let 1
/let/ , v. , let, letting , n.
v.t.
1. to allow or permit: to let him escape.
2. to allow to pass, go, or come: to let us through.
3. to grant the occupancy or use of (land, buildings, rooms, space, etc., or movable property) for rent or hire (sometimes fol. by out ).
4. to contract or assign for performance, usually under a contract: to let work to a carpenter.
5. to cause to; make: to let one know the truth.
6. (used in the imperative as an auxiliary expressive of a request, command, warning, suggestion, etc.): Let me see. Let us go. Just let them try it!
v.i.
7. to admit of being rented or leased: The apartment lets for $100 per week.
8. let alone . See alone (def. 5).
9. let be ,
a. to refrain from interference.
b. to refrain from interfering with.
10. let down ,
a. to disappoint; fail.
b. to betray; desert.
c. to slacken; abate: We were too near success to let down in our efforts.
d. to allow to descend slowly; lower.
e. Aeron. (of an airplane) to descend from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or a similar maneuver.
11. let go . See go (def. 82).
12. let in ,
a. to admit.
b. to involve (a person) in without his or her knowledge or permission: to let someone in for a loss.
c. Also, let into . to insert into the surface of (a wall or the like) as a permanent addition: to let a plaque into a wall.
d. Also, let in on . to share a secret with; permit to participate in.
13. let off ,
a. to release by exploding.
b. to free from duty or responsibility; excuse.
c. to allow to go with little or no punishment; pardon: The judge let off the youthful offender with a reprimand.
14. let on ,
a. to reveal one's true feelings: She was terrified at the prospect, but didn't let on.
b. to pretend: They let on that they didn't care about not being invited, but I could tell that they were hurt.
15. let out ,
a. to divulge; make known.
b. to release from confinement, restraint, etc.
c. to enlarge (a garment).
d. to terminate; be finished; end: When does the university let out for the summer?
e. to make (a let-out fur or pelt).
16. let someone have it , Informal. to attack or assault, as by striking, shooting, or rebuking: The gunman threatened to let the teller have it if he didn't move fast.
17. let up ,
a. to slacken; diminish; abate: This heat wave should let up by the end of the week.
b. to cease; stop: The rain let up for a few hours.
18. let up on , to treat less severely; be more lenient with: He refused to let up on the boy until his grades improved.
n.
19. Brit. a lease.
[ bef. 900; ME leten, OE laetan; c. D laten, G lassen, ON lata, Goth letan; akin to Gk ledeîn to be weary, L lassus tired. See LATE ]
Syn. 1. See allow. 1. suffer, grant. 3. lease, rent, sublet, hire.
Ant. 1. prevent.
Usage . LET US is used in all varieties of speech and writing to introduce a suggestion or a request: Let us consider all the facts before deciding. The contracted form LET'S occurs mostly in informal speech and writing: Let's go. Let's not think about that right now. Perhaps because LET'S has come to be felt as a word in its own right rather than as the contraction of LET US, it is often followed in informal speech and writing by redundant or appositional pronouns: Let's us plan a picnic. Let's you and I (or me ) get together tomorrow.
Both Let's you and me and Let's you and I occur in the relaxed speech of educated speakers. The former conforms to the traditional rules of grammar; the latter, nonetheless, occurs more frequently. See also leave 1 .
let 2
/let/ , n. , v. , letted or let, letting .
n.
1. (in tennis, badminton, etc.) any play that is voided and must be replayed, esp. a service that hits the net and drops into the proper part of the opponent's court.
2. Chiefly Law. an impediment or obstacle: to act without let or hindrance.
v.t.
3. Archaic. to hinder, prevent, or obstruct.
[ bef. 900; ME letten (v.), lette (n.; deriv. of the v.), OE lettan (v.), deriv. of laet slow, tardy, LATE; c. ON letja to hinder ]