Lift (?), n.[AS.lyft air. See Loft.]
The sky; the atmosphere; the firmament.
[Obs. or Scot.]
© Webster 1913.
Lift (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lifting.] [Icel. lypta, fr. lopt air; akin to Sw.lyfta to lift, Dan. lofte, G. luften; -- prop., to raise into the air. See Loft, and cf. 1st Lift.]
1.
To move in a direction opposite to that of gravitation; to raise; to elevate; to bring up from a lower place to a higher; to upheave; sometimes implying a continued support or holding in the higher place; -- said of material things; as, to lift the foot or the hand; to lift a chair or a burden.
2.
To raise, elevate, exalt, improve, in rank, condition, estimation, character, etc.; -- often with up.
The Roman virtues lift up mortal man.
Addison.
Lest, being lifted up with pride.
I Tim. iii. 6.
3.
To bear; to support.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
4.
To collect, as moneys due; to raise.
5. [Perh. a different word, and akin to Goth. hliftus thief, hlifan to steal, L. clepere, Gr. . Cf. Shoplifter.]
To steal; to carry off by theft (esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle.
⇒ In old writers, lift is sometimes used for lifted.
He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered.
Shak.
To lift up, to raise or elevate; in the Scriptures, specifically, to elevate upon the cross. John viii. 28. -- To lift up the eyes. To look up; to raise the eyes, as in prayer. Ps. cxxi. 1. -- To lift up the feet, to come speedily to one's relief. Ps. lxxiv. 3. -- To lift up the hand. (a) To take an oath. Gen. xiv. 22. (b) To pray. Ps. xxviii. 2. (c) To engage in duty. Heb. xii. 12. -- To lift up the hand against, to rebel against; to assault; to attack; to injure; to oppress. Job xxxi. 21. -- To lift up one's head, to cause one to be exalted or to rejoice. Gen. xl. 13. Luke xxi. 28. -- To lift up the heel against, to treat with insolence or unkindness. John xiii.18. -- To lift up the voice, to cry aloud; to call out. Gen. xxi. 16.
© Webster 1913.
Lift (?), v. i.
1.
To try to raise something; to exert the strength for raising or bearing.
Strained by lifting at a weight too heavy.
Locke.
2.
To rise; to become or appear raised or elevated; as, the fog lifts; the land lifts to a ship approaching it.
3. [See Lift, v. t., 5.]
To live by theft.
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
Lift, n.
1.
Act of lifting; also, that which is lifted.
2.
The space or distance through which anything is lifted; as, a long lift.
Bacon.
3.
Help; assistance, as by lifting; as, to give one a lift in a wagon.
[Colloq.]
The goat gives the fox a lift.
L'Estrange.
<-- 3b. a ride in a vehicle, given by the vehicle's owner to another person as a favor -- usually in "give a lift" or "got a lift", as "Jack gave me a lift into town." -->
4.
That by means of which a person or thing lifts or is lifted
; as: (a)
A hoisting machine; an elevator; a dumb waiter
. (b)
An exercising machine.
5.
A rise; a degree of elevation; as, the lift of a lock in canals.
6.
A lift gate. See Lift gate, below.
[Prov. Eng.]
7. Naut.
A rope leading from the masthead to the extremity of a yard below; -- used for raising or supporting the end of the yard.
8. Mach.
One of the steps of a cone pulley.
9. Shoemaking
A layer of leather in the heel.
10. Horology
That portion of the vibration of a balance during which the impulse is given.
Saunier.
Dead lift. See under Dead. Swift. -- Lift bridge, a kind of drawbridge, the movable part of which is lifted, instead of being drawn aside. -- Lift gate, a gate that is opened by lifting. -- Lift hammer. See Tilt hammer. -- Lift lock, a canal lock. -- Lift pump, a lifting pump. -- Lift tenter Windmills, a governor for regulating the speed by adjusting the sails, or for adjusting the action of grinding machinery according to the speed. -- Lift wall Canal Lock, the cross wall at the head of the lock.
© Webster 1913.