释义 |
▪ I. leading, vbl. n.1|ˈliːdɪŋ| [f. lead v.1 + -ing1.] 1. a. The action of lead v.1, in various senses.
a1300Cursor M. 2866 If ani fische þar-in bigane, Wit leding o þe flum iordane, Þe lijf it es for-don wit stink. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 4217 Thurgh ledyng of þe fende He sal even to Ierusalem wende. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 358 No woundir ȝif men gone þikke to helle bi þe leding of suche prelatis. c1440Three Kings Cologne 50 Þorwe þe gret mercy of god and ledyng of þis sterre, þei com..in to Ierusalem. 1555Philpot in Strype Eccl. Mem. iii. App. xlix. 157 Through his lovyng and comfortable leading and governance. 1570Dee Math. Pref. d j b, Hydragogie, demonstrateth the possible leading of Water, by Natures lawe, and by artificiall helpe, from any head to any other place assigned. 1690Wood Life 15 July, So feeble that he could not goe without leading. 1805Trans. Soc. Arts XXIII. 35 The filling, leading, and spreading of 2500 carts of compost. 1846Trench Mirac. Introd. (1862) 73 Humanity is being carried forward under a mightier leading than its own. 1891Labour Commission Gloss., Leading, conveying coals by carts from the pits to the workmen's houses. b. with forth, off.
a1240Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 207 Ich bide þe..bi his ledunge forð, bi al þet me him demde, bi [etc.]. 1890Daily News 6 Jan. 3/5 The leading off of the rain from the Vomero. †c. A figure in dancing. Obs.
1694Motteux Rabelais v. xxiv. (1737) 105 Coupés, Hops, Leadings, Risings. d. light or leading (Milton) = illumination or guidance; hence in Burke's phrase, men of light and leading (cf. quot. 1596 in 2).
1644Milton Judgm. Bucer Wks. 1851 IV. 296, I owe no light or leading receiv'd from any man in the discovery of this truth. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 191 The men of England, the men, I mean, of light and leading, in England. 1846Disraeli Sp. Ho. Comm. 15 June, The language that has been used in this House by men of great light and leading. 2. a. The action of commanding and marching at the head of armed men. † at one's leading: under one's command. † Also, ability to command, generalship.
c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) vi. 20 Ilk ane admyrall sall hafe at his ledyng foure or fyue or sex men of armes. 1411Rolls of Parlt. III. 650/2 All the Knyghtes and Esquiers and Yomen that had ledynge of men on his partie. c1470Henry Wallace ix. 1285 A hundreth men was at his ledyng still. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 17, I wonder much, being men of such great leading as you are, That you fore-see not what impediments Drag backe our expedition. c1630Risdon Surv. Devon §74 (1810) 75 Under the leading of the Lord Walter Manny. 1642Commiss. in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 529 Commanders for the governing, leading, and commanding of them. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. xvii. (1840) 293 They would be absolutely under my leading, as their..captain. 1813Scott Rokeby iii. xxiii, His gallant leading won my heart. 1828–40Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) I. 167 The civil government in Scotland, and the leading of its armies, were in the hands of Mar and March. 1878Simpson Sch. Shaks. I. 96 A great armada was being prepared which was said to be intended to pass the seas under the leading of Stucley. 1898United Service Mag. July 406 The higher leading may go to pieces, and confusion of command may ensue. †b. Government, rule. Obs.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xl. (Ninian) 820 A nobil knycht had þe leding of þe land. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 579 Than thocht he to have the leding Off all Scotland. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 356 All that land was in hir ledyng. †c. quasi-concr. The followers of a leader.
1375Barbour Bruce xv. 302 Thai that war of his leding..War all ded. 1382Wyclif Gen. l. 9 He hadde in his ledyng [Vulg. in comitatu] chares, and rydynge men. c1400Rom. Rose 5863 Al the folk of hir leding,..never wist what was fleing. †3. Arith. Multiplication. Const. in, into.
c1430Art of Nombryng (E.E.T.S.) 14 Nombre superficial is þat comethe of ledynge of oo nombre into a-nother. Ibid., The solide nombre or cubike is þat þat comythe of double ledynge of nombre in nombre. 4. Lead-mining. (See quots.) Cf. leader1 13 c.
