Wiktionary

leer

See also: Leer, lêer, and leër

EnglishEdit

WOTD – 29 May 2008

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Exact development uncertain, but apparently from a verb *leer (“to make a face”), from leer (“face”).

VerbEdit

leer (third-person singular simple present leers, present participle leering, simple past and past participle leered)

  1. (intransitive) To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.
    • 1834 [1799], Samuel Taylor Coleridge; Robert Southey, “The Devil's Thoughts”, in The Poetical Works of S. T. Coleridge, volume II, London: W. Pickering, page 86:
      And she looked to Mr. –––– / And leered like a love-sick pigeon.
    • 1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter XXXVIII, in Great Expectations […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC:
      I thought I saw him leer in an ugly way at me while the decanters were going round, but as there was no love lost between us, that might easily be.
    • 1878, Henry James, chapter VI, in The Europeans‎[1], Macmillan and Co.:
      The Baroness perceived that her entertainer had analyzed material comfort to a sufficiently fine point. And then he possessed the most delightful chinoiseries—trophies of his sojourn in the Celestial Empire: pagodas of ebony and cabinets of ivory; sculptured monsters, grinning and leering on chimney-pieces, in front of beautifully figured hand-screens; […]
    • 1880, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XVIII, in A Tramp Abroad; […], Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company; London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
      It was a quarter well stocked with deformed, leering, unkempt and uncombed idiots, who held out hands or caps and begged piteously.
    • 1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter XIII, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.; Melbourne, Vic.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC:
      “Hush! Don’t say that. You have done enough evil in your life. My God! Don’t you see that accursed thing leering at us?”
  2. (transitive) To entice with a leer or leers.
    • 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 6:
      But Bertran has been taught the Arts of Court, / To guild a Face with Smiles; and leer a man to ruin.
ConjugationEdit
Conjugation of leer
infinitive (to) leer
present tense past tense
1st-person singular leer leered
2nd-person singular leer, leerest† leered, leeredst†
3rd-person singular leers, leereth† leered
plural leer
subjunctive leer leered
imperative leer —
participles leering leered

†Archaic or obsolete.

TranslationsEdit

NounEdit

leer (plural leers)

  1. A significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.
  2. An arch or affected glance or cast of countenance.
TranslationsEdit

Etymology 2Edit

From Middle English ler, leor (“face, cheek”), from Old English hlēor (“face, cheek, profile”), from Proto-Germanic *hleuzą (“ear, cheek”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlews- (“temple of the forehead, cheek”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlewe-, *ḱlew- (“to hear”). Cognate with Scots lire, lere (“face, appearance, complexion”), Dutch lier (“cheek”), Swedish lyra (“pout”), Norwegian lia (“hillside”), Icelandic hlýr (“the face, cheek, countenance”). Related to Old English hlyst (“sense of hearing, listening”) and hlysnan (“to listen”). More at list, listen.

Alternative formsEdit

NounEdit

leer (plural leers)

  1. (obsolete) The cheek.
  2. (obsolete) The face.
  3. (obsolete) One's appearance; countenance.
  4. (obsolete) Complexion; hue; colour.
  5. (obsolete) Flesh; skin.
  6. (UK dialectal) The flank or loin.

Etymology 3Edit

From Middle English lere, from Old English ġelǣr, *lǣre (“empty, void, empty-handed”), from Proto-Germanic *lēziz, *lēzijaz (“empty”), from Proto-Indo-European *les- (“to collect, pick”). Cognate with Dutch laar (“a clearing in the woods”), German leer (“empty”). Related to Old English lesan (“to gather, collect”). More at lease.

