15 definitions found for let

Let LET, v.t. pret. and pp. let. Letted is obsolete. [To let out, like L. elocare, is to lease.]
1. To permit; to allow; to suffer; to give leave or power by a positive act, or negatively, to withhold restraint; not to prevent. A leaky ship lets water enter into the hold. Let is followed by the infinitive without the sign to.
Pharaoh said, I will let you go. Exo 8.
When the ship was caught and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. Acts 27.
2. To lease; to grant possession and use for a compensation; as, to let to farm; to let an estate for a year; to let a room to lodgers; often followed by out, as, to let out a farm; but the use of out is unnecessary.
3. To suffer; to permit; with the usual sign of the infinitive.
There's a letter for you, Sir, if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. [Not used.]
4. In the imperative mode, let has the following uses. Followed by the first and third persons, it expresses desire or wish; hence it is used in prayer and entreaty to superiors, and to those who have us in their power; as, let me not wander from thy commandments. Psa 119.
Followed by the first person plural, let expresses exhortation or entreaty; as, rise, let us go.
Followed by the third person, it implies permission or command addressed to an inferior. Let him go, let them remain, are commands addressed to the second person. Let thou, or let ye, that is, do thou or you permit him to go.
Sometimes let is used to express a command or injunction to a third person. When the signal is given to engage, let every man do his duty.
When applied to things not rational, it implies allowance or concession.
O'er golden sands let rich Pactolus flow.
5. To retard; to hinder; to impede; to interpose obstructions. 2 Th 2.
[This sense is now obsolete, or nearly so.]
To let alone, to leave; to suffer to remain without intermeddling; as, let alone this idle project; let me alone.
To let down, to permit to sink or fall; to lower.
She let them down by a cord through the window. Josh 2.
To let loose, to free from restraint; to permit to wander at large.
To let in or into, to permit or suffer to enter; to admit. Open the door, let in my friend. We are not let into the secrets of the cabinet.
To let blood, to open a vein and suffer the blood to flow out.
To let out, to suffer to escape; also, to lease or let to hire.
To let off, to discharge, to let fly, as an arrow; or cause to explode, as a gun.
LET, v.i. To forbear. Obs.
LET, n. A retarding; hinderance; obstacle; impediment; delay. [Obsolete, unless in some technical phrases.]
LET, a termination of diminutives; as hamlet, a little house; rivulet, a small stream. [See Little.]

LET n 1: a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India; "Lashkar-e-Toiba has committed mass murders of civilian Hindus" [syn: Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, LET, Army of the Pure, Army of the Righteous] 2: a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again [syn: let, net ball] v 1: make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen; "This permits the water to rush in"; "This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement"; "This will permit the rain to run off" [syn: let, allow, permit] [ant: keep, prevent] 2: actively cause something to happen; "I let it be known that I was not interested" 3: consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam" [syn: permit, allow, let, countenance] [ant: disallow, forbid, interdict, nix, prohibit, proscribe, veto] 4: cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition; "He got his squad on the ball"; "This let me in for a big surprise"; "He got a girl into trouble" [syn: get, let, have] 5: leave unchanged; "let it be" 6: grant use or occupation of under a term of contract; "I am leasing my country estate to some foreigners" [syn: lease, let, rent]

let ̈ɪlet See: LIVE AND LET LIVE.

-let
suffix forming nouns, usu. diminutives (flatlet; leaflet) or denoting articles of ornament or dress (anklet).
Etymology: orig. corresp. (in bracelet, crosslet, etc.) to F -ette added to nouns in -el