1653E. Manlove Lead-Mines 3 If any..find a Rake, Or sign, or leading to the same. 1747Hooson Miner's Dict. s.v. Break-off, If it happen that it [a vein] break into several Leadings or Strings. 1802Mawe Min. Derbyshire Gloss., Leadings, small sparry veins in the rock. 1829Glover's Hist. Derby i. 65 The branches [of a vein] have a general communication by means of fine slender threads, or leadings, as the miners term them. 5. A directing influence or guidance; esp. a spiritual indication of the proper course of action in any case. A term used by the Quakers; also in the usage of other religious bodies, and in philosophy.
1821Congregational Mag. Nov. 579 What is Christian experience, but this working in us, this leading of the spirit of God? 1859Geo. Eliot A. Bede I. iii. 59, I thought it might be a leading of Providence for me to change my way of life. Ibid. 60 The strong love God has given me towards you was a leading for us both. 1889M. C. Lee Quaker Girl Nantucket 8 Ann Millet..began to have ‘leadings’ at the age of four years. 1969Listener 23 Jan. 117/3 Hence their [sc. Peirce and James's] characteristic teaching that all thought exists in signs or in ‘leadings’ from one area of experience to another. 6. attrib. and Comb., as leading-cart; leading-block (see quots.); leading-business (Theatr.), the parts usually taken by the leading actor; leading-hose, that section of the hose from which the water is discharged by a fire-engine; leading-rein, a rein to lead a horse or other animal; also fig.; leading-staff, † (a) a staff borne by a commanding officer, a truncheon; (b) a staff to lead a bull by means of a ring through its nose; leading-strap = lead n.2 3 d; † leading-weapon, a weapon serving as a ‘leading-staff’; leading-wire = lead n.2 10 a (b). Also leading-string.
1859E. A. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 317 A *leading block is a fixed pulley, which alters the direction of the power, but does not increase it. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Leading-blocks, the several blocks used for guiding the direction of any purchase, as hook, snatch or tail blocks.
1880Era Almanack 95 My First Chapter in *Leading Business.
1854H. Miller Sch. & Schm. (1858) 238 An entire sheaf that had fallen from the ‘*leading-cart’ at the close of harvest.
1483Ward. Acc. in Antiq. Rep. (1807) I. 32 And for *ledyng rayns, xxij yerds of broode riban silk. 1826Scott Diary 18 Apr. in Lockhart, He a boy, of six or seven, was brought to visit me on a pony, a groom holding the leading-rein. 1864J. Payn Sir Massingberd 58 If you had had a leading-rein yourself..at seventeen, it would have been a great deal better for you.
1598Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 29 In musters and traynings to carie..neither Halbard, neither *leading-staffe [etc.]. 1634Ford P. Warbeck iii. i. stage direct., Enter King Henrie, his Gorget on, his sword, plume of feathers, leading staffe. 1813Scott Trierm. ii. xix, And Gyneth then apart he drew; To her his leading-staff resign'd. 1889T. Hardy Mayor Casterbr. xxix, He ran forward towards the leading-staff, seized it, and wrenched the animal's head as if he would snap it off.
1856‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports i. iii. v. 185 If..he [dog] must be steadily dragged along by the *leading-strap.
1622F. Markham Bk. War v. i. 10 To conclude, the Colonell is to bee armed at all points like the Captaine, onely his *Leading-weapon, and Feather-staffe is of a much lesse proportion. b. with advs., as leading-in, leading-off, leading-out; in quots. attrib. (and hardly distinct from ppl. a.).
1876Preece & Sivewright Telegraphy 224 On to the square terminal pole a hollow facing or casing is fixed, down which the *leading-in wires are led.
1884F. J. Britten Watch & Clockm. 91 The large amount of power required to drive the *leading off rod.
