| 释义 |
leaven.1 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Middle High German loube (early modern German laube ; compare German Urlaub : see furlough n.) < the Germanic base of leve v.1, believe v., etc., and probably also (with different ablaut grade) love n.1In Old English usually a strong feminine (lēaf ), but sometimes apparently inflected as a weak feminine (lēafe ). The prefixed forms gelēaf , gelēafe are also attested: see yleave n. The modern standard English form with v does not reflect the Old English nominative singular form lēaf , but continues inflected forms (or the weak by-form) in which the inherited intervocalic voiced fricative was preserved (although also written f ). The early Middle English form læuen (from the Caligula manuscript of Laȝamon’s Brut) probably shows nunnation, a very common feature of the language of this text in this manuscript, which has not been satisfactorily explained. Compare also the slightly later forms leuen and leuenne which may show independent alterations for the sake of metre and rhyme. 1. Permission asked for or granted to do something; authorization; spec. = leave of absence n. 1. Frequently as the object of verbs such as ask, get, give, grant, have, obtain, or of prepositions, as †beside, by, with, without: see also Phrases. In courteous or (ironically) apologetic phrases, as to beg leave, to crave leave: see also the verb.demob leave, gardening leave, maternity leave, shore leave, etc.: see the noun. administrative leave, parental leave, sabbatical leave, etc.: see the adjective.society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [noun] society > authority > subjection > prohibition > prohibit [phrase] > without permission eOE tr. Bede (Tanner) iv. v. 278 Nængum heora alefed sy ænge sacerdlice þegnunge don buton þæs biscopes leafe [L. permissu]. OE tr. (1958) xvi. 24 Nu ic mines fæder leafe habbe, ic gedo ðe weligne. lOE (Laud) anno 1048 Se abbot..sæt on þam biscoprice þe se cyng him ær geunnan hæfde be his fulre leafe ealne þone sumor. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 14807 (MED) Al bi his læuen þider gunnen liðen. a1300 Shires & Hundreds Eng. in R. Morris (1872) 145 He myd þes kinges leaue Adylegade þa twa noman and makede enne at saresburi. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 14744 Mi hus agh be..Hus o praier..And yee mak it, wit-vten leue, A to-draght o reuer and thefe. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. vii. l. 121 (MED) Freres..parshenes shryuen Whit-oute lycence and leue. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iii. l. 622 But execut was al byside here leue At the goddes wyl. ?c1430 (c1400) Rule St. Francis (Corpus Cambr.) in F. D. Matthew (1880) 40 Here wyues han ȝouen here housbondis lyue [c1400 Bodl. 647 leeve]. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 863 But leiff [1489 Adv. leve], he hame has tane his gat. 1587 in T. Stretton (2008) 56 He..stole out of your supplyants howse..in his absence without leave or licence twenty pounds worthe of tapistrie. 1602 W. Segar i. xxix. 38 No souldier departing from his Ensigne without leaue can be excused. 1613 S. Purchas iii. x. 245 They neuer go abroad without leaue, except to the Bath. 1697 W. Dampier ii. 23 A party of 500, or 600 men..may do it without asking leave of the Indians. 1751 in (1883) 1st Ser. VII. 598 The Susquahannah Indians only want leave from the Mohawks..in order to their accepting of a missionary. 1791 (ed. 2) II. 261 If a man goes over sea without the king's leave, and has issue there and dies, [etc.]. 1839 1 Jan. ‘The Czar has granted leave to 30 young officers’...These are the expressions used in the authorisation. ?c1867 T. W. Robertson i. 6 I did get leave, and cut away. While I was away, I was miserable. 1885 29 268 Pursuant to this leave, the daughter..applied to add to the decree. 1931 16 Oct. 11/3 The curfew order of the university is that no cars may be used after nine without leave. 1975 I. H. Jacob (ed. 12) ix. 109 No pleading subsequent to a reply or a defence to counterclaim may be served except with the leave of the court. 2014 J. Hughes-Wilson xii. 191 He had been so surprised by getting leave in the first place that he hadn't really considered how to spend his time. OE (Julius) (2002) 90 Forlæt me and me þa leafe forgif to geopenigenne þone ingang þinre þære halgan cyrcan. lOE Permission to ring Bells, Exeter in J. Earle (1888) 260 Þat yc..gef leaua ðam munche on Sancte Nicholaus minstre to hringinde hyre tyde be dage & be nihte. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 167 Ure drihten..ȝaf leue þe deuel to binimende him his oref and his ahte. a1300 (c1275) (1991) 150 Wat if he leue haue of ure Heuen-Louerd For to deren us? c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. x. l. 146 (MED) When hym lykeþ and lust, hus leue ys to aryse. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. iv. l. 3658 Þei wene þat oþir þe leue or þe mowynge to done wickednesse or ellys þe escaping wiþ oute peyne be weleful. 1530 J. Palsgrave 457/1 Gyve me leave to bleche my naperye in your garden. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 392 I pray you giue me leaue to goe from hence. View more context for this quotation a1652 A. Wilson (1653) 112 Sir Walter Rawleigh..made Accesses to the King, whereby he got leave to visit the New-World. 1684 J. Bunyan ii. 78 And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up her children, she asked leave of her to Catechise them. View more context for this quotation 1721 N. Amhurst 14 June Most Candidates get Leave of the Proctor..to choose their own examiners. 1790 W. Bligh 2 He soon obtained leave to come on deck. 1822 W. Irving II. 348 Mrs. Hannah..requested leave to stay behind. 1884 26 701 Motion made by counsel for the Defendants..for leave to sever in their defences. 1932 R. Kipling 80 Private Gillock..was stage-whispering me for leave to ‘put a shot into his radiator’. 1970 N. Pevsner (Buildings of Eng. Ser.) (ed. 2) 83 Bishop Alcock of Ely..obtained leave from the King to suppress the Benedictine nunnery of St Radegond. 2002 20 Sept. 10/3 Llewelyn sought leave to appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. OE Ælfric (Julius) (1881) I. 138 Þam casere næs þa gyt cuð þæt Chromatius Cristen wæs, and he begeat ða leafe þæt he of þam lande moste. OE tr. (1958) xx. 32 Þin mildheortnesse me leafe sealde þæt ic silf moste ceosan hwilcne wer ic wolde. lOE Ælfric Old Test. Summary: Judith (Corpus Cambr.) in B. Assmann (1889) 110 He sealde hire leafe, þæt heo swa don [sc. pray] moste. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 5414 (MED) Where he to hire his leve hath yive That sche schal londe. c1650 J. Row & J. Row (1842) 238 Mr. Andro Melvill..obtained leave that a servant should be incarcerated with him in the Toure. 1670 P. Ayres tr. J. de Alonso ii. 108 She desired him that he would give leave that I might be imployed in her Service. 1727 D. Defoe i. iii. 73 We come to desire your Leave, that we may go peaceably. 1774 W. Gostling xxxix. 177 The pall..was at first..peculiar to the imperial habit, till the emperors gave leave that patriarchs should wear it. 1813 18 Nov. 69 45/2 Praying, That the House will grant leave that proper Notices may be given. ?1842 73 43/2 Then he asked Leave that they might withdraw. 1910 R. Kipling 137 She asked leave that she might light the fire in my companion's house. 1985 20 Feb. 542/2 I gave leave that the Motion standing in the name of Senator Roblin be moved to the head of the order paper. 2003 27 Jan. 1771/1 At this time I would like to yield to the gentleman from Oregon, and..ask leave that he control the remainder of the time. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > send away or dismiss the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use formal courtesy in act or expression [verb (intransitive)] > bid farewell a1513 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen in (1998) I. 42 We suld..gif all larbaris thair leveis quhen thai lak curage. 1637 S. Rutherford Let. 7 Mar. in (1664) i. 43 He..would give an evil servant his leave at mid-terme. 1637 S. Rutherford Let. in (1664) 347 Our poor mother hath gotten her leave, & that our Father hath given up house. 1661 in G. F. Black (1941) 40 Or it be long you shall gett yor leiwe and a lash on the ars. a1815 W. Simson in (1844) 103 Before the shearers, young and stark, Get baith their fee and leave. 1893 F. Mackenzie xvi. 119 But it wad be a kind o' against ye if ye got your leave. 1896 S. R. Crockett lv. 391 I hae gotten my fee an' my leave. 1899 E. F. Heddle 59 Lord Arranben was rale angered, and gied them a' their leave. the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > [noun] > parting salutation > saying farewell or leave-taking c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 30v Antenor vntomly turnet his way Withoutyn lowtyng or lefe. 1845 W. P. Stapp xx. 123 They were ordered to pack up their little mockery of baggage, and after a mournful and tearful leave of us, turned out upon the plains. 1912 E. Mason tr. Wace Rom. de Brut in 36 Gorlois rode proudly from the court without leave or farewell. 1991 G. E. D. Lewis viii. 187 After..a tearful leave of our faithful Malay servants Awang and Timah, we started on our last journey out of Pahang. 1998 D. G. John tr. K. Mickel in C. Lorey & J. L. Plews 135 The Prince of Orange has departed to his German territories, without leave or farewell, by night, with a small entourage. society > leisure > [noun] > leave of absence ?1555 M. Coverdale tr. O. Werdmueller i. xxvi. 97 The sicke must geue all other worldlye matters theyr leue [Ger. urlaub geben]. 1588 T. Hickock tr. C. Federici f. 9v When anye man dyeth, their wiues will take a monthes leaue, two or three, or as they will, to burne themselues in.] 1668 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 71 in (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 Overstayed leave, caused by illness. 1683 tr. G. Pierreville 73 The young Officer obtained six weeks leave for to go settle some affairs. 1757 July 375/2 They are to have 2 months pay in advance, and a month's leave to see their friends. 1829 F. Marryat I. x. 292 To-morrow..my leave expires. 1833 C. Lamb 154 On one fine summer holyday (a ‘whole day's leave’ we called it at Christ's Hospital). 1864 Ld. Tennyson 6 They..Came, with a month's leave given them, to the sea. 1878 126 93 Furloughed men returned..before their ‘leaves’ had terminated. 1915 J. Turner Let. 15 July in C. Warren (2019) 16 The Adjutant has been called back from leave to be Colonel of the 5th. 1941 J. Grenfell Let. 6 Apr. in (1989) 284 Reg is home for a week's leave, goody, goody. 1948 S. Bellow Let. in (2010) 52 I went in and asked Zozo for a year's leave, terming it so—though it's perfectly clear to us both that I won't be returning. 2011 A. Gibbons (2012) xxv. 264 I left it near to the end of my leave to bite the bullet and phone Imran. Phrases P1. As the object of a preposition. society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [phrase] > by permission of c1330 Sir Degare (Auch.) l. 472 in W. H. French & C. B. Hale (1930) 302 (MED) He Bi þi leue wolde iuste wiȝ þe. c1390 in C. Brown (1924) 132 Þen seide þe Preost, ‘sone, be þi leue I moste seie forþ my seruise.’ c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 62 By youre leue I shal hym quyte anon. ?a1534 H. Medwall ii. sig. f.iv By your leue I wyll depart To make redy thys gere. 1589 R. Baker in R. Hakluyt i. 139 This disease, which, by your leaue, the Scuruie men doe call. 1599 H. Buttes P7v [Bu]ttes (by thy leaue) Ile be a Guest of thine. 1608 E. Topsell 313 But by their leaues these reasons are very weake. 1632 P. Massinger v. i. sig. K1v King, by your leave, I have wip'd your royall nose. 1644 5 Feb. 17 We..instead of Rebels, have called them..Woodheads, (a wooden Conceit by my brother Britannicus his leave). 1649 J. Milton iv. 36 The King by his leave cannot coine English as he could Mony. 1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in 39 Rynt ye: By your leave, stand handsomly. 1705 E. Hickeringill 32 If the French King Invade without putting off his Hat, or saying, by your lieve. 1713 J. Addison in 21 Aug. 2/1 By my Correspondent's good leave, I can by no means consent. 1756 W. Guthrie tr. Quintilian II. vi. iii. 68 This is the very Character of Wit. But, by his Leave, there may be a certain Kind of jocular Wit, which is absolutely inconsistent with Urbanity. 1764 tr. J.-F. Marmontel I. 245 What then, by your leave, is this chimerical condition which you have so much at heart? 1841 C. Dickens xvi. 22 The solitary passenger was startled by the chairmen's cry of ‘By your leave there!’ as two came trotting past him. 1855 R. Browning Fra Lippo Lippi in I. 35 I am poor brother Lippo, by your leave! 1925 36 17 By your leave, we can't go! 1988 L. F. Banfield & H. C. Banfield tr. N. Machiavelli (1990) Pref. 6 These two causes (may it be said by their leave) appear to me altogether unworthy of great men. 2015 D. Nicholas xvi. 130 By your leave, Magister Percival, a word with you? society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [phrase] > by permission of a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 17271 (MED) Lauerd, nu wit þi leue, wald i O ioseph tell of aramathi. c1450 (?a1422) J. Lydgate (Durh.) (1961) i. l. 616 Declare I shall, my menyng with youre leve. 1483 (Caxton) f. lxviiiv/1 My good fadre with your leueThan axe forth what you lyste [etc.]. 1548 R. Crowley sig. D.viiv But ther, with your leaue you lie, I can nolenger forbeare you when you bely my maister. ?1590 A. Munday tr. v. f. 22v So please you Madame, answered the Prince, if I were Knighted, I gladly would goe succour her, with your leaue. 1640 G. Digby Speech 9 Nov. in (1641) 4 It was their desire that we should represent them to the Parliament, which with your leave, I shall do. 1699 E. S. iii. 14 Truly with his leave I did not care for walking any more in the Hall neither. 1712 R. Steele No. 284. ⁋6 I shall therefore with your Leave lay before you the whole Matter. 1732 H. Baker & J. Miller tr. Molière Miser i. iv. 42 in I I am Signior Anselm's most humble Servant; but, with your leave, I will not marry him. 1811 J. Satchel xiii. 71 I told my father, that with his leave I would go and see my friend Miss Barnwell. 1839 C. Dickens iii. 16 I'll speak to you a moment, ma'am, with your leave. 1888 W. B. Yeats 102 ‘Faith, and with your leave,’ says I, ‘I'll not let go the grip, and the more you bids me, the more I won't let go.’ 1941 July 55/1 As to being a beginner, with your leave, sir, that he is not. 2004 D. James (2005) iii. 29 There are a number of matters I should be attending to at home and in the village. So, with your leave? society > leisure > [adverb] > off-duty or on leave 1811 19 Jan. Those who have received Emancipations or Pardons will be required to produce them, as will also those who are off the Store on leave, be required to produce their Tickets of Leave. 1831 in R. Ellis (1840) IV. 273 The Board cannot admit the absence of an officer on leave, to be a sufficient ground for delaying an investigation before the Surveyors-general. 1861 C. Reade II. xi. 222 He was going on leave, after some years of service, to see his kindred at Remiremont. 