leadings
|lead-ing|
/ˈlɛdɪŋ/
(leading)
guiding / spacing between lines
Etymology
'leading' (typographic sense) originates from the noun 'lead' (the metal), from Old English 'lēad' meaning 'lead' (the metal); the suffix '-ing' was added to form a noun indicating material or result.
'leading' changed from Middle English forms (e.g. 'leding') referring to strips of lead used in hand typesetting; these physical 'lead' strips gave rise to the abstract sense of the space between lines, and the modern English word 'leading' emerged.
Initially it referred to the physical 'strips of lead' placed between lines in printing, but over time it evolved to mean the 'space between lines' of printed text (and by extension line spacing in digital typography).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'leading': the space between lines of type or text (typography); originally the thin strips of lead placed between lines of type in printing.
The leadings in the manuscript were inconsistent, which made the text look uneven.
Synonyms
Noun 2
plural of 'leading': acts or instances of guiding or directing (rare; often used in religious or formal contexts to mean 'guidances' or 'directions').
He described several spiritual leadings that shaped his decisions.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/01 22:28