Alternative formsEdit

AdjectiveEdit

leer (comparative more leer, superlative most leer)

  2. (obsolete) Empty; unoccupied; clear.
    • 1591, John Harington, Orlando Furioso:
      The horse runs leere away without the man.
  3. (obsolete) Destitute; lacking; wanting.
  4. (obsolete) Faint from lack of food; hungry.
  5. (UK dialectal, obsolete) Thin; faint.
  6. (obsolete) Having no load or burden; free; without a rider.
    • 1629 (first performance), B[en] Jonson, The Nevv Inne. Or, The Light Heart. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Thomas Alchorne, […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page, or act number in uppercase Roman numerals), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
      a leer horse
  7. (obsolete) Lacking sense or seriousness; trifling; frivolous.
    leer words
Derived termsEdit

Etymology 4Edit

From Middle English leren, from Old English lǣran (“to teach, instruct, guide, enjoin, advise, persuade, urge, preach, hand down”), from Proto-Germanic *laizijaną (“to teach”), from Proto-Indo-European *leis- (“track, footprint, furrow, trace”). Cognate with Dutch leren (“to teach”), German lehren (“to teach”), Swedish lära (“to teach”). Related to Old English lār (“lore, learning, science, art of teaching, preaching, doctrine, study, precept, exhortation, advice, instigation, history, story, cunning”). See lore.

VerbEdit

leer (third-person singular simple present leers, present participle leering, simple past and past participle leered)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To teach.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To learn.

Etymology 5Edit

See lehr.

NounEdit

leer (plural leers)

  1. Alternative form of lehr

AnagramsEdit

AfrikaansEdit

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Dutch leren, from Middle Dutch lêren, from Old Dutch lēren, from Proto-Germanic *laizijaną.

VerbEdit

leer (present leer, present participle lerende, past participle geleer)

  1. To learn.

Etymology 2Edit

From Dutch leer, from Middle Dutch lêre, from Old Dutch lēra, from Proto-Germanic *laizō.

NounEdit

leer (uncountable)

  1. A teaching.

Etymology 3Edit

From Dutch leer, from older leder, from Middle Dutch lēder, from Old Dutch *lether, from Proto-Germanic *leþrą.

NounEdit

leer (uncountable)

  1. leather

Etymology 4Edit

From Dutch leer (dialectal synonym of ladder), from Middle Dutch leer.

NounEdit

leer (plural lere)

  1. A ladder.
DescendantsEdit
  • → Sotho: lere
  • → Xhosa: ileli

DanishEdit

PronunciationEdit

NounEdit

leer c

  1. indefinite plural of le

DutchEdit

 
Dutch Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nl

PronunciationEdit

Etymology 1Edit

Contraction of leder, from Middle Dutch leder, from Old Dutch *lether, from Proto-West Germanic *leþr, from Proto-Germanic *leþrą.

NounEdit

leer n (uncountable)

  1. Leather.
    Synonym: leder
Derived termsEdit
DescendantsEdit

Etymology 2Edit

From Middle Dutch lêre, from Old Dutch lēra, from Proto-Germanic *laizō.

NounEdit

leer f (plural leren, diminutive leertje n)

  1. A doctrine.
  2. Theory, teachings.
  3. A field of learning; set of lessons and theory on a subject within a discipline.
Derived termsEdit
DescendantsEdit

Etymology 3Edit

From Middle Dutch leer, contraction of ledere.

NounEdit

leer f (plural leren)

  1. (dialectal, dated) Alternative form of ladder.
DescendantsEdit

Etymology 4Edit

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

VerbEdit

leer

  1. first-person singular present indicative of leren
  2. imperative of leren

AnagramsEdit

EstonianEdit

Etymology 1Edit

From Middle Low German leger, lager. Etymological twin of laager.

NounEdit

leer (genitive leeri, partitive leeri)

  1. A camp
  2. A side (in a conflict)
    Ta on vastaste leeris
    He's on the enemies' side.
DeclensionEdit
Declension of leer (type riik)
singular plural
nominative leer leerid
genitive leeri leeride
partitive leeri leere / leerisid
illative leeri / leerisse leeridesse / leeresse
inessive leeris leerides / leeres
elative leerist leeridest / leerest
allative leerile leeridele / leerele
adessive leeril leeridel / leerel
ablative leerilt leeridelt / leerelt
translative leeriks leerideks / leereks
terminative leerini leerideni
essive leerina leeridena
abessive leerita leerideta
comitative leeriga leeridega

Etymology 2Edit

From Middle Low German lere (“study, learning”).

