Line

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) The longer and finer fiber of flax.

(2): ( n.) Flax; linen.

(3): ( v. t.) To impregnate; - applied to brute animals.

(4): ( n.) A linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline.

(5): ( n.) A more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver; any long mark; as, a chalk line.

(6): ( v. t.) To cover the inner surface of; as, to line a cloak with silk or fur; to line a box with paper or tin.

(7): ( v. t.) To put something in the inside of; to fill; to supply, as a purse with money.

(8): ( v. t.) To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding anything; to fortify; as, to line works with soldiers.

(9): ( n.) The course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road or route; as, the arrow descended in a curved line; the place is remote from lines of travel.

(10): ( n.) A short letter; a note; as, a line from a friend.

(11): ( n.) A verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure.

(12): ( n.) Course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity.

(13): ( n.) That which has length, but not breadth or thickness.

(14): ( n.) The exterior limit of a figure, plat, or territory; boundary; contour; outline.

(15): ( n.) A threadlike crease marking the face or the hand; hence, characteristic mark.

(16): ( n.) Lineament; feature; figure.

(17): ( n.) A straight row; a continued series or rank; as, a line of houses, or of soldiers; a line of barriers.

(18): ( n.) Direction; as, the line of sight or vision.

(19): ( n.) A connected series of public conveyances, and hence, an established arrangement for forwarding merchandise, etc.; as, a line of stages; an express line.

(20): ( n.) A row of letters, words, etc., written or printed; esp., a row of words extending across a page or column.

(21): ( n.) A circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map.

(22): ( n.) A long tape, or a narrow ribbon of steel, etc., marked with subdivisions, as feet and inches, for measuring; a tapeline.

(23): ( n.) A measuring line or cord.

(24): ( n.) That which was measured by a line, as a field or any piece of land set apart; hence, allotted place of abode.

(25): ( n.) Instruction; doctrine.

(26): ( n.) The proper relative position or adjustment of parts, not as to design or proportion, but with reference to smooth working; as, the engine is in line or out of line.

(27): ( n.) The track and roadbed of a railway; railroad.

(28): ( n.) A row of men who are abreast of one another, whether side by side or some distance apart; - opposed to column.

(29): ( n.) The regular infantry of an army, as distinguished from militia, guards, volunteer corps, cavalry, artillery, etc.

(30): ( n.) A trench or rampart.

(31): ( n.) Dispositions made to cover extended positions, and presenting a front in but one direction to an enemy.

(32): ( n.) Form of a vessel as shown by the outlines of vertical, horizontal, and oblique sections.

(33): ( n.) One of the straight horizontal and parallel prolonged strokes on and between which the notes are placed.

(34): ( n.) A number of shares taken by a jobber.

(35): ( n.) A series of various qualities and values of the same general class of articles; as, a full line of hosiery; a line of merinos, etc.

(36): ( n.) The wire connecting one telegraphic station with another, or the whole of a system of telegraph wires under one management and name.

(37): ( n.) The reins with which a horse is guided by his driver.

(38): ( n.) A measure of length; one twelfth of an inch.

(39): ( v. t.) To mark with a line or lines; to cover with lines; as, to line a copy book.

(40): ( v. t.) To represent by lines; to delineate; to portray.

(41): ( v. t.) To read or repeat line by line; as, to line out a hymn.

(42): ( v. t.) To form into a line; to align; as, to line troops.

(43): ( n.) A series or succession of ancestors or descendants of a given person; a family or race; as, the ascending or descending line; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings.

(44): ( n.) The equator; - usually called the line, or equinoctial line; as, to cross the line.

King James Dictionary

LINE, n. L. linea, linum Gr. flax.

1. In geometry, a quantity extended in length, without breadth or thickness or a limit terminating a surface. 2. A slender string a small cord or rope. The angler uses a line and hook. The seaman uses a hand line, a hauling line, spilling lines, &c. 3. A thread, string or cord extended to direct any operation.

We as by line upon the ocean go.

4. Lineament a mark in the hand or face.

He tipples palmistry, and dines on all her fortune-telling lines.

5. Delineation sketch as the lines of a building. 6. Contour outline exterior limit of a figure.

Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line.

