sect, an orthopterous insect of family Phasmidæ, the wing-covers like leaves.—adj. Leaf′less, destitute of leaves.—ns. Leaf′let, a little leaf, a tract; Leaf′-met′al, metal, especially alloys imitating gold and silver, in very thin leaves, for decoration; Leaf′-mould, earth formed from decayed leaves, used as a soil for plants; Leaf′-stalk, the petiole supporting the leaf.—adj. Leaf′y, full of leaves.—Take a leaf out of one's book (see Book); Turn over a new leaf, to take up a new and better course of conduct. [A.S. leáf; Ger. laub, Dut. loof, a leaf.]
League, lēg, n. a nautical measure, 1⁄20th of a degree, 3 geographical miles, 3.456 statute miles: an old measure of length, varying from the Roman league, 1.376 mod. Eng. miles, to the French, 2.764 miles, and the Spanish, 4.214 miles. [O. Fr. legue (Fr. lieue)—L. leuca, a Gallic mile of 1500 Roman paces; from the Celt., as in Bret. leó.]
League, lēg, n. a bond or alliance: union for mutual advantage.—v.i. to form a league: to unite for mutual interest:—pr.p. leag′uing; pa.t. and pa.p. leagued.—n. Leag′uer, one connected with a league. [Fr. ligue—Low L. liga—L. ligāre, to bind.]
Leaguer, lēg′ėr, n. a camp, esp. of a besieging army: siege or besiegement. [Dut. leger, a lair.]
Leak, lēk, n. a crack or hole in a vessel through which liquid may pass: the oozing of any fluid through an opening.—v.i. to let any fluid into or out of a vessel through a leak.—ns. Leak′age, a leaking: that which enters or escapes by leaking: an allowance for leaking; Leak′iness.—adj. Leak′y, having leaks: letting any liquid in or out.—Leak out, to find vent, to get to the public ears; Spring a leak, to begin to let in water. [Ice. leka; Dut. lekken, to drip.]
Leal, lēl, adj. true-hearted, faithful.—Land o' the Leal, the home of the blessed after death—Paradise, not Scotland. [Norm. Fr. leal, same as loyal.]
Leam, lēm, n. (obs.) a gleam of light, a glow.—v.i. to shine. [A.S. leóma.]