Lead

lēd, v.t. to show the way by going first: to guide by the hand: to direct: to precede: to transport or carry: to allure.— v.i. to go before and show the way: to have a tendency: to exercise dominion:— pr.p. lead′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. led.— n. first place: precedence: direction: ( naut. ) the course of a running rope from end to end: the right of playing the first card in a round or trick: a main conductor in electrical distribution.— ns. Lead′er , one who leads or goes first: a chief: the leading editorial article in a newspaper (also Leading article ): principal wheel in any machinery; Leaderette′ , a brief newspaper leader; Lead′ership , state or condition of a leader or conductor; Lead′ing-bus′ine , the acting of the principal parts or rôles in plays; Lead′ing-mō′tive (Ger. leit-motif ), in dramatic music, a principal theme: a theme, usually of but few tones, by which any personage or particular emotion is indicated by suggestion as often as it occurs; Lead′ing-ques′tion , a legal term for a question so put to a witne as to suggest the answer that is wished or expected.— n.pl. Lead′ing-strings , strings used to lead children when beginning to walk: vexatious care or custody.— Lead apes in hell (see Ape ); Lead astray , to draw into a wrong course, to seduce from right conduct; Lead by the nose , to make one follow submi ively; Lead in prayer , to offer up prayer in an a embly, uniting the prayers of others; Lead off , to begin or take the start in anything; Lead on , to persuade to go on, to draw on; Lead one a dance (see Dance ); Lead up to , to bring about by degrees, to prepare for anything by steps or stages. [A.S. lǽdan , to lead, lád , a way; Ger. leiten , to lead.]