leadingn.1
/ˈliːdɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlidɪŋ/ 1. † c. A figure in dancing. Obsolete.
a. The action of lead v.1, in various senses.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement over, across, through, or past > [noun]
leadinga1300
passagec1300
overstyinga1382
overpassingc1384
transita1500
pass1602
transitation1605
transcursion1624
transcent1626
transmeation1630
pertransition1653
tranation1654
transcurrence1656
coming1726
traversion1838
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun]
leadinga1300
suasionc1374
persuasionc1384
inducingc1480
induction1490
persuading1530
persuade1590
persuase1599
overswaying1611
inducementa1616
moral suasion1642
sales pitchery1968
society > authority > control > [noun] > leading
lodeOE
leadinga1240
leada1300
leadinga1300
manuduction1502
conduct1530
conduction1541
ducture1645
duct1654
duction1661
leadance1682
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > [noun] > guiding, leading, or showing the way
lodec1175
leadinga1300
forleadinga1387
teachinga1400
guidingc1425
conveying1483
conducting1517
conduction1541
conduct?c1550
well guiding1577
pilotage1600
deduction?1615
piloting1663
guidership1849
society > occupation and work > industry > conducting of water, etc., by channels or pipes > [noun]
conduit1555
hydragogy1570
leading1570
derivation1607
conductiona1613
conduct1847
pipage1883
leading1890
pipelining1942
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > [noun] > guiding, leading, or showing the way > by physical contact
leading1690
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > [noun]
vehiculation1628
leading1805
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2866 If ani fische þar-in bigane, Wit leding o þe flum iordane, Þe lijf it es for-don wit stink.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 4217 Thurgh ledyng of þe fende He sal even to Ierusalem wende.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 358 No woundir ȝif men gone þikke to helle bi þe leding of suche prelatis.
c1440 Three Kings Cologne 50 Þorwe þe gret mercy of god and ledyng of þis sterre, þei com..in to Ierusalem.
1555 J. Philpot in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. iii. App. xlix. 157 Through his lovyng and comfortable leading and governance.
1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. djv Hydragogie, demonstrateth the possible leading of Water, by Natures lawe, and by artificiall helpe, from any head..to any other place assigned.
1690 A. Wood Life 15 July So feeble that he could not goe without leading.
1805 Trans. Soc. Arts 23 35 The filling, leading, and spreading of 2500 carts of compost.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles Prelim. Ess. 69 Humanity is being carried forward under a mightier leading than its own.
1891 Labour Commission Gloss. Leading, conveying coals by carts from the pits to the workmen's houses.
b. with forth, off.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [noun] > leading
lodeOE
leadinga1240
leada1300
leadinga1300
manuduction1502
conduct1530
conduction1541
ducture1645
duct1654
duction1661
leadance1682
society > occupation and work > industry > conducting of water, etc., by channels or pipes > [noun]
conduit1555
hydragogy1570
leading1570
derivation1607
conductiona1613
conduct1847
pipage1883
leading1890
pipelining1942
a1240 Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 207 Ich bide þe..bi his ledunge forð, bi al þet me him demde, bi [etc.].
1890 Daily News 6 Jan. 3/5 The leading off of the rain from the Vomero.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > movements or steps > [noun] > figure
figure1636
leading1694
floor pattern1943
1694 P. A. Motteux Wks. F. Rabelais (1737) v. xxiv. 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. 1598 at sense 2a).
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society > authority > control > [noun] > guidance
wissingc1000
rightingOE
guidance?1548
guide1568
guidementa1578
aim1597
chalking1613
sterning1638
light or leading1644
pilotry1842
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > one who is important > one who has influence
substantial1548
men of light and leading1790
big fish1827
big1833
sommité1856
leader1858
baron1876
heavyweight1889
Big Daddy1898
uncrowned king (queen)1917
big boy1921
top gun1941
society > authority > power > influence > [noun] > one who or that which influences > influential people
substantial1548
men of light and leading1790
1644 J. Milton in tr. M. Bucer Ivdgem. conc. Divorce To Parl. sig. B2 I ow no light, or leading receav'd from any man in the discovery of this truth.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 150 The men of England, the men, I mean, of light and leading in England. View more context for this quotation
1846 B. Disraeli Speech in Comm. 15 June The language that has been used in this House by men of great light and leading.