1895Thompson & Thomas Electr. Tab. & Mem. 80 The *leading-out wires of electro-magnets. ▪ II. leading, vbl. n.2|ˈlɛdɪŋ| [f. lead v.2 + -ing1.] The action of lead v.2 a. A covering, framing, or mending with lead. b. concr. = came; leadwork in general. c. Printing. The action of placing ‘leads’ between the lines of type. d. quasi-concr. The fouling of a gun with lead from bullets; more widely, deposition of lead on a surface.
c1440Promp. Parv. 293/1 Leeding wythe leed, plumbacio. 1563–83Foxe A. & M. II. 1799/2 Paules Churche..costeth me a good deale of money by the yeare, the leading thereof. 1573Baret Alv. L 157 A leading or souldring in lead, plumbitura. 1597MS. Rawl. D. 176 fo. 275 b, The sydes of the Chauncell, the Leadding whereof being defectyve. 1611Cotgr., Plombement, a leading or tinning. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 83 The leading of the Bread room..was a preservation of the Bread;..if it had not been for the leading of it, it would not have lasted half so long. 1807Syd. Smith P. Plymley's Lett. ix. Wks. 1840 III. 440 A Protestant plumber has discovered that it [the parish church] wants new leading. 1855Ogilvie Suppl., Leading, separating by leads, as in printing. 1881Greener Gun 261 This removes all ‘leading’ and deposit. 1884Harper's Mag. Aug. 369/2 The..panes might..be whirled out of their leadings. 1894Athenæum 26 May 674/1 The ‘leading’ of the pages of the two texts differs considerably. 1946Happy Landings (Air Ministry) July 3/2 Pilots can prevent leading of plugs by clearing engines..or by using higher r.p.m. when flying in cold conditions. ▪ III. leading, ppl. a.|ˈliːdɪŋ| [f. lead v.1 + -ing2.] 1. a. That guides, directs, or leads to something; † also, that serves as a precedent.
a1628F. Grevil Sidney (1652) 188 This She-David of ours..takes the truth for her Leading-Star. a1633Austin Medit. (1635) 168 This was on..the Second Lords day that was ever kept. And now it began to be a leading custome to the Church. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. i. ii. §1 Such as make him a Britan, ground their pretence on a leading Mistake. 1681J. Flavel Meth. Grace xx. 356 It is a leading introductive mercy to all other spiritual mercies that follow it. a1708Beveridge Thes. Theol. (1710) II. 235 Have a particular care of leading sins, that seldom go alone. 1745J. Mason Self Knowl. i. xvii. (1853) 125 A Man cannot live without some leading views. 1791Burke Let. Member Nat. Assembly Wks. VI. 56 One of the strongest acts of innovation and the most leading in its consequences. 1793Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) II. 277, I have not proof, but some very leading circumstances. 1817Coleridge Biog. Lit. II. xxi. 126 Suppose too all this done without a single leading principle established. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 277 A great principle or leading thought suggests and arranges a world of particulars. b. Special collocations: leading-buoy (see quot.); leading case Law, one that serves as a precedent to decide other cases; leading dog Austral. and N.Z. (see quot. 1933); leading-light Naut. (cf. leading-mark); leading-mark Naut., one of ‘those objects which, kept in line or in transit, guide the pilot while working into port, as trees, spires, buoys, etc.’ (Adm. Smyth 1867); leading-motive Mus., occas. tr. leitmotiv, q.v.; leading note Mus. (see quot. 1889; cf. sensible note); leading question, one that suggests the proper or expected answer; spec. in Law (see quot. 1848); leading seventh Mus. (see quot.).
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Leading-buoy, a buoy placed as a guide in sailing.
1655Fuller Ch. Hist. ii. v. §1 We cannot but gaze at the Novelty of this act (as we conceive, a *leading Case in this kind). 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xvii. IV. 48 The leading case was that of Athaliah. 1895North in Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 24/1, I will refer to Barrow v. Barrow, a leading case perhaps on a married woman's right and power to elect.
1897I. Scott How I stole over 10,000 Sheep in Austral. & N.Z. ii. 9 We had no ‘*leading’ dog. 1933L. G. D. Acland in Press (Christchurch, N.Z.) 4 Nov. 15/7 Leading-dog, a dog trained to run ahead of a mob of sheep to keep them steady. 1934Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May 38/3 Rock, the kelpie leading-dog..had never possessed any aspirations towards leadership.
1875Knight Dict. Mech., *Leading-light.
1804Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) V. 521 The *leading mark for running in, is the Light-House.