1917 15 Dec. 8/4 The general rockiness of the local railway..made sailors home on leave seasick. 1942 T. Rattigan i. 26 He was on a week's leave, and we were married before he went back to his Squadron. 1963 28 Sept. 9/4 While not personally subscribing to the use of the term ‘on leave’ by office workers to describe their annual break(s), I can contribute reasons for their doing so. 1989 D. Maharidge & M. Williamson i. iii. 15 Agee..was on a leave in Florida, trying to salvage a tortured marriage and rethink his fortune. 2003 21 Nov. (Brisbane ed.) 15/1 White had been on leave from his British air force intelligence unit when they met in Alexandria. P2. As the object of a verb. a. With to take. (a) to take (one's) leave (of): †(a) to obtain permission to depart (obsolete rare); (b) to depart with some expression of farewell, to say goodbye (now formal). In early use also with † at, † to, † on, and with a (near) synonym, as † catch (see to catch one's leave at catch v. Phrases 2a), † fang, † latch (see latch v.1 4b), † nim, etc. See also to take (a) dog's leave at dog n.1 Phrases 15, to take (†a) French leave at French leave n.the mind > possession > relinquishing > make relinquishment [verb (intransitive)] society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (intransitive)] > obtain permission > to depart the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use formal courtesy in act or expression [verb (intransitive)] > bid farewell lOE (Laud) anno 1097 Se arcebiscop Ansealm of Cantwarbyrig leafe æt þam cynge nam, þeah hit þam cynge ungewill wære þæs þe men leton, & ofer sæ for. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1978) l. 11255 (MED) Seoððen he lefe [c1300 Otho lefue] nom & forð he gon liðen. c1300 (Laud) (1868) l. 1387 (MED) Þanne he hauede his bede seyd..His leue at ihesu crist he tok. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2697 Mai he no leue at hire taken, But if he it mai mið crafte maken. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 780 They toke hir leue, and on hir wey they gon. a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in (2002) i. 182 Of youre souerayne take no leue; but low to hym alowt. a1500 (?a1400) (Trin. Dublin) l. 899 Faire at philip þe fers þair leue þai fangen. a1500 (?a1400) (1887) l. 947 Torrente..toke leve on kyng and knyght. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. x. 9 This lady departed..and all her company, with syr John of Heynaulte, who with great peyne gatte leue of his brother. 1588 R. Greene sig. D3 Ech taking their leaue at other. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1895) II. 458 Jlk from vther takeng thair lyue departet. 1597 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 50 Let vs take a ceremonious leaue, And louing fare well of our seuerall friends. View more context for this quotation 1612 B. Jonson v. iv. sig. Mv We will..take our leaues of this ore-weening Raskall. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton iii. 739 And Satan bowing low..Took leave . View more context for this quotation 1669 T. Shadwell iv. 69 I will not take my leave on you, for I intend to see my dear Husband again. 1719 D. Defoe 373 The young Lord took his leave of us. 1768 A. Tucker II. ii. 239 Taking an amorous leave with By'e sweet Socrates, and By'e little Searchy. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage I. iii. iv. 375 The servants' hall and the dining-room were in equally high order, when we took our leave. 1864 J. W. Carlyle III. 236 When she took leave of me the night before starting. 1917 E. Wharton ix. 129 When they took leave of each other she promised to continue to be his guide. 1949 ‘G. Orwell’ i. ii. 26 He took his leave of Mrs Parsons and made for the door. 1977 P. O'Brian ii. 34 We may touch at St Helena, but otherwise I must take my leave until we reach our port. 2004 14 May (Review section) 12/2 The scene..in which he takes leave of his wife and family..is heartrending. ?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford Chron. Lear l. 358 in G. Haselbach & G. Hartmann (1957) 225 (MED) He, on aeld man and a grefe, Þat wyll of werld noght take hys leyf. ?1508 Balade in (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cviiiv I tak my leve at all vnstedfastnes. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 227 Twa curis or thre hes vplandis Michell..Thocht he fra nolt had new tane leif. 1597 T. Morley 115 I wil then take my leaue of you for this time, till my next leisure, at which time I meane to learne of you that part of musicke which resteth. 1655 T. Fuller v. 225 We take our leaves of Tyndal. 1660 J. Milton (ed. 2) 5 They may permitt us a little Shroving-time first, wherin to speak freely, and take our leaves of Libertie. a1701 H. Maundrell (1703) 107 We went to take our leaves of the holy Sepulcher. 1723 R. Wodrow (1843) III. 33 There was never a schoolboy more desirous to have the play than I am to have leave of this world. a1790 B. Franklin (1981) i. 50 I now took Leave of Printing, as I thought for ever. 1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. iii, in 198 Liker still to one who should take leave Of pale immortal death, and..with fierce convulse Die into life. 1846 Oct. 458/1 All thoughts of revenge had taken leave of his mind. 1858 Dec. 644/1 The little fellow, advanced to the dignity of positive froghood, takes his leave of the water. 1920 T. S. Eliot 11 Coleridge is apt to take leave of the data of criticism. 1969 14 Jan. 8/3 The people will wonder if the poor wretch has taken leave of his mind. 1993 19 July i. 1/4 Ian Botham takes his leave of first-class cricket today. 2002 A. N. Wilson (2003) xiv. 185 The more speedily they took leave of the faith and ideas of pre-industrial, pre-Enlightenment life, the more the Victorians loved faking up the externals of the Middle Ages. society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (intransitive)] > assume permission 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. f. clxiiiiv/2 Whan all was done the lordes toke leaue to departe. 1569 A. Golding tr. N. Hemmingsen (new ed.) f. 208 Which vice many cry out vpon in others, and yet take leaue to do it themselues without controlment. 1620 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher i. 4 Kissing your white hand Mistresse I take leaue, to, thanke your royall Father. 1682 N. Grew iv. iii. ii. 183 I have taken leave to name it, the Acetary. 1704 J. Swift x. 191 I will here take Leave to glance a few Innuendo's. 1796 F. Higgins Let. 15 Aug. in T. Bartlett (2004) 94 I take leave to also suggest to you Sir, that the want..might be easily remedyed by a plan I shall send you. 1814 T. S. Raffles 100 I take leave to observe, that the state of landed tenure here is very different from what it is reported to be in other parts of Java. 1834 M. Edgeworth III. v. 93 We must take leave to pause one moment to remark..that the first little fib in which Lady Cecilia..indulged herself..occasioned her..a good deal of..trouble. 1887 June 280 When he assures us that these Belfast rowdies are the most intelligent of the Irish people, we take leave to exercise our own judgment a little. 1928 28 July 127/1 Stephen has many excellent qualities both of heart and head, though whether her sufferings would have cradled her into a first-rate novelist we take leave to doubt. 1938 ‘M. Innes’ i. viii. 53 We may take leave to to think the silly body stood there in the sleet and cursed the lure of the wanderer roundly. 2003 22 July 39/4 I take leave to doubt whether his columns always come direct from his own pen. †b. Obsolete uses with to give. the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > allow, admit of [verb (transitive)] a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 194 Quhen I wald blythlie ballattis breif Langour thairto givis me no leif. 1576 A. Fleming tr. P. Manutius in 316 As the measure of my abilitie wil give me leave. 1617 F. Moryson ii. 109 He would..keepe the field as neere Tyrone, as his meanes would give him leave. 1618 D. Tucker Let. 10 Mar. in V. A. Ives (1984) 99 St. Georges..is free from the Disanoyinge vermynt and in the Mayne..they keepe them at a reasonable lowe estate unless it be in some parts where want of Inhabbitance gives them leave to increase. 1642 J. Denham 14 Here have I seene our Charles, when great affaires. Give leave to slacken, and unbend his cares, Chacing the royall Stagge. 1645 82 So far as the time will give leave. 1717 E. Halley in (Royal Soc.) 29 494 Some have contrived double flexible Pipes, to circulate Air down into a Cavity enclosing the Diver..to give leave to his Breast to dilate upon Inspiration. 1759 R. Hurd i. 13 I..shall interpose as little as the tenor of your discourse will give leave. 1793 G. Riley (ed. 2) V. 159 The scarceness of Pontic Rhubarb from the Levant, hath given leave to some to substitute in its room..the roots of the Hippolapathum, or Bastard Rhubarb. 1797 IX. 14/1 One..of these..columns will become longer..and give the lighter fluid..leave to rise in its place. 1620 W. Lawson in J. Dennys (new ed.) ii. sig. C4v When you haue hookt him, giue him leaue, keeping your Line streight. 1675 224 If you Fish at Snap for a Pike, give him leave to run a little before you strike, and then strike the contrary way he runs.] P3. Proverbs. 1546 J. Heywood i. x. sig. Ciiiv Ye might haue knokt or ye came in, leaue is lyght. a1637 B. Jonson Kings Entertainm. at Welbeck sig. Oo1v in (1640) III Leave is ever faire, being ask'd; and granted is as light, according to our English Proverbe, Leave is light. 1700 C. Leslie ii. ii. 47 For we say Leave is Light; And that Favour is ill Bestow'd, that is not worth Thanks, at least, Fair Usage. 1777 Oct. 471/1 Never go out on your own business without the knowledge of the family..; for leave is light; and returning punctually at the time of your promise shews obedience. 1876 26 Aug. 546/1 Sometimes when the grounds are reached, they are boldly entered and enjoyed; sometimes, it being remembered that leave is light, permission is asked at the door. 1935 W. G. Smith 256/2 Leave is light. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert f. xlviiv Syldome doth the husbande thriue without leaue of his wyue. 1556 J. Heywood (rev. ed.) i. xi. sig. Cv He that will thriue, must aske leaue of his wyfe. 1724 J. Trenchard & T. Gordon III. 33 It is a true Proverb, that a Man must ask Leave of his Wife to be rich. 1935 O. Hartley 90 For there is an old common saying that seldom does the husband thrive without the leave of his wife. Compounds C1. General attributive, esp. with reference to the armed forces. 1918 19 June 8/1 He may be assured of a good time if he goes to the leave camps at Mussoorie or Ootacamund. 1945 W. S. Churchill (1946) 109 Eight new leave camps are under construction. 2004 J. Treacher ii. 32 A captive Italian destroyer was made available as a ferry taking UK servicemen to..a leave camp. 1918 31 Aug. 1/4 Monte Carlo has been offered as a leave center for the American expeditionary forces. 1961 Feb. 24/1 The government was asked why African airmen in Her Majesty's service had been excluded from a Kenya leave centre. 2014 R. Doherty ii. 33 The British Army had a well-established practice of providing leave centres for soldiers. 1856 S. A. Douglas 9 In Great Britain the commanders on the reserved list receive..less than the reserved commanders in the United States Navy on the leave list. 1917 ‘Contact’ v. 108 Only during the intervals of attack is the leave-list unpigeonholed. 2001 W. Tuohy ix. 123 Yeoman Sterling was on the first leave list. 1875 No. 95. 2 The leave periods of two, three, or four years contemplated in this act. 1954 W. Faulkner 128 During three of these two-week leave-periods..the entire squad had vanished from France. 2003 (Nexis) 14 14 He was..granted two eight-hour leave periods to visit his terminally ill grandson. 1904 Transvaal: Further Corr. Labour Question 19 in (Cd. 1899) LXI. 609 It is to the dwellers in Johannesburg and the neighbouring towns that such questions as..the duration of the leave permits are of interest. 1943 15 Sept. 6/2 About 19,000 persons are out of the centers, more than 12,000 of them on indefinite leave, and the rest on seasonal leave permits. 1984 P. R. Reid xii. 142 [The concealment of] a package containing..a leave permit on foolscap paper, presented a formidable problem. 2012 (Nexis) 13 June 3 The granting of bail is not a pre-condition for the granting of a leave permit to a remanded detainee. 1906 14 Sept. 596/2 Another cause of dissatisfaction was the ‘leave rota’ which had been compiled. 1940 ‘Gun Buster’ i. x. 76 I've been looking at the leave rota, and see you're down for January 10. 2007 (Nexis) 2 Aug. All of your colleagues with children have somehow gained a priority on the leave rota. C2. Objective. See also leave-breaker n., leave-breaking n. at Compounds 3, leave-taker n., leave-taking n.society > faith > aspects of faith > holiness > consecration > blessing > [noun] > on departure 1530 (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 102 Wyttynge well that the blyssynge, or leaue geuynge. longeth pryncypally to god. 1653 tr. L. van Aitzema 603 The like number of Members of both Assemblies might bee autorized for to dispose of these Leav-givings. 1871 Navy (Health): Return to Order for Copy Statist. Rep. 278 in (H.C. 384) XLV. 1 The ship's company have been carefully examined on board, previous to the monthly leave giving. 1999 A. Hiltebeitel iv. 101 Leave-giving always implies or denies a blessing. C3. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > ship transporting troops or stores > carrying troops on leave 1912 6 July 9/5 Leave boats raced each other to shore. 1922 E. Blunden iii. 21 To the Plate and back again, in a cargo ship!.. The voyage, no doubt, would be more arduous than that in the leave-boat from Boulogne to Folkestone. 1946 15 Aug. 3/5 The leave boat Empire Lance is due to arrive. 2015 C. Zeepvat xi. 147 The sketch..opens with a young lieutenant fresh from the leave boat dining with two friends in a London club. 1856 H. Stuart p. iv Leave breakers prevent officers from giving the indulgence they frequently desire to give. 1906 4 Apr. 9/4 From some of the other ships the number of leave-breakers ran into double figures. 1959 8 Oct. 9/4 He adopted his own method of dealing with any leave-breakers. 2003 P. Plowman iii. 70 The pricing policy of the canteen was amended, and the punishment meted out to leave-breakers reduced. 1832 W. N. Glascock I. 257 A remedy for ‘leave-breaking’ has long been successfully tried, with beneficial effects, both to the seamen and to the service. 1919 14 Sept. 14/3 Leave-breaking was almost unknown. 1969 113 263/2 Leave-breaking..was much reduced. 2014 R. Blake viii. 205 Offences were rare—as of course were opportunities for leave-breaking. society > leisure > [noun] > leave of absence > from school 1817 S. T. Coleridge I. 16 In my friendless wanderings on our leave-days. [Note] The Christ Hospital phrase, not for holidays altogether, but for those on which the boys are permitted to go beyond the precincts of the school. 1894 Nov. 370 Even the periodical leave-days were not unmixed blessings. 1962 25 July 179/1 Leave Day is only half a day. Saturday morning lessons come first. 