LOOK, v.i. [See Light. The primary sense is to stretch, to extend, to shoot, hence to direct the eye. We observe its primary sense is nearly the same as that of seek. Hence, to look for is to seek.]

1. Cast of countenance; air of the face; aspect; as, a high look is an index of pride; a downcast look indicates modesty, bashfulness, or depression of mind. Pain, disgrace and poverty have frightful looks. – Locke.
2. The act of looking or seeing. Every look filled him with anguish.
3. View; watch. – Swinburne.

in the imperative, is used to excite attention or notice. Look ye, look you; that is, see, behold, observe, take notice.

1. To direct the eye toward an object, with the intention of seeing it. When the object is within sight, look is usually followed by on or at. We look on or at a picture, we look on or at the moon; we can not look on or at the unclouded sun, without pain. At, after look, is not used in our version of the Scriptures. In common usage, at or on is now used indifferently in many cases, and yet in other cases, usage has established a preference. In general, on is used in the more solemn forms of expression. Moses was afraid to look on God. The Lord look on you and judge. In these and similar phrases, the use of at would be condemned, as expressing too little solemnity. In some cases at seems to be more properly used before very distant objects; but the cases can hardly be defined. The particular direction of the eye is expressed by various modifying words; as, to look down, to look up, to look back, to look forward, to look from, to look round, to look out, to look under. When the object is not in sight, look is followed by after, or for. Hence, to look after, or look for, is equivalent to seek or search, or to expect.
2. To see; to have the sight or view of. Fate sees thy life lodged in a brittle glass, / And looks it through, but to it can not pass. – Dryden.
3. To direct the intellectual eye; to apply the mind or understanding; to consider; to examine. Look at the conduct of this man; view it in all its aspects. Let every man look into the state of his own heart. Let us look beyond the received notions of men on this subject.
4. To expect. He must look to fight another battle, before he could reach Oxford. [Little used.] – Clarendon.
5. To take care; to watch. Look that ye bind them fast. – Shak.
6. To be directed. Let thine eyes look right on. Prov. iv.
7. To seem; to appear; to have a particular appearance. The patient looks better than he did. The clouds look rainy. I am afraid it would look more like vanity than gratitude. – Addison. Observe how such a practice looks in another person. – Watts. So we say, to look stout or big; to look peevish; to look pleasant or graceful.
8. To have a particular direction or situation; to face; to front. The gate that looketh toward the north. – Ezek. viii. The east gate of the Lord's house, that looketh eastward. – Ezek. xi. To look about, to look on all sides, or in different directions. To look about one, to be on the watch; to be vigilant; to be circumspect or guarded. – Arbuthnot. To look after, to attend; to take care of; as, to look after children. #2. To expect; to be in a state of expectation. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. Luke xxi. #3. To seek; to search. My subject does not oblige me to look after the water, or point forth the place whereto it has now retreated. – Woodward. To look for, to expect; as, to look for news by the arrival of a ship. Look now for no enchanting voice. – Milton. #2. To seek; to search; as, to look for lost money, or lost cattle. To look into, to inspect closely; to observe narrowly; to examine; as, to look into the works of nature; to look into the conduct of another; to look into one's affairs. Which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Pet. i. To look on, to regard; to esteem. Her friends would look on her the worse. – Prior. #2. To consider; to view; to conceive of; to think. I looked on Virgil as a succinct, majestic writer. – Dryden. #3. To be a mere spectator. I'll be a candle holder and look on. – Shak. To look over, to examine one by one; as, to look over a catalogue of books; to look over accounts. To overlook, has a different sense, to pass over without seeing. To look out, to be on the watch. The seaman looks out for breakers. To look to, To watch; to take care of. Look well to thy herds. Prov. xxvii. #2. To resort to with confidence or expectation of receiving something; to expect to receive from. The creditor may look to the surety for payment. Look to me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Is. xlv. To look through, to penetrate with the eye, or with the understanding; to see or understand perfectly.

1. To seek; to search for. Looking my love, I go from place to place. [Obs.] – Spenser.
2. To influence by looks or presence; as, to look down opposition. A spirit fit to start into an empire, And look the world to law. – Dryden. To look out, to search for and discover. Look out associates of good reputation. To look one another in the face, to meet for combat. – 2 Kings xiv. To look up a thing, is to search for it and find it; as, I do not know where the book is, I must look it up.

