*let*

a. [ L. ad + complere, completum, to fill up. ] Tending to accomplish. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. aiguillette point, tagged point, dim. of aiguilee needle, fr. LL. acucula for acicula, dim. of L. acus needle, pin; cf. OF. agleter to hook on. See Acute, and cf. Aiguillette. ] 1. A tag of a lace or of the points, braids, or cords formerly used in dress. They were sometimes formed into small images. Hence, “aglet baby” (Shak.), an aglet image. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Haberdashery) A round white staylace. Beck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Aglet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Aglet. ] 1. A point or tag at the end of a fringe or lace; an aglet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the ornamental tags, cords, or loops on some military and naval uniforms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Aglet. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ailette, dim. of aile wing, L. ala. ] A small square shield, formerly worn on the shoulders of knights, -- being the prototype of the modern epaulet. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Aleconner. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; truth + -logy. ] The science which treats of the nature of truth and evidence. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; true + &unr_; to view. ] An instrument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to present them in their natural proportions and relations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. amuletum: cf. F. amulette. ] An ornament, gem, or scroll, or a package containing a relic, etc., worn as a charm or preservative against evils or mischief, such as diseases and witchcraft, and generally inscribed with mystic forms or characters. [ Also used figuratively. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to an amulet; operating as a charm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. angelet. ] A small gold coin formerly current in England; a half angel. Eng. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An ornament or a fetter for the ankle; an ankle ring. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. see anklets. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. pl. 1. socks that reach just above the ankle.
Syn. -- anklet, bobbysock, bobbysocks [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Dim. of annulus. ] 1. A little ring. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) A small, flat fillet, encircling a column, etc., used by itself, or with other moldings. It is used, several times repeated, under the Doric capital. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) A little circle borne as a charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) A narrow circle of some distinct color on a surface or round an organ. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Pref. anti- + Gr. &unr_; a worm. ] (Med.) Anthelmintic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of L. areola. ] (Zool.) A small inclosed area; esp. one of the small spaces on the wings of insects, circumscribed by the veins. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Arm + -let. ] 1. A small arm; as, an armlet of the sea. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An arm ring; a bracelet for the upper arm. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Armor for the arm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. athleta, Gr. &unr_; prizefighter, fr. &unr_; to contend for a prize, &unr_;, Hom. &unr_;, contest, &unr_; prize; fr. the same root as E. wed: cf. F. athlète. ] 1. (Antiq.) One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient Greece or Rome. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a champion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One fitted for, or skilled in, intellectual contests; as, athletes of debate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. athleticus, Gr. &unr_;. See Athlete. ] 1. Of or pertaining to athletes or to the exercises practiced by them; as, athletic games or sports. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Befitting an athlete; strong; muscular; robust; vigorous; as, athletic Celts. “Athletic soundness.” South. -- Ath*let"ic*al*ly adv. [1913 Webster]

n. The practice of engaging in athletic games; athletism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports of athletes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or practice of an athlete; the characteristics of an athlete. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. [ fr. L. hasta, rod, staff. ] (Cooking) a type of skewer with an ornamental handle which is used for holding foods for presentation at the table, but not while cooking. [ formerly spelled hatelet ] Larousse Gastronomique [ PJC ]

a. [ L. auleticus, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; flute. ] Of or pertaining to a pipe (flute) or piper. [ R. ] Ash. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Icel. öxultr&unr_;. ] 1. A bar or beam of wood or iron, connecting the opposite wheels of a carriage, on the ends of which the wheels revolve. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A spindle or axle of a wheel. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., a dim. of bal dance. See 2d Ball, n. ] 1. An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene accompanied by pantomime and dancing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The company of persons who perform the ballet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, -- most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers; -- also spelled ballett. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Her.) A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to ballet{ 1 }. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a man who trains ballet dancers. [ PJC ]

n. a woman who trains ballet dancers. [ PJC ]

n. a ballet enthusiast. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a heelless slipper specifically designed to be worn by ballet dancers while dancing. [ PJC ]

{ } n. [ F. bandelette, dim. of bande. See Band, n., and cf. Bendlet. ] (Arch.) A small band or fillet; any little band or flat molding, compassing a column, like a ring, and usually at the top of the column; an annulet. Gwilt.
Syn. -- annulet, bandelette, bandlet, square and rabbet. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Same as Bandelet. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., dim. of baril barrel. ] A little cask, or something resembling one. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of bar, n. ] (Her.) A diminutive of the bar, having one fourth its width. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A Bartlett pear, a favorite kind of pear, which originated in England about 1770, and was called Williams' Bonchrétien. It was brought to America, and distributed by Mr. Enoch Bartlett, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Bat stick + -let. ] A short bat for beating clothes in washing them; -- called also batler, batling staff, batting staff. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small beam of light. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One versed in belles-lettres. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ F. ] Polite or elegant literature; the humanities; -- used somewhat vaguely for literary works in which imagination and taste are predominant. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Occupied with, or pertaining to, belles-lettres. “An unlearned, belletristic trifler.” M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Bend + -let: cf. E. bandlet. ] (Her.) A narrow bend, esp. one half the width of the bend. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. billet, dim. of an OF. bille bill. See Bill a writing. ] 1. A small paper; a note; a short letter. “I got your melancholy billet.” Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to lodge; as, a billet of residence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Quarters or place to which one is assigned, as by a billet or ticket; berth; position. Also used fig. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The men who cling to easy billets ashore. Harper's Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

His shafts of satire fly straight to their billet, and there they rankle. Pall Mall Mag. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Billeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Billeting. ] [ From Billet a ticket. ] (Mil.) To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Billeted in so antiquated a mansion. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. billette, bille, log; of unknown origin; a different word from bille ball. Cf. Billiards, Billot. ] 1. A small stick of wood, as for firewood. [ 1913 Webster ]

They shall beat out my brains with billets. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Metal.) A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Saddlery) (a) A strap which enters a buckle. (b) A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Her.) A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Billets-doux [ F. billet note + doux sweet, L. dulcis. ] A love letter or note. [ 1913 Webster ]

A lover chanting out a billet-doux. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A round piece of timber at the bow or stern of a whaleboat, around which the harpoon line is run out when the whale darts off. [ 1913 Webster ]