To let off

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]