Main Entry: ³let

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): let; let·ting

Etymology: Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; akin to Old High German lāzzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian lėnas tranquil

Date: before 12th century

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

synonyms see hire

— 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