1883F. Hueffer Wagner (ed. 2) 70 The same melody forms a prominent part of the music-drama, and appears as ‘*leading-motive’ wherever the composer wishes to suggest the idea of the love potion. 1894Times 13 Apr. 10/4 A few of the ‘leading-motives’..startle us by their originality.
1811T. Busby Dict. Music (ed. 3), *Leading note. 1889E. Prout Harmony i. §13 The seventh note of the scale, which..has a very strong tendency to lead up or rise to the tonic is on that account called the Leading Note.
1824Starkie Law Evid. I. ii. 123 Upon the examination of a witness in chief, the principal rule to be observed is that *leading questions are not to be asked. 1848Wharton Law Lex., Leading question, a question which suggests to a witness the answer which he is to make. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. viii. II. 381 Williams put leading questions.
1889E. Prout Harmony (ed. 10) xiv. §365 The first inversion of the dominant major ninth is sometimes called the ‘Chord of the seventh on the leading note’, and sometimes simply the ‘*Leading Seventh’. c. leading-in adj.: applied to a lead-in wire (of either kind: see lead-in 1 a, b).
1876Preece & Sivewright Telegraphy vii. 224 The leading-in wire from the terminal pole, consists of a copper conductor insulated with gutta-percha, and well protected by a coating of tarred tape. 1885Phil. Mag. XX. 141 The envelope may have deposited upon it a metallic film, derived from the leading-in wires to which the carbon filament is clamped. 1891F. C. Allsop Telephones viii. 131 The leading-in wire is joined to the line-wire close to the last shackle or insulator. 1914S. C. Batstone Electr.-Light Fitting vii. 138 G is a long glass stem through which the leading-in wires pass for connexion to the filament F. 1924Wireless World 13 Aug. 543/1 (heading) Doing away with the leading-in wire. 1936Orr & Forrest Introd. Neon Lighting i. 2 A lighting tube consists of a length of glass tubing bent to the shape required and closed at both ends. Into each end is inserted an electrode, usually in the form of a hollow cylinder of metal, to which are attached leading-in wires, which are carried to the outside of the tube through a vacuum-tight seal. 2. That takes the lead; chief, principal, prominent. leading lady, leading man: the chief actress or actor in a theatrical company or a film. Also leading-article.
1625B. Jonson Staple of N. ii. i, I have read the Elements, And Accidence, and all the leading books. 1671L. Addison W. Barbary 35 A leading Person in that part of the Countrey. 1701Swift Contests Nobles & Commons iv. Miscell. (1711) 71, I mean Popular Orators, Tribunes, or as they are now stiled Great Speakers, Leading Men and the like. 1711Steele Spect. No. 54 ⁋2 Several of the leading Men of the Sect have a great deal of the cynical Humour in them. 1734J. Ward Introd. Math. ii. v. (ed. 6) 176 The Solution of such Leading Questions as are in themselves very easie. 1779Burke Corr. (1844) II. 275 That profession [the bar] which is so leading in this country. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §117 The great and leading point now to be determined was, whether the house should be rebuilt with stone. 1806A. Duncan Nelson's Funeral 27 Large sums were given for standing in a cart, in a leading street. 1817Parl. Debates 565 Mr. Brougham..had admitted the leading facts of the great distresses. 1821Craig Lect. Drawing iv. 216 The leading events of our sacred history. 1827L. Rede Road to Stage 16 The salary is generally first-rate—at all events next to that of the leading man. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 666 He had not been one of the leading conspirators. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. II. vii. 161 He had himself..played a leading part in them [commotions]. 1874Hatton Clytie (ed. 10) 96, I should have put it down for a leading lady. 1885J. K. Jerome On the Stage 157 Our leading man died suddenly from heart disease. 1898Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 615 Leading physicians both in Germany and America. 1900Daily News 20 Jan. 6/4 ‘The leading hand in the teak trade’, as Mr. Kipling, père, calls the elephant. 1918Leading lady [see double v. 1 e]. 1921Leading aircraftman [see aircraftman]. 1939I. Baird Waste Heritage vii. 88 He hated the way Bette's leading man looked, all slicked-up and Hollywood. 1955T. H. Pear Eng. Social Differences vi. 159 Leading-hand, charge-hand. 3. That has the front place; that goes first or in front on the line of movement. leading wheels: the front pair of wheels of a locomotive (so leading axle, leading springs; cf. leader1 16 a). leading card: that which is played first; also fig. leading counsel = leader1 3 c. leading shoot = leader1 9.
