First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1let
verb \ˈlet\
let·tedletted or letlet·ting
Definition of LET
transitive verb
archaic
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Origin of LET
Middle English letten, from Old English lettan to delay, hinder; akin to Old High German lezzen to delay, hurt, Old English lǣt late
2let
noun
tennis : a serve that is not accepted or allowed officially and must be done again
Full Definition of LET
1
: something that impedes : obstruction <ruled his little world without hindrance or let — B. F. Reilly>
2
: a shot or point in racket games that does not count and must be replayed
See let defined for English-language learners
See let defined for kids
First Known Use of LET
12th century
Related to LET
- Synonyms
- balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, encumbrance, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
3let
verb
letlet·ting
Definition of LET
transitive verb
1
: to cause to : make <let me know>
2
a chiefly British : to offer or grant for rent or lease <let rooms> b : to assign especially after bids <let a contract>
3
a : to give opportunity to or fail to prevent <live and let live> <a break in the clouds let us see the summit> <let the opportunity slip> b —used in the imperative to introduce a request or proposal <let us pray> c —used as an auxiliary to express a warning <let him try>
4
: to free from or as if from confinement <let out a scream> <let blood>
5
: to permit to enter, pass, or leave <let them through> <let them off with a warning>
6
: to make an adjustment to <let out the waist>
intransitive verb
1
chiefly British : to become rented or leased
2
: to become awarded to a contractor
— let alone
: to leave undisturbed <let the flowers alone>; also : to leave to oneself <wanted to be let alone>
— let fly
1
: to hurl an object
2
: to give unrestrained expression to an emotion or utterance <let fly with some sharp rebukes — Janice Castro>
— let go
1
: to dismiss from employment <the firm let him go at the end of the month>
2
: to abandon self-restraint : let fly <spoke in clipped sentences, as if fearful of letting go — David Kline> <there just to party, just to let go — Philippe Vergne>
3
: to relax or release one's hold —used with of <let go of stress — Kathy McCoy> <let go of my arm>
4
: to fail to take care of : neglect <let himself go and got real fat — Bill Parcells>
— let it all hang out
: to reveal one's true feelings : act without dissimulation
— let one have it
: to subject to vigorous assault
— let one's hair down
: to act without pretense or self-restraint
— let rip
1
: to utter or release without restraint <let 'er rip>
2
: to do or utter something without restraint <let rip at the press>
— let the cat out of the bag
: to give away a secret
Origin of LET
Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; akin to Old High German lāzzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian lėnas tranquil
First Known Use: before 12th century
Synonym Discussion of LET
hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use <we hired a car for the summer> <decided to let the cottage to a young couple>. lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease <the diplomat leased an apartment for a year>. rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting <instead of buying a house, they decided to rent> <will not rent to families with children>. charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use <charter a bus to go to the game>.
LET ONE HAVE IT Defined for Kids
let
verb \ˈlet\
letlet·ting
Definition of LET for Kids
1
: to allow or permit to <Let them go.>
2
: to allow to go or pass <Let me through.>
3
: to cause to : make <Let it be known that I'm not going to confess.>
4
: 2rent 2 <rooms to let>
5
—used as a warning <Just let him try to do it again!>
— let alone
: to leave undisturbed
— let down
: disappoint <Don't let me down.>
— let go
1
: to relax or release a grip <Please let go of my arm.>
2
: to dismiss from employment
3
: to fail to take care of <They let the garden go.>
— let on
: to admit or reveal <… Sam Fraunces never let on that he knew any of them. — Judith Berry Griffin, Phoebe the Spy>
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