'To let fly' definitions:
Definition of 'To let fly'
From: GCIDE
- Let \Let\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Let (Letted (l[e^]t"t[e^]d), [Obs].); p. pr. & vb. n. Letting.] [OE. leten, l[ae]ten (past tense lat, let, p. p. laten, leten, lete), AS. l[=ae]tan (past tense l[=e]t, p. p. l[=ae]ten); akin to OFries. l[=e]ta, OS. l[=a]tan, D. laten, G. lassen, OHG. l[=a]zzan, Icel. l[=a]ta, Sw. l[*a]ta, Dan. lade, Goth. l[=e]tan, and L. lassus weary. The original meaning seems to have been, to let loose, let go, let drop. Cf. Alas, Late, Lassitude, Let to hinder.]
- 1. To leave; to relinquish; to abandon. [Obs. or Archaic, except when followed by alone or be.] [1913 Webster]
- He . . . prayed him his voyage for to let. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Yet neither spins nor cards, ne cares nor frets, But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- Let me alone in choosing of my wife. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To consider; to think; to esteem. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To cause; to make; -- used with the infinitive in the active form but in the passive sense; as, let make, i. e., cause to be made; let bring, i. e., cause to be brought. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- This irous, cursed wretch Let this knight's son anon before him fetch. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- He . . . thus let do slay hem all three. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Anon he let two coffers make. --Gower. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To permit; to allow; to suffer; -- either affirmatively, by positive act, or negatively, by neglecting to restrain or prevent. [1913 Webster]
- Note: In this sense, when followed by an infinitive, the latter is commonly without the sign to; as to let us walk, i. e., to permit or suffer us to walk. Sometimes there is entire omission of the verb; as, to let [to be or to go] loose. [1913 Webster]
- Pharaoh said, I will let you go. --Ex. viii. 28. [1913 Webster]
- If your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 5. To allow to be used or occupied for a compensation; to lease; to rent; to hire out; -- often with out; as, to let a farm; to let a house; to let out horses. [1913 Webster]
- 6. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; -- often with out; as, to let the building of a bridge; to let out the lathing and the plastering. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The active form of the infinitive of let, as of many other English verbs, is often used in a passive sense; as, a house to let (i. e., for letting, or to be let). This form of expression conforms to the use of the Anglo-Saxon gerund with to (dative infinitive) which was commonly so employed. See Gerund, 2. " Your elegant house in Harley Street is to let." --Thackeray. In the imperative mood, before the first person plural, let has a hortative force. " Rise up, let us go." --Mark xiv. 42. " Let us seek out some desolate shade." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- To let alone, to leave; to withdraw from; to refrain from interfering with.
- To let blood, to cause blood to flow; to bleed.
- To let down. (a) To lower. (b) To soften in tempering; as, to let down tools, cutlery, and the like.
- To let fly or To let drive, to discharge with violence, as a blow, an arrow, or stone. See under Drive, and Fly.
- To let in or To let into. (a) To permit or suffer to enter; to admit. (b) To insert, or imbed, as a piece of wood, in a recess formed in a surface for the purpose.
- To let loose, to remove restraint from; to permit to wander at large.
- To let off. (a) To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; to fire the charge of, as a gun. (b) To release, as from an engagement or obligation. [Colloq.]
- To let out. (a) To allow to go forth; as, to let out a prisoner. (b) To extend or loosen, as the folds of a garment; to enlarge; to suffer to run out, as a cord. (c) To lease; to give out for performance by contract, as a job. (d) To divulge.
- To let slide, to let go; to cease to care for. [Colloq.] " Let the world slide." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'To let fly'
From: GCIDE
- Fly \Fly\ (fl[imac]), v. i. [imp. Flew (fl[=u]); p. p. Flown (fl[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Flying.] [OE. fleen, fleen, fleyen, flegen, AS. fle['o]gan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG. fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. flj[=u]ga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve, Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh. to L. pluma feather, E. plume. [root]84. Cf. Fledge, Flight, Flock of animals.]
- 1. To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.
- 2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag. [1913 Webster]
- Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. --Job v. 7. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies. [1913 Webster]
- Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on. --Bryant. [1913 Webster]
- 5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee. [1913 Webster]
- Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart. [1913 Webster]
- To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time; -- said of the wind.
- To fly around, to move about in haste. [Colloq.]
- To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly.
- To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist.
- To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt.
- To fly on, to attack.
- To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence.
- To fly out. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license.
- To let fly. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. "A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim." --Addison. (b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets. [1913 Webster]