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Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly, adv. Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved. Abbott. -- Leading motive Etym: [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding…

same as Advancing edge, above.

A jacket or outer covering of wood, etc., to prevent radiation of heat, as from the boiler, cylinder. etc., of a steam engine.

Leading astray; delusive.

An error in pleading.

The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

In a pleading manner.

The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point. Blackstone.

One who sings the leading part; the director or leader. [Obs.]

The act of pleading for or supporting; work of advocating; intercession.

The act of advocating or pleading; plea; advocacy. [Archaic] The holy Jesus . . . sits in heaven in a perpetual advocation for us. Jer. Taylor.

The first attack, or act of hostility; the first act of injury, or first act leading to a war or a controversy; unprovoked attack; assault; as, a war of aggression. "Aggressions of power." Hallam

Violent hatred leading to active opposition; active enmity; energetic dislike. Macaulay.

A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill. Bouvier.

A chamber or apartment before the chief apartment and leading into it, in which persons wait for audience; an outer chamber. See Lobby.

Having the quality of associating; tending or leading to association; as, the associative faculty. Hugh Miller.

ce; a passage by which a place may by reached; a way of approach or of exit. "The avenues leading to the city by land." Macaulay. On every side were expanding new avenues of inquiry. Milman.

astiff or other large and fierce dog, usually kept chained or tied up. The keeper entered leading his bandog, a large bloodhound, tied in a leam, or band, from which he takes his name. Sir W. Scott.

Alluring by guile; deluding; misleading; diverting. -- Be*guil"ing*ly, adv.

A narrow passage or strait; as, the Great Belt and the Lesser Belt, leading to the Baltic Sea.