ˈleathwake, a. Obs. exc. north. dial.
Forms: 1 liðe-, leoðuwác, 4 leothewok, 5 lith-, lythewayke, 6 leath(i)e we(a)ke, lyeth-waike, leithweik, 7 leeth-, lieth-, 9 dial. leathwake.
[OE. liðewác, leoðuwác, f. lið, leoðu limb, lith n. + wác soft, pliant: see weak a.]
Having the joints flexible; hence gen. pliant, soft.
| c 1000 Endowments Men 84 in Exeter Bk. 298 Sum bið..for gum-þeᵹnum leoht and leoþu-wac. c 1330 Rel. Ant. II. 229 Ther oure body is leothe-wok, ȝyf strengthe vrom above. 1483 Cath. Angl. 218/2 Lithwayke, flexibilis. 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 129 A fedder is fit for a shafte..bycause it is leathe weake to giue place to the bowe. Ibid. 139 Waxe taketh printe whan it is warme and leathie weke. 1593 Anc. Monum. Rites Durham (Surtees) 55 He [St. Cuthbert] was taken out of the ground..lying like to a man sleping, being found saife and uncorrupted and lyeth-waike. 1674 Ray N.C. Words 30 Leethwake, limber, pliable. 1788 W. Marshall Yorksh. II. 339 Leathwake, lithe, weak, flexible, limber, feeble; as a hair, a thread, an ozier twig, or an angling rod. 1828 Carr Craven Dial., Leathe-wake, supple in the joints. |
Hence † ˈleathwakeness.
| 1548 R. Hutten Sum of Divinity S i a, [Attributes of a glorified body] Leithweiknes & quicknes or redines. |