NounEdit

leer (genitive leeri, partitive leeri)

  1. A (protestant) confirmation into the faithful community.
DeclensionEdit
Declension of leer (type riik)
singular plural
nominative leer leerid
genitive leeri leeride
partitive leeri leere / leerisid
illative leeri / leerisse leeridesse / leeresse
inessive leeris leerides / leeres
elative leerist leeridest / leerest
allative leerile leeridele / leerele
adessive leeril leeridel / leerel
ablative leerilt leeridelt / leerelt
translative leeriks leerideks / leereks
terminative leerini leerideni
essive leerina leeridena
abessive leerita leerideta
comitative leeriga leeridega

GermanEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle High German lēr, lēre, lǣre, from Old High German lāri, from Proto-West Germanic *lāʀi, from Proto-Germanic *lēziz. Cognate with Dutch laar, English leer.

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

leer (strong nominative masculine singular leerer, comparative leerer, superlative am leersten)

  1. empty
    Antonyms: voll, gefüllt

DeclensionEdit

Positive forms of leer
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist leer sie ist leer es ist leer sie sind leer
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative leerer leere leeres leere
genitive leeren leerer leeren leerer
dative leerem leerer leerem leeren
accusative leeren leere leeres leere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der leere die leere das leere die leeren
genitive des leeren der leeren des leeren der leeren
dative dem leeren der leeren dem leeren den leeren
accusative den leeren die leere das leere die leeren
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein leerer eine leere ein leeres (keine) leeren
genitive eines leeren einer leeren eines leeren (keiner) leeren
dative einem leeren einer leeren einem leeren (keinen) leeren
accusative einen leeren eine leere ein leeres (keine) leeren
Comparative forms of leer
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist leerer sie ist leerer es ist leerer sie sind leerer
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative leererer leerere leereres leerere
genitive leereren leererer leereren leererer
dative leererem leererer leererem leereren
accusative leereren leerere leereres leerere
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der leerere die leerere das leerere die leereren
genitive des leereren der leereren des leereren der leereren
dative dem leereren der leereren dem leereren den leereren
accusative den leereren die leerere das leerere die leereren
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein leererer eine leerere ein leereres (keine) leereren
genitive eines leereren einer leereren eines leereren (keiner) leereren
dative einem leereren einer leereren einem leereren (keinen) leereren
accusative einen leereren eine leerere ein leereres (keine) leereren
Superlative forms of leer
number & gender singular plural
masculine feminine neuter
predicative er ist am leersten sie ist am leersten es ist am leersten sie sind am leersten
strong declension
(without article) 		nominative leerster leerste leerstes leerste
genitive leersten leerster leersten leerster
dative leerstem leerster leerstem leersten
accusative leersten leerste leerstes leerste
weak declension
(with definite article) 		nominative der leerste die leerste das leerste die leersten
genitive des leersten der leersten des leersten der leersten
dative dem leersten der leersten dem leersten den leersten
accusative den leersten die leerste das leerste die leersten
mixed declension
(with indefinite article) 		nominative ein leerster eine leerste ein leerstes (keine) leersten
genitive eines leersten einer leersten eines leersten (keiner) leersten
dative einem leersten einer leersten einem leersten (keinen) leersten
accusative einen leersten eine leerste ein leerstes (keine) leersten

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

VerbEdit

leer

  1. singular imperative of leeren
  2. (colloquial) first-person singular present of leeren

Further readingEdit

  • “leer” in Duden online
  • “leer” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Norwegian BokmålEdit

VerbEdit

leer

  1. present tense of lee

Pennsylvania GermanEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle High German lǣre, from Old High German lāri. Compare German leer.

AdjectiveEdit

leer

  1. empty

RomanschEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Latin aēr, with the initial 'l' added from a preceding definite article.

NounEdit

leer m

  1. (Sutsilvan) air

SynonymsEdit

  • (Rumantsch Grischun, Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surmiran) aria
  • (Puter, Vallader) ajer

SpanishEdit

 
Sense 1

EtymologyEdit

From Latin legere (“to read, gather, choose”), from Proto-Italic *legō, from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-. Related with English legend, legible, lesson.