2. † b. Government, rule. Obsolete.† c. quasi-concrete. The followers of a leader.
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.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military service > [noun] > leading or commanding
leadingc1400
governailc1425
magistration1490
conducting1517
manred1528
conduct1530
manrentc1540
conduction1551
commandment1592
command1594
commandery1598
captaincy1850
officering1890
society > authority > command > command or bidding > in command [phrase] > under one's command
at one's leadingc1400
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > skill in managing or directing
conductc1515
conveyance?1531
convoyance1578
conduction1579
direction1585
leading1598
managementa1715
generalship1759
coachmanship1776
stick-handling1969
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vi. 20 Ilk ane admyrall sall hafe at his ledyng foure or fyue or sex men of armes.
1411 Rolls of Parl. III. 650/2 All the Knyghtes and Esquiers and Yomen that had ledynge of men on his partie.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) x. l. 591 A hundreth men was at his ledyng still.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. iii. 19 I wonder much being men of such great leading as you are, That you foresee not what impediments Drag backe our expedition. View more context for this quotation
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) §74 75 Under the leading of the Lord Walter Manny.
1642 Commiss. in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 529 Commanders for the governing, leading, and commanding of them.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 290 They should be absolutely under my Leading, as their..Captain.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby iii. xxiii. 136 His gallant leading, won my heart.
1829 P. F. Tytler Hist. Scotl. II. i. 20 The civil government in Scotland, and the leading of its armies, was in the hands of Mar and March.
1878 R. Simpson School of Shakspere I. 96 A great armada was being prepared which was said to be intended to pass the seas under the leading of Stucley.
1898 United Service Mag. July 406 The higher leading may go to pieces, and confusion of command may ensue.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > [noun]
onwaldeOE
wissingc1000
governc1300
shield1338
governaila1382
governancec1384
hierarchy1390
regimenta1393
rulea1393
rulec1405
governationc1410
leadingc1430
governmentc1450
gubernance1455
domination1490
moderation1526
governancy1540
ditiona1552
ruledom1553
rectory1572
sway1586
diocese1596
raj1857
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 356 All that land was in hir ledyng.
c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 820 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 327 A nobil knycht..had þe leding of þe land.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 579 Yan thocht he to have ye leding Off all Scotland.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > retainer or follower > [noun] > collective or retinue
hirdc888
douthOE
gingc1175
folkc1275
hirdfolcc1275
tail1297
meiniec1300
meiniec1300
routc1325
suitc1325
peoplec1330
leading1382
retinuea1387
repairc1390
retenancea1393
farneta1400
to-draughta1400
sembly14..
sequelc1420
manya1425
followingc1429
affinity?1435
family1438
train1489
estatec1500
port1545
retain1548
equipage1579
suite1579
attendancy1586
attendance1607
tendancea1616
sequacesa1660
cortège1679
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. l. 9 He hadde in his ledyng [L. in comitatu] chares, and rydynge men.
c1400 Rom. Rose 5863 Al the folk of hir leding,..never wist what was fleing.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xv. 302 Thai that war of his leding..War all ded.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > [noun] > multiplication
multiplicationa1393
multiplying?a1400
ductionc1430
leadingc1430
composition1557
practice1562
postmultiplication1861
premultiplication1861
c1430 Art Nombryng (1922) 46 Nombre superficial is þat comethe of ledynge of oo nombre into a-nother.
c1430 Art Nombryng (1922) 46 The solide nombre or cubike is þat þat comythe of double ledynge of nombre in nombre.