1998 Oct. 122 Chetwood's Robert Boyle..formed part of a mythology which Christ's Hospital boys could easily absorb, a mythology which they might first enact first on leave days in expeditions up the New River. society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [noun] > leave party 1919 8 Jan. 5/5 Leave drafts from France now consist of men who have been overseas six or nine months only. 1945 in 183 3565/1 Other chaps around and about us seem to be able to get away on leave drafts. 1986 S. Bidwell & D. Graham xi. 184 Six thousand men went home in leave drafts in exchange for new men who came out in the returning ships. 2010 D. Killingray iv. 131 Two leave drafts in South Africa refused to re-embark for the Middle East. society > leisure > [noun] > leave of absence > from school society > education > educational administration > school administration > [noun] > permission to go out of school 1854 J. Keble Let. 2 June in J. T. Coleridge (1869) xvii. 394 When he comes here on leave-out days. 1860 11 Feb. 327/2 He has no one to get him leave out. 1866 R. B. Mansfield xii. 167 We got leave out for the afternoon. 1940 M. Marples 164 I've got leave-out. 1955 18 Aug. 10/6 When I was in College at Winchester, one of our favourite pastimes used to be hitch-hiking on leave-out days. These were free days during term when we could do as we liked. 2007 M. Wolfers i. 22 Winchester boys were allowed holidays, called leave out days. society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [noun] > leave party 1879 6 Aug. 3/3 (heading) The attack upon a leave party. 1916 W. Owen 3 July (1967) 398 I had the Leave Party to conduct to the Station the other day. 1945 23 July 6/2 There are also camps at Innsbruck..where the leave parties stay overnight. 2004 D. Summitt ii. 31 I had to sign papers making me responsible for the leave party. society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > train > train carrying troops > specific 1915 16 Sept. 159 The leave trains have necessarily to run in connection with the leave boat. 1945 14 Aug. 5/5 A leave train..was in head-on collision with another train. 1978 22 Jan. 24/5 A uniformed body of middle-aged ladies and gentlemen who met the leave trains at Victoria and Charing Cross. 2013 A. Fletcher xi. 209 The last evening..made Jack sleep so well he almost missed the leave train. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). leaven.2 Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: leave v.1 Billiards, Snooker, etc., and Croquet. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > billiards, pool, or snooker > [noun] > positions of balls 1885 28 Feb. 287/1 The leave from either stroke is equally inviting. 1903 W. Mitchell 6 The most interesting and not the least useful way to practise billiards..is..to place the balls in certain favourable positions upon the table and attempt to make as large a break as possible from the ‘leave’. 1914 Ld. Tollemache xiv. 74 A well thought-out and finished Leave is one of the hall-marks of a first-class player. 1929 J. Davis viii. 89 An exception..is seen when, at the commencement of a break, an opponent presents you with a leave which necessitates the use of side. 1936 J. Davis xii. 69 I cannot guarantee you will bring off this shot if you are presented with a similar leave. 1968 July 2/2 It is when we consider how to make leaves against good shots that the fun really begins. 2014 A. Efler 50 It's his opponent's turn who continues with the leave of the first player. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). leavev.1 Inflections: Past tense and past participle left Brit.  /lɛft/, U.S. /lɛft/; Forms: 1. Old English læfan, Old English hlæfan (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), early Middle English læfe, early Middle English læue, early Middle English leafe, early Middle English lefue, early Middle English late Middle English (in a late copy)–1600s leaue, Middle English laue, Middle English lawe, Middle English leefe, Middle English leeue, Middle English leeve, Middle English leife, Middle English lewe, Middle English leyf, Middle English leyfe, Middle English leyff, Middle English leyffe, Middle English leyve, Middle English lief, Middle English lyue, Middle English lyve, Middle English (1900s– Caribbean) leff, Middle English–1500s leef, Middle English–1500s leffe, Middle English–1500s leiff, Middle English–1600s lef, Middle English–1600s lefe, Middle English–1600s leue, Middle English–1600s leve, late Middle English– leave, 1500s lefve, 1500s–1600s leav, 1600s leaf, 1700s lave, 1900s– l'ave (Manx English); English regional 1800s laive (Devon), 1800s lave, 1800s layve (Devon), 1800s leaf, 1800s leav, 1800s leeav (northern), 1800s leeave (northern), 1800s lef (south-western), 1800s leov (Lancashire), 1800s lev, 1800s leyve (Devon), 1800s loave (Lancashire), 1800s lyev' (Lancashire), 1900s leff (south-western); Scottish pre-1700 laif, pre-1700 laiff, pre-1700 laiue, pre-1700 laue, pre-1700 lawe, pre-1700 layf, pre-1700 leaf, pre-1700 leafe, pre-1700 leaff, pre-1700 leaue, pre-1700 leav, pre-1700 leawe, pre-1700 leef, pre-1700 lef, pre-1700 lefe, pre-1700 leff, pre-1700 leffe, pre-1700 leife, pre-1700 leiff, pre-1700 leiue, pre-1700 leiv, pre-1700 leive, pre-1700 leiwe, pre-1700 leue, pre-1700 leuuinge (present participle), pre-1700 levin, pre-1700 lewe, pre-1700 lewiff, pre-1700 leyf, pre-1700 leyff, pre-1700 leyiff, pre-1700 leyve, pre-1700 liave, pre-1700 lief, pre-1700 lieff, pre-1700 liue, pre-1700 live, pre-1700 liwe, pre-1700 luif, pre-1700 lyve, pre-1700 1700s– leave, pre-1700 1800s leif, pre-1700 1800s– laive, pre-1700 1800s– lave, pre-1700 1900s leve, 1700s– lea', 1700s– lea'e, 1800s laeve (Shetland), 1800s li (Shetland), 1800s– lae, 1800s– lea, 1800s– lee', 1800s– ley, 1900s lay, 1900s le (Shetland), 1900s– lee, 1900s– lye; Irish English 1800s– lay, 1800s– lea, 1800s– lee, 1900s– lave, 1900s– lev; U.S. regional (chiefly southern and in African-American usage) 1800s leab, 1800s leff, 1800s lieav, 1800s luf, 1800s– lef, 1900s lef', 1900s– leabe, 1900s– lebe; N.E.D. (1902) also records forms Middle English lev, 1500s leavy. 2. Past tense Old English hlaefde (Northumbrian, in prefixed forms), Old English–early Middle English læfde, Old English (rare)–Middle English lefde, late Old English–early Middle English læuede, early Middle English lafde (south-west midlands), early Middle English leafde (chiefly south-west midlands), early Middle English leauede (west midlands), Middle English laf (west midlands), Middle English lafft, Middle English laffte, Middle English leeft, Middle English leefte, Middle English lefede, Middle English lefete, Middle English lefft, Middle English leffte, Middle English leftyt, Middle English lefyt, Middle English leued, Middle English leuede, Middle English leuen (plural, probably transmission error), Middle English leuit (in a late copy), Middle English leuyt (in a late copy), Middle English leved, Middle English levede, Middle English leyfte, Middle English leyftt, Middle English–1500s lafte, Middle English–1500s lefte, Middle English–1600s laft, Middle English– left, 1500s leifte, 1500s leyfft, 1500s–1600s leaft, 1500s–1600s leafte; English regional (northern and midlands) 1800s laf', 1800s laft, 1800s lave (Yorkshire), 1800s lift (Yorkshire); Scottish pre-1700 laft, pre-1700 laiffit, pre-1700 lef, pre-1700 leffit, pre-1700 lefft, pre-1700 lefid, pre-1700 lefit, pre-1700 lefte, pre-1700 lefyt, pre-1700 leiffit, pre-1700 leifit, pre-1700 leued, pre-1700 leveit, pre-1700 levit, pre-1700 levyd, pre-1700 levyt, pre-1700 lewid, pre-1700 lewit, pre-1700 lewyde, pre-1700 lewyt, pre-1700 leyffyt, pre-1700 1700s– left, 1800s– leeft; N.E.D. (1902) also records forms Middle English leffyt, Middle English–1500s lafde, late Middle English leyfft. 3. Past participle Old English gelæfed, Old English gilæfed (Northumbrian), Old English (early Middle English in prefixed forms (not i-)) læfed, late Old English læfd (in prefixed forms (not ge-)), early Middle English ilæfed, early Middle English ileaued (west midlands), early Middle English ileauet (south-west midlands), early Middle English leaued (north-west midlands), Middle English eleuyde (north-west midlands), Middle English ilaft, Middle English ilefft, Middle English ileft, Middle English ilefte, Middle English ileued, Middle English ileved, Middle English illeft, Middle English lafft, Middle English laffte, Middle English lef, Middle English lefede, Middle English lefft, Middle English leffte, Middle English leued, Middle English leuede, Middle English leuen, Middle English leuid, Middle English leuyd, Middle English leuyde, Middle English leuyt (in a late copy), Middle English leve, Middle English leved, Middle English levede, Middle English leven, Middle English levid, Middle English lewyd, Middle English ylafte, Middle English yleft, Middle English ylefte, Middle English yleuyd, Middle English (1600s archaic) ylaft, Middle English–1500s laft, Middle English–1500s lafte, Middle English–1500s leift, Middle English–1600s lefte, Middle English– left, 1500s leaved, 1500s leeft, 1500s lieft, 1500s–1600s leaft, 1500s–1600s leafte; English regional 1800s laft (northern and midlands), 1800s leaved, 1800s leeaven (Yorkshire), 1800s lert (Devon), 1900s lef; Scottish pre-1700 laft, pre-1700 laifit, pre-1700 leaft, pre-1700 leed, pre-1700 lefft, pre-1700 lefit, pre-1700 lefte, pre-1700 leid, pre-1700 leif, pre-1700 leift, pre-1700 leiuit, pre-1700 leued, pre-1700 leuit, pre-1700 leuyt, pre-1700 levit, pre-1700 levyd, pre-1700 levyt, pre-1700 lewine, pre-1700 lewit, pre-1700 lewyd, pre-1700 lewyde, pre-1700 lewyt, pre-1700 1700s– left, 1700s lift, 1800s–1900s leeft; N.E.D. (1902) also records forms Middle English lafftyn, Middle English laftyn, Middle English leyved. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian lēva , Old Saxon lēvian (Middle Low German lēven ), Old High German leiben (Middle High German, early modern German leiben ), Old Icelandic leifa , Old Swedish leva (Swedish regional leva ), Gothic -laibjan (in bilaibjan : see beleave v.) < an ablaut variant (o -grade) of the same Germanic base as live v.1 and belive v.1 (see note). Compare lave n.1 (with the same ablaut grade, but without i-mutation of the stem vowel), and also (with different stem class) Old Saxon lēvōn to remain, endure, Old High German leibēn to occur, be present.Further etymology and semantic background. The Germanic base represents a Class I weak verb with sense ‘to leave behind, to cause to remain’, a causative formation (with o -grade) derived from the same base as the strong verb with sense ‘to remain, continue’ reflected by belive v.1 (with e -grade in the present stem; compare also, with zero-grade, live v.1), itself < the same Indo-European base as (with various ablaut grades) Sanskrit lip- to smear, to stick, attach, (in passive) to adhere, Old Russian lěpiti (Russian lepit′ ) to stick, attach, mould, l′pěti to adhere, Lithuanian lipti to adhere, and perhaps also ancient Greek λίπα greasily, gleamingly (anointed with oil). Prefixed forms. In Old English the prefixed form gelǣfan yleave v. is also attested; compare also belǣfan beleave v., oferlǣfan overleave v. The form forleave v. is first attested in early Middle English. I. Senses including the idea of something or someone remaining. 1. a. To have surviving after one's death. the world > life > death > [verb (transitive)] > have remaining after death the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > that which is left or remainder > leave [verb (transitive)] OE (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 22 Ealle seofon [brothers] hi hæfdon & sæd ne læfdon [L. reliquerunt]. lOE (Corpus Cambr.) v. §5. 448 Ðonne him forðsið gebyrige, hede se hlaford ðæs he læfe. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) Ruth i. 3 Þe husbonde of Noeme is dead & sche lafte wiþ þe sones. c1390 MS Vernon Homilies in (1877) 57 259 (MED) Þi fadir þyng þat he lafte aftur his endyng. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 5352 (MED) He meyntend euere his lond in pes, & leftyt his sones after his deces. a1450 ( tr. Vegetius (Douce) f. 94 (MED) Now is fulliche tolde out..alle þat olde auctours haueþ yseie, done in dede, and left be hynde hem writen in book. c1475 (?c1400) (1842) 4 (MED) Better to die wiþ out barnes, þan to lef vnpitouse barnis aftir. 1559 J. Aylmer sig. F2 Conrad Palatin, left behinde him one only doughter Agnes. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta vi. xii. 455 For the entertainment of the family he left. a1650 D. Calderwood (1842) I. 12 Alexander the third left no issue behind him, except the daughter of Norway, his neice, by his daughter Margaret. 1714 J. Walker ii. 243/1 At the time of his Death, he left a Widow with five small Children. 1753 Mar. 158/1 He has left 113 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 1782 J. H. St. J. de Crèvecoeur iii. 86 He lived to the age of ninety, and left behind him a fine estate and a numerous family. 1806 W. Cruise VI. 493 In case he should..leave no lawful heir. 1838 C. Thirlwall V. 165 He left an infant son named Amyntas. 1851 E. E. Stuart Let. 17 June in R. Stuart et al. (1961) I. 200 Poor William Hunt died after three days illness, Irresypelas—left a distressed family. 1881 S. R. Gardiner & J. B. Mullinger i. vi. 103 The medieval saints..had left no successors. 1891 19 Dec. 201/1 He intended that whatever property he left should be divided. 1921 L. Strachey i. 15 In 1814, her husband died, leaving her with two children and the regency of the principality. 1988 T. Woodcock & J. M. Robinson vii. 128 If a man dies leaving daughters and sisters, his sisters do not share with his daughters. 2013 P. Elsam (2014) Introd. p. x Joseph was a theatre all-rounder who, dying young, left behind him twin gifts: a radical legacy..; and a print record of experimentation and provocation. 1510 R. Copland tr. xxiii. sig. E.vv It is true that your fader lefte you well adoubed and rychely arayed. 1592 sig. E4 If thou be left rich, remember those that want. a1640 J. Fletcher et al. Faire Maide of Inne iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1647) sig. Fffffff/2 This puppy, being left well estated, comes to Florence. 1704 II. 124 He..did not die five hundred Pounds richer than his Father left him. a1762 T. Pearsall (1765) II. 216 The careful Man..kept his Affairs within compass, and left his Family in comfortable Circumstances. 1817 W. O'Regan 7 To..his favourite niece, a widow, and with many children, he carried his resentment to the grave, and left her poor and totally unprovided for. 1833 M. Banim & J. Banim ix. 76 His father had left him wealthy; but Joe Wilson was as careless of money as he was of everything else. 1862 T. W. Robertson i. i. 557 He left mamma very poor; and as mamma was not noticed by her family, she was forced to work. 1875 J. Grant ii. 21 Cora shall be well and handsomely left. 1913 J. M. Barrie iii. 138 It filled me with a sudden passionate regret that I had not gone down in that first engagement. They would have been very comfortably left. 1931 V. Sackville-West i. 101 Because a gentleman has been Viceroy of India and Prime Minister of England it does not mean that his relict is left well off. 1965 A. E. Musson ii. vi. 57 Joseph Crosfield's death at the early age of fifty-one..left his family in sad bereavement and business difficulties. 