Lean, lēn, v.i. to incline or bend: to turn from a straight line: to rest against: to incline towards:—pr.p. lean′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. leaned or leant (lent).—n. Lean′-to, a shed or penthouse whose supports lean upon another building or wall. [A.S. hlinian, and causal form hlǽnan; Dut. leunen.]
Lean, lēn, adj. thin, wanting flesh: not fat: unprofitable, taking extra time—a printer's phrase.—n. flesh without fat.—adj. Lean′-faced, having a thin face: (print.) slender and narrow, as letters.—adv. Lean′ly.—n. Lean′ness.—adj. Lean′-wit′ted, of little sense. [A.S. hlǽne; Low Ger. leen; according to Skeat, from hlǽnan, to lean (above).]
Leap, lēp, v.i. to move with bounds: to spring upward or forward: to jump: to rush with vehemence.—v.t. to bound over: to cause to take a leap: to cover or copulate (of some beasts):—pr.p. leap′ing; pa.t. leaped or leapt (lept); pa.p. leaped, rarely leapt.—n. act of leaping: bound: space passed by leaping: sudden transition.—ns. Leap′-frog, a play in which one boy places his hands on the back of another stooping in front of him, and vaults over his head; Leap′ing-house (Shak.), a brothel; Leap′ing-time (Shak.), youth; Leap′-year, every fourth year—of 366 days, adding one day in February.—Leap in the dark, an act of which we cannot foresee the consequences. [A.S. hleápan, pa.t. hleóp; Ger. laufen, to run.]
Leap, lēp, n. a basket: a wicker net. [A.S. leáp.]
Lear, lēr, v.t. (Spens.) to learn.—n. that which is learned, a lesson: (Scot.) learning.
Learn, lėrn, v.t. to acquire knowledge of, to get to know: to gain power of performing: (prov.) to teach.—v.i. to gain knowledge: to improve by example.—adjs. Learn′able, that may be learned; Learn′ed, having learning: versed in literature, &c.: skilful.—adv. Learn′edly.—ns. Learn′edness; Learn′er, one who learns: one who is yet in the rudiments of any subject; Learn′ing, what is learned: knowledge: scholarship: skill in languages or science.—New learning, the awakening to classical learning in England in the 16th century, led by Colet, Erasmus, Warham, More, &c. [A.S. leornian; Ger. lernen; cf. A.S. lǽran (Ger. lehren), to teach.]
Lease, lēs, n. a contract letting a house, farm, &c. for a term of years: the duration or term of tenure: any tenure.—v.t. to let for a term of years:—pr.p. leas′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. leased.—adjs. Leas′able; Lease′hold, held by lease or contract.—n. a tenure held by lease.—ns. Lease′holder; Leas′er, one who leases. [Fr. laisser, to leave—L. laxāre, to loose, laxus, loose.]
Lease, lēz, v.i. (prov.) to glean.—n. Leas′ing, gleaning. [A.S. lesan, to gather.]
Lease, lēs, n. in weaving, the plane in which the warp-threads cross: this system of crossing.
Leash, lēsh, n. a lash or line by which a hawk or hound is held: a brace and a half, three.—v.t. to hold by a leash: to bind. [O. Fr. lesse (Fr. laisse), a thong to hold a dog by—L. laxus, loose.]