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Lew·is (lĭs), C(live) S(taples) 1898-1963.
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British writer and critic. His works include The Allegory of Love (1936) and a series of fictional books for children known as The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956), as well as numerous works of Christian apologetics.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
lew·is (lĭs)
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n.
A dovetailed iron tenon made of several parts and designed to fit into a dovetail mortise in a large stone so that it can be lifted by a hoisting apparatus. Also called lewisson.

[Perhaps from the name Lewis.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair 1885-1951.
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American novelist who satirized middle-class America in his 22 works, including Babbitt (1922) and Elmer Gantry (1927). He was the first American to receive a Nobel Prize for literature (1930).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, Frederick Carlton Known as "Carl." Born 1961.
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American athlete. Winner of nine Olympic gold medals, including four in the long jump, he duplicated in the 1984 Olympics Jesse Owens's feat of winning the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the long jump, and the four-by-100-meter relay.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, Gilbert Newton 1875-1946.
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American chemist who made significant contributions to thermodynamics, the theory of valence, and photochemistry.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, (Percy) Wyndham 1882-1957.
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British writer and artist. He wrote the novels The Apes of God (1930) and Revenge for Love (1937) and painted portraits of T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, John Llewellyn 1880-1969.
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American labor leader who was president of the United Mine Workers of America (1920-1960) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (1935-1940).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, Meriwether 1774-1809.
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American soldier and explorer who with William Clark led an expedition (1804-1806) from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River and served as governor of the Louisiana Territory (1806-1809).
(click for a larger image)
Meriwether Lewis
c. 1806 portrait
by Charles Saint-Memin
(1770-1852)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Lewis, Jerry Lee Born 1935.
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American musician and singer. Noted for his lively performing style and driving piano rhythms, he created such hit songs as "Great Balls of Fire" (1957).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.