Lead

leading (n.1) "lead work; lead covering or frame of lead," mid-15c., from lead (n.1). lead (n.1)  heavy metal, Old English lead, from West Germanic *loudhom (cf. Old Frisian lad, Middle Dutch loot, Dutch lood "lead," German Lot "weight, plummet"). The name and the skill in using the metal seem to have been borrowed from the Celts (cf. Old Irish luaide), probably from PIE root *plou(d)- "to flow." Figurative of heaviness since at least early 14c. Black lead was an old name for "graphite," hence lead pencil (1680s) and the colloquial figurative phrase to have lead in one's pencil "be possessed of (especially male sexual) vigor," attested by 1902. Lead balloon "a failure," American English slang, attested by 1957 (as a type of something heavy that can be kept up only with effort, from 1904). Lead-footed "slow" is from 1896; opposite sense of "fast" emerged 1940s in trucker's jargon, from notion of a foot heavy on the gas pedal. lead (v.2) Look up lead at Dictionary.com early 15c., "to make of lead," from lead (n.1). Meaning "to cover with lead" is from mid-15c. Related: Leaded (early 13c.); leading. lead (v.1) Look up lead at Dictionary.com "to guide," Old English lædan "cause to go with one, lead, guide, conduct, carry; sprout forth; bring forth, pass (one's life)," causative of liðan "to travel," from West Germanic *laidjan (cf. Old Saxon lithan, Old Norse liða "to go," Old High German ga-lidan "to travel," Gothic ga-leiþan "to go"), from PIE *leit- "to go forth." Meaning "to be in first place" is from late 14c. Sense in card playing is from 1670s. Related: Led; leading. Lead-off "commencement, beginning" attested from 1879; lead-in "introduction, opening" is from 1928. lead (n.2) Look up lead at Dictionary.com c.1300, "action of leading," from lead (v.1). Meaning "the front or leading place" is from 1560s. Johnson stigmatized it as "a low, despicable word." Sense in card-playing is from 1742; in theater, from 1831; in journalism, from 1912; in jazz bands, from 1934. leaden (adj.) Look up leaden at Dictionary.com "made of lead," Old English leaden, from lead (n.1) + -en (2). The figurative sense of "heavy, oppressive, dull" is attested by 1570s. Related: Leadenly; leadenness. lead-up (n.) Look up lead-up at Dictionary.com 1917, from lead (v.1) + up (adv.). leading (n.2) Look up leading at Dictionary.com mid-13c., "a bringing by force," from present participle of lead (v.1). Meaning "direction, guidance" is from late 14c. As an adjective, "directing, guiding." leader (n.) Look up leader at Dictionary.com Old English lædere "one who leads," agent noun from lædan (see lead (v.)). As a title for the head of an authoritarian state, from 1918 (translating führer, Duce, caudillo, etc.). Meaning "writing or statement meant to begin a discussion or debate" is late 13c.; in modern use often short for leading article (1807) "opinion piece in a British newspaper" (leader in this sense attested from 1837). galena (n.) Look up galena at Dictionary.com lead ore, lead sulphide, c.1600, from Latin galena "mix of silver and lead; dross from smelting lead," of unknown origin. plumber (n.) Look up plumber at Dictionary.com late 14c. (from c.1100 as a surname), "a worker in any sort of lead" (roofs, gutters, pipes), from Old French plomier "lead-smelter" (Modern French plombier) and directly from Latin plumbarius "worker in lead," noun use of adjective meaning "pertaining to lead," from plumbum "lead" (see plumb (n.)). Meaning focused 19c. on "workman who installs pipes and fittings" as lead water pipes became the principal concern of the trade. In U.S. Nixon administration (1969-74), the name of a special unit for investigation of "leaks" of government secrets. plumb (n.) Look up plumb at Dictionary.com "lead hung on a string to show the vertical line," early 14c., from Old French *plombe, plomee "sounding lead," and directly from Late Latin *plumba, originally plural of Latin plumbum "lead (the metal), lead ball; pipe; pencil," a word of unknown origin, related to Greek molybdos "lead" (dialectal bolimos) and perhaps from an extinct Mediterranean language, perhaps Iberian. molybdenum (n.) Look up molybdenum at Dictionary.com metallic element, 1816, from molybdena, used generally for lead-like minerals, from Greek molybdos "lead," also "black graphite," related to Latin plumbum "lead" (see plumb (n.)), and like it probably borrowed from a lost Mediterranean language, perhaps Iberian. The element so called because of its resemblance to lead ore. plummet (n.) Look up plummet at Dictionary.com late 14c., "ball of lead, plumb of a bob-line," from Old French plomet "graphite, lead; plummet, sounding lead," diminutive of plom "sounding lead" (see plumb (n.)). lede (n.) Look up lede at Dictionary.com by 1965, alternative spelling of lead (n.2) in the newspaper journalism sense (see lead (v.)), to distinguish this sense from other possible meanings of the written word, perhaps especially the molten lead (n.1) used in typesetting machines. plumbago (n.) Look up plumbago at Dictionary.com "graphite," 1784, from Latin plumbago "a type of lead ore, black lead," from plumbum "lead" (see plumb (n.)); it renders Greek molybdaina, which was used of yellow lead oxide and also of a type of plant (leadwort). Attested in English in the yellow oxide sense from 1610s; as a type of plant from 1747. Related: Plumbaginous. plunge (v.) Look up plunge at Dictionary.com late 14c., "to put or thrust violently into," also intransitive, from Old French plongier "plunge, sink into; plunge into, dive in" (mid-12c., Modern French plonger), from Vulgar Latin *plumbicare "to heave the lead," from Latin plumbum "lead" (see plumb (n.)). Original notion perhaps is of a sounding lead or a fishing net weighted with lead. Related: Plunged; plunging. Plunging neckline attested from 1949. plumbo- Look up plumbo- at Dictionary.com word-forming element meaning "lead" (the metal), from comb. form of Latin plumbum "lead" (see plumb (n.)). seduce (v.) Look up seduce at Dictionary.com 1520s, "to persuade a vassal, etc., to desert his allegiance or service," from Latin seducere "lead away, lead astray," from se- "aside, away" + ducere "to lead." Replaced Middle English seduisen (late 15c.), from Middle French séduire "seduce," from Old French suduire "to corrupt, seduce," from Latin subducere "draw away, withdraw, remove," from sub- "from under, further" (see sub-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke). Sexual sense, now the prevailing one, is attested from 1550s. Related: Seduced; seducing. induce (v.) Look up induce at Dictionary.com late 14c., "to lead by persuasions or other influences," from Latin inducere "lead into, bring in, introduce, conduct, persuade," from in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "to bring about," of concrete situations, etc., is from early 15c.; sense of "to infer by reasoning" is from 1560s. Electro-magnetic sense first recorded 1777. Related: Induced; inducing. leitmotif (n.) Look up leitmotif at Dictionary.com 1876, "a musical figure to which some definite meaning is attached," from German Leitmotiv, literally "lead motive," from leiten "to lead" (see lead (v.1)) + Motiv (see motive). A term associated with Wagnerian musical drama, though the thing itself is at least as old as Mozart. "The leitmotif must be characteristic of the person or thing it is intended to represent." ["Elson's Music Dictionary"] plumbous (adj.) Look up plumbous at Dictionary.com 1680s, "leaden;" 1854 in chemistry sense, "containing lead" (especially in a low valence), from Latin plumbosus "full of lead," from plumbum (see plumb (n.)). traduce (v.) Look up traduce at Dictionary.com 1530s, "to alter, change over, transport," from Latin traducere "change over, convert," originally "lead along or across, transfer," from trans- "across" (see trans-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Sense of "defame, slander" (1580s) is from Latin traducere in the sense of "to scorn or disgrace," probably from the notion of "to lead along as a spectacle." Related: Traduced; traducing. endue (v.) Look up endue at Dictionary.com also indue, c.1400, from Old French enduire "lead, drive, initiate, indoctrinate" (12c.), from Latin inducere "to lead" (see induce). Related: Endued. Fuhrer (n.) Look up Fuhrer at Dictionary.com 1934, from Führer und Reichskanzler, title assumed by Hitler in 1934 as head of the German state, from German Führer "leader," from führen "to lead," from Middle High German vüeren "to lead, drive," from Old High German fuoren "to set in motion, lead," causative of Old High German faran "to go, travel," which is cognate with Old English faran (see fare (v.)). Hitler's title was modeled on Mussolini's Duce. conduce (v.) Look up conduce at Dictionary.com c.1400, from Latin conducere "to lead or bring together, contribute, serve," from com- "together" (see com-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). transducer (n.) Look up transducer at Dictionary.com 1924, "device which