Lead \Lead\ (l[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Led (l[e^]d); p. pr.
& vb. n. Leading.] [OE. leden, AS. l[=ae]dan (akin to OS.
l[=e]dian, D. leiden, G. leiten, Icel. le[imac][eth]a, Sw.
leda, Dan. lede), properly a causative fr. AS. li[eth]an to
go; akin to OHG. l[imac]dan, Icel. l[imac][eth]a, Goth.
lei[thorn]an (in comp.). Cf. Lode, Loath.]
1. To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of some
physical contact or connection; as, a father leads a
child; a jockey leads a horse with a halter; a dog leads a
blind man.
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If a blind man lead a blind man, both fall down in
the ditch. --Wyclif
(Matt. xv.
14.)
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They thrust him out of the city, and led him unto
the brow of the hill. --Luke iv. 29.
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In thy right hand lead with thee
The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty. --Milton.
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2. To guide or conduct in a certain course, or to a certain
place or end, by making the way known; to show the way,
esp. by going with or going in advance of. Hence,
figuratively: To direct; to counsel; to instruct; as, to
lead a traveler; to lead a pupil.
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The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a
cloud, to lead them the way. --Ex. xiii.
21.
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He leadeth me beside the still waters. --Ps. xxiii.
2.
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This thought might lead me through the world's vain
mask.
Content, though blind, had I no better guide.
--Milton.
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3. To conduct or direct with authority; to have direction or
charge of; as, to lead an army, an exploring party, or a
search; to lead a political party.
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Christ took not upon him flesh and blood that he
might conquer and rule nations, lead armies, or
possess places. --South.
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4. To go or to be in advance of; to precede; hence, to be
foremost or chief among; as, the big sloop led the fleet
of yachts; the Guards led the attack; Demosthenes leads
the orators of all ages.
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As Hesperus, that leads the sun his way. --Fairfax.
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And lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. --Leigh
Hunt.
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5. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to
prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure; as, to lead
one to espouse a righteous cause.
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He was driven by the necessities of the times, more
than led by his own disposition, to any rigor of
actions. --Eikon
Basilike.
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Silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers
lusts. --2 Tim. iii.
6 (Rev. Ver.).
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6. To guide or conduct one's self in, through, or along (a
certain course); hence, to proceed in the way of; to
follow the path or course of; to pass; to spend. Also, to
cause (one) to proceed or follow in (a certain course).
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That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. --1
Tim. ii. 2.
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Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse
A life that leads melodious days. --Tennyson.
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You remember . . . the life he used to lead his wife
and daughter. --Dickens.
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7. (Cards & Dominoes) To begin a game, round, or trick, with;
as, to lead trumps; the double five was led.
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To lead astray, to guide in a wrong way, or into error; to
seduce from truth or rectitude.
To lead captive, to carry or bring into captivity.
To lead the way, to show the way by going in front; to act
as guide. --Goldsmith.
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