7. In writing, printing and engraving, the words and letters which stand on a level in one row, between one margin and another as a page of thirty lines. 8. In poetry, a verse, or the words which form a certain number of feet, according to the measure. 9. A short letter a note. I received a line from my friend by the last mail. 10. A rank or row of soldiers, or the disposition of an army drawn up with an extended front or the like disposition of a fleet prepared for engagement. 11. A trench or rampart an extended work in fortification.

Unite thy forces and attack their lines.

12. Method disposition as line of order. 13. Extension limit border.

Eden stretched her line from Auran eastward to the royal towers of great Seleucia.

14. Equator equinoctial circle.

When the sun below the line descends -

15. A series or succession of progeny or relations, descending from a common progenitor. We speak of the ascending or descending line the line of descent the male line a line of kings. 16. The twelfth part of an inch. 17. A straight extended mark. 18. A straight or parallel direction. The houses must all stand in a line. Every new building must be set in a line with other on the same street. 19. Occupation employment department or course of business. We speak of men in the same line of business. 20. Course direction.

What general line of conduct ought to be pursued?

21. Lint or flax. Seldom used. 22. In heraldry, lines are the figures used in armories to divide the shield into different parts, and to compose different figures. 23. In Scripture, line signifies a cord for measuring also, instruction, doctrine.  Psalms 19 .  Isaiah 28 .

A right line, a straight or direct line the shortest line that can be drawn between two points.

Horizontal line, a line drawn parallel to the horizon.

Equinoctial line, in geography, a great circle on the earth's surface, at 90 degrees distance from each pole, and bisecting the earth at that part. In astronomy, the circle which the sun seems to describe, in March and September, when the days and nights are of equal length.

Meridian line, an imaginary circle drawn through the two poles of the earth, and any part of its surface.

A ship of the line, a ship of war large enough to have a place in the line of battle. All ships carrying seventy four or more large guns, are ships of the line. Smaller ships may sometimes be so called.

LINE, supposed to be from L. linum, flax, whence linen, which is often used for linings.

1. To cover on the inside as a garment lined with linen, fur or silk a box lined with paper or tin. 2. To put in the inside.

- What if I do line one of their hands?

3. To place along by the side of any thing for guarding as, to line a hedge with riflemen to line works with soldiers. 4. To strengthen by additional works or men.

Line and new repair your towns of war with men of courage.

5. To cover to add a covering as, to line a crutch. 6. To strengthen with any thing added.

Who lined himself with hope.

7. To impregnate applied to irrational animals.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

LINE. 1. qaw , which is of most frequent occurrence, is properly a measuring line ( e.g .   Jeremiah 31:39 ,   Ezekiel 47:3 ,   Zechariah 1:16 ). Figuratively it denotes a rule of life (cf. ‘precept upon precept, line upon line’ of Isaiah’s teaching,   Isaiah 28:10 ).   Psalms 19:4 their line is gone out through all the earth’ has been variously interpreted. The LXX [Note: Septuagint.] , taking the line to be a resonant cord, rendered by phthonggos ‘a musical sound,’ and St. Paul quotes that version in   Romans 10:18 (EV [Note: English Version.] ‘sound’). More probably, however, the idea is still that of a measuring line. Cf. Perowne ( Psalms, in toc. ), who gives ‘line or boundary’ ‘as the heavens seems to measure and mark out the earth (whence the term horizon or boundary).’ 2 . hebhel , a rope or cord, esp. a measuring cord used in measuring and dividing land (cf.   Psalms 78:55 ,   Amos 7:17 ,   Zechariah 2:1 ). ‘The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places’ (  Psalms 16:6 ) alludes to the marking out of plots of land with a measuring cord. 3 . tiqwâh (fr. the same root as qaw ) is used of the cord of scarlet thread that Rahab bound in the window (  Joshua 2:18;   Joshua 2:21 ). 4. chût , properly a sewing-thread, only in   1 Kings 7:15;   1 Kings 7:5 . pâthîl , a string or cord, only in   Ezekiel 40:3;   Ezekiel 40:6 . seredh in   Isaiah 44:13 is misrendered ‘line,’ for which RV [Note: Revised Version.] gives ‘ pencil ,’ RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘red ochre.’ 7 . In NT ‘line’ occurs only in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] of   2 Corinthians 10:18 . The Gr. word is kanôn , a measuring rod (AVm [Note: Authorized Version margin.] ‘rule,’ RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘province,’ RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘limit’), and so, figuratively, a rule. Probably the Apostle’s idea is that of a measuring line, as defining the boundary between his own province and another’s.

