Part 657

This irous, cursed wretch Let this knight's son anon before him fetch.

Chaucer.

He . . . thus let do slay hem all three.

Chaucer.

Anon he let two coffers make.

Gower.

4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; -- either affirmatively, by positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent.

In this sense, when followed by an infinitive, the latter is commonly without the sign to; as to let us walk, i. e., to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose.

Pharaoh said, I will let you go.

Ex. viii. 28.

If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is.

Shak.

5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to rent; to hire out; -- often with out; as, to let a farm; to let a house; to let out horses.

6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; -- often with out; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering.

The active form of the infinitive of let, as of many other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house to let (i. e., for letting, or to be let). This form of expression conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See Gerund, 2. " Your elegant house in Harley Street is to let." Thackeray. In the imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a hortative force. " Rise up, let us go." Mark xiv. 42. " Let us seek out some desolate shade." Shak.

To let alone, to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering with. -- To let blood, to cause blood to flow; to bleed. -- To let down. (a) To lower. (b) To soften in tempering; as, to let down tools, cutlery, and the like. -- To let drive or fly, to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under Drive, and Fly. -- To let in or into. (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface for the purpose. To let loose, to remove restraint from; to permit to wander at large. -- To let off. (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun. (b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation. [Colloq.] -- To let out. (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord. (c) To lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job. (d) To divulge. -- To let slide, to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] " Let the world slide." Shak.

Let, v. i. 1. To forbear. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. To be let or leased; as, the farm lets for $500 a year. See note under Let, v. t.

To let on, to tell; to tattle; to divulge something. -- To let up, to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm lets up. [Colloq.]

Let"-a*lone" (lt"*ln"), a. Letting alone.

The let-alone principle, doctrine, or policy. (Polit. Econ.) See Laissez faire.

Letch (lch), v. & n. See Leach.

Letch, n. [See Lech, Lecher.] Strong desire; passion. (Archaic).

Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging the wrongs of others.

De Quincey.

Letch"y (-), a. See Leachy.

Lete (lt), v. t. To let; to leave. [Obs.]

Let"en (lt"en), obs. p. p. of Lete. Chaucer.