converts energy from one form to another," from Latin transducere "lead across, transfer," from trans- "across" (see trans-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). circumduction (n.) Look up circumduction at Dictionary.com 1570s, from Latin circumductionem (nominative circumductio), noun of action from past participle stem of circumducere "to lead around, move or drive around," from circum "around" (see circum-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Related: Circumduce. produce (v.) Look up produce at Dictionary.com early 15c., "develop, proceed, extend," from Latin producere "lead or bring forth, draw out," figuratively "to promote, empower; stretch out, extend," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + ducere "to bring, lead" (see duke). Sense of "bring into being" is first recorded 1510s; that of "put (a play) on stage" is from 1580s. Related: Produced; producing. abduction (n.) Look up abduction at Dictionary.com 1620s, "a leading away," from Latin abductionem (nominative abductio), noun of action from past participle stem of abducere "to lead away, take away" (often by force), from ab- "away" (see ab-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). The illegal activity so called from 1768; before that the word also was a term in surgery and logic. In the Mercian hymns, Latin abductione is glossed by Old English wiðlaednisse. deduce (v.) Look up deduce at Dictionary.com early 15c., from Latin deducere "lead down, derive" (in Medieval Latin, "infer logically"), from de- "down" (see de-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Originally literal; sense of "draw a conclusion from something already known" is first recorded 1520s, from Medieval Latin. Related: Deduced; deducing. introduction (n.) Look up introduction at Dictionary.com late 14c., "act of bringing into existence," from Old French introduccion and directly from Latin introductionem (nominative introductio) "a leading in," noun of action from past participle stem of introducere "to lead in, bring in, to introduce," from intro- "inward, to the inside" (see intro-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "initial instruction in a subject; an introductory statement" is mid-15c. The sense of "formal presentation of one person to another" is from 1711. adduce (v.) Look up adduce at Dictionary.com early 15c., from Latin adducere "lead to, bring to, bring along," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Related: Adduced; adducing. -ate (3) Look up -ate at Dictionary.com in chemistry, word-forming element used to form the names of salts from acids in -ic; from Latin -atus, -atum, suffix used in forming adjectives and thence nouns; identical with -ate (1). The substance formed, for example, by the action of acetic acid (vinegar) on lead was described in the 18th century as plumbum acetatum, i.e. acetated lead. Acetatum was then taken as a noun meaning "the acetated (product)," i.e. acetate. [W.E. Flood, "The Origins of Chemical Names," London, 1963] educate (v.) Look up educate at Dictionary.com mid-15c., "bring up (children), train," from Latin educatus, past participle of educare "bring up, rear, educate," which is related to educere "bring out, lead forth," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + ducere "to lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "provide schooling" is first attested 1580s. Related: Educated; educating. doo-wop Look up doo-wop at Dictionary.com 1958, from the nonsense harmony phrases sung under the vocal lead (this one attested from mid-1950s). rex Look up rex at Dictionary.com 1610s, from Latin rex (genitive regis) "a king," related to regere "to keep straight, guide, lead, rule," from PIE root *reg- "to rule, to lead straight, to put right" (cf. Sanskrit raj- "king;" Old Irish ri, genitive rig "king;" see regal). reduce (v.) Look up reduce at Dictionary.com late 14c., "bring back," from Old French reducer (14c.), from Latin reducere "lead back, bring back," figuratively "restore, replace," from re- "back" (see re-) + ducere "bring, lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "bring to an inferior condition" is 1570s; that of "bring to a lower rank" is 1640s (military reduce to ranks is from 1802); that of "subdue by force of arms" is 1610s. Sense of "to lower, diminish, lessen" is from 1787. Related: Reduced; reducing. plumbing (n.) Look up plumbing at Dictionary.com mid-15c., "the weighting of a fishing line," verbal noun from plumb (v.). Specific