let
1.
v. & n.
--v. (letting; past and past part. let)
1 tr. a allow to, not prevent or forbid (we let them go). b cause to (let me know; let it be known).
2 tr. (foll. by into) a allow to enter. b make acquainted with (a secret etc.). c inlay in.
3 tr. Brit. grant the use of (rooms, land, etc.) for rent or hire (was let to the new tenant for a year).
4 tr. allow or cause (liquid or air) to escape (let blood).
5 tr. award (a contract for work).
6 aux. supplying the first and third persons of the imperative in exhortations (let us pray), commands (let it be done at once; let there be light), assumptions (let AB be equal to CD), and permission or challenge (let him do his worst).
--n. Brit. the act or an instance of letting a house, room, etc. (a long let).
Phrases and idioms:
let alone
1 not to mention, far less or more (hasn't got a television, let alone a video).
2 = let be. let be not interfere with, attend to, or do.
let down
1 lower.
2 fail to support or satisfy, disappoint.
3 lengthen (a garment).
4 deflate (a tyre). let-down n. a disappointment. let down gently avoid humiliating abruptly.
let drop (or fall)
1 drop (esp. a word or hint) intentionally or by accident.
2 (foll. by on, upon, to) Geom. draw (a perpendicular) from an outside point to a line.
let fly
1 (often foll. by at) attack physically or verbally.
2 discharge (a missile).
let go
1 release, set at liberty.
2 a (often foll. by of) lose or relinquish one's hold. b lose hold of.
3 cease to think or talk about.
let oneself go
1 give way to enthusiasm, impulse, etc.
2 cease to take trouble, neglect one's appearance or habits.
let in
1 allow to enter (let the dog in; let in a flood of light; this would let in all sorts of evils).
2 (usu. foll. by for) involve (a person, often oneself) in loss or difficulty.
3 (foll. by on) allow (a person) to share privileges, information, etc.
4 inlay (a thing) in another. let oneself in enter a building by means of a latchkey. let loose release or unchain (a dog, fury, a maniac, etc.). let me see see SEE(1).
let off
1 a fire (a gun). b explode (a bomb or firework).
2 allow or cause (steam, liquid, etc.) to escape.
3 allow to alight from a vehicle etc.
4 a not punish or compel. b (foll. by with) punish lightly.
5 Brit. let (part of a house etc.). let-off n. being allowed to escape something. let off steam see STEAM.
let on colloq.
1 reveal a secret.
2 pretend (let on that he had succeeded). let out 1 allow to go out, esp. through a doorway.
2 release from restraint.
3 (often foll. by that + clause) reveal (a secret etc.).
4 make (a garment) looser esp. by adjustment at a seam.
5 put out to rent esp. to several tenants, or to contract.
6 exculpate. let-out n. colloq. an opportunity to escape. let rip see RIP(1). let slip see SLIP(1). let through allow to pass.
let up colloq.
1 become less intense or severe.
2 relax one's efforts. let-up n.
colloq.
1 a reduction in intensity.
2 a relaxation of effort. to let available for rent.
Etymology: OE lætan f. Gmc, rel. to LATE
2.
n. & v.
--n.
1 (in lawn tennis, squash, etc.) an obstruction of a ball or a player in certain ways, requiring the ball to be served again.
2 (archaic except in without let or hindrance) obstruction, hindrance.
--v.tr. (letting; past and past part. letted or let) archaic hinder, obstruct.
Etymology: OE lettan f. Gmc, rel. to LATE

let (lets, letting) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: The form 'let' is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 1. If you let something happen, you allow it to happen without doing anything to stop or prevent it. Thorne let him talk... She let the door slam... I can't let myself be distracted by those things. VERB: V n inf, V n inf, V pron-refl inf 2. If you let someone do something, you give them your permission to do it. I love sweets but Mum doesn't let me have them very often... Visa or no visa, they won't let you into the country. VERB: V n inf, V n prep/adv 3. If you let someone into, out of, or through a place, you allow them to enter, leave, or go through it, for example by opening a door or making room for them. I had to get up at seven o'clock this morning to let them into the building because they had lost their keys... I'd better go and let the dog out... VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv 4. You use let me when you are introducing something you want to say. Let me tell you what I saw last night... Let me explain why... VERB: only imper, V me inf, V me inf 5. You use let me when you are offering politely to do something. Let me take your coat... Let me get you something to drink. VERB: only imper, V me inf, V me inf [politeness] 6. You say let's or, in more formal English, let us, to direct the attention of the people you are talking to towards the subject that you want to consider next. Let's consider ways of making it easier... Let us look at these views in more detail. VERB: only imper, V us inf, V us inf 7. You say let's or, in formal English, let us, when you are making a suggestion that involves both you and the person you are talking to, or when you are agreeing to a suggestion of this kind. I'm bored. Let's go home... 'Shall we go in and have some supper?'—'Yes, let's.' VERB: only imper, V us inf, V 's 8. Someone in authority, such as a teacher, can use let's or, in more formal English, let us, in order to give a polite instruction to another person or group of people. Let's have some hush, please... 'Let us pray,' said the Methodist chaplain. VERB: only imper, V us inf, V us inf [politeness] 9. People often use let in expressions such as let me see or let me think when they are hesitating or thinking of what to say next. Now, let's see. Where did I leave my bag?... 'How long you been living together then?'—'Erm, let me think. It's about four years now.' VERB: V pron inf, V pron inf [vagueness] 10. You can use let to say that you do not care if someone does something, although you think it is unpleasant or wrong. If he wants to do that, let him do it... Let them talk about me; I'll be dead, anyway... VERB: only imper, V n inf, V n inf 11. You can use let when you are saying what you think someone should do, usually when they are behaving in a way that you think is unreasonable or wrong. Let him get his own cup of tea... VERB: only imper, V n inf 12. You can use let when you are praying or hoping very much that something will happen. Please God, let him telephone me. VERB: only imper, V n inf 13. You can use let to introduce an assumption on which you are going to base a theory, calculation, or story. Let x equal 5 and y equal 3... VERB: only imper, V n inf 14. If you let your house or land to someone, you allow them to use it in exchange for money that they pay you regularly. (mainly BRIT) She is thinking of letting her house to an American serviceman... The reasons for letting a house, or part of one, are varied. = rent VERB: V n to n, V n • Let out means the same as let. (in AM, use rent) I couldn't sell the London flat, so I let it out to pay the mortgage... Home owners who have extra space available may want to let out a room. PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron) 15. Let alone is used after a statement, usually a negative one, to indicate that the statement is even more true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next. It is incredible that the 12-year-old managed to even reach the pedals, let alone drive the car. PHRASE [emphasis] 16. If you let go of someone or something, you stop holding them. She let go of Mona's hand and took a sip of her drink... PHRASE: let inflects, oft PHR of n 17. If you let someone or something go, you allow them to leave or escape. They held him for three hours and they let him go... PHRASE: let inflects 18. When someone leaves a job, either because they are told to or because they want to, the employer sometimes says that they are letting that person go. (BUSINESS) I've assured him I have no plans to let him go... Peterson was let go after less than two years. PHRASE: let inflects 19. If you say that you did not know what you were letting yourself in for when you decided to do something, you mean you did not realize how difficult, unpleasant, or expensive it was going to be. He got the impression that Miss Hawes had no idea of what she was letting herself in for... PHRASE: V inflects, usu with brd-neg, PHR n 20. If you let someone know something, you tell them about it or make sure that they know about it. They want to let them know that they are safe... If you do want to go, please let me know. PHRASE: let inflects, oft PHR that/wh, PHR n, PHR about n 21. to let fly: see fly to let your hair down: see hair to let someone off the hook: see hook to let it be known: see known to let the side down: see side to let off steam: see steam