4. Lead-mining. (See quots.) Cf. leader n.1 13c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [noun] > vein > thin
race1580
string1603
veinlinga1618
leading1653
primgap1653
sticking1653
coal pipe1699
hilo1848
stringer1874
1653 E. Manlove Liberties & Customes Lead-mines Derby 3 If any..find a Rake, Or sign, or leading to the same.
1747 W. Hooson Miners Dict. sig. D3 If it happen that it [sc. a vein] break into several Leadings or Strings.
1802 J. Mawe Mineral. of Derbyshire Gloss. Leadings, small sparry veins in the rock.
1829 S. Glover Hist. County of 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.
ΚΠ
1821 Congregational Mag. Nov. 579 What is Christian experience, but this working in us, this leading of the spirit of God?
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. iii. 59 I thought it might be a leading of Providence for me to change my way of life.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. iii. 60 The strong love God had given me towards you was a leading for us both.
1889 M. C. Lee Quaker Girl Nantucket 8 Ann Millet..began to have ‘leadings’ at the age of four years.
1969 Listener 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.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
leading-cart n.
ΚΠ
1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters (1858) 238 An entire sheaf that had fallen from the ‘leading-cart’ at the close of harvest.
C2. Also leading-string n. † leading-weapon n. Obsolete a weapon serving as a ‘leading-staff’.
leading-block n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 317 A leading block is a fixed pulley, which alters the direction of the power, but does not increase it.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Leading-blocks, the several blocks used for guiding the direction of any purchase, as hook, snatch or tail blocks.
leading-business n. Theatre the parts usually taken by the leading actor.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > part or character > [noun] > principal character
protagonist1671
heroine1817
lead1831
shero1836
title role1857
title part1866
nayika1873
leading-business1880
beau rôle1887
name part1894
nayaka1933
hero1983
1880 Era Almanack 95 My First Chapter in Leading Business.
leading-hose n. that section of the hose from which the water is discharged by a fire-engine.
leading-rein n. a rein to lead a horse or other animal; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > reins
rein1297
bridle reina1382
bridea1425
linkc1450
leading-rein1483
quinsell1598
bearing rein1790
bridoon rein1795
check-reina1809
ribbon1813
ribands1815
bit-rein1833
check-piece1833
nose-rein1844
lines1852
reinage1863
check1868
overdraw1870
single line1875
overcheck1963
society > authority > control > [noun] > guidance > means of
helmc888
stern1401
leading-rein1864
1483 Ward. Acc. in Antiq. Rep. (1807) I. 32 And for ledyng rayns, xxij yerds of broode riban silk.
1826 W. Scott Jrnl. 18 Apr. (1939) 157 He, a boy, of six or seven, was brought to visit me on a pony, a groom holding the leading-rein.
1864 J. Payn Lost Sir Massingberd 58 If you had had a leading-rein yourself..at seventeen, it would have been a great deal better for you.
leading-staff n. †(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.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > insignia > [noun] > staff or stick
leading-staff1598
vine-rod1601
vine-wand1601
leading-weapon1622
swagger-stick1887
swagger-cane1888
nigger stick1971
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [noun] > equipment
salec1299
salebandc1299
shacklec1460
marking stone1534
low bell1578
baikiea1598
nose-hook1778
sjambok1790
shangy1808
cow-bell1809
ox frame1844
bullwhip1848
humbug1850
stock-whip1852
bull-whacker1858
cattle-bell1872
bull-whack1885
leading-staff1886
bullock-bell1911
bull-holder1940
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 29 In musters and traynings to carie..neither Halbard, neither leading-staffe [etc.].
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck iii. sig. E3 (stage direct.) Enter King Henrie, his Gorget on, his sword, plume of feathers, leading staffe.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain ii. xix. 84 And Gyneth then apart he drew; To her his leading-staff resigned.
