5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lee  \Lee\,  n.;  pl  {Lees}  (l[=e]z).  [F.  lie,  perh.  fr  L.  levare 
  to  lift  up  raise.  Cf  {Lever}.] 
  That  which  settles  at  the  bottom,  as  of  a  cask  of  liquor 
  (esp.  wine);  sediment;  dregs;  --  used  now  only  in  the  plural. 
  [Lees  occurs  also  as  a  form  of  the  singular.]  ``The  lees  of 
  wine.''  --Holland. 
 
  A  thousand  demons  lurk  within  the  lee.  --Young. 
 
  The  wine  of  life  is  drawn,  and  the  mere  lees  Is  left 
  this  vault  to  brag  of  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lees  \Lees\  (l[=e]s),  n. 
  A  leash.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lees  \Lees\  (l[=e]z),  n.  pl 
  Dregs.  See  2d  {Lee}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lees 
  n  :  the  sediment  from  fermentation  of  an  alcoholic  beverage 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Lees 
  (Heb.  shemarim),  from  a  word  meaning  to  keep  or  preserve.  It  was 
  applied  to  lees"  from  the  custom  of  allowing  wine  to  stand  on 
  the  lees  that  it  might  thereby  be  better  preserved  (Isa.  25:6). 
  "Men  settled  on  their  lees"  (Zeph.  1:12)  are  men  "hardened  or 
  crusted."  The  image  is  derived  from  the  crust  formed  at  the 
  bottom  of  wines  long  left  undisturbed  (Jer.  48:11).  The  effect 
  of  wealthy  undisturbed  ease  on  the  ungodly  is  hardening.  They 
  become  stupidly  secure  (comp.  Ps  55:19;  Amos  6:1).  To  drink  the 
  lees  (Ps.  75:8)  denotes  severe  suffering. 
 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words