meaning "water and drainage pipes" is recorded by 1875, American English. THE apparatus by which the water from a reservoir is carried about over a building and delivered at points convenient for use, is called by the general name of plumbing. The word "plumbing" means lead-work; and it is used to signify this water apparatus of a house because the pipes of which it largely consists are usually made of lead. [Edward Abbott, "Long Look House: A Book for Boys and Girls," Boston, 1877] Alternative plumbery also is mid-15c. Slang meaning "a person's reproductive organs" attested by 1975. duke (n.) Look up duke at Dictionary.com early 12c., "sovereign prince," from Old French duc (12c.) and directly from Latin dux (genitive ducis) "leader, commander," in Late Latin "governor of a province," from ducere "to lead," from PIE *deuk- "to lead" (cf. Old English togian "to pull, drag," Old High German ziohan "to pull," Old English togian "to draw, drag," Middle Welsh dygaf "I draw"). Applied in English to "nobleman of the highest rank" probably first mid-14c., ousting native earl. Also used to translate various European titles (e.g. Russian knyaz). guide (v.) Look up guide at Dictionary.com late 14c., "to lead, direct, conduct," from Old French guider "to guide, lead, conduct" (14c.), earlier guier, from Frankish *witan "show the way" or a similar Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *wit- "to know" (cf. German weisen "to show, point out," Old English witan "to see"), from PIE *weid- "to see" (see vision). The form of the French word influenced by Old Provençal guidar (n.) "guide, leader," or Italian guidare, both from the same source. Related: Guided; guiding. tin (n.) Look up tin at Dictionary.com Old English tin, from Proto-Germanic *tinom (cf. Middle Dutch and Dutch tin, Old High German zin, German Zinn, Old Norse tin), of unknown origin, not found outside Germanic. Other Indo-European languages often have separate words for "tin" as a raw metal and "tin plate;" e.g. French étain, fer-blanc. Pliny refers to tin as plumbum album "white lead," and for centuries it was regarded as a form of silver debased by lead. The chemical symbol Sn is from Late Latin stannum (see stannic). Tin-type in photography is from 1864. Tin ear "lack of musical discernment" is from 1909. Tin Lizzie "early Ford, especially a Model T," first recorded 1915. Sadie Hawkins Look up Sadie Hawkins at Dictionary.com 1939, from name of character in U.S. newspaper cartoon strip "Li'l Abner," by Al Capp (1909-1979); in reference to a day in early November in which women take the lead in romantic matters. ringleader (n.) Look up ringleader at Dictionary.com c.1500, from Middle English phrase to lead the ring (mid-14c.), probably from a medieval metaphor from dancing. frontrunner (n.) Look up frontrunner at Dictionary.com also front-runner, of political candidates, 1908, American English, a metaphor from horse racing (where it is used by 1903 of a horse that runs best while in the lead). led Look up led at Dictionary.com past tense and past participle of lead (v.). rubber (n.) Look up rubber at Dictionary.com "thing that rubs," 1530s, agent noun from rub (v.). The meaning "elastic substance from tropical plants" (short for India rubber) first recorded 1788, introduced to Europe 1744 by Charles Marie de la Condamine, so called because it was originally used as an eraser. Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater. [entry for Caoutchouc in Howard, "New Royal Encyclopedia," 1788] Meaning "overshoes made of rubber" is 1842, American English; slang sense of "condom" is from 1930s. Sense of "deciding match" in a game or contest is 1590s, of unknown signification, and perhaps an entirely separate word. Rubber stamp is from 1881; figurative sense of "institution whose power is formal but not real" is from 1919; the verb in this sense is from 1934. Rubber cement is attested from 1856 (from 1823 as India-rubber cement). Rubber check (one that "bounces") is from 1927. precent (v.) Look up precent at Dictionary.com "to lead others in singing," 1732, from Latin praecantare "to sing before," or a back-formation from precentor. het (adj.) Look up het at Dictionary.com "heated," archaic, late 14c., from variant past participle of heat (cf. lead/led, etc.). educe (v.) Look up educe at Dictionary.com early 15c., in the literal sense, from Latin educere "to lead out, bring out" (of troops, ships, etc.; see educate). Meaning "to draw a conclusion from data" is from 1837.