let

verb (let, lets, let, letting); noun (a let — in tennis; to let — for rent)

«let» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

To allow someone to do something: "Mum let me stay up." tree →
"Let's" (let us) suggests doing something together: "Let's go!" tree →
To allow something to move: let go, let in, let out. tree →
To rent a house or room (British). tree →

In the lessons

In maths, "let x be the number" means "call the number x". In everyday life it is about permission: who lets you do what. Phrases: let's, let go, let in, let out, let down (disappoint), let alone, let me know, let me see.

Examples

Let me help you. tree →
Let's play outside. tree →
Dad let us watch a film. tree →
Let go of the rope slowly. tree →
Please let the dog in. tree →
Don't let me down. tree →
Let x be the number of apples. tree →
Let me know when you are ready. tree →
"Well," says she, "let's see now. tree →

Note

Past is "let" (same as present): "Yesterday she let me." After "let" use the plain verb without "to": "let me go", not "let me to go". "Let's" (let us) is not "lets" (he lets). In maths "let" names an unknown; it does not change any number.

In Jewish tradition

Let my people go is Moses' demand to Pharaoh, and let there be light is God's first command in creation.

Interpretation. The tradition sees God creating by speech, so each let there be is a word of power.

Examples

And after that he will let you go. (Torah EXO.3.20, JPS 1917) tree →
Let them go and gather straw for themselves. (Torah EXO.5.7, JPS 1917) tree →
Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. (Torah GEN.27.29, JPS 1917) tree →
And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. (Writings PSA.90.13, JPS 1917) tree →
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone. (Prophets HOS.4.17, JPS 1917) tree →
I pray you, let us leave off this exaction. (Writings NEH.5.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Early Modern English

Meaning

To allow someone to do something. tree →

Then and now

Today "let" means allow, and the sentences use it in that sense. The old sense "to hinder" does not appear here.

Examples

And after that he will let you go. (Torah EXO.3.20, JPS 1917) tree →
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair." (Grimm's Fairy Stories) tree →
He let the letter Sheen (ש) predominate in primitive fire, crowned it, combined one with the other, and formed by them, heaven in the world, heat in the year, and the head of male and female. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Today: allow.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «let» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«let» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «let» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«let» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «let» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«let» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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