2014 W. Buccannan xvii. 74 My husband has died and left us penniless. the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > bring about as a consequence or entail > leave a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 15877 (MED) Left þai noght bi-hind þam þan þe fals felun Iudas. 1424 in H. E. Salter (1933) 16 So lefft behynde al thyngs y-rekenyd and alle thyngs alowyd due to the procuratours forsayd xid. 1563 J. Foxe 893/2 Let the priest rence his hands, lest any parcels of the body or bloud be left behind in his fingers or in the chalice. 1572 ii. f. 148 A Religion so plainely Turkish and Heathen, that no where hath it passed or fixed footing, without leauing behinde it the very printes and foote steppes of Machomettes Armado. 1590 R. Harvey 5 Nay I wot neere, but it hath left behind it a wale in my throate. 1645 F. Hamilton To Rdr. sig. a2 Such Beasts as these, do usually run under great Trees in a storm, for shelter and protection, where they leave nothing but dung and filth behinde them for their standing, when the Tempest is once over. 1756 C. Lucas iii. 296 Most chalybeate waters leave no common vitriol upon evaporation. 1794 74 His evidence shall be blotted from their minds, and leave no trace but horror and indignation. 1814 W. Wordsworth vii. 310 It had left, Deposited upon the silent shore Of memory, images and precious thoughts. View more context for this quotation 1823 F. Clissold 24 This area is so detached from the rock, as to leave a crevasse running along its base. 1885 10 87 A small blister, which subsided in a day or two leaving only a redness of the skin. 1920 7 Apr. 13/6 Handiwork of man has been and gone, and left no trace. 1980 F. Smyth vi. 114 In Ireland the ‘pitchcapping’ of criminals and political rebels—coating the scalp with molten pitch to leave a permanent, terrible scar—was carried on spasmodically until the 1850s. 2014 J. Dean iv. 116 The Reformation left behind it an almost complete agreement about the subject of divine election. society > law > transfer of property > testamentary disposition > bequeath by will [verb (transitive)] OE (2008) 1178 Þinum magum læf folc ond rice þonne ðu forð scyle, metodsceaft seon. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xiv. 27 Ic læfe eow sibbe, ic sylle eow mine sibbe. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 183 Sachtnesse ich do imong ow. sachnesse ich leaue wið ow. þis wes his driwerie þet he lefde & ȝef ham inhis departunge. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 24235 Sin i sal to mi fader fare, I sal þe leue a fere. 1484 W. Caxton tr. iii. f. cxxiijv A good man labourer wente fro lyf to deth, the whiche labourer lefte nothyng to his sone, but only a hows. ?1507 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 90 Corpus meum ebriosum I leif on to the toune of Air. 1526 W. Bonde ii. sig. Hvi Than we made our last wyl & testament, whan we left to the worlde our kyn & frendes. 1559 W. Cuningham 3 We should have left many more errours to our posteritie. a1586 Sir P. Sidney in Sir P. Sidney & Countess of Pembroke tr. (1963) xvii. 34 They in ritches floorish doe, And children have to leave it to. 1651 T. Hobbes ii. xxviii. 162 It was not given, but left to him, and to him onely. 1676 Lady Chaworth Let. in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep.: App. Pt. V (1889) 29 in (C. 5889–II) XLIV. 393 Poore cosin Brooks hath left me 10l. 1713 J. Addison in 2 July 1/1 I was left a Thousand Pounds by an Uncle. 1732 G. Berkeley I. i. i. 3 A good Collection, chiefly of old Books, left him by a Clergyman his Uncle. 1733 Apr. 215/1 About 2 Years ago a Physician of Exeter in like manner left his Estate from his only Daughter. 1755 T. Amory 10 A thousand a year his cruel father left away from him. 1811 J. Austen I. i. 4 He was neither so unjust, nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew. View more context for this quotation 1820 M. Edgeworth Apr. (1971) 215 You remember the fine old brick palace? Our Lady Holte affronted the lady of Sir Lister Holte, and hence it was left away from her. 1821 5 Deponent..asked the deceased how he would have it done, meaning how he would leave his property. 1839 S. Smith 12 Men of Lincoln have left to Lincoln Cathedral, and men of Hereford, to Hereford. 1844 C. Dickens xliv. 508 If I knew how you meant to leave your money. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. vi. 127 The seventeenth century has, in that unhappy country, left to the nineteenth a fatal heritage of malignant passions. 1895 Oct. 23/1 The great engravers of the age of Louis have left us innumerable portraits. 1937 A. Christie vii. 66 It isn't right to leave things away from your own flesh and blood. 1951 P. H. Johnson & C. P. Snow 16 Where are you going to leave your money?.. I should like most of my estate to come to you. 1980 95/1 When Beaumarchais was left a fortune by his protector and mentor in the world of finance, the disappointed heir contested the will. 2003 (Nexis) 8 July 9 Each year thousands of parents of those with learning disabilities call the charity for advice on how to leave money in their will for their son or daughter without it affecting their future care. 2006 9 Feb. 9/5 King Eadred..left 200 mancuses to his archbishop. the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > remain as opposed to go the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > that which is left or remainder > remain or be left [verb (intransitive)] OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) iii. 21 God..het niman anes geares lamb..and brædan þæt lamb and hit swa ðicgan, gif ðær hwæt læfde forbærnan. c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1940) 200 Hit ne wundeð þe nawt bute hit festni in þe & leaue..longe. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Otho) (1978) 11131 And wose leafde, his leome he solde leose. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 7269 He left at ham for eild. 1425 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1425 §17. m. 6 All the said merchandises..that leven unsoold..shall bee forfaited. a1440 in W. W. Shirley (1858) 441 There levyth in the auter no materyal bred. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 948 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 124 Yar levit allane The howlat & I. a1542 T. Wyatt Psalm xxxvii. 64 in (1969) Who will'the hym well for right thearfore shall leve; Who bannythe hym shall be rooted awaye. 4. a. To allow or cause to remain in the same place or condition; to abstain from taking, consuming, removing, or dealing with. the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > not take OE Ælfric Homily (Vitell. C.v) in J. C. Pope (1967) I. 468 He afedde feower ðusend manna mid seofon hlafum.., & hi læfdon þæs metes seofon spyrtan fulle. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xix. 44 Hig ne læfað [L. relinquent] on þe stan ofer stane. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 57 Muche fol he were..ȝef he greot gronde & Leafde þe hwete. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 499 Al heora god we sculen nimen & lutel hem læuen [c1300 Otho bi-leue]. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Num. ix. 12 Þei sholyn not leue of hit eny þyng vnto þe morwe. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 100 Whar-for þat man may be halden wode, Þat cheses þe ille and leves þe gude. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour (Adv.) i. 247 Fre wyll to leyve or do Yat at hys hart hym drawis to. 1548 f. cxxix It was not the poynt of a wiseman, to leaue and let passe, the certain for the vncertain. 1583 C. Hollyband 359 Leave more space betwene both lines. 1614 Orders & Bylawes Stretham in C. L. Kingsford (1910) 268 It shall..bee lawfull..for anie man, woman or childe..to gleane lawfullie anie such scattered corne or grayne as shalbee left by the owner. 1643 3 Hare-fords waters so risen,..swallowing-up, and storming all before it, and leaving no food behind it. 1665 R. Head I. xxv. 217 I met with a person that bubbled me at Hazard, not leaving me a penny. 1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Dict. in sig. Aivv To Head a Tree, is to cut off the Head or Top, leaving only the bare Stem without any Top Branches. 1709 R. Steele No. 139. ⁋1 Business and Ambition take up Men's Thoughts too much to leave Room for Philosophy. 1765 ii. 11 They throw the fresh caviar into it, and leave it there to grow sour. 1789 T. Wright 10 A Ground that has been left by the Plow in a ridged state. 1796 T. W. Tone (2009) II. 164 The villains have hardly left me a louis! 1824 A. B. Beauvilliers 243 Cover with slices of bacon..; make them boil, and leave to simmer till done. 1860 F. Buckland 340 The ‘prawner’..puts his net among the rocks, and leaving it a few minutes hauls it up on the stick with a jerk. 1898 J. W. Stack vi. 97 Leave me some parting token of remembrance. 1900 Sept. 216 I have not Noël's birthday presents, because I wish to leave something to the imagination of my young readers. c1942 M. T. King (new ed.) xiv. 218 Divide the dough into two, place each portion in a bread tin, and leave to rise in a warm place for half an hour. 1973 J. Seymour & S. Seymour xiii. 166 Leave them on the ground for a day or two to dry out. 1998 C. Worrall i. 6 You've left me a cigarette. How kind. 2006 P. Duncker (2007) ii. 33 Her personal carer..ticked her off for leaving any hot food on her place or rotting half-eaten meals in the fridge. the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > that which is left or remainder > remain or be left [verb (intransitive)] OE (Northumbrian) xv. 37 Quod superfuit de fragmentis tulerunt septem sportas plenas : & þæt gelæfed wæs of screadungum genomon seofo ceulas fulla. OE tr. (Vitell.) iv. 246 Genim cwicenne fox & seoð þæt þa ban ane beon læfed [L. relinquantur]. c1300 (Laud) (1868) l. 225 (MED) Al was youen, faire and wel, Þat him was leued no catel. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxxii. 8 Ȝif Esau comme to þe ton company & smyte it þe toþer company þat is laft schall be sauid. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 5401 Es vs noght leued bot erth bar. 1403 in F. C. Hingeston (1860) I. 158 I have nought ylafte with me over two men. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 18 Þei gedriden seven berlepis of relif þat was laft. a1500 (a1460) (1994) I. xii. 107 All my shepe ar gone, I am not left oone. 1514 Mem. Constables Tournay in J. Strype (1721) I. App. iv. 7 What time they have paid al their duty, many a one have not a peny left to convey himself for the three months to come. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in 67 For, what place is left now for honestie? where lodgeth goodnes? 1607 T. Heywood sig. G2 I haue nothing, nothing, left, I owe euen for the clothes vpon my backe. a1676 M. Hale (1677) ii. ix. 208 Upon the draught of his Pond, not one Fish was left. 1737 S. Berington 31 He put what was left, together with my little Stock, into that unfortunate Bottom. 1751 W. Blennerhassett I. vi. 185 In this general Revolt, Alfred was left with a few Domesticks only. 1775 Duchess of Northumberland 39 There is nothing now left but two trumpet birds. 1822 C. Lamb in Mar. 285/1 If you do not make haste to return, there will be little left to greet you, of me, or mine. 1845 G. Budd 264 Persons who..have..very little liver left. 1865 June 394 He was left with only twelve snakes or war-galleys. 1889 Aug. 370/1 Of the garden shrubs which had been planted about them not one was left but an old low-spraying white rose-bush. 1923 Dec. 60/1 She was left with less than a dollar with which to celebrate Christmas. 1956 24 May 61/ We're given money to play black jack... After it's over we have to turn in any money we have left. 1988 T. Wynne-Jones 230 The ball had little life left in it. 2014 23 June 30/1 Tech companies that were dying would hire temps..to do what little was left of the work of the employees they'd laid off. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > abstain from interfering with OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxx. 263 He læfde ænne cucenne him to cyðenne his æhta lyre. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Calig.) (1963) l. 756 Nulleð heo leaue [c1300 Otho lefuen] nenne of ous a-liue. c1300 (?c1225) (Laud) (1901) l. 634 Of þat þe were aryue Fewe he leuede [a1350 Harl. lafte] on liue. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 11228 Þe sonne goth þourȝe glas And leueþ hit hool as hit was. ?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena (Harl.) (1966) 83 (MED) In þis manere þei leften her dewte vndo. ?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 90 (MED) He mot leue goddis comaundement vndon. c1450 (1900) 114 (MED) Ȝif..þou leve vnsayd or vndo þat is nedefull..is it dedly synne. c1480 (a1400) St. Theodora 234 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) II. 105 That scho wald tel hyr & lef vnsad til hyr richt nocht. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 453 He levit [1489 Adv. levyt] nocht about that toune Tour standand, stane no wall. 1526 Matt. xxiii. f. xxxiij For ye tythe mynt, annys, and commen, and leave the waygthtyer mattres of the lawe on done. 1552 (STC 16279) Morninge Prayer sig. .ii We haue left vndone those thinges which we oughte to haue done. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Synesius Pentapolitanus in 301 Then did you leave us sticking in the myre. a1583 E. Grindal (1843) (modernized text) 57 Christ took bread and left it bread: the priest taketh bread and conjureth it away. 1591 E. Spenser Muiopotmos in sig. Vv Ne did he leaue the mountaines bare vnseene, Nor the ranke grassie fennes delights vntride. 1613 S. Purchas ii. xiv. 159 The Iewish..wise-men, haue left no part of life vnprouided of their superstitious care. 1675 R. Baxter ii. 11 He that is bound to pay an hundred pound forfeiteth his Bond if he leave a penny unpaid. 1736 Bp. J. Butler ii. viii. 276 It will yet leave the Mind in a very unsatisfied State. 1794 W. Paley (ed. 2) I. x. 179 To leave the argument without proofs, is to leave it without effect. 1802 M. Charlton II. iii. 62 Dolly had left the dressing-room door half open. 1810 S. T. Coleridge 25 Jan. 343 I am the more excuseable, being on that part of his Life which I am obliged to leave almost a blank. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iii. 297 An important military resource which must not be left unnoticed. 1888 85 132/2 If the timber adds beauty or shelter to the mansion-house, the tenant for life must leave it intact. 1916 D. Haig Diary 15 Dec. in (2005) 259 He was in real earnest to leave nothing undone to win the war. 1936 W. G. Luscombe vi. 67 After use the rimers are replaced and the weir left as it was found. 1980 F. Buechner 89 It's less the words they say than those they leave unsaid that split old friends apart. 2014 July 111/2 They illuminate the scene through what they call ‘light painting’: leaving their camera shutters open while sweeping flashlights of varying color and intensity over the panel. the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > perform arithmetic or algebraic operations [verb (transitive)] > subtract > have as remainder ?c1425 Crafte Nombrynge in R. Steele (1922) 18 Medie 8. þen þou schalt leue 4. 