PronunciationEdit

  • IPA(key): /leˈeɾ/ [leˈeɾ]
  • Audio (Colombia)(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɾ
  • Syllabification: le‧er

VerbEdit

leer (first-person singular present leo, first-person singular preterite leí, past participle leído)

  1. to read
    • 1605, Miguel de Cervantes, “Capítulo I”, in El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, Primera parte:
      […] y llegó a tanto su curiosidad y desatino en esto, que vendió muchas hanegas de tierra de sembradura para comprar libros de caballerías en que leer, y, así, llevó a su casa todos cuantos pudo haber dellos.
      […] to such a pitch did his eagerness and infatuation go that he sold many an acre of tillage land to buy books of chivalry to read, and brought home as many of them as he could get.
    Quiero leer el periódico.
    I want to read the newspaper.
    Léase también la Orden General núm. 8.
    Also read General Order No. 8.
    Synonym: (Belize) ridear

ConjugationEdit

    Conjugation of leer (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)
infinitive leer
gerund leyendo
past participle masculine feminine
singular leído leída
plural leídos leídas
singular plural
1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person
indicative yo tú
vos 		él/ella/ello
usted 		nosotros
nosotras 		vosotros
vosotras 		ellos/ellas
ustedes
present leo leestú
leésvos		 lee leemos leéis leen
imperfect leía leías leía leíamos leíais leían
preterite leí leíste leyó leímos leísteis leyeron
future leeré leerás leerá leeremos leeréis leerán
conditional leería leerías leería leeríamos leeríais leerían
subjunctive yo tú
vos 		él/ella/ello
usted 		nosotros
nosotras 		vosotros
vosotras 		ellos/ellas
ustedes
present lea leastú
leásvos2		 lea leamos leáis lean
imperfect
(ra) 		leyera leyeras leyera leyéramos leyerais leyeran
imperfect
(se) 		leyese leyeses leyese leyésemos leyeseis leyesen
future1 leyere leyeres leyere leyéremos leyereis leyeren
imperative — tú
vos 		usted nosotros
nosotras 		vosotros
vosotras 		ustedes
affirmative leetú
leévos		 lea leamos leed lean
negative no leas no lea no leamos no leáis no lean

1Mostly obsolete, now mainly used in legal language.
2Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tú form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of leer

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

singular plural
1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person
with infinitive leer
dative leerme leerte leerle, leerse leernos leeros leerles, leerse
accusative leerme leerte leerlo, leerla, leerse leernos leeros leerlos, leerlas, leerse
with gerund leyendo
dative leyéndome leyéndote leyéndole, leyéndose leyéndonos leyéndoos leyéndoles, leyéndose
accusative leyéndome leyéndote leyéndolo, leyéndola, leyéndose leyéndonos leyéndoos leyéndolos, leyéndolas, leyéndose
with informal second-person singular tú imperative lee
dative léeme léete léele léenos not used léeles
accusative léeme léete léelo, léela léenos not used léelos, léelas
with informal second-person singular vos imperative leé
dative leeme leete leele leenos not used leeles
accusative leeme leete leelo, leela leenos not used leelos, leelas
with formal second-person singular imperative lea
dative léame not used léale, léase léanos not used léales
accusative léame not used léalo, léala, léase léanos not used léalos, léalas
with first-person plural imperative leamos
dative not used leámoste leámosle leámonos leámoos leámosles
accusative not used leámoste leámoslo, leámosla leámonos leámoos leámoslos, leámoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative leed
dative leedme not used leedle leednos leeos leedles
accusative leedme not used leedlo, leedla leednos leeos leedlos, leedlas
with formal second-person plural imperative lean
dative léanme not used léanle léannos not used léanles, léanse
accusative léanme not used léanlo, léanla léannos not used léanlos, léanlas, léanse

Derived termsEdit

Related termsEdit

DescendantsEdit

Further readingEdit

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