1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge II. vi. 80 He ran forward towards the leading-staff, seized it, and wrenched the animal's head as if he would snap it off.
leading-strap n. = lead n.2 3d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping dogs or cats > [noun] > keeping or affinity with dogs > place to exercise hounds > collars, leads, etc.
linea1000
collar1377
torretc1386
dog collar1485
doghook1528
terret1530
slip1564
dogwhip1583
trash1611
shangan1787
puzzle-peg1789
puzzle1792
shangy1825
leading-strap1856
nosepiece1865
dog tag1882
lead1893
harness1895
silent whistle1923
standing iron1934
1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports i. iii. v. 185 If..he [dog] must be steadily dragged along by the leading-strap.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > insignia > [noun] > staff or stick
leading-staff1598
vine-rod1601
vine-wand1601
leading-weapon1622
swagger-stick1887
swagger-cane1888
nigger stick1971
1622 F. Markham Five Decades Epist. of Warre 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.
leading-wire n. = lead n.2 10a (b).
C3. With adverbs. In quots. attributive (and hardly distinct from participial adj.).
leading-in adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > wire as conductor > [adjective] > coming from outside
leading-in1876
lead-in1913
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy 224 On to the square terminal pole a hollow facing or casing is fixed, down which the leading-in wires are led.
leading-off adj.
ΚΠ
1881 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (ed. 4) 100 The large amount of power required to drive the leading off rod.
leading-out adj.
ΚΠ
1895 S. P. Thompson & E. Thomas Electr. Tab. & Mem. 80 The leading-out wires of electro-magnets.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
leadingn.2
/ˈlɛdɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlɛdɪŋ/ The action of lead v.2
a. A covering, framing, or mending with lead.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > coating with metal > with specific metals
leadingc1440
tinningc1440
foilinga1582
quickening1738
electroplating1840
zincing1841
retinning1843
palladiumizinga1851
acierage1852
platinizing1853
nickelization1857
quicking1863
brassingc1865
copperingc1865
nickel plating1870
nickelling1875
steel-facing1884
brazing1886
aluminizing1890
sherardizing1901
calorizing1930
aluminization1932
stelliting1934
anodizing1936
anodization1952
flame-plating1954
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 293/1 Leeding wythe leed, plumbacio.
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1394/2 Paules Churche..cost me a good deale of money by the yeare, the leading thereof.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie L 157 A leading or souldring in lead, plumbitura.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Plombement, a leading or tinning.
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions 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.
b. concrete. = came n.; leadwork in general.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > parts of windows > [noun] > glazing or dividing bar
monial1332
sodlet1332
stay-bar1399
transom1502
mullion1556
munnion1571
calm1577
leading1597
window bar1612
stroke1684
came1688
leads1705
saddle-bar?1733
transom-shaft1813
sash bar1837
baluster1844
baluster column1844
supermonial1846
supermullion1846
astragal1858
wagtail1940
1597 MS. Rawl. D. 176 fo. 275 b The sydes of the Chauncell, the Leadding whereof being defectyve.
1808 ‘P. Plymley’ Eighth, Ninth & Last Let. ix. 21 A Protestant plumber has discovered that it [sc. the parish church] wants new leading.
1884 Harper's Mag. Aug. 369/2 The..panes might..be whirled out of their leadings.
c. Printing. The action of placing ‘leads’ between the lines of type.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > preparatory processes > composing > [noun] > separating by leads
leading1855
1855 J. Ogilvie Suppl. Imperial Dict. Leading, separating by leads, as in printing.
1894 Athenæum 26 May 674/1 The ‘leading’ of the pages of the two texts differs considerably.
d. quasi-concrete. The fouling of a gun with lead from bullets; more widely, deposition of lead on a surface.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > [noun] > fouling
leading1881
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 261 This removes all ‘leading’ and deposit.
1946 Happy 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.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
leadingadj.
/ˈliːdɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlidɪŋ/ 1.
a. That guides, directs, or leads to something; †also, that serves as a precedent.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [adjective] > leading or guiding
conductive1528
directional1612
guidinga1616
leadinga1628
manuducent1677
conducting1710
bear-leading1748
bear-leading1766
polar1791
the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > [adjective] > having the force of an example > that serves as a precedent
leadinga1628
precedentiala1641
precedentary1789
a1628 F. Greville Life of Sidney (1651) xv. 188 This She-David of ours..takes the..truth for her Leading-Star.
