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.