1564 H. Baker (new ed.) ii. v. f. 58v Thus 3/ 4 being abated from 6 5/ 6 leaueth 6.1/ 12. 1594 T. Blundeville i. vii. f. 11v You cannot readily finde out a number that will diuide them both without leauing some remainder. 1656 T. Willsford 68 Continue on subtracting the lesser from the greater untill nothing remains, so you will finde 2 Remainders equall, which are the greatest numbers that can divide the Numerator and Denominator of the Fraction without leaving any Remainder. 1659 J. Moxon ii. 70 200. Years; which subducted out of 1000. leaves 800. Years. 1707 J. Ward ii. ii. 150 That, a − b Taken from a + b Leaves + 2b for the Remainder..may be thus proved. 1777 R. Hamilton I. ii. 213 What is the least number which, divided by 9, leaves a remainder of 8, and, divided by 8, leaves a remainder of 7? 1855 D. P. Colburn vii. 114 Subtracting leaves a remainder of 174. 1896 A. E. Housman ii. 3 And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more. 1938 Apr. 88/2 He wondered how the miracle could be performed of taking ten from one and leaving a remainder of twenty. 1981 16 July 177/3 The last three digits are 136 and the first three leave a remainder of 2 or 5, when divided by 6. 2011 C. Foster xl. 168 Dividing by any of these numbers will leave a remainder of 1. the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eat [verb (intransitive)] > leave food uneaten ?a1475 (1922) 32 (MED) Here I tythe þis vnthende sheff; lete god take it, or ellys lef. 1551 R. Crowley sig. C1v It shall, quoth he Ryght healthfull be To leave wyth Appetite. 1603 R. Knolles 893 He..made himselfe able at his own choice and pleasure to leaue or take. 1611 Ruth ii. 14 She did eate, and was sufficed, and left. 1642 T. Fuller iv. xiv. 310 A worthy work (wherein the Reader may rather leave then lack). ?1663 (single sheet) It's at thy choice my dearest Love, either to leave or take. 1864 R. Browning Worst of It iv, in 38 I choose to be yours, for my proper part, Yours, leave or take, or mar me or make. 5. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > leave to another to deal with OE ix. 35 Tibi derelictus est pauper, orphano tu eris adiutor : þe gelæfed uel forlæten [lOE Canterbury Psalter læfed] is se þearfa steopcilde þu byst fultum uel gefylsta. ?a1300 Dame Sirith l. 153 in G. H. McKnight (1913) 7 (MED) Leuen al his muchele kare To dame siriz þe hende. a1350 (a1250) (Harl.) (1907) 104 Heouene ant erþe tac to þe, Soules in helle lef þou me. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 14101 (MED) Mi sister sittes, als yee see, And leuis [a1400 Fairf. lays] allan þe suinc on me. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) §490 Leueth the vengeance to me, and I shal do it. 1486 sig. eiijv All that bere skyne and talow and Rounge leue me. 1559 W. Cuningham 143 I..wil leave it to such as are Pilotes. 1573 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger (rev. ed.) xxxiii. f. 93v For despisyng of the simple truth, men be left vp to lying deceauers. 1590 E. Spenser i. vii. sig. F7v This man forlorne, And left to losse. 1601 A. Dent Ep. Ded. sig. A3 I leaue it with your Worship, beseeching you to give it entertainment. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 1213 You sit downe to meat..but touch not one dish, leaving them afterwards for your servants to engorge themselves therewith. 1638 T. Herbert (rev. ed.) 127 I..leave such theories to those that study Meteors. 1640 T. Rawlins i. i. l.22 Leave modesty for women to gild Their pretty thriving Art of plentitude. 1670 T. S. & A. Roberts 180 When we had our Dispatches, we left him to his own Fortune. 1726 302 I told him, I would leave all that to his management. 1771 ‘Junius’ (1772) II. liv. 230 I shall leave him to his suspicions. 1796 E. Burke i. 100 Nothing in the Revolution..was left to accident. 1802 J. Wolcot 21 So very undecisive in decision, Leaving for future Chancery-traps provision. 1808 S. T. Coleridge (1959) III. 114 I thought, that the difference might be met halfway between you & Mr Longman:..that he had a right to have some clue to guide his calculation—I proposed, that you should leave it with me, & leave me plenipotentiary. 1867 J. H. Burton I. xi. 404 That Robertson did not throw himself into our early history, but left it to a body of dreary potterers, is the more to be regretted. 1890 Ld. Esher in 63 692/1 This case ought not to have been left to the jury. 1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. III. 876 The prospect of success by operation is so slight that..it is better to leave the case to nature. 1913 May 19/2 It's hard to tell who will win, but I think the rest of us had as well get out of the ring and leave it up to Bros. Jas. Permenter and Copp. 1924 Mar. 41/2 It left it up to Royal whether to attack, himself. 1933 ‘E. Cambridge’ ii. 45 All right, sir. I daresay I can make a job of it. You leave it to me. 1946 12 Aug. 43/3 Again SCAP (Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers)..left the implementation up to the Japanese. 1969 24 Jan. 4/5 This race-perpetuating chore they are happy enough to leave to womankind. 1975 29 Dec. 64/3 Leave it with me and I'll get back to you at the end of the week. 2003 S. Mackay (2004) vi. 73 Better perhaps to let paint flake off,..blisters of damp proliferate, and leave it for someone else to deal with after she's gone. b. With object and infinitive. To allow (a person or thing) to do something or to be done or dealt with, without interference. society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > permit to do OE Ælfric (Cambr. Gg.3.28) vi. 54 Us gedafenað þæt we mid arfæstum geleafan underfon drihtnes trahtnunge, and ða ðing þe he læfde us to trahtnigenne, we sceolon mid scortre race ða befon. c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 331 (MED) Þou leftist hem to be..ordeyned..bi man inmediatly in þi stede. 1526 W. Bonde i. sig. Bvv Leauyng them and sufferyng them to be without meate and drynke a certayne season. 1550 T. Cranmer f. 43v I wil..not trouble the reader with them, but leaue them to be wayed by his discretion. 1614 W. Raleigh i. v. i. §2. 317 He marched away..and left the Mutiners to be cut in peeces by the assieged. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 107 The Great Duke never signs expeditions, but leaves that to be done by the Secretaries of State. 1665 R. Hooke 85 And what I have therein perform'd, I leave the Judicious Reader to determine. 1670 T. S. & A. Roberts 152 They always left them to enjoy their own without disturbing them. 1719 D. Waterland v. 81 In the Interim I may fairly leave you to consider of it. 1764 R. Burn 190 Leaving the poor to be supported by random charity. 1818 W. Cruise (ed. 2) II. 233 To leave the title of the inheritance to go one way, and the trust of the term another way. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth xii, in 2nd Ser. III. 328 The Earl rode off..leaving Albany to tell his tale as he best could. 1881 S. R. Gardiner & J. B. Mullinger i. ix. 165 The future was to be left to take care of itself. 1919 ‘K. Mansfield’ 13 Oct. (1993) III. 24 Violet will..not leave them [sc. saucepans] to cook themselves away. 1986 D. Koontz i. ii. 191 They had waited almost a year to be rescued, confident that their country would not leave them to rot. 2007 M. Gloss (2009) xiii. 115 Left to go their own way, horses will pretty much always revert to bay, with black legs and hooves. society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > permit [verb (transitive)] > give permission to 1865 in 70 45 The officers that would not leave us worn out soldiers rest. 1874 in 70 45 I..left the other barrel stand on the platform until we have a chance to haul it in. 1904 H. R. Martin 113 He says his conscience won't leave him wear grand [sc. worldly dress]. 1916 ‘B. Cable’ 235 Prickles, me lad, it's deep enough we've dug to lave us get out to our German Gineral. 1940 J. O'Hara 103 How can I pay you if you don't leave me wear it and I lose my job. 1999 T. Parsons (2000) xxxiii. 291 I left them get on with their moving. 2001 E. Knavel xv. 129 You left him have water when he was hot? †6. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 30 (MED) Hwase þuncheð to long Leaue [a1250 Nero lete] þe salmes. c1300 (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 140 If thu wolt wende in his servise ne lef it noȝt for me. c1350 Nominale (Cambr. Ee.4.20) in (1906) 5* Cov ne coute ne lerrai pas, Wriste elbowe ne schal I leue. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 4687 (MED) And but I write, I mote þe trouþe leue Of Troye boke. a1500 (a1450) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 3262 (MED) He also for gate nott..afore his departeng, hir for to see, leving all other thing. b. To neglect or omit to perform some action, duty, etc.; to leave something undone (see sense 4b). the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > not do [verb (transitive)] > leave undone or fail to carry out a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1762 (MED) More to telle of hire þis time trewly i leue. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 3144 He left noght do his lauerd wil. a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif (1871) III. 348 (MED) Y leeve to speke of stelyng of wymmen. c1475 (a1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 328 Siþ þat crist myȝt not faile in ordynaunce to hise chirche, & he left þis confessioun, it semyth þat it is not nedeful. 1490 (1962) xxiv. 81 He sholde not leue to bringe her [his] two doughters. a1500 (?c1378) J. Wyclif (1880) 410 Þey leeuen þat crist biddiþ. 1502 tr. (de Worde) Prol. sig. a.ii v Good werkes that a man leueth to do ayenst ye mercy of god. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 16 Yf wyse men..wold have bent themselfe to that purpos, levyng such fon respecte of tyme & of place. 1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli i. f. 25 Not leauinge to dooe their businesse abrode notwithstanding. 1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau 6/1 Yet must not we leave to effecte that which this arte requireth. 1624 F. Quarles iii. 14 Thou leav'st what thy Creator did Will thee to doe. 1643 tr. Magna Carta in W. Prynne i. 33 The Justices shall not therefore leave to doe right in any point. 1683 T. Dare tr. M. Boutauld ii. iv. xv. 200 The praises that we receive from the part of our enemies, do not leave to be agreable to us. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > do nothing [verb (intransitive)] > fail to do something c1390 (?c1350) St. Euphrosyne l. 152 in C. Horstmann (1878) 176 (MED) Fastynge is, as hit is skil, To take or leue wheþer we wil. a1400 (?c1300) (Royal) (1879) l. 243 Offer or leeue, wheþer þe lyst. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) v. l. 1518 Wep if þow wolt or leef. 1486 sig. cv (heading) That an hauke vse hir craft all the seson to flye or lefe. 7. the world > space > place > placing or fact of being placed in (a) position > place or put in a position [verb (transitive)] > deposit or put away society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1858 His bag wiþ his bilfodur wiþ þe best he lafte. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 17 (MED) Leeve þi offring at þe auter. 1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini v. 268 Hee went from Citta de Castello to Aretze..leauing order that they should looke diligently to holde those in the Citadell straitly inclosed. 1591 T. Sparke v. 83 He in these writings, began to leaue instruction vnto vs, to settle vs in the certaine trueth. a1666 E. Ludlow (1978) v. 110 Before I went into Somersetshire, I left order with a tenant of myne..that he should seeke me out some private howse.., where I might lye concealed. 1677 A. Marvell Let. to Mayor of Hull 10 Apr. in (1875) I. 540 The Gager shall always leave with the brewer a note of his gage. 1704 D. Defoe Let. 16 May in Hist. MSS Comm.: 15th Rep.: App. Pt. IV: MSS Duke of Portland (1897) IV. 83 in (C. 8497) XLIX. 1 The letter has not reached your hands, though left with your porter last Friday night. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet (1724) I. 382 As she drew near a village, she often ordered her coach to stay behind till she had walked about it, giving orders for the instruction of the children, and leaving liberally for that end. 1718 M. Prior (new ed.) 293 Wou'd you please To leave your Name. 1797 A. M. Bennett V. viii. 228 He wanted to leave his address, and she flounced away and would not take it. 1831 ii. 47 I left instructions with a messenger to keep a look-out for him. 1861 C. Dickens II. xviii. 283 He left word that he would soon be home. 1911 W. S. Churchill Let. 26 June in W. S. Churchill & C. S. Churchill (1999) iii. 49 He has gone off without leaving an address to see a friend whom we all know by sight! 1932 C. L. Morgan ii. iv. 120 He left orders you was both to have a lie-in this morning. 1965 C. Himes x. 105 Deke's cut out but he left word he would call me. 2001 (Nexis) 12 Dec. 3 When I first saw the milkman with a pint in one hand and a package in another I thought the parcel man must have left it with him. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 24 Gracian and Placidas were leffte at home to furnysh and garnysh the castell. 1548 f. ciiiiv He left another nombre and left capitaines to ouerse them. 1583 C. Hollyband 75 They haue left me to keepe the house. 1648 O. Cromwell Let. 20 Aug. in (1937) (modernized text) I. 637 I have left Colonel Ashton's three regiments of foot..at Preston. a1683 P. Warwick (1701) 321 Cromwell..marched forwards into Scotland, and left Lambert to worry Hamilton in England. a1708 W. Beveridge (1712) 140 St. Paul who had planted a Church..left him to dress and propagate it. 1748 T. Smollett I. xxiii. 207 He..escaped; leaving me to be answerable, not only for the reckoning, but also for a large silver tankard and posset-bowl, which he had carried off with him. 1831 M. Prince 15 When my master and mistress went from home..and left me to take care of the house and premises, I had a good deal of time to myself. 1883 R. Gower II. xxvi. 160 A contradictious old man..had been left in charge of a boat which he had moored to the pier. 1902 G. S. Whitmore x. 169 Once more upon our approach the enemy made off, leaving a picquet or rear-guard to delay our advance. 1937 R. Kipling ii. 86 I left him in charge of a ‘mixed’ College in New Zealand. 1971 K. Tynan 5 Aug. (1994) vii. 499 Roman..keeps flying off to St Tropez, leaving me to look after the post-synching. 2009 4 May 45/1 Its original leader and then his replacement were killed, leaving Rwarakabije in command. the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (transitive)] 1559 W. Cuningham 115 I will leave his composition untill I shewe you the making of it among other instrumentes. 1588 T. Hariot sig. Ev It resteth I speake a word or two of the naturall inhabitants,..leauing large discourse thereof vntill time more conuenient hereafter. 1628 J. Earle xxxi. sig. F7 Hee leaues repentance for gray hayres. 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius 253 To leave the French..untill the Netherlands were wholly reduced or quieted. 1724 D. Defoe 169 Neither of us knew how to direct a Letter to him..; so I told him, I wou'd leave it till I came to England. 