J. C. Lambert.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 7:23 Psalm 16:6 Isaiah 34:17 Jeremiah 31:39 Zechariah 1:16 Zechariah 2:1-2 Amos 7:17 Jeremiah 31:39 Zechariah 1:16 Zechariah 2:1 2 Kings 21:13 Isaiah 34:11 Lamentations 2:8 Isaiah 28:17 Joshua 2:18 2:21 2 Samuel 8:2 Isaiah 28:10 28:13

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

Province

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(represented by the following terms in the original: חֶבֶל , Che'Bel, a Measuring-Line,  2 Samuel 8:2;  Amos 7:17; hence a Portion as divided out by a line,  Psalms 16:6; elsewhere "cord," "portion," etc. קָוּ or קִו , kav, a Measuring-Line,  Isaiah 34:17;  Ezekiel 47:3; either for construction,  Job 38:5;  Isaiah 44:13;  Jeremiah 31:39;  Zechariah 1:16, or for destruction,  2 Kings 21:13;  Lamentations 2:8;  Isaiah 34:11; metaph., a Rule or norm,  Isaiah 28:17;  Isaiah 28:10;  Isaiah 28:13; like the Gr. Κανών ,  2 Corinthians 10:13;  2 Corinthians 10:15-16;  Galatians 6:16;  Philippians 3:16; also the Rim, e.g. of a laver,  1 Kings 7:23;  2 Chronicles 4:2; or string of a musical instrument, put for sound, q.d. accord,  Psalms 19:4; where Sept. Ὁ Φθόγγος , and so  Romans 10:18, Vulg. Sonus; once, Strength,  Isaiah 18:2, where "a nation meted out" should be rendered a Most Mighty nation: in three of the above passages,  1 Kings 7:23;  Jeremiah 31:39;  Zechariah 1:16, the text reads קֶוֶה , Ke'Veh, of the same import; and in  Joshua 2:18;  Joshua 2:21, occurs תַּקְוָה , Tikvah', A Cord, from the same root. Other terms less proper are: חוּט , chut, a thread, for measuring a circumference,  1 Kings 7:15; "fillets,"  Jeremiah 52:21; elsewhere generally a "thread." פָּתַיל , Pathil', A Cord, for measuring length,  Ezekiel 40:3; elsewhere a "thread," "lace," etc., especially the string for suspending the signet-ring in the bosom, rendered "bracelets" in  Genesis 38:18;  Genesis 38:25. שֶׂרֶד , Se'Red, The Awl or stylus with which an artist graves the sketch of a figure in outline, to be afterwards sculptured in full,  Isaiah 44:13). There can be little doubt that the Hebrews acquired the art of measuring land from the ancient Egyptians, with whom it was early prevalent (Wilkinson's Anc. Egypt. 2:256). In  Joshua 18:9 we read, "And the men went out and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh." These circumstances clearly indicate that a survey of the whole country was made, and the results entered carefully in a book (see Kitto's Daily Bible Illust. ad loc.). This appears to be the earliest example of a topographical survey on record, and it proves that there must have been some knowledge of mensuration among the Hebrews, as is moreover evinced by the other topographical details in the book of Joshua.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lı̄n ( קו , ḳaw , חבל , ḥēbhel ): Usually of a measuring line, as   Jeremiah 31:39;  Ezekiel 47:3;  Zechariah 1:16 ( ḳaw );  Psalm 78:55;  Amos 7:17;  Zechariah 2:1 ( ḥēbhel ). Other Hebrew words mean simply a cord or thread ( Joshua 2:18 ,  Joshua 2:21;  1 Kings 7:15;  Ezekiel 40:3 ). In  Psalm 19:4 ( ḳaw , "Their line is gone out through all the earth"), the reference is probably still to measurement (the heaven as spanning and bounding the earth), though the Septuagint, followed by  Romans 10:18 , takes it as meaning a musical cord φθόγγος , phthóggos ). The "line," as measure, suggests rule of conduct ( Isaiah 28:10 ). For "line" in  Isaiah 44:13 , the Revised Version (British and American) reads "pencil," margin "red ochre" ( seredh ), and in  2 Corinthians 10:16 , "province," margin "limit" ( kanṓn ). See also Measuring Line; Weights And Measures .