5 results for: Loath

Browse Nearby Entries

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Loath

To learn more about Loath visit Britannica.com

© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

loath also loth    Audio Help   (lōth, lōth)  Pronunciation Key  adj.   Unwilling or reluctant; disinclined: I am loath to go on such short notice. [Middle English loth, displeasing, loath, from Old English lāth, hateful, loathsome.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
loath 

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

loath
adjective
1.	unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom; "a reluctant smile"; "loath to admit a mistake"
2.	(usually followed by 'to') strongly opposed; "antipathetic to new ideas"; "averse to taking risks"; "loath to go on such short notice"; "clearly indisposed to grant their request" [syn: antipathetic]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Loath

Lead\ (l[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Led (l[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Leading.] [OE. leden, AS. l[=ae]dan (akin to OS. l[=e]dian, D. leiden, G. leiten, Icel. le[imac][eth]a, Sw. leda, Dan. lede), properly a causative fr. AS. li[eth]an to go; akin to OHG. l[imac]dan, Icel. l[imac][eth]a, Goth. lei[thorn]an (in comp.). Cf. Lode, Loath.]

1. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some physical contact connection; as, a father leads a child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a blind man.

If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in the ditch. --Wyclif (Matt. xv. 14.)

They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill. --Luke iv. 29.

In thy right hand lead with thee The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty. --Milton.

2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain place or end, by making the way known; to show the way, esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence, figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.

The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way. --Ex. xiii. 21.

He leadeth me beside the still waters. --Ps. xxiii. 2.

This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask. Content, though blind, had I no better guide. --Milton.

3. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a search; to lead a political party.

Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or possess places. --South.

4. To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads the orators of all ages.

As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. --Fairfax.

And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. --Leigh Hunt.

5. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead one to espouse a righteous cause.

He was driven by the necessities of the times, more than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of actions. --Eikon Basilike.

Silly women, laden with sins,led away by divers lusts. --2 Tim. iii. 6 (Rev. Ver.).

6. To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).

That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. --1 Tim. ii. 2.

Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse A life that leads melodious days. --Tennyson.

You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife and daughter. --Dickens.

7. (Cards & Dominoes) To begin a game, round, or trick, with; as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.

To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to seduce from truth or rectitude.

To lead captive, to carry or bring into captivity.

To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to act as guide. --Goldsmith.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Browse Nearby Entries:

loans' loansharking loansharking's loansharkings loansharkings' loanshift loanword loanword's loanwords loanwords' loao

loap loas loasa loasa family loasaceae loath loathe loathed loather loathes loathful

loathing loathing's loathingly loathings loathings' loathliness loathly loathness loathsome loathsomely loathsomeness

View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web

Share This:   

Perform a new search, or try your search for "Loath" at:

• Amazon.com - Shop for books, music and more
• Reference.com - Encyclopedia Search
• Reference.com - Web Search powered by Google
• Thesaurus.com - Search for synonyms and antonyms

	Learn More About
Loath Definition What Does the Word Loath Mean Difference between Loath And Loathe Reluctant What Does Loath Means Adverse