King James Bible Dictionary

LINE, noun [Latin 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, etc.

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 19:4. Isaiah 28:10.

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, verb transitive [supposed to be from Latin 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.

LIN'EAGE, noun

Race; progeny; descendants in a line from a common progenitor.

LIN'EAL, adjective [Latin linealis, from linea, line.]

1. Composed of lines; delineated; as lineal designs.

2. In a direct line from an ancestor; as lineal descent; lineal succession.

3. Hereditary; derived from ancestors.

4. Allied by direct descent.

For only you are lineal to the throne.

5. In the direction of a line; as lineal measure.

Lineal measure, the measure of length.

LINEAL'ITY, noun The state of being in the form of a line.

LIN'EALLY, adverb In a direct line; as, the prince is lineally descended from the conqueror.

LIN'EAMENT, noun [Latin lineamentum.]

Feature; form; make; the outline or exterior of a body or figure, particularly of the face.

Man he seems in all his lineaments.

- The lineaments of the body.

- Lineaments of a character.

LIN'EAR, adjective [Latin linearis.]

1. Pertaining to a line; consisting of lines; in a straight direction.

2. In botany, like a line; slender; of the same breadth throughout, except at the extremities; as linear leaf.

Linear numbers, in mathematics, such as have relation to length only; such is a number which represents one side of a plane figure. If the plane figure is a square, the linear figure is called a root.

Linear problem, that which may be solved geometrically by the intersection of two right lines.

LIN'EATE, adjective In botany, marked longitudinally with depressed parallel lines; as a lineate leaf.

LINEA'TION, noun Draught; delineation, which see.

LI'NED, participle passive Covered on the inside.

1. Heb., pishet, pishtah, denotes "flax," of which linen is made (Isaiah 19:9); wrought flax, i.e., "linen cloth", Leviticus 13:47, 48, 52, 59; Deuteronomy 22:11.

Flax was early cultivated in Egypt (Exodus 9:31), and also in Palestine (Joshua 2:6; Hosea 2:9). Various articles were made of it- garments (2 Samuel 6:14), girdles (Jeremiah 13:1), ropes and thread (Ezekiel 40:3), napkins (Luke 24:12; John 20:7), turbans (Ezekiel 44:18), and lamp-wicks (Isaiah 42:3).

2. Heb. buts, "whiteness;" rendered "fine linen" in 1 Chronicles 4:21; 15:27; 2 Chronicles 2:14; 3:14; Esther 1:6; 8:15, and "white linen" 2 Chronicles 5:12. It is not certain whether this word means cotton or linen.

3. Heb. bad; rendered "linen" Exodus 28:42; 39:28; Leviticus 6:10; 16:4, 23, 32; 1 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 6:14, etc. It is uniformly used of the sacred vestments worn by the priests. The word is from a root signifying "separation."

4. Heb. shesh; rendered "fine linen" Exodus 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36, etc. In Proverbs 31:22 it is rendered in Authorized Version "silk," and in Revised Version "fine linen." The word denotes Egyptian linen of peculiar whiteness and fineness (byssus). The finest Indian linen, the finest now made, has in an inch one hundred threads of warp and eighty-four of woof; while the Egyptian had sometimes one hundred and forty in the warp and sixty-four in the woof. This was the usual dress of the Egyptian priest. Pharaoh arrayed Joseph in a dress of linen (Genesis 41:42).

5. Heb. etun. Proverbs 7:16, "fine linen of Egypt;" in Revised Version, "the yarn of Egypt."

6. Heb. sadin. Proverbs 31:24, "fine linen;" in Revised Version, "linen garments" (Judges 14:12, 13; Isaiah 3:23). From this Hebrew word is probably derived the Greek word sindon, rendered "linen" in Mark 14:51, 52; 15:46; Matthew 27:59.

The word "linen" is used as an emblem of moral purity (Revelation 15:6). In Luke 16:19 it is mentioned as a mark of luxury.

Exported from:

Egypt
1 Kings 10:28; Ezekiel 27:7

Syria
Ezekiel 27:16

Curtains of the tabernacle made of
Exodus 26:1; Exodus 27:9

Vestments of priests made of
Exodus 28:5-8; Exodus 28:15; Exodus 28:39-42

Livery of royal households made of
Genesis 41:42; Esther 8:15

Garments made of:

For men
Genesis 41:42; Ezekiel 9:2; Luke 16:19

For women
Isaiah 3:23; Ezekiel 16:10-13

Bedding made of
Proverbs 7:16

Mosaic law forbade its being mingled with wool
Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:11

The body of Jesus wrapped in
Mark 15:46; John 20:5

Figurative, pure and white, of righteousness
Revelation 15:6; Revelation 19:8; Revelation 19:14

cloth made from flax. Several different Hebrew words are rendered linen, which may denote different fabrics of linen or different modes of manufacture. Egypt was the great centre of the linen trade. Some linen, made form the Egyptian byssus , a flax that grew on the banks of the Nile, was exceedingly soft and of dazzling whiteness. This linen has been sold for twice its weight in gold. Sir J.G. Wilkinson says of it, "The quality of the fine linen fully justifies all the praises of antiquity, and excites equal admiration at the present day, being to the touch comparable to silk, and not inferior in texture to our finest cambric."

LIN'EN, noun [Latin linun, flax, Gr. The sense is probably long, extended or smooth. In the latter sense, it would accord with Latin linio, lenio.]

1. Cloth made of flax or hemp.

2. An under garment.

LIN'EN, adjective [Latin lineus.]

1. Made of flax or hemp; as linen cloth; a linen stocking.

2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.

Fossil-linen, a kind of amianth, with soft, parallel, flexible fibers.

LIN'EN-DRAPER, noun A person who deals in linens.

Linener and linen-man, in a like sense, are obsolete.

(See YARN.)

Were used for measuring and dividing land; and hence the word came to denote a portion or inheritance measured out; a possession (Psalms 16:6).