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (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.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. i. 9 Such as make him a Britan, ground their pretence on a leading Mistake.
1681 J. Flavell Method of Grace xx. 356 It is a leading introductive mercy to all other spiritual mercies that follow it.
a1708 W. Beveridge Thes. Theologicus (1710) II. 235 Have a particular care of leading sins, that seldom go alone.
1745 J. Mason Treat. Self-knowl. i. xvii. 141 A Man cannot live without some leading Views.
1791 E. Burke Let. to Member National Assembly in Wks. (1823) VI. 56 One of the strongest acts of innovation and the most leading in its consequences.
1793 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) II. 277 I have not proof, but some very leading circumstances.
1817 S. T. Coleridge Biographia Literaria II. xxi. 126 Suppose too all this done without a single leading principle established.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 277 A great principle or leading thought suggests and arranges a world of particulars.
b. leading-in adj.: applied to a lead-in wire (of either kind: see lead-in n. 1a, 1b).
ΚΠ
1876 W. H. Preece & J. 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.
1885 London, Edinb. & Dublin Philos. Mag. 5th Ser. 20 141 The envelope may have deposited upon it a metallic film, derived from the leading-in wires to which the carbon filament is clamped.
1891 F. C. Allsop Telephones viii. 131 The leading-in wire is joined to the line-wire close to the last shackle or insulator.
1914 S. C. Batstone Electric-light Fitting vii. 138 G is a long glass stem through which the leading-in wires pass for connexion to the filament F.
1924 Wireless World 13 Aug. 543/1 (heading) Doing away with the leading-in wire.
1936 Orr & 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 n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > most important > of people
mosta1300
principala1382
principal?a1425
capitalc1475
supreme1496
chief1535
leading1631
staple1642
big league1917
high-level1947
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > actor playing specific type of part > leading actor
leading man1827
leading lady1874
lead1885
1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes ii. ii. 22 in Wks. II I haue read the Elements, And Accidence, and all the leading bookes.
1671 L. Addison W. Barbary 35 A leading Person in that part of the Countrey.
1701 J. Swift Disc. Contests Nobles & Commons iv. 46 I mean, Popular Orators, Tribunes, or as they are now stiled Great Speakers, Leading Men, and the like.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 54. ⁋2 Several of the leading Men of the Sect have a great deal of the cynical Humour in them.
1734 J. Ward Introd. Math. (ed. 6) ii. v. 176 The Solution of such Leading Questions as are in themselves very easie.
1779 E. Burke Corr. (1844) II. 275 That profession [the bar] which is so leading in this country.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §117 The great and leading point now to be determined was, whether the house should be rebuilt with stone.
1806 A. Duncan Nelson's Funeral 27 Large sums were given for standing in a cart, in a leading street.
1817 Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 565 Mr. Brougham..had admitted the leading facts of the great distresses.
1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing iv. 216 The leading events of our sacred history.
1827 L. T. Rede Road to Stage 16 The salary is generally first-rate—at all events next to that of the leading man.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 666 He had not been one of the leading conspirators.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest II. vii. 161 He had himself..played a leading part in them [commotions].
1874 J. Hatton Clytie (ed. 10) 96 I should have put it down for a leading lady.
1885 J. K. Jerome On Stage 157 Our leading man died suddenly from heart disease.
1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 615 Leading physicians both in Germany and America.
1900 Daily News 20 Jan. 6/4 ‘The leading hand in the teak trade’, as Mr. Kipling, père, calls the elephant.
1918 H. Croy How Motion Pictures are Made v. 124 A young man, doubling for a leading lady in a bit of hazardous fire jumping.
1921 King's Regs. R.A.F. 8 The ranks of Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Royal Air Force..are as follows..Non-Commissioned Officers. Flight Sergeant. Sergeant. Corporal. Men in the Ranks. Leading Aircraftman. Aircraftman.