1597Morley Introd. Mus. 77 When we speak of a Fuge or Canon, in the vnison, fift, or eight: it is to be vnderstood from the first note of the leading part. 1683Tryon Way to Health xiv. (1697) 318 Drunkenness being the leading Card to all Evils. 1690J. Mackenzie Siege London-Derry 5/2 If we come to be made a leading-Card, sit not still and see us sink. a1711Ken Anodynes Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 432 When I of God a Song design, Pains intercept my leading Line. 1712J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 181 Guide the leading Shoot of these young Trees higher and higher. 1727–51Chambers Cycl. s.v. Fugue, The leading parts still flying before those which follow. 1771P. Parsons Newmarket II. 32 The two leading-horses..carried about eight stone..each wheel-horse about seven stone. 1774J. Bryant Mythol. I. 80 This people..often suppressed the leading vowel. 1792Trans. Soc. Arts X. 18 The vigorous leading shoots made by healthy plants from year to year. 1796Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 60 Every other squadron..and every other regiment..manœuvre from a leading flank. 1798Capt. Millar in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1846) VII. p. cliv, The leading Ship to steer one point more to starboard. 1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 129 These mortises must be square to the leading side of the whip. 1849–50Weale's Dict. Terms, Leading springs, the springs fixed upon the leading axle-box of a locomotive engine, bearing the weight above. Leading wheels, the wheels of a locomotive engine, which are placed before the driving wheels. 1854J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1855) II. xx. 358 Here..he encountered the leading Cossacks of Blucher's army. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xv. III. 525 He had been the leading counsel for the seven Bishops. 1885U. S. Grant Pers. Mem. I. xxii. 302 The leading boat got within a very short distance of the water battery. 1889Pall Mall G. 6 Aug. 3/3 A good ‘leading’ deer [of a sledge team] is the most valuable of a Samoyede's possessions. 1895Mod. Steam Engine 67 The leading axle. 1898Daily News 4 Jan. 5 The leading engine was overturned. 4. That makes to go, drives, or communicates motion; in certain technical collocations.
1762Falconer Shipwr. i. 480 The ship..waited..the leading gale. 1772–84Cook Voy. (1790) VI. 2175 A shoal..makes it necessary to warp in, unless there should happen to be a leading wind. 1841Dana Seaman's Man. 113 Leading-wind, a fair wind. More particularly applied to a wind abeam or quartering. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Leading-part, the rope of a tackle which runs between the fall and the standing post... It is that part of the fall which is to be hauled on or overhauled, to ease the purchase. 1875Knight Dict. Mech., Leading-screw (Lathe), the longitudinal screw between the shears of a lathe, by which the slide-rest is moved longitudinally of the lathe-bed. Lead-screw. 5. leading coach (sense obscure: cf. quot. 1848).
1704Lond. Gaz. No. 4052/1 The Gentlemen Ushers in waiting in Her Majesty's Leading Coach. 1724Ibid. 6233/2 The Morocco Ambassadour was conducted by the Master of the Ceremonies to his Audience of the young Princesses, in one of their leading Coaches and six Horses. 1736Hervey Mem. Geo. II, I. xiii. 272 He [sc. the Prince of Orange] came the next morning to St. James's..though the equipage the king sent to fetch him was only one miserable leading coach with only ‘a pair of horses’. 1848Ibid., footn., Strange to say, the peculiar meaning of ‘a leading coach’ has been lost in the Master of the Horse's office, though these offices are usually so conservative of etiquette. Hence † ˈleadingly a. (in 3 north. dial. ledand-like), suitable for leading (a procession); ˈleadingly adv., in a leading manner.
a1300E.E. Psalter xcvii. 6 In bemes ledand-like [Vulg. in tubis ductilibus] to se. 1801W. Taylor in Robberds Mem. I. 368 You have no other brother so likely to be soon and leadingly settled. 1862Ruskin Unto this Last 65 Among national manufactures..a quite leadingly lucrative one. |