Lest, lest, conj. that not: for fear that. [From the A.S. phrase ðý læs ðe (for the reason less that=L. quominus), the first word being dropped, while the others coalesced into lest.]
Lest, lest, v.i. (Spens.) to listen.
Let, let, v.t. to slacken or loose restraint upon: to give leave or power to: to allow, permit, suffer: to grant to a tenant or hirer: to cause (with infin. without to):—pr.p. let′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. let.—n. a letting for hire.—ns. Let′ter; Let′ting.—Let alone, to leave out, not to mention.—adj. passive, inactive—also n. (Shak.) forbearance.—Let blood, to open a vein and let the blood run out; Let down, to allow to fall: to bring down; Let go, to cease holding: to pass by or disregard; Let in, to allow to enter: to take in or swindle; Let into, to admit to the knowledge of; Let off, to allow to go free without punishment, to excuse from payment, &c.; Let on, to allow a thing to be believed, to pretend; Let one's self loose, to let go restraint on words or actions, to indulge in extravagant talk or conduct; Let out, to allow to get free, to let some secret become known; Let slip, to allow to escape: to lose sight of; Let well alone, to let things remain as they are from fear of making them worse. [A.S. lǽtan, to permit, pt.t. lét, leót, pp. læten; Ger. lassen, Fr. laisser, to permit.]
Let, let, v.t. (B.) to prevent.—n. (law) hinderance, obstruction: delay.—n. Let′ter. [A.S. lettan, to hinder—læt, slow.]
Letch, lech, n. strong desire: a crotchet.
Lethal, lē′thal, adj. death-dealing: deadly: mortal.—n. Lethe (Shak.), death.—adj. Lethif′erous, carrying death. [L. lethalis—lethum, letum, death.]
Lethargy, leth′ar-ji, n. heavy unnatural slumber: dullness.—v.t. (Shak.) to make lethargic.—adjs. Lethar′gic, -al, pertaining to lethargy: unnaturally sleepy: dull.—adv. Lethar′gically.—n. Lethar′gicness, the state of being lethargic: morbid sleepiness.—v.t. Leth′argise. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. lēthargia, drowsy forgetfulness—lēthē, forgetfulness.]
Lethe, lē′thē, n. one of the rivers of hell causing forgetfulness of the past to all who drank of it: oblivion.—adj. Lethē′an, of Lethe: oblivious. [Gr.,—lēthō, old form of lanthanein, to forget.]
Letter, let′ėr, n. a conventional mark to express a sound: a written or printed message: literal meaning: a printing-type: (pl.) learning, literary culture.—v.t. to stamp letters upon.—ns. Lett′er-bal′ance, a balance for testing the weight of a letter for post; Lett′er-board (print.), board on which matter in type is placed for keeping or convenience in handling; Lett′er-book, a book in which letters or copies of letters are kept; Lett′er-box, a box in a post-office, at the door of a house, &c., for receiving letters; Lett′er-carr′ier, a postman; Lett′er-case, a portable writing-desk.—adj. Lett′ered, marked with letters: educated: versed in literature: belonging to learning (Lettered proof and Proof before letters; see Proof).—ns. Lett′erer; Lett′er-found′er, one who founds or casts letters or types; Lett′ering, the act of impressing letters: the letters impressed.—adj. Lett′erless, illiterate.—ns. Lett′er-miss′ive, an official letter on matters of common interest, sent to members of a church: a letter from the sovereign addressed to a dean and chapter, naming the person they are to elect bishop—also Royal letter; Lett′ern (same as Lectern); Lett′er-of-cred′it, a letter authorising credit or cash to a certain sum to be paid to the bearer; Lett′er-of-marque (märk), a commission given to a private ship by a government to make reprisals on the vessels of another state.—adj. Lett′er-per′fect, kept in the memory exactly (of an actor's part, &c.).—ns. Lett′erpress, letters impressed or matter printed from type, as distinguished from engraving: a copying-press; Lett′ers-pā′tent, a writing conferring a patent or authorising a person to enjoy some privilege, so called because written on open sheets of parchment; Lett′er-stamp, a post-office implement for defacing a postage-stamp: a stamp for imprinting dates, &c., on letters or papers; Lett′er-wood, the heart-wood of a tree found in British Guiana, dark brown, with darker spots somewhat resembling hieroglyphics; Lett′er-writ′er, one who writes letters, esp. for hire: a book containing forms for imitation in writing letters.—Letter of indication (see Circular); Letters of administration, a document issued by court appointing an administrator of an intestate estate; Letters requisitory, or rogatory, an instrument by which a court of one country asks that of another to take certain evidence on its behalf; Lettre de cachet (see Cachet). [Fr. lettre—L. littera.]
Lettic, let′ik, adj. of or pertaining to the Letts or Lithuanians, or to their language.—Also Lett′ish.