1767 W. Hanbury 144 Leaving the oratorios, therefore, until that time, let us return to Church-Langton, in the course of our history. 1824 J. Wolff 147 I will not detain you with the answer of Mahomed Effendi, to the other propositions of Beveridge, I will leave it for another time. 1860 19 354/2 Pruning is better done now than in Spring, but where practicable, leave it until next July or August. 1912 H. J. Butler 114 Some painters do it [sc. the stopping up] now, while others leave it till the filling up..is done. 1934 J. B. Trend i. 10 What things he told me! But we will leave all that for another time. 1984 P. O'Brian v. 165 The painting and titivating we must leave until we are at sea. 2014 C. Ruben & K. O'Neill iv. 62 If it wasn't immediately clear, I'd put a circle beside it and leave it for later. II. Senses involving simply departing or relinquishing. 9. a. To go away from (a place, person, or thing), to go out of; to quit; to move away or deviate from (a line of road, etc.). the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)] society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart from or leave [verb (transitive)] the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > change direction of movement of [verb (transitive)] > cause to deviate from course > deviate from (course) eOE (Parker) anno 755 Þa men þe he beæftan him læfde ær. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 126 He..wende ane up on hulles. vs to forbisne þet we schule..climben wið him on hulles. þet is þenchen hechȝe. & leaue lachȝe under vs alle eorðliche þochtes. c1300 (Harl.) (1844) 17 As a lond that hovede, here caudron hi fonde there, As hi levede [c1300 Laud bi-leften] upon his rug in that other ȝere. c1380 (1879) l. 4261 (MED) Wyþ-inne þis þridde day y lefte hymen murye & in god aray. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 1673 (MED) This olde wyht him hath awaited In place wher as he hire lefte. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 5177 Ioseph hale and sond left wee. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. ii. l. 51 (MED) Thus left me þat lady liggyng aslepe. 1548 f. cclviiiv They..left the toune as they founde yt. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. 224 There remained no Inhabitants in Ostend,.., but all retired, leauing it as heapes of earth and sand. 1699 W. Dampier i. viii. 165 And when the Tide goes out, it leaves the Oaz dry a quarter of a mile from the shore. a1708 W. Beveridge (1710) I. 330 As death leaves you, judgment will find you. 1770 Nov. 582/2 He..took the child to the castle, and left it there with the gardener's wife. 1813 (ed. 2) I. 170 I left her very well, a few hours ago. 1885 July 388/2 One man..would ride a mile or two, and then leave the animal by the roadside for another person or persons to mount when they should come up with him. 1929 A. M. Lindbergh Let. in (1973) 40 You were wonderful last night, and you left me so happy and feeling very courageous and ahead-looking. 1953 21 Jan. 29/1 I rubbed four spoonfuls into my knee and it cured my rheumatism and I just left my mother at home using the rest of it to clean the silver. 2012 K. Ball vii. 53 Her second thought was that bandits had waylaid him and left him lying dead or dying in the road. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 105 Treowe ancre briddes beoð icleopede. for ha leaueð þe eorðe. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 29 (MED) Þat ryuer eueriche monþe chaungeþ his foordes..and leueþ ofte þe chanel. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 17288 + 296 ‘Leues þis’, he saide, ‘& telles fast mi brether..þat [etc.]’. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) l. 330 (MED) With þat rysis vp þe renke & his rowme lefys. c1475 (?c1400) (1842) 26 We arettid him as smitun of God & lafte [L. humiliatum, Isa. liii. 4]. 1535 Prov. ii. B From soch as leaue the hye strete, and walke in ye wayes of darcknesse. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 145v The Troiens lighten doun lyuely lefton thaire horses. 1584 H. Llwyd & D. Powel 269 Rees leaft the castele with his wife and children. c1600 (1833) 11 Quha causit the said erle leif the toun. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc 18 At two leagues from Outer we left the most part of our company. 1676 Lady Chaworth Let. in Hist. MSS Comm.: 12th Rep.: App. Pt. V (1889) 29 in (C. 5889–II) XLIV. 393 The Duke and his family left Whitehall for St. James's yesterday. 1720 D. Defoe 36 I left Italy in April. 1747 S. Richardson II. xiv. 85 My heart strongly gives me, that once I am compelled to leave this house, I never shall see it more. 1753 J. Hanway I. xviii. 120 Ships can neither leave the port, nor be permitted to prattic but by his permission. 1790 R. Burns in J. Johnson III. 231 I maun lea'e my bonnie Mary. 1795 65 543/2 Whether the antient road to the passage over the Severn left the road to Chepstow at Crick or St. Pere. 1799 2 139 A hoarseness came on the eleventh day, and did not leave him till the eighteenth. 1819 Ld. Byron clxiii. 84 Pray, sir, leave the room. 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ 129 If a straight line be applied to the face of the bar from the whip to the end, the face of the bar should leave the straight line about the breadth of the bar. 1836 C. Dickens (1837) ii. 24 I think we shall leave here the day after to-morrow. 1865 E. B. Tylor i. 7 They think that in sleep the soul sometimes remains in the body, and sometimes leaves it, and travels far away. 1884 W. C. Smith 50 I thought you never left your books except To trim the boat, and set the lines. 1887 M. Mackenzie II. 174 He could feel it [sc. the gas] leave the stomach. 1891 E. Peacock I. 162 He left the table as he spoke. 1918 W. Cather ii. xiv. 265 I left the road and went around through a stretch of pasture that was always cropped short in summer. 1945 G. Mitchell xiii. 143 My cock-a-hoop mood had left me. 1966 H. Marriott i. 17 Every day a smart trotting, four-horse team and stagecoach left Ashcroft for points as far north as Prince George. 1973 V. C. Ike (1974) xiv. 110 At 5.10 he left his bedroom and picked up the lantern waiting for him outside the room. 2014 10 Oct. (Arts on Friday section) 3/2 Argentine reaction was so furious that the Top Gear production team had to leave the country. the world > space > direction > direct [verb (transitive)] > give (a person) bearings > pass an object in a certain bearing 1544 A. Cope xv. f. 21 Wherfore leauing his ennemies on the left hande, he went towarde Fessula. a1552 J. Leland (1711) IV. 99 Leaving Ottemor on the right Hand, that if the Waters had not beene up had beene the next waye. 1576 Acts xxi. 3 And when we had discouered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand. 1603 in J. M. Thomson (1890) VI. 506/2 Gang South towardis the kirk levand the dyk of the Massindew..on the west. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 264 As you come into the City, you leave on the right hand two very high..Mountains. 1719 D. Defoe 47 We..steer'd.., leaving those Isles on the East. 1799 T. Reynolds in tr. A. Antoninus Introd. 73 Then leaving Warcop on the left hand, it [sc. the road] passes along Sandford Moor. 1805 May 81/1 I left the pretty village of Datchet on my right,..and after a ramble of near thirty miles, entered the royal borough of Windsor. 1837 Nov. 91 Leaving the white buoy on the starboard hand, thirty feet distant, will have five fathoms of water. 1912 Dec. 260/2 Leaving this [black beacon] to port we see..ahead a red beacon, to be left to starboard, and again heading about S. by E,½E, run for a black beacon a mile ahead and leave it to port. 2000 H. Wardle i. 23 Leaving the hardware store on the left hand side of the street.., past the bicycle shop on this side. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)] 1593 G. Peele sig. E3 Take that then lusty lord, Sir leaue when you are bidde. 1624 A. Leighton xxii. 89 There be a great many water drawers..that will not leaue when they are bidden. 1668 F. Kirkman II. vi. 62 When they went away, there would be such pulling of one another, that they would never leave until one of their Garments had a peice of it rent out. 1725 C. Pitt tr. M. G. Vida ii. 46 Glad we pursue the labour we embrac'd, And leave reluctant, when we leave at last. 1791 J. Bentham Let. 12 May in (1843) X. 254 So says Lord L., who himself leaves on the 1st. 1811 xl. Carlisle Directory p. vi Manchester Mail leaves every morning, at 3 o'clock. 1866 C. Thirlwall Let. 26 June in (1881) II. 70 I do not leave for town until to-morrow. 1896 13 Jan. 7/1 She is due at Ascension on February 11, and is to leave for England again on February 21. 1923 Apr. 402/2 At the Grand Central Station trains leave on schedule time. 1969 N. Coward 9 Mar. (2000) 675 Adrianne and Bill left yesterday. They had a wonderful hol. 2004 J. Winspear (2005) xxiv. 233 You reckon we leave tomorrow? society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > bowling > bowl [verb (transitive)] > motion of ball 1952 A. Bedser ii. vii. 64 A type of leg-spin which, of course, makes the ball leave or go away from the batsman. 1956 A. R. Alston iii. 19 Both batsmen seemed especially fallible to the ball that left them. 1993 G. Haigh Prol. 2 The second ball left him in the air, and kissed his committed bat on its way to Vivian Richards at third slip. the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > unaccustomedness or state of disuse > give up a habit or practice [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > refrain from using [verb (transitive)] > cease to use eOE Bede Glosses (Tiber. C.ii) in H. D. Meritt (1945) 13/1 [Culmen, opes, subolem, pollentia regna..Caedual armipotens] liquit [amore Dei] : læfde. c1225 (?c1200) (Royal) (1981) 623 We leaueð þilahe & al þine bileaue. a1250 Wohunge ure Lauerd in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 275 (MED) For þi is riht þat i luue þe and leaue alle oðre for þe. c1380 (1879) l. 357 ‘Lef’, saide he, ‘þy grete foleye’. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 98 Mald þe gode quene gaf him in conseile, To luf his folk bituene, & leue alle his tirpeile. a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif (1871) III. 350 (MED) He shulde be holde apostata þat lefte his abite for a day. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 123 But if thei wolen leue her vnwijs and proud folie. a1500 Tale of Basin in M. M. Furrow (1985) 64 Then þai leuyd thaire lewtnesse and did no more soo. 1536 (P.R.O.: SP 1/104) f. 257v I askede hym by whos auctoritie..he left his fryers cote and became a preist. 1558 Bp. T. Watson xviii. f. cviiiv The confession of a faulte is a profession to leaue the same. 1577 W. Harrison (1877) ii. vi. i. 163 This fondnesse is not yet left with us. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc 8 He was..resolved to leave Turkisme, and become a Christian again. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil 142 Proteus, leave Thy fraudful Arts. View more context for this quotation 1741 S. Johnson in Feb. 88 Eighteen Months, during which he..neither..neglected his Studies nor left his gayety. 1791 G. F. A. Wendeborn II. ii. 432 Several English noblemen..left the religion of their forefathers, and turned Protestants. 1837 Sept. 362/2 His heathen friends were very angry with him because he had left idolatry. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxxvi. 13 What? it is hard long love so lightly to leave in a moment? 1924 i. 40 The walls of intolerance with which we have been hedged about since the human race left barbarism. 1972 E. C. Brody ii. 84 A guard remarks that Demetrio left his monk's garment as a snake leaves its skin, implying that the Russian Prince has already outgrown the monastery. 1991 A. Unterman 24/1 An apostate Jew who leaves the Jewish faith for another religion. 2004 (Tear Fund) Autumn 7/2 Many young people are leaving Moranism—warriorhood—to go to school. 11. To cease, desist (from), stop, leave off. the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) l. 232 Haldeð longe ne leaue ȝe neauer. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 583 (MED) Ouer londes he gan fare..His robes riuen were, Þer fore no leued he nouȝt. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 327 (MED) Þe knyȝt..sette his hond on his swerd for to slee þe kyng; ‘Leef [?a1475 anon. tr. Sease; L. Quiesce], fool,’ quod þe kyng William, ‘I am kyng of Engelond.’ a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 4108 Til he hem fonde lafte he nouȝt. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry (1971) xvii. 35 He..bad her ones or twyes, that she shold be stylle and leue. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. cxcviii. 234 The companyons..hadde lerned so well to robbe and pyll the countrey..that they coude nat leaue. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 154 Þan leuit the laike for late of þe night. 1580 J. Lyly (new ed.) f. 10v If there were as many worlds, as ther be cities in the world, I would neuer leaue vntill I had seene all ye worlds, and ech citie in euery world. 1589 G. Puttenham iii. xxii. 216 If he had left at the two first verses, it had bene inough. 1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe ii. i. C 2 I dye with melting ruth; Æneas leaue. 1633 Bp. J. Hall i. 298 Fire..shall devoure both your tall cedars, and your low shrubs; and shall not leave, till the very bryars and thornes bee consumed. a1677 T. Manton (1693) IV. iv. 225 As a Fountain, when it is muddied, never leaves till it work it self clear again: so when you have fallen foul, and Conscience smites, never leave until God hath given you the Pardon of that Sin. 1704 J. Humfrey iii. 98 If you lose but a piece of Gold,..you seek from Chest to Chest, and never leave until you find it. 1740 S. Richardson II. 8 This shews he will never leave till he has ruin'd me! 1830 H. Roscoe (1831) 129 He..gave him all the ill names that scolding eloquence could supply; and so, with rating and staring,..never left till he made him quit the bench. 1968 15 May 7/4 Before leaving Cass, the boxer quoted this poem to Corpsmen: ‘When a task is once begun, Never leave until it's done If the labor is great or small Do it well or not at all.’ 2011 J. Rempel xv. 101 They labor to kill him, and never left till they had crucified the Lord of glory. the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1806 Soburli seide meliors, ‘sire, leues youre wordes’. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. xxxvi. 931 Whan þe leues [of carduus] druyeþ þe prikkes leueþ to prikke and stynge. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 1131 His blood..leueþ [Vesp. fines] not wreche to crye. 1477 Earl Rivers tr. (Caxton) (1877) lf. 34 Leuyng to do all thing that may cause hattered. 1490 W. Caxton tr. xxxii. sig. Hviii Now shalle I leue to speke of this mater. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) lxxxii. 254 Lady, I desyre you to leue your sorow. 1516 St. Bridget (Pynson) in J. H. Blunt (1873) p. lix But thou leue sayde he to speke of thys newe heresye..I [etc.]. 1545 R. Ascham ii. f. 41v If a man woulde leaue to looke at his shafte..he maye vse this waye. ?a1556 Grey Friars Chron. in R. Howlett (1882) II. 174 Thys yere the mayer lefte rydynge to Westmyster, and went be watter. 