1939 I. Baird Waste Heritage vii. 88 He hated the way Bette's leading man looked, all slicked-up and Hollywood.
1955 T. 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. leader n.1 16a). leading counsel = leader n.1 3c leading shoot = leader n.1 9.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > bough or branch > young branch, twig, or shoot
sprittle?c1225
leader1572
arrow1574
graft1576
thief1669
leading shoot1712
coppice shoot1851
Lammas shoot1929
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [adjective]
foregoing1530
headmost1592
beginning1609
first1647
previous1658
forehand1664
leading1771
lead1846
vanmost1865
front flight1899
the world > space > relative position > front > [adjective]
furtherc1000
foremostc1275
formerc1384
farther1398
fornec1440
fore?a1513
forme1523
anterior1611
first1647
head1691
vanward1820
leading1825
forwardmost1834
society > law > legal profession > lawyer > [noun] > counsellor, barrister, or advocate > leading counsel
leading counsel1855
leader1856
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 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.
a1711 T. Ken Anodynes in Wks. (1721) III. 432 When I of God a Song design, Pains intercept my leading Line.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 181 Guide the leading Shoot of these young Trees higher and higher.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Fugue The leading Parts still flying before those which follow.
1771 P. Parsons Newmarket II. 32 The two leading-horses..carried about eight stone..each wheel-horse about seven stone.
1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. 80 This people..often suppressed the leading vowel.
1792 Trans. Soc. Arts 10 18 The vigorous leading shoots made by healthy plants from year to year.
1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 81 Every other squadron..and every other regiment..manœuvre from a leading flank.
1798 Capt. Millar in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1846) VII. p. cliv The leading Ship to steer one point more to starboard.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 129 These mortises must be square to the leading side of the whip.
1849–50 Weale'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.
1854 J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1855) II. xx. 358 Here..he encountered the leading Cossacks of Blucher's army.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 525 He had been the leading counsel for the seven Bishops.
1885 U. S. Grant Pers. Mem. I. xxii. 302 The leading boat got within a very short distance of the water battery.
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 6 Aug. 3/3 A good ‘leading’ deer [of a sledge team] is the most valuable of a Samoyede's possessions.
1895 Mod. Steam Engine 67 The leading axle.
1898 Daily News 4 Jan. 5 The leading engine was overturned.
4. That makes to go, drives, or communicates motion; in certain technical collocations.
ΚΠ
1764 W. Falconer Shipwreck (new ed.) i. 19 The ship..waited..the leading gale.
1790 Coll. Voy. round World VI. xix. 2175 A shoal..makes it necessary to warp in, unless there should happen to be a leading wind.
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 113 Leading-wind, a fair wind. More particularly applied to a wind abeam or quartering.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher 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.
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. 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 n. sense obscure: cf. quot. 1848.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > covered > coach > other types of coach
hanging-waggon1585
glass-coach1667
carriage of respecta1680
shalloon1688
leading coach1704
curtain-coach1706
day coach1784
muddy1800
perch-coach1815
drag1820
1704 London Gaz. No. 4052/1 The Gentlemen Ushers in waiting in Her Majesty's Leading Coach.
1724 London Gaz. 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.
1736 Ld. Hervey Mem. Reign Geo. II (1848) 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’.
1848 J. W. Croker in Ld. Hervey Mem. Reign George II I. xiii. 272 (note) 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.
Compounds
Special collocations. See also leading light n.† leading state n. Grammar Obsolete = nominative case n. at nominative adj. 1a; cf. foregoing state n. at foregoing adj. Compounds.
leading-buoy n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Leading-buoy, a buoy placed as a guide in sailing.
leading case n. Law a case that has settled some important point and is frequently cited as a precedent.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > [noun] > a judicial precedent > case used as precedent
casec1390
book case?1518
leading case1621
1621–31 W. Laud Serm. (1847) 204 This..is a great leading case for Kings.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ii. 123 We cannot but gaze at the Novelty of this act, (as we conceive, a leading Case in this kind).
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xvii. 48 The leading case was that of Athaliah.
