*leas*

a. [ OF. desplaisant, F. déplaisant. See Displease. ] Unpleasing; offensive; unpleasant. [ Obs. ] Speed. -- Dis*pleas"ant*ly, adv. [Obs.] Strype. -- Dis*pleas"ant*ness, n. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Displeased p. pr. & vb. n. Displeasing. ] [ OF. desplaisir, whence F. déplaisir displeasure; pref. des- (L. dis-) + plaisir to please. See Please, and cf. Displeasure. ] 1. To make not pleased; to excite a feeling of disapprobation or dislike in; to be disagreeable to; to offend; to vex; -- often followed by with or at. It usually expresses less than to anger, vex, irritate, or provoke. [ 1913 Webster ]

God was displeased with this thing. 1 Chron. xxi. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wilt thou be displeased at us forever? Psalms lxxxv. 5 (Bk. of Com. Prayer). [ 1913 Webster ]

This virtuous plaster will displease
Your tender sides. J. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adversity is so wholesome . . . why should we be displeased therewith? Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fail to satisfy; to miss of. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall displease my ends else. Beau. & Fl.

Syn. -- To offend; disgust; vex; annoy; dissatisfy; chafe; anger; provoke; affront. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To give displeasure or offense. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With displeasure. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Displeasure. [ R. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who displeases. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing displeasure or dissatisfaction; offensive; disagreeable. -- Dis*pleas"ing*ly, adv. -- Dis*pleas"ing*ness, n. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. dis- + pleasure: cf. OF. desplaisir, F. déplaisir. Cf. Displease. ] 1. The feeling of one who is displeased; irritation or uneasiness of the mind, occasioned by anything that counteracts desire or command, or which opposes justice or a sense of propriety; disapprobation; dislike; dissatisfaction; disfavor; indignation. [ 1913 Webster ]

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Ps. vi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn
From his displeasure. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which displeases; cause of irritation or annoyance; offense; injury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hast thou delight to see a wretched man
Do outrage and displeasure to himself? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. State of disgrace or disfavor; disfavor. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He went into Poland, being in displeasure with the pope for overmuch familiarity. Peacham.

Syn. -- Dissatisfaction; disapprobation; disfavor; distaste; dislike; anger; hate; aversion; indignation; offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To displease. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. releasing energy. [ Narrower terms: exothermic (vs. endothermic), exothermal ]
Syn. -- exoergic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. catabolic. [ prenominal ] constructive-metabolic
Syn. -- destructive-metabolic(prenominal). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. See Galleass.

n. [ F. galéasse, galéace; cf. It. galeazza, Sp. galeaza; LL. galea a galley. See Galley. ] (Naut.) A large galley, having some features of the galleon, as broadside guns; esp., such a vessel used by the southern nations of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. See Galleon, and Galley. [ Written variously galeas, gallias, etc. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “The galleasses . . . were a third larger than the ordinary galley, and rowed each by three hundred galley slaves. They consisted of an enormous towering structure at the stern, a castellated structure almost equally massive in front, with seats for the rowers amidships.” Motley.

adj. not bound by rule or law or convention. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

bewildered by the old go-as-you-please liberty of alliterative rhythm. George Saintsbury [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) An annual European false flax (Camelina sativa) having small white flowers; cultivated since Neolithic times as a source of fiber and for its oil-rich seeds; widely naturalized in North America.
Syn. -- gold of pleasure, Camelina sativa. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. Requiring great patience and effort and skill; demanding; -- of persons. Opposite of undemanding.
Syn. -- harsh, demanding. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Unpleasing; displeasing. [ Obs. ] Overbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From 2d Lease. ] Such as can be leased. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ AS. lesan to gather; akin to D. lezen to gather, read, G. lesen, Goth. lisan to gather; cf. Lith lesti to peck. ] To gather what harvesters have left behind; to glean. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Leased p. pr. & vb. n. Leasing. ] [ F. laisser, OF. laissier, lessier, to leave, transmit, L. laxare to loose, slacken, from laxus loose, wide. See Lax, and cf. Lesser. ] 1. To grant to another by lease the possession of, as of lands, tenements, and hereditaments; to let; to demise; as, a landowner leases a farm to a tenant; -- sometimes with out. [ 1913 Webster ]

There were some [ houses ] that were leased out for three lives. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To hold under a lease; to take lease of; as, a tenant leases his land from the owner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. lais. See Lease, v. t. ] 1. The temporary transfer of a possession to another person in return for a fee or other valuable consideration paid for the transfer; especially, A demise or letting of lands, tenements, or hereditaments to another for life, for a term of years, or at will, or for any less interest than that which the lessor has in the property, usually for a specified rent or compensation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The contract for such letting. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any tenure by grant or permission; the time for which such a tenure holds good; allotted time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our high-placed Macbeth
Shall live the lease of nature. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lease and release a mode of conveyance of freehold estates, formerly common in England and in New York. its place is now supplied by a simple deed of grant. Burrill. Warren's Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Held by lease. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tenure by lease; specifically, land held as personalty under a lease for years. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tenant under a lease. -- Lease"hold`ing, a. & n. [1913 Webster]

n. Same as lend-lease. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From 1st Lease. ] One who leases or gleans. [ Obs. ] Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A liar. [ Obs. ] See Leasing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lese, lees, leece, OF. lesse, F. laisse, LL. laxa, fr. L. laxus loose. See Lax. ] 1. A thong of leather, or a long cord, by which a person may hold or restrain an animal, such as a falconer holding his hawk, or a courser his dog. For dogs and cats, the leash is commonly attached to a collar around the neck of the animal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Even like a fawning greyhound in the leash. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Sporting) A brace and a half; a tierce; three; three creatures of any kind, especially greyhounds, foxes, bucks, and hares; hence, the number three in general. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ I ] kept my chamber a leash of days. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then were I wealthier than a leash of kings. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Weaving) A string with a loop at the end for lifting warp threads, in a loom. [ 1913 Webster ]