let
leton, lete, lætst, læte, lætaþ, gelæten, lætan

Let Let, n. 1. A retarding; hindrance; obstacle; impediment; delay; -- common in the phrase without let or hindrance, but elsewhere archaic. --Keats. Consider whether your doings be to the let of your salvation or not. --Latimer. 2. (Lawn Tennis) A stroke in which a ball touches the top of the net in passing over.

Let Let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Let (Letted (l[e^]t"t[e^]d), [Obs].); p. pr. & vb. n. Letting.] [OE. leten, l[ae]ten (past tense lat, let, p. p. laten, leten, lete), AS. l[=ae]tan (past tense l[=e]t, p. p. l[=ae]ten); akin to OFries. l[=e]ta, OS. l[=a]tan, D. laten, G. lassen, OHG. l[=a]zzan, Icel. l[=a]ta, Sw. l[*a]ta, Dan. lade, Goth. l[=e]tan, and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. Alas, Late, Lassitude, Let to hinder.] 1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.] He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let. --Chaucer. Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. --Spenser. Let me alone in choosing of my wife. --Chaucer. 2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 3. To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e., cause to be made; let bring, i. e., cause to be brought. [Obs.] 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. Note: 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. Note: 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.

-let -let (-l[e^]t). [From two French dim. endings -el (L. -ellus) and -et, as in bracelet.] A noun suffix having a diminutive force; as in streamlet, wavelet, armlet.

Let Let (l[e^]t), v. t. [OE. letten, AS. lettan to delay, to hinder, fr. l[ae]t slow; akin to D. letten to hinder, G. verletzen to hurt, Icel. letja to hold back, Goth. latjan. See Late.] To retard; to hinder; to impede; to oppose. [Archaic] He was so strong that no man might him let. --Chaucer. He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. --2. Thess. ii. 7. Mine ancient wound is hardly whole, And lets me from the saddle. --Tennyson.

Let 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. [Low] To let up, to become less severe; to diminish; to cease; as, when the storm lets up. [Colloq.]

LET (katecho): Usually in the sense of "permit" (Anglo-Saxon, leetan), but also in Old English with meaning of "hinder" (Anglo-Saxon, lettan). This latter sense is found in 2Th 2:7 the King James Version, "Only he who now letteth will let," where the Revised Version (British and American) has, "Only there is one that restraineth now."

let I. v. a. 1. Allow, permit, suffer, give leave to, give permission to. 2. Lease, put to hire. II. n. Hindrance, impediment, obstacle, obstruction.

161 Moby Thesaurus words for "let": OK, accord, accredit, admit, allow, approve, arrest, arrestation, arrestment, assume, authorize, bareboat charter, be afraid, believe, bleed, blockage, blocking, broach, certify, charter, chartered, check, clogging, closing up, closure, commission, concede, conceive, conclude, consent, consider, constriction, cramp, daresay, decant, deduce, deem, delay, detainment, detention, dispense, divine, draft, draft off, drain, draw, draw from, draw off, dream, employed, empty, endorse, exhaust, expect, fancy, farm, farm out, feel, fixation, foot-dragging, gather, give leave, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the word, grant, hampering, have, hindering, hindrance, hire, hire out, hired, hireling, hiring, holdback, holdup, imagine, impediment, infer, inhibition, interference, interruption, job, lease, lease out, lease-back, lease-lend, leased, leave, lend-lease, let be, let blood, let off, let out, license, make possible, mercenary, milk, negativism, nuisance value, obstruction, obstructionism, occlusion, okay, opine, opposition, paid, permit, phlebotomize, pipette, prefigure, presume, presuppose, presurmise, provisionally accept, pump, pump out, reckon, release, rent, rent out, rental, rented, repression, repute, resistance, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, sanction, say, say the word, setback, siphon off, squeeze, stranglehold, stricture, sublease, subleased, sublet, subrent, suck, suck out, suffer, suppose, suppression, surmise, suspect, take, take for, take for granted, take it, take to be, tap, think, underlet, understand, venesect, vouchsafe