[f. LEAD v.1 + -ING2.]
1. That guides, directs or leads to something; † also, that serves as a precedent.
a. 1628. F. Grevil, Sidney (1652), 188. This She-David of ours … takes the truth for her Leading-Star.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 168. This was on … the Second Lords day that was ever kept. And now it began to be a leading custome to the Church.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., I. ii. § 1. Such as make him a Britan, ground their pretence on a leading Mistake.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xx. 356. It is a leading introductive mercy to all other spiritual mercies that follow it.
a. 1708. Beveridge, Thes. Theol. (1710), II. 235. Have a particular care of leading sins, that seldom go alone.
1745. J. Mason, Self Knowl., I. xvii. (1853), 125. A Man cannot live without some leading views.
1791. Burke, Lett. Member Nat. Assembly, Wks. VI. 56. One of the strongest acts of innovation and the most leading in its consequences.
1793. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 277. I have not proof, but some very leading circumstances.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 277. A great principle or leading thought suggests and arranges a world of particulars.
b. Special collocations: leading-buoy (see quot.); leading case Law, one that serves as a precedent to decide other cases; leading-light Naut. (cf. leading-mark); leading-mark Naut., one of ‘those objects which, kept in line or in transit, guide the pilot while working into port, as trees, spires, buoys, etc.’ (Adm. Smyth, 1867); leading-motive Mus., occas. trans. LEITMOTIV, q.v.; leading note Mus. (see quot. 1889; cf. sensible note); leading question, one that suggests the proper or expected answer; spec. in Law (see quot. 1848); leading seventh Mus. (see quot.).
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Leading-buoy, a buoy placed as a guide in sailing.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. v. § 1. We cannot but gaze at the Novelty of this act (as we conceive, a *leading Case in this kind).
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvii. IV. 48. The leading case was that of Athaliah.
1895. North, in Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 24/1. I will refer to Barrow v. Barrow, a leading case perhaps on a married woman’s right and power to elect.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Leading-light.
1804. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), V. 521. The *leading mark for running in, is the Light-House.
1883. F. Hueffer, Wagner (ed. 2), 70. The same melody forms a prominent part of the music-drama, and appears as *‘leading-motive’ wherever the composer wishes to suggest the idea of the love potion.
1894. Times, 13 April, 10/4. If but a few of the ‘leading-motives’ … startle us by their originality, their treatment is always interesting, and the workmanship masterly.
1811. T. Busby, Dict. Music (ed. 3), *Leading note.
1889. E. Prout, Harmony, i. § 13. The seventh note of the scale, which … has a very strong tendency to lead up or rise to the tonic is on that account called the Leading Note.
1824. Starkie, Law Evid., I. II. 123. Upon the examination of a witness in chief, the principal rule to be observed is that *leading questions are not to be asked.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., Leading question, a question which suggests to a witness the answer which he is to make.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 381. Williams put leading questions.
1889. E. Prout, Harmony (ed. 10), xiv. § 365. The first inversion of the dominant major ninth is sometimes called the ‘Chord of the seventh on the leading note,’ and sometimes simply the *‘Leading Seventh.’
2. That takes the lead; chief, principal, prominent. Leading lady, man: the chief actress or actor in a theatrical company. Also LEADING-ARTICLE.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., II. i. I have read the Elements, And Accidence, and all the leading books.
1671. L. Addison, W. Barbary, 35. A leading Person in that part of the Countrey.
1701. Swift, Contests Nobles & Commons, iv. Miscell. (1711), 71. I mean Popular Orators, Tribunes, or as they are now stiled Great Speakers, Leading Men and the like.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 54, ¶ 2. Several of the leading Men of the Sect have a great deal of the cynical Humour in them.
1734. J. Ward, Introd. Math., II. v. (ed. 6), 176. The Solution of such Leading Questions as are in themselves very easie.
1779. Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 275. That profession [the bar] which is so leading in this country.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 117. The great and leading point now to be determined was, whether the house should be rebuilt with stone.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson’s Funeral, 27. Large sums were given for standing in a cart, in a leading street.
1817. Parl. Debates, 565. Mr. Brougham … had admitted the leading facts of the great distresses.
1821. Craig, Lect. Drawing, iv. 216. The leading events of our sacred history.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 666. He had not been one of the leading conspirators.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. vii. 161. He had himself … played a leading part in them [commotions].