1. To direct the eyes for the purpose of seeing something; to direct the eyes toward an object; to observe with the eyes while keeping them directed; -- with various prepositions, often in a special or figurative sense. See Phrases below.
2. To look at; to turn the eyes toward.
3. The act of looking; a glance; a sight; a view; -- often in certain phrases; as, to have, get, take, throw, or cast, a look.
   
   

   Threw many a northward look to see his father
   Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain. Shak.

4. To direct the attention (to something); to consider; to examine; as, to look at an action.
5. To seek; to search for.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Looking my love, I go from place to place. Spenser.

6. Expression of the eyes and face; manner; as, a proud or defiant look.
   
   
   "Gentle looks." Shak.

   Up ! up! my friends, and clear your looks. Wordsworth.

7. To seem; to appear; to have a particular appearance; as, the patient looks better; the clouds look rainy.
   
   

   It would look more like vanity than gratitude. Addison.

   Observe how such a practice looks in another person. I. Watts.

8. To expect.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shak.
9. Hence; Appearance; aspect; as, the house has a gloomy look; the affair has a bad look.
   
   

   Pain, disgrace, and poverty have frighted looks. Locke.

   There was something that reminded me of Dante's Hell in the look of this. Carlyle.

10. To have a particular direction or situation; to face; to front.
    
    

    The inner gate that looketh to north. Ezek. viii. 3.

    The east gate . . . which looketh eastward. Ezek. xi. 1.

11. To influence, overawe, or subdue by looks or presence as, to look down opposition.
    
    

    A spirit fit to start into an empire,
    And look the world to law. Dryden.

12. In the imperative: see; behold; take notice; take care; observe; -- used to call attention.
    
    

    Look, how much we thus expel of sin, so much we expel of virtue. Milton.

    * Look, in the imperative, may be followed by a dependent sentence, but see is oftener so used.

    Look that ye bind them fast. Shak.

    Look if it be my daughter. Talfourd.

13. To express or manifest by a look.
    
    

    Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again. Byron.

    To look daggers. See under Dagger. -- To look in the face, to face or meet with boldness or confidence; hence, sometimes, to meet for combat. -- To look out, to seek for; as, prudent persons look out associates of good reputation.

14. To show one's self in looking, as by leaning out of a window; as, look out of the window while I speak to you. Sometimes used figuratively.
    
    

    My toes look through the overleather. Shak.

15. To await the appearance of anything; to expect; to anticipate.
    
    

    Looking each hour into death's mouth to fall. Spenser.

    To look about, to look on all sides, or in different directions. -- To look about one, to be on the watch; to be vigilant; to be circumspect or guarded. -- To look after. (a) To attend to; to take care of; as, to look after children. (b) To expect; to be in a state of expectation.

    Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. Luke xxi. 26.

    (c) To seek; to search.

    My subject does not oblige me to look after the water, or point forth the place where to it is now retreated. Woodward.

    -- To look at, to direct the eyes toward so that one sees, or as if to see; as, to look at a star; hence, to observe, examine, consider; as, to look at a matter without prejudice. -- To look black, to frown; to scowl; to have a threatening appearance.

    The bishops thereat repined, and looked black. Holinshed.

    -- To look down on or upon, to treat with indifference or contempt; to regard as an inferior; to despise. -- To look for. (a) To expect; as, to look for news by the arrival of a ship. "Look now for no enchanting voice." Milton. (b) To seek for; to search for; as, to look for lost money, or lost cattle. -- To look forth. (a) To look out of something, as from a window. (b) To threaten to come out. Jer. vi. 1. (Rev. Ver.). -- To look into, to inspect closely; to observe narrowly; to examine; as, to look into the works of nature; to look into one's conduct or affairs. -- To look on. (a) To regard; to esteem.

    Her friends would look on her the worse. Prior.

    (b) To consider; to view; to conceive of; to think of.

    I looked on Virgil as a succinct, majestic writer. Dryden.

    (c) To be a mere spectator.

    I'll be a candleholder, and look on. Shak.

    -- To look out, to be on the watch; to be careful; as, the seaman looks out for breakers. -- To look through. (a) To see through. (b) To search; to examine with the eyes. -- To look to or unto. (a) To watch; to take care of. "Look well to thy herds." Prov. xxvii. 23. (b) To resort to with expectation of receiving something; to expect to receive from; as, the creditor may look to surety for payment. "Look unto me, and be ye saved." Is. xlv. 22. -- To look up, to search for or find out by looking; as, to look up the items of an account. -- To look up to, to respect; to regard with deference.