1576 G. Gascoigne sig. H.iijv When Cutlers leaue, to sel olde rustie blades. 1604 B. Jonson 302 Zeale when it rests, Leaues to be Zeale. 1606 iii. iv. sig. F Leaue trussing your pointes and listen. 1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 17 in And specially, farre Voyages..were altogether left and omitted. 1680 W. de Britaine xii. 35 Never purchase Friends by Gifts, for if you leave to give, they will leave to love. 1690 J. Locke 13 If you should make a Law to punish all Stammerers; could any one believe you, if you said it was designed only to make them leave Swearing? 1723 D. Defoe (ed. 2) 287 The English left Chasing us. 1743 L. W. 10 Demonstrate it by your Conduct: Leave your Arguments; nay leave your Abuse of a Body of Men..whom it is allowed you very wisely traduced, whilst they resisted your Authority. 1762 O. Goldsmith II. 64 Whenever one crime was judged penal by the state, he left committing it. 1821 J. Clare I. 156 The cat at her presence left watching the mouse. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus xxxvi. 5 If ever I..Ceased from enmity, left to launch iambics. 1934 W. W. Gill ii. 72 If ye don't l'ave hittin' Jimmy I'll skin ye alive! a1970 J. Smith Let. in E. J. Marsh (1970) I. ii. 41 When sail went west I left fishing. 1998 G. Seymour xiv. 267 His irritation surged. ‘Can you leave it?’ ‘Leave what?’ He said, ponderous, ‘Can you leave that noise?’ ‘What noise?’ ‘Can you, please, stop whistling, singing, whatever, that puerile dirge?’ 2015 (Nexis) 8 Jan. You will never be able to leave drinking and smoking. 12. the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away from [verb (transitive)] > permanently ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 81 Tac þerto & leaf me hwenne þe is swa leouere. c1300 (Harl. 2277) (1845) 884 Meni of Seint Thomas men levede him for eye. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 493 (MED) Sche was war þerof and lefte al her store and housholde, and fliȝ to Oxenforde. c1440 (a1400) (Thornton) l. 176 Thane wille þay leue the lyghtely, þat nowe wille the lowte. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxiv. 3 (MED) Thai lef the swet luf of crist and takis thaim til the bittire luf of this warld. 1535 Gen. ii. D For this cause shal a man leaue father and mother. 1596 E. Spenser vi. ix. sig. Gg6 Leauing home, to roiall court I sought; Where I did sell my selfe for yearely hire. View more context for this quotation 1651 in T. Fuller 514 Leaving of the University, he traveled through most parts of France. 1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot I. v. 297 The Soldiers..thought they cou'd not leave their Ensigns..without offending the Gods. 1797 C. Palmer (title) Letters on several subjects from a preceptress to her pupils who have left school..designed for..Young Ladies. 1824 J. Russell I. iii. 192 When the [German] student has finished his curriculum, and leaves the university. 1845 Ld. Houghton Let. 12 Aug. in T. W. Reid (1890) I. viii. 358 My servant Frederick has just left me to set up for himself in a public-house. 1878 Sept. 315/1 A..Roxburgh man, who..cherished in his heart the land he had left for ever. 1903 5 Jan. 6/7 In some cases the parents may threaten to leave our employ unless we give work to their small children. 1942 R. L. Haig-Brown xii. 162 It's good that fellows can move around the way they want, leaving one job and getting another. 1970 A. Toffler xi. 226 Young people today already leave home sooner than their counterparts a generation ago. 2014 7 Aug. 28/3 The London mayor..would be happy to see Britain leave the EU if renegotiation is unsatisfactory. the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] a1250 (?c1200) (Titus) (1940) l. 133 (MED) Ne leaf [c1225 Bodl. leos] þu neauer..þat ilke þing þat ne mei neauer beon acouered. a1325 St. Michael (Corpus Cambr.) 788 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill (1956) 428 Þus soule deieþ in a man..wanne he leueþ is breþ & wawinge also. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 573 (MED) Wiþ-in seueniȝt al hire slep sche leues. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) l. 13033 Herodias..drad to leue heroudes kyng. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich lvi. l. 14 Mordreins qwene there left hire lyf. a1450 (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 18 (MED) He lefte his witt þoruȝ drynkyng of wyn. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 123v I hade leuer my lyf leue in this place Than [etc.]. 1596 W. Lambarde (rev. ed.) 139 Sexburga..left hir life at the doore of Mylton church. 1636 E. Pagitt (ed. 2) i. ii. 81 They had rather leave their lives, then their Religion. a1681 R. Allestree (1694) xix. 159 His apprehensions [are] so deep, that when he hath once fastned, he sooner leaveth his life then his hold. 1701 C. Cibber ii. 19 Ant. Prithee leave thy Studying Man. Car. I'll leave my Life first, I study now to Be a Man. ?1742 Lady Cornelia Bentivoglio in tr. M. de Cervantes 131 He shall either leave his Life, or perform his Word and Promise which he made to your Sister. 1800 S. T. Coleridge tr. F. Schiller v. vi. 213 I either leave my life In the struggle, or conduct them out of Pilsen. 1980 J. Carter in 1383/2 There would be no more veterans coming back who were wounded or who left their lives overseas. 2014 S. Rea Introd. 2/2 When I was confronting leaving this life, this body, I was reminded of this fire within. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxi. 14 Abraham..lafte [L. dimisit] hyre, þe whych whenn sche was gone awey erryde in þe wyldernes. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. l. 181 (MED) Ye ben besein To love a newe and leve me. a1500 (c1450) P. Idley (Arun.) (1935) ii. B. l. 2628 (MED) Yff a weddyd man a syngyll woman take..agenst þe law he leyffes hys make. 1580 A. Saker ii. 47 He that will leaue his wife, to find a louse in another Countrey, shall neuer be my faithfull freende. 1632 T. E. xiv. 145 A Woman that leaues her husband, goeth away and abides with her adulterer,..loseth for euer her command of Dower. 1700 W. Congreve ii. i. 17 'Tis better to be left, than never to have been lov'd. 1716 Hist. Disc. Election of Emperor xvii, in J. Digby tr. A. de Wicquefort 544/2 He dismember'd himself, out of Rage to find himself impotent, for which Reason his Wife left him. 1785 F. Grose at Uncle He is gone to visit his uncle, saying of one who leaves his wife soon after marriage. 1869 Feb. 638/1 His wife had left him in despair of reforming his intemperate habits. 1883 S. O. Jewett Apr. 143 I was surprised when they told me his wife had left him, 'stead of her being dead, as we thought all along. 1929 30 May 11/2 So he breaks up his home and leaves his wife. 1988 Aug. 26/3 His drinking had begun when his girlfriend left him. 2009 J. Kellerman xlv. 446 My father..planned on leaving my mother..and marrying Adella Villareal. (Harl. 221) 293 Lefte, or forsakyn.., derelictus. a1586 (?a1550) Murning Maiden l. 120 in W. A. Craigie (1919) I. 363 Thocht uþeris luif and leif withall. 1639 T. Fuller iii. xxiv. 153 The Christians might leave when they list. 1783 Nov. 398/1 James Thomson, quarter-master, left about eight or ten days after entering second inhabited country; Thomas Simmonds, ditto, dead. 1841 W. Howitt xxi. 411 Another student was set in the first carriage, in the place of honour, as though it were he who was leaving. 1882 J. L. Watson vii. 87 When he left, it was with no prospect of temporal good things. 1931 E. G. Boulenger x. 89 The young hatch and develop, only leaving when sufficiently formed to take care of themselves. 1955 O. Manning i. ii. 13 I would never have left had you behaved just a little better. 1969 I. Murdoch v. 40 Adelaide was clever at school, but left at fifteen. 2015 (Nexis) 14 Mar. 20 Brentford's ridiculous decision to announce Warburton would leave at the end of the season was a masterclass in foot-shooting. 13. To stop speaking of or discoursing on a matter. the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > refrain from speaking about a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1923 (MED) Leue we now þis lesson & here we a-noþer. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) ii. 235 We salle leue þat pas vnto we com ageyn. ?a1475 (1922) 164 (MED) Symeon leff þi careful stevene, For þi prayer is herd in hevene. 1526 W. Bonde Pref. sig. Ai The seconde boke leueth the lyfe of the world, and entreateth what is the iourney of religion. 1548 f. cxxxvv Now leauyng Scotland, let vs returne to the busines of Fraunce. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta iii. xv. 169 But now that we have left the sea, let vs come to other kinde of waters that remaine to be spoken of. 1685 W. Leybourn in J. Hawkins sig. A6v But leaving now his Writing, take a view Of his Arithmetick, whose Books are Two. 1722 W. Sewel i. 20 Leaving now State-Affairs, Let's return to G. Fox. 1800 J. Gregory vi. 147 Leaving now this important duty of caution with respect to the sick,..let us next consider the duty of Physicians [etc.]. 1837 J. Duncan Message to Assembly 11 July in 11 I will leave this subject with an earnest recommendation of it to your fostering care. 1891 S. Mostyn 45 I cannot leave this part of my story without pausing to do honour to my trainer. 1909 Feb. 136 Leaving now the humanitarian side of this calamity we may turn to its scientific aspects. 1965 6 811 Leaving now the housing question, I wish to congratulate the Minister on the health side. 2015 (Nexis) 17 June We are leaving the subject of gardening—about time—but, before I do, I must say that [etc.]. the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > stop speaking a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 1836 Leef we now here. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) l. 3695 (MED) Now of pryde shul we leue..And furþer of oþer synnys telle. 1485 (Caxton) ix. i. sig. tviiiv (heading) Here leue we of sire Lamorak and of sir Tristram. a1500 (?a1400) (1887) l. 585 Leve we now of Torrent there. 1593 W. Shakespeare sig. Eiij Where did I leaue ? View more context for this quotation 1614 W. Raleigh i. ii. v. §7. 307 Let vs returne thither where we left. 1685 R. Gould 4 So many are Her Virtues,..'Tis difficult on what Part to begin; And 'twill be hard to leave, when once I'me in. 1738 W. Robinson ii. i. 27 Brussella. Just now I interrupted you; I pray Go on, and faithfully relate the rest. Replevin. Where did I leave? Phrases P1. to leave alone. society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > solitude or solitariness > [verb (transitive)] > leave alone c1330 (Auch.) (1933) l. 2473 Þai..fond hire þat niȝt stouer, And left here alone. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) l. 2154 (MED) & leuez þe knyȝt þere al one. 1535 Isa. i. A Ye doughter of Syon is left alone like a cotage in a vynyearde. 1578 M. Tyler tr. D. Ortúñez de Calahorra f. 121 Leaue mee alone I praye thee and my griefe shall not grieue me without thy companye. 1606 S. Daniel iii. i. sig. Fv Leaue me alone, for I must now resume My surly, graue, and Doctorall aspect. 1668 F. Kirkman II. xvi. 149 I being left alone in this Room was not idle, but rummaged about. 1750 M. Clancy I. 123 The old Negress went off, and we were left alone. 1768 H. Brooke III. xvi. 267 I did not dare to leave my child alone and unsheltered. 1870 M. Bridgman I. xiii. 220 I shouldn't care to leave any of them alone with my plate-basket. 1915 V. Woolf xv. 235 All I ask is to be left alone to moulder away in solitude. 1964 J. Stewart tr. G. Simenon iv. 45 Couchet was always leaving me alone and gadding about to try his luck. 2006 K. Richardson xvi. 146 Mara whisked out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with her husband. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > pursue (a matter) no further a1475 in J. O. Halliwell (1855) 3 Thou woldus gladly with me fare, And leve one my talkynge. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 88 If þou leue þe water aloon, it shal make whit. 1649 ‘E. Philodemus’ 7 Mr. Sedgwicks councell is if a man see his house a fire, not to move or seek to quench it, but leave it alone till it be burnt down to the ground. 1732 G. Berkeley I. ii. xxiii. 137 We have stubbed and weeded and cleared Humane Nature to that degree, that in a little time, leaving it alone without any labouring or teaching, you shall see natural and just Ideas sprout forth of themselves. 1798 F. Burney (1973) IV. 181 O, leave him alone! cried Mr. Pepys,—take care only of his health & strength. 1849 G. C. Greenwell 24 Fly doors, or swing doors,..constructed as always to fall close when left alone, but to open either towards or from the current of air. 1885 5 June 5/1 We cannot but wish that Mr. Gladstone had left the matter alone. 1933 J. C. Powys xxii. 713 If you haven't the guts to act like a man in the matter, you ought to leave this girl alone. 2013 29 Oct. (G2 section) 8/3 He can't leave any situation alone or any scab unpicked. the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > improbability, unlikeliness > expressing improbability [phrase] 1838 J. Pring v. 100 There are not five, perhaps, who would have the grace to honour an angel, leave alone ten. 1891 ‘Rita’ ii. i. 81 I should hate to write two books alike—leave alone twenty. 1937 G. Greene in 5 Mar. 403/2 No headmistress, leave alone Elizabeth Tudor, would have allowed quite so much cuddling and kissing in her presence. 1974 W. Foley 19 The wages our dads brought home from the pit were not enough to keep us out of debt, leave alone fill our bellies properly. 2010 S. Foster Introd. 2 I can make no claim that this study provides an original, leave alone a definitive account, of a complex and fascinating area of contemporary politics. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > abstain from interfering with the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > abstain from interfering with > leave (persons) to their own course ?1531 R. Whitford tr. iii. v. f. lxv I am tourned agaynste them: and leue them to them selfe withoute helpe or counseyle of me. [No corresponding sentence in the Latin original.] 1548 N. Lesse tr. F. Lambert To Rdr. f. iiij The Lord toke the spirit of stedfastnes and knowledgyng of God from hym: leauyng hym to hymselfe, to fraylenes, to the verye counsel and motion of the flesh. 1602 S. Rowlands sig. F3v Hee desired him to leaue him to himselfe, and to take order that no man came to trouble him for some two houres space. 1658 T. Manton 491 Man being left to himself to meer Soul-light or Soul-inclinations, can bring forth no other fruits then such as are carnal. 1674 N. Fairfax 73 Which will not allow an heavy body left to itself within a flowsom one that is lighter, to buoy up. 1707 tr. M. Alemán II. viii. 76 I left him to himself, for I saw well enough he was not in a Humour to argue the Case with me. 1731 E. Aspinwall iv. 150 Can any thing..more feelingly demonstrate the miserable weakness of reason, when left to itself? 