▪ I. letting, vbl. n.1
(ˈlɛtɪŋ)
[f. let v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of let v.1 in various senses.
1. The action of allowing the movement or passage of, giving loose or vent to; chiefly with adverbs, as down, in, off. Also letting blood, letting go.
| 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. xli, Onely throu latting of myn eyen fall. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 107 The lyftyngys vppe of the crosse and the lettyngys done ageyne. 1530 Palsgr. 239/1 Lettyng of blode, seignee. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. i. §16 Man is formed with a mouth..for receiving and letting forth of air. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 149 The letting in of the Waters, and other things..were hindred. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. ii. i. §5. 38 Letting go. 1839 Bailey Festus (1854) 219 The good we do is of His own good will,—The ill, of His own letting. a 1849 H. Coleridge Ess. (1851) I. 97 Some wise⁓acres..would think it a woful letting-down. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. ix, She couldn't wear one of your gowns, could she, by any letting down? a 1861 Clough Mari Magno 692, I..knew the letting-off of steam, and rose. 1861 Trench Sev. Ch. Asia 78 Such a letting go of first love. 1864 Mrs. Gatty Parables fr. Nat. Ser. iv. 109 He thought his father's argument a letting down of principle. 1917 J. Agate Buzz, Buzz! 9, I hold such statement of the actual and practical scope of current criticism not to be a letting-down of the art we hold dear. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 496/1 Letting-down, the process of tempering hardened steel by heating it until the desired colour is reached and then quenching. 1958 Ibid. 990/1 Letting down, the reduction of altitude from cruising height to that required for the approach to landing. 1966 J. & R. Godden Two under Indian Sun iii. 68 The letting down of hems or takings in, as dresses were handed down. |
2. The action of allowing the use of (houses, lands, etc.) on payment of rent, etc.; leasing. Also with out.
| 1538 Lichfield Gild Ord. (E.E.T.S.) 8 All men which haue or hold ony tenement of the lettyng of the master and the wardens. 1656 H. Phillips Purch. Patt. (1676) 1 The letting and taking of Leases. 1669 Woodhead St. Teresa ii. xxii. 139 Not the Season for letting of houses. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 252 Where the letting of their land was by rent [etc.]. 1833 H. Martineau Cinnamon & Pearls ii. 20 The letting of the Pearl banks had been accomplished. 1883 R. Ritchie Bk. Sibyls ii. 83 He..reorganized the letting out of the estate. 1885 Act 48 & 49 Vict. c. 77 §7 If any land is comprised in a lease for..lives, or in a letting for a term of years. 1894 Times 5 Feb. 4/3 The Irish grass lettings are making high prices. |
▪ II. letting, vbl. n.2 arch.
(ˈlɛtɪŋ)
[f. let v.2 + -ing1.]
The action of let v.2; delaying, hindering, an instance of this; also quasi-concr., a hindrance, an obstacle; frequent in † but, without letting, without hindrance, without delay.
| c 1020 Rule St. Benet (Logeman) 87 Oðer lettincge þæt he na þoliᵹe. a 1122 O.E. Chron. an. 1101 (Laud MS.) Se cyng syððan scipa ut on sæ sende his broðer..to lættinge. a 1240 Ureisun in Cott. Hom. 187 Þe bitternesse of mine sunnen attri is þe lettunge. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3204 Non man on hem letting dede. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 263/76 With-oute lettingue In heo ȝeode. a 1300 Cursor M. 3199 O þis letting was he ful glad. Ibid. 4914 For drightin dos vs na letting. 1375 Barbour Bruce ii. 12 The lord the bruce, but mar letting, Gert priuely bryng Stedys twa. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (St. Andrew) 974 Þat mycht be hendringe to myn fame, and lattinge als to ȝore gud name. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 425 Seynt Poule biddes men preye wiþouten lettynge. c 1400 Melayne 1503 Go we to your company..Late ther be no Lettynge. c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 1183 And our he swam; for lattyng fand he nocht. 1486 Marg. C'tess Oxford in Four C. Eng. Lett. 7 To the letting of his seid purpose. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. i. 8 He maye be in the waye of saluacyon if he haue none other lettynge. 1657 Divine Lover 299 The waye is..full of..theiues, and many other greate lettings. |
† b. Wasting (of time). Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xx. (1495) 616 Whiche were ouer noyouse and gretly lettynge of tyme to reherse theym here al arowe. 1494 Fabyan Chron. v. cxvii. 92 To shewe here the vayne and dissymulyd sorowe that Fredegunde made for the Kynge, it were but lettynge of tyme. |
▪ III. † ˈletting, ppl. a. Obs. rare.
[f. let v.2 + -ing2.]
That lets or hinders; hindering.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xxi. 26 Blisfull is he þat may putte awey euery letting distraccion. |