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.
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.
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. -- To let drive or fly, to discharge with
violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under Drive, and Fly. --
To let in or into. (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To
insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface
for the purpose. To let loose, to remove restraint from; to permit to
wander at large. -- To let off. (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an
arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun. (b) To release, as from an
engagement or obligation. [Colloq.] -- To let out. (a) To allow to go
forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds
of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord. (c) To
lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job. (d) To
divulge. -- To let slide, to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] "
Let the world slide." Shak.
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"-a*lone" (lt"*ln"), a. Letting alone.
The let-alone principle, doctrine, or policy. (Polit. Econ.) See
Laissez faire.
Letch (lch), v. & n. See Leach.
Letch, n. [See Lech, Lecher.] Strong desire; passion. (Archaic).
Some people have a letch for unmasking impostors, or for avenging
the wrongs of others.
De Quincey.
Letch"y (-), a. See Leachy.