1895 North in Law Times Rep. 73 24/1 I will refer to Barrow v. Barrow, a leading case perhaps on a married woman's right and power to elect.
leading dog n. Australian and New Zealand (see quot. 1933).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > sheepdog > [noun] > with specific job or character
boundary dog1876
leading dog1897
header1903
strong eye1910
huntaway1913
1897 I. Scott How I stole over 10,000 Sheep ii. 9 We had no ‘leading’ dog.
1933 L. 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.
1934 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May 38/3 Rock, the kelpie leading-dog..had never possessed any aspirations towards leadership.
leading-mark n. Nautical 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).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > buoys, marks, or lighthouses > [noun] > object on land or sea as guide
marka1398
sea-mark1566
landmark1570
daymark1695
leading-mark1804
tide-mark1861
shoal-mark1875
range mark1886
range marker1934
cardinal mark1974
1804 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) V. 521 The leading mark for running in, is the Light-House.
leading-motive n. Music occasionally tr. leitmotiv n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > theme > leitmotiv
leitmotiv1880
leading-motive1883
motto1891
motto theme1934
1883 F. 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.
1894 Times 13 Apr. 10/4 A few of the ‘leading-motives’..startle us by their originality.
leading note n. Music (see quot. 1889; cf. sensible note n. at sensible adj., n., and adv. Compounds 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > system of sounds or intervals > [noun] > diatonic scale series > notes in diatonic scale
keya1450
seventh1591
fifth1597
final1609
octave1656
sub-octave1659
keynote1677
mediant1721
sensible note?1775
subdominant?1775
submediant?1775
medius1782
leading note1786
nominal1786
subsemitone1799
superdominant1806
supertonic1806
tonic1806
subtonic1817
dominant1823
sensitive note1845
nominal note1884
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Leading note, an expression applied to the sensible, or sharp-seventh, of any key.
1889 E. 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.
leading question n. one that suggests the proper or expected answer; spec. in Law (see quot. 1848).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [noun] > act or instance of > suggesting its answer
leading question1824
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > trying or hearing of cause > [noun] > formal interrogation > question that suggests answer
leading question1824
1824 T. Starkie Pract. Treat. Law of Evidence 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.
1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 363/1 Leading question, a question which suggests to a witness the answer which he is to make.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. viii. 381 Williams put leading questions.
leading seventh n. Music (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > chord > [noun] > other chords
seventh1591
fourth1597
sixth1597
fifth1631
tierce1696
septime1725
repercussion1728
octave1749
substitution1784
triad1786
German sixth1812
French sixth1813
nintha1830
Neapolitan sixth1871
six-four1873
Italian sixth1875
tetrad1881
added sixth1888
leading seventh1889
ninth chord1889
under-chord1890
diminished seventh1926
1889 E. 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’.
ΚΠ
1809 Lindley Murray Examined 5 What has, for ages, been called the nominative case, is by one Grammarian called the leading state.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > [adjective] > suitable for
leadinglya1300
a1300 E.E. Psalter xcvii. 6 In bemes ledand-like [L. in tubis ductilibus] to se.
ˈleadingly adv. in a leading manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adverb] > most importantly
foremostOE
primarily1587
in (also for, on, upon) the maina1591
mainly1640
perpendicularly1658
capitally1679
paramountly1798
leadingly1801
importantly1841
1801 W. Taylor in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 368 You have no other brother so likely to be soon and leadingly settled.
1862 J. Ruskin Unto this Last 65 Among national manufactures..a quite leadingly lucrative one.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1a1240
n.2c1440
adj.a1300- lymphogranulomata
- lymphogranulomatoses
- lymphogranulomatosis
- lymphogranulomatosis benigna
- lymphogranulomatosis inguinalis
- lymphogranulomatosis maligna
- lymphographic
- lymphographies
- lymphography
- lymphoid
- lymphoidal
- lymphoidder
- lymphoiddest
- lymphoider
- lymphoidest
- lymphokine
- lymphokines
- lymphoma
- lymphomas
- lymphomata
- lymphomatoses
- lymphomatosis
- lymphomatous
- lymphopenia
- lymphopoieses