To keep (a person) on a short leash to maintain close control over the activities of (a person). [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Leashed p. pr. & vb. n. Leashing. ] To tie together, or hold, with a leash. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. leásung, fr. leás loose, false, deceitful. See -less, Loose, a. ] The act of lying; falsehood; a lie or lies. [ Archaic ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. Ps. v. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blessed be the lips that such a leasing told. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leasing making (Scots Law), the uttering of lies or libels upon the personal character of the sovereign, his court, or his family. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. lesu, læsu. ] A pasture. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. last, lest, AS. l&aemacr_;sast, l&aemacr_;sest, superl. of l&aemacr_;ssa less. See Less, a. ] [ Used as the superlative of little. ] Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Least is often used with the, as if a noun. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am the least of the apostles. 1 Cor. xv. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

At least, or
At the least, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; being no less than; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See However. [ 1913 Webster ]

He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonor. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback. Sir P. Sidney.

--
In least, or
In the least, in the least degree, manner, etc. “He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke xvi. 10. --
Least squares (Math.), 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. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it. [ 1913 Webster ]

conj. See Lest, conj. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. At least; at all events. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

At leastways, or
At leastwise, at least. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. leás void, loose, false. Cf. Leasing. ] Flimsy; vague; deceptive. [ Obs. ] Ascham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the temporary transfer of goods and services to an ally to aid in a common cause; as, lend-lease during World War II was extremely generous.
Syn. -- lease-lend. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One whose motive is to please men or the world, rather than God. Eph. vi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. olea olive tree. See Olive, Oil. ] (Bot.) (a) The wild olive tree (Olea Europea, var. sylvestris). (b) Any species of the genus Elaeagus. See Eleagnus. The small silvery berries of the common species (Elaeagnus hortensis) are called Trebizond dates, and are made into cakes by the Arabs. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To please excessively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. plaisance. See Please. ] 1. Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness. [ Archaic ] Shak. “Full great pleasance.” Chaucer. “A realm of pleasance.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A secluded part of a garden. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The pleasances of old Elizabethan houses. Ruskin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. plaisant. See Please. ] 1. Pleasing; grateful to the mind or to the senses; agreeable; as, a pleasant journey; pleasant weather. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps. cxxxiii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cheerful; enlivening; gay; sprightly; humorous; sportive; as, pleasant company; a pleasant fellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

From grave to light, from pleasant to serve. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Pleasing; gratifying; agreeable; cheerful; good-humored; enlivening; gay; lively; merry; sportive; humorous; jocose; amusing; witty. -- Pleasant, Pleasing, Agreeable. Agreeable is applied to that which agrees with, or is in harmony with, one's tastes, character, etc. Pleasant and pleasing denote a stronger degree of the agreeable. Pleasant refers rather to the state or condition; pleasing, to the act or effect. Where they are applied to the same object, pleasing is more energetic than pleasant; as, she is always pleasant and always pleasing. The distinction, however, is not radical and not rightly observed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A wit; a humorist; a buffoon. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a pleasant manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being pleasant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Pleasantries [ F. plaisanterie. See Pleasant. ] That which denotes or promotes pleasure or good humor; cheerfulness; gayety; merriment; especially, an agreeable playfulness in conversation; a jocose or humorous remark; badinage. [ 1913 Webster ]

The grave abound in pleasantries, the dull in repartees and points of wit. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The keen observation and ironical pleasantry of a finished man of the world. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of pleasing speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pleased; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasing. ] [ OE. plesen, OF. plaisir, fr. L. placere, akin to placare to reconcile. Cf. Complacent, Placable, Placid, Plea, Plead, Pleasure. ] 1. To give pleasure to; to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to make glad; to gratify; to content; to satisfy. [ 1913 Webster ]

I pray to God that it may plesen you. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

What next I bring shall please thee, be assured. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have or take pleasure in; hence, to choose; to wish; to desire; to will. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he. Ps. cxxxv. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man doing as he wills, and doing as he pleases, are the same things in common speech. J. Edwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be the will or pleasure of; to seem good to; -- used impersonally. “It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” Col. i. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

To-morrow, may it please you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be pleased in or
To be pleased with, to have complacency in; to take pleasure in. --
To be pleased to do a thing, to take pleasure in doing it; to have the will to do it; to think proper to do it. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To afford or impart pleasure; to excite agreeable emotions. [ 1913 Webster ]

What pleasing scemed, for her now pleases more. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

For we that live to please, must please to live. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have pleasure; to be willing, as a matter of affording pleasure or showing favor; to vouchsafe; to consent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heavenly stranger, please to taste
These bounties. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

That he would please 8give me my liberty. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]