Part 6435

<blockquote>Then were I wealthier than a <b>leash</b> of kings. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Weaving)</fld> <def>A string with a loop at the end for lifting warp threads, in a loom.</def>

<h1>Leash</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw>Leash</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Leashed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Leashing</er>.]</wordforms> <def>To tie together, or hold, with a leash.</def>

<h1>Leasing</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw>Leas"ing</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>le\'a0sung</ets>, fr. <ets>le\'a0s</ets> loose, false, deceitful. See <er>-less</er>, <er>Loose</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <def>The act of lying; falsehood; a lie or lies.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<i>Spenser.</i>

<blockquote>Thou shalt destroy them that speak <b>leasing</b>. <i>Ps. v. 6.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Blessed be the lips that such a <b>leasing</b> told. <i>Fairfax.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Leasing making</col> <fld>(Scots Law)</fld>, <cd>the uttering of lies or libels upon the personal character of the sovereign, his court, or his family.</cd></cs>

<i>Bp. Burnet.</i>

<h1>Leasow</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw>Lea"sow</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>lesu</ets>, <ets>l\'91su</ets>.]</ety> <def>A pasture.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Least</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw>Least</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>last</ets>, <ets>lest</ets>, AS. <ets>l<?/sast</ets>, <ets>l<?/sest</ets>, superl. of <ets>l<?/ssa</ets> less. See <er>Less</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <mark>[Used as the superlative of <i>little</i>.]</mark> Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; <as>as, the <ex>least</ex> insect; the <ex>least</ex> mercy; the <ex>least</ex> space.</as></def>

<note>&hand; <i>Least</i> is often used with <i>the</i>, as if a noun.</note>

<blockquote>I am the <b>least</b> of the apostles. <i>1 Cor. xv. 9.</i></blockquote>

<cs><mcol><col>At least</col>, &or; <col>At the least</col></mcol>, <cd>at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See <er>However</er>.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>He who tempts, though in vain, <b>at least</b> asperses The tempted with dishonor. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Upon the mast they saw a young man, <b>at least</b> if he were a man, who sat as on horseback. <i>Sir P. Sidney.</i></blockquote>

-- <mcol><col>In least</col>, &or; <col>In the least</col></mcol>, <cd>in the least degree, manner, etc.</cd> "He that is unjust <i>in the least</i> is unjust also in much." <i>Luke xvi. 10</i>. -- <col>Least squares</col> <fld>(Math.)</fld>, <cd>a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities.</cd> <note>It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum.</note>

<h1>Least</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw>Least</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; <as>as, to reward those who <ex>least</ex> deserve it</as>.</def>

<h1>Least</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw>Least</hw>, <tt>conj.</tt> <def>See <er>Lest</er>, <tt>conj.</tt></def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Spenser.</i>

<h1>Leastways, Leastwise</h1> <Xpage=839>

<hw><hw>Least"ways`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <hw>Least"wise`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>,<hw> <tt>adv.</tt> <def>At least; at all events.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>