1874. Hatton, Clytie (ed. 10), 96. I should have put it down for a leading lady.
1885. J. K. Jerome, On the Stage, 157. Our leading man died suddenly from heart disease.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 615. Leading physicians both in Germany and America.
3. That has the front place; that goes first or in front on the line of movement. Leading wheels: the front pair of wheels of a locomotive (so leading axle, springs; cf. LEADER1 16 a). Leading card: that which is played first; also fig. Leading counsel = LEADER1 3 c. Leading shoot = LEADER1 9.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 77. When we speak of a Fuge or Canon, in the vnison, fift, or eight: it is to be vnderstood from the first note of the leading part.
1683. Tryon, Way to Health, xiv. (1697), 318. Drunkenness being the leading Card to all Evils.
1690. J. Mackenzie, Siege London-Derry, 5/2. If we come to be made a leading-Card, sit not still and see us sink.
a. 1711. Ken, Anodynes, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 432. When I of God a Song design, Pains intercept my leading Line.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 181. Guide the leading Shoot of these young Trees higher and higher.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Fugue, The leading parts still flying before those which follow.
1771. P. Parsons, Newmarket, II. 32. The two leading-horses … carried about eight stone … each wheel-horse about seven stone.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 80. This people … often suppressed the leading vowel.
1792. Trans. Soc. Arts, X. 18. The vigorous leading shoots made by healthy plants from year to year.
1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 60. Every other squadron … and every other regiment … manœuvre from a leading flank.
1798. Capt. Millar, in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1846), VII. p. cliv. The leading Ship to steer one point more to starboard.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 129. These mortises must be square to the leading side of the whip.
1849–50. Weale’s Dict. Terms, Leading springs, the springs fixed upon the leading axle-box of a locomotive engine, bearing the weight above. Leading wheels, the wheels of a locomotive engine, which are placed before the driving wheels.
1854. J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), II. xx. 358. Here … he encountered the leading Cossacks of Blucher’s army.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 525. He had been the leading counsel for the seven Bishops.
1885. U. S. Grant, Pers. Mem., I. xxii. 302. The leading boat got within a very short distance of the water battery.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Aug., 3/3. A good ‘leading’ deer [of a sledge team] is the most valuable of a Samoyede’s possessions.
1895. Mod. Steam Engine, 67. The leading axle.
1898. Daily News, 4 Jan., 5/4. After the impact the leading engine was overturned, the bogey flying one way and the engine the other.
4. That makes to go, drives or communicates motion; in certain technical collocations.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., I. 48. The ship … waited … the leading gale.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), VI. 2175. A shoal … makes it necessary to warp in, unless there should happen to be a leading wind.
1841. R. H. Dana, Seaman’s Man., 113. Leading-wind, a fair wind. More particularly applied to a wind abeam or quartering.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Leading-part, the rope of a tackle which runs between the fall and the standing post…. It is that part of the fall which is to be hauled on or overhauled, to ease the purchase.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Leading-screw (Lathe), the longitudinal screw between the shears of a lathe, by which the slide-rest is moved longitudinally of the lathe-bed. Lead-screw.
5. Leading coach (sense obscure: cf. quot. 1848).
1704. Lond. Gaz., No. 4052/1. The Gentlemen Ushers in waiting in Her Majesty’s Leading Coach. Ibid. (1724), 6233/2. The Morocco Ambassadour was conducted by the Master of the Ceremonies to his Audience of the young Princesses, in one of their leading Coaches and six Horses.
1736. Hervey, Mem. Geo. II., I. xiii. 272. He [sc. the Prince of Orange] came the next morning to St. James’s … though the equipage the king sent to fetch him was only one miserable leading coach with only ‘a pair of horses.’ Ibid. (1848), footn., Strange to say, the peculiar meaning of ‘a leading coach’ has been lost in the Master of the Horse’s office, though these offices are usually so conservative of etiquette.
Hence † Leadingly a. (in 3 north. dial. ledand-like), suitable for leading (a procession); Leadingly adv., in a leading manner.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xcvii. 6. In bemes ledand-like [Vulg. in tubis ductilibus] to se.
1801. W. Taylor, in Robberds, Mem., I. 368. You have no other brother so likely to be soon and leadingly settled.
1862. Ruskin, Unto this Last, 65. Among national manufactures … a quite leadingly lucrative one.
