Part 6476

<hw>Lest</hw>, <tt>conj.</tt> <ety>[OE.<ets>leste</ets>, fr. AS. <?/<?/ <ets>l<?/s <?/</ets> the less that, where <?/ is the instrumental case of the definite article, and <?/ is an indeclinable relative particle, <ets>that</ets>, <ets>who</ets>, <ets>which</ets>. See <er>The</er>, <er>Less</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>For <?/ear that; that . . . not; in order that . . . not.</def>

<blockquote>Love not sleep, <b>lest</b> thou come to poverty. <i>Prov. xx. 18.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth he standeth take heed <b>lest</b> he fall. <i>I Cor. x. 12.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That (without the negative particle); -- after certain expressions denoting <i>fear</i> or <i>apprehension</i>.</def>

<blockquote>I feared <b>Lest</b> I might anger thee. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>-let</h1> <Xpage=844>

<hw>-let</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>.<ety>[From two French dim. endings <ets>-el</ets> (L. <ets>-ellus</ets>) and <ets>-et</ets>, as in brace<ets>let</ets>.]</ety> <def>A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in stream<i>let</i>, arm<i>let</i>.</def>

<h1>Let</h1> <Xpage=844>

<hw>Let</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[OE.<ets>letten</ets>, AS. <ets>lettan</ets> to delay, to hinder, fr. <ets>l\'91t</ets> slow; akin to D. <ets>letten</ets> to hinder, G. <ets>verletzen</ets> to hurt, Icel. <ets>letja</ets> to hold back, Goth. <ets>latjan</ets>. See <er>Late</er>.]</ety> <def>To retard; to hinder; to impede; to oppose.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<blockquote>He was so strong that no man might him <b>let</b>. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He who now <b>letteth</b> will <b>let</b>, until he be taken out of the way. <i>2. Thess. ii. 7.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And <b>lets</b> me from the saddle. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Let</h1> <Xpage=844>

<hw>Let</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; -- common in the phrase <i>without let or hindrance</i>, but elsewhere archaic.</def>

<i>Keats.</i>

<blockquote>Consider whether your doings be to the <b>let</b> of your salvation or not. <i>Latimer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Lawn Tennis)</fld> <def>A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net in passing over.</def>

<h1>Let</h1> <Xpage=844>

<hw>Let</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Let</er> (<er>Letted</er> <tt>(?)</tt>, <mark></mark>.); <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Letting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>leten</ets>, <ets>l\'91ten</ets> (past tense <ets>lat</ets>, <ets>let</ets>, p. p. <ets>laten</ets>, <ets>leten</ets>, <ets>lete</ets>), AS. <ets>l&aemac;tan</ets> (past tense <ets>l&emac;t</ets>, p. p. <ets>l&aemac;ten</ets>); akin to OFries. <ets>l&emac;ta</ets>, OS. <ets>l\'betan</ets>, D. <ets>laten</ets>, G. <ets>lessen</ets>, OHG. <ets>l\'bezzan</ets>, Icel. <ets>l\'beta</ets>, Sw. <ets>l\'86ta</ets>, Dan. <ets>lade</ets>, Goth. <ets>l&emac;tan</ets>, and L. <ets>lassus</ets> weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. <er>Alas</er>, <er>Late</er>, <er>Lassitude</er>, <er>Let</er> to hinder.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To leave; to relinquish; to abandon.</def> <mark>[Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.]</mark>

<blockquote>He . . . prayed him his voyage for to <b>let</b> <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother Nature all her care she <b>lets</b>. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Let</b> me alone in choosing of my wife. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To consider; to think; to esteem.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; <as>as, <ex>let</ex> make, <it>i. e</it>., cause to be made; <i>let</i> bring, <it>i. e.</it>, cause to be brought.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>This irous, cursed wretch <b>Let</b> this knight's son anon before him fetch. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He . . . thus <b>let</b> do slay hem all three. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Anon he <b>let</b> two coffers make. <i>Gower.</i></blockquote>