1777 D. Garrick Let. 21 Apr. in D. Garrick & G. Spencer (1960) 95 The Physician hath partly left me to myself & therefore I may mend. 1833 8 June 145/1 The individual who writes the present paper was once ‘so far left to himself’ as to spend several months amidst the heartless frivolities which characterise a winter of fashionable life in the Scottish..capitals. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. ii. 257 The rage of the hostile factions would have been sufficiently violent, if it had been left to itself. 1877 VII. 802/1 A wire which had been kept vibrating for several hours or days through a certain range came to rest much quicker when left to itself than when set in vibration after it had been at rest for several days and then immediately left to itself. 1910 ‘Saki’ 8 Left to themselves, Egbert and Lady Anne would unfailingly have called him Fluff. 1967 R. Singha & R. Massey i. 34 South India had been more or less left to itself. 1997 Apr. 10/2 The child may be left to itself and will find its own amusement. P3. With complementary words forming verbal phrases with the sense ‘to let go’. [Earliest in to leave hold , in which the verb was originally transitive, with hold n.1 as direct object and an optional indirect object added with of . This syntax was subsequently extended to to leave go , to leave loose , which in turn were probably originally alterations of to let go at let v.1 24 and to let loose at let v.1 19, respectively (which originally showed a different syntax). A connection with leve v.1 has also been suggested, but this is not attested in similar constructions.] a. colloquial. to leave hold: to stop holding a thing or person, to let go. Cf. later to leave go at Phrases 3b, to leave loose at Phrases 3c.the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > part with or let go the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go (something held or grasped) [verb (transitive)] 1556 J. Heywood l. sig. Aav4v Such flies: as sat fast before,Must leaue hold: to take hold, on contrarie shore. a1586 Sir P. Sidney (1590) ii. vii. sig. S5v They willingly left holde of the boord, committing themselues to the seas rage. 1634 R. Sibbes 100 I will not leave hold of thee, untill I get a blessing. 1781 J. Barbut 363/1 Nothing can make him leave hold of the female. 1795 J. J. C. Timaeus tr. F. Schiller ii. vii. 45 (stage direct.) Leaving hold of Louisa, and putting up his sword. 1841 2 i. 99 The operator then leaves hold of the spoke. 1851 H. Mayhew II. 56/1 They'll fight on till they go down together, and then if one [dog] leave hold, he's sponged. 1894 A. B. Gomme I. 285 Each boy leaves hold of his partner's arm and catches the arm of the girl in front. 1932 Mar. 140 Let us leave hold of Asia, and seize hold of Africa. 2013 C. Priestley 4 He asks again, his voice more pleading now, for the old man to leave hold. 1660 R. May iv. 127 Leave hold enough of the flesh on both sides, that you may put in your hand between the ribs and the skin. b. colloquial. to leave go: = to leave hold at Phrases 3a. Cf. also slightly later to leave loose at Phrases 3c.the mind > possession > relinquishing > relinquish or give up [verb (transitive)] > part with or let go the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go (something held or grasped) [verb (transitive)] 1776 in (1907) XLIII. 118 Tis said we left go pieces of heavy cannon owing to the cowardice of a body of Connecticut troops. 1798 T. Streatfield ii. i. 22 Eadburga. Leave me go, sir, leave me go.—(Releases herself, and strikes him.) 1803 W. Mudford tr. S. M. X. Golberry I. ii. 86 By this noise they frighten away the dragon or the serpent, make him leave go his hold. 1873 Sept. 504/2 You shall have it, my lady. Leave it go, Jennet, leave it go! 1900 ‘M. O'Neill’ 26 The hook it made me hand sore, I had to leave it go. 1980 P. O'Brian ix. 269 Stephen, leave go that rope, clap on to the yard and come in towards the tye. 1998 M. Carr (rev. ed.) i. vii. 37 I have heard the bond between twins is ever strange and inexplicable, but surely now it's time to leave it go and try to make your life without him. 1805 III. 215 Nor..will he leave go of the treasurership of the navy, but holds it fast, as the safest means of private emolument. 1815 J. Waller tr. D. J. Larrey I. iii. 71 They [sc. leeches] fell down into the stomach, where they remained..until they were forced to leave go. 1868 F. E. Paget 205 Leave go of me..you young monkey. 1881 R. Jefferies I. v. 133 The bridge is now dry, and therefore you can pass it easily if you do not leave-go of the hand-rail. 1951 G. Heyer xi. 164 Part company he might; leave go of his rein he would not! 1994 No. 77. 44 Ank, ankyou, he said, and did not want to leave go but they took his hands and straightened him up again. c. nonstandard. to leave loose: = to leave hold at Phrases 3a. Cf. also slightly earlier to leave go at Phrases 3b.1786 Sept. 457/2 I had..twice untwisted the fatal rope from his hand, begging him to leave it loose, and give free expansion to the balloon. 1813 D. W. Paynter III. vi. 102 She had left loose of the bridle, and was now clinging to the horse's mane. 1880 G. Gissing I. i. 8 She turns to look after a child which is being dragged through the mud by her skirts,..and, bidding it with a cuff and a curse not to leave loose of her, pushes on stoutly through the crowd. 1905 G. M. Cooke xxiv. 354 ‘Leave loose of me!’ he cried to those who were restraining him. 1971 T. Satchell tr. J. Ikku in L. Feinberg 342 I really must go if you'd just leave loose of me. 2013 J. Lennington 54 Carrie Stallworth you leave loose of that woman. We don't know nothin about her. 1580 R. Bristow x. 289 Because his purpose was no more but to shew the new Hierusalem of the Christians, and so to leaue them to it, to know what are the particulars that the Apostles taught. 1614 J. Cooke sig. K3v Wid.The lodging Sir, might serue better Guestes.Lyo. Not better, Widdow, nor yet welcommer: But wee will leaue you to it. a1671 S. Mather (1683) 317 If they do amiss, you should consider why God leaves them to it. 1728 H. Fielding iv. ii. 50 Yes, she has abandon'd me, and I will abandon my self to Despair; so, pray leave me to it, for such as you can have no Business with the Unhappy. 1814 Rep. Sel. Comm. Gauging in Port of London 127 in IV. 1 Mr. John did it till he was satisfied of his son's ability to gauge, and then he left him to it. 1838 Jan. 245 Back we came to Hilly Wood,..and there I left them to it, having tired my horse and myself. 1879 16 Oct. 477/1 I have well-nigh decided Just to claim my dukedom straightway, And retire and leave you to it! 1932 A. Bell viii. 109 He wanted to do it in his own way, before Barrow's hurly-burly had frightened the colts. So we left him to it. 1974 W. J. Burley vii. 127 Wycliffe stood up. ‘Good. I'll leave you to it.’ 2015 J. Niven 17 I take a heaping pile of pamphlets and leave him to it. P5. to leave nothing (also little, much, something, etc.) to be desired (also to wish (for)). [Probably after French laisser à désirer (1718; more fully ne laisser rien à désirer to be highly satisfactory, lit. ‘to leave nothing to be desired’, laisser quelque chose à désirer to be unsatisfactory, lit. ‘to leave something to be desired’, etc.). As in English, similar French phrases in the 16th and 17th centuries are to be interpreted more literally (compare e.g. quot. 1603 at Phrases 5a).] 1575 R. B. sig. A.ijv Naught can leaue of thee to be desired. 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne iii. ix. 588 I leave nothing to be desired or diuined of me [Fr. je ne laisse rien à desirer et deviner de moy]. 1673 R. Honywood tr. B. Nani ii. 66 Spain should leave nothing to be desired from its just Greatness.] 1771 C. Burney 249 Signor Nardini played both a solo and a concerto, of his own composition, in such a manner as to leave nothing to wish. 1810 6 62 This sequel to the ‘Apology for the Cutting-gorget’..will..leave little to wish for in conducting the operation of lithotomy by that instrument with precision, certainty, and safety. 1818 Apr. 324 If they were real hills, the prospect would leave nothing to wish for. 1835 16 May 371/1 Her style, too, leaves little to be desired. 1836 May Suppl. 83/1 The young artistes play with a fire and a delicacy that leave little to wish. 1889 Aug. 439/1 Relations between the empire and the Holy See leave nothing to be desired at the present moment. 1923 N. Munro in 9 July 4/3 As a classy dresser, James Swan..leaves nothing to be desired. 1951 H. T. Lowe-Porter tr. T. Mann 27 My legs are high and slim, leaving nothing to wish in this respect. 2013 E. L. Shoeman xxiv. 167 Her long, in-depth talk left little to be desired. 1795 tr. J.-M. Roland de La Platière iv. 41 Larive, the only actor perhaps worth quoting, still left something to be desired [Fr. laissoit..quelque chose à désirer]. 1812 11 App. 838/1 That work of benevolence toward his fellow-sinners, in which the most diligent pursuit and the utmost exertion of ability, will still leave much to be desired, and much to be done by all. 1818 Sept. 259/2 Mr. Morrison's dictionary leaves much to wish for in copiousness of explanation. 1827 5 170/2 The prima donna, Melas, leaves much to wish. 1876 F. Pollock 2 May (1942) I. 6 Kent is a considerable advance, but leaves much to be desired. 1899 11 Feb. 121/3 The weather leaves a little to be desired as the layer of snow spread on the fields is much too thin to furnish a protecting cover for the cereals sown in the fall. 1917 Aug. 163/1 It..leaves something to wish, but it is the finest and fairest yet. 1923 193 The food given in the resthouse and the hotel varies, sometimes it is prepared very well, other times it leaves something to wish for. 1938 J. D. Wade in Winter 485 Now, truly, it might be conceded, many of God's creatures, as you looked at them, might leave much to wish for. 1939 M. Allingham i. iii. 65 The staff still left much to be desired and the food..was certainly not cooked by a master. 1967 A. Bailey in L. Deighton 52 The vegetables leave much to be desired, but the Stilton is worth having. 1974 22 Jan. 2 Now that we know how they [sc. licences] operate, we feel they leave a lot to be desired. 2014 11 Oct. 38/4 Its mouldability still leaves something to be desired. 1825 J. Neal I. 37 Leave me be, squeaked Miss Edith, whose foot he had caught..under the table. 1840 6 508/1 If you ha'nt a mind to go, you can leave it be, it's all one to me. 1909 G. Stein 55 When Anna once began to make it nice, she could not leave it be until it was as good as for the purpose it should be. 1946 E. O'Neill ii. 115 Leave Hugo be!.. He's earned his dream! 1971 M. West 9 Leave me be for a moment, please. 2013 C. Tsiolkas (2014) 321 Irene, leave our kid be. He said he's fine. the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > be in difficulties or straits > be left in the lurch the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deception by illusion, delusion > delude [verb (intransitive)] > be deluded 1827 4 Sept. He (Seymour) got left and had to run after the stage. 1868 Sept. 373 A man hastening to the train, will say that he is afraid of getting left, and tell you afterward that he did or did not get left. 1884 B. Nye 56 That is where we get left, if I may be allowed an Americanism, or whatever it is. 1894 G. Moore xii. 84 While our quarrel was going on Miss Peggy went after him, and that's how I got left. 1908 16 Nov. 5/2 ‘Oh, never mind those,’ says the admiral; ‘what has the Navy got?’ ‘Got left, as usual,’ replies the lieutenant. 1909 G. Stratton-Porter xi. 208 I will watch, and if I find Elnora is ‘getting left’ I'll buy her some more things myself. 1980 T. Murtha 132 Later the girl was whispering to her companions, and laughing; possibly they laughed about the woman who was getting left. 2012 R. Kavanaugh iv. 195 It was still five minutes until departure but he didn't want to risk getting left. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > pursue (a matter) no further 1861 29 Oct. 4/6 Was it ten minutes? I won't say; no matter. A quarter of an hour? Well, we will leave it at that. 1898 June 717 He does not care one used halfpenny stamp whether people talk about it or not. He merely wants to smoke, and he leaves it at that. 1909 H. Walpole iv. 78 She had tried..but she had failed; and now, for many years, she had left it at that. 1916 A. Bennett xxxii. 245 ‘But if it had happened to be the ebb, sir—’. He left it at that. 1949 V. Grove viii. 114 If understanding and sense were not sought after, the ignorant would merely corrupt the ‘meaningless’ word, and leave it at that. 1966 23 Dec. 445/2 If the House is content to leave it at that for the present,..then I would ask if we might withdraw the resolution and leave it at that for today. 2013 4 Apr. d3/4 As to the woman's daughters who are not blood related to you, because they call you ‘Granddad’, refer to them as your granddaughters and leave it at that. the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)] > put in the shade or put to shame 1864 20 Aug. 650/1 Being unencumbered with kit or rod, and withal fleet of foot, I took to my heels, and..fairly left him ‘standing still’. 1894 12 Oct. 3/3 Blairfield in the Irish Derby gave Hebron three pounds and left him standing still. 1901 12 June 297/2 [She wore] a bejewelled bolero worth £60,000. That, to use a sporting term, left them all standing still [sc. the other jewellery wearers]. 1980 24 Mar. 47/1 Purex Industries Inc. has lagged its three bigger rivals, but it has left them standing when it comes to earnings growth. 1997 (Nexis) 31 Jan. The Montreal Canadiens left them standing still Thursday night: Les Habitants 4, Les Stiffs 1. 2001 (Nexis) 17 Nov. 8 Our local bus and rail services are a disgrace... Europe and the USA have left us standing. 1881 July 70 The first occasion of these doubts arose whilst studying Hooker's Ecclesiastical Policy. To use her own words, ‘It had left her hanging in the air.’] 1909 M. M. Dodge 100 You said, ‘All the’, and there you left me hanging. 1961 16 Oct. 8/3 The other big question—whether he is tough enough to control a bitterly divided U.N.—has inevitably been left hanging. 1987 13 May 1 (headline) Legislators leave tax-increase issue hanging. 1992 B. Sloan xvii. 269 Don't just leave me hanging. At least tell me what happened. 2013 (Nexis) 29 Nov. d1 Harraka offered a high-five, but Tart left him hanging. 1977 27 Oct. 12/3 Sumner..has recorded a single ‘Elvis Has Left The Building’... He still can't believe Presley is dead. 1983 (Nexis) 27 Mar. v. 7/3 There will be no Final Four for the team... As they used to say at the Elvis Presley concerts, ‘Elvis has left the building’. 1987 28 Oct. a26/1 The Mets are dead. Mookie has left the building. 1998 6 Jan. 74/4 When the singer emerges from the strings.., you get the eerie feeling that Nat hasn't left the building. 2004 (National ed.) 1 Oct. b1/4 Political correctness has left the building... Television executives have giddily reverted to..sexism and racism. 2005 7 Mar. 18/1 [He] was suffering from thyroid cancer..—the only question has been when, exactly, Elvis would leave the building. 2005 R. R. Simmons 238 Thank you for twenty years of support and friendship. Richard has left the building. Phrasal verbs With adverbs in specialized senses. to leave behind 1. transitive. the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > leave (behind) c1330 (Auch.) (1991) 80 He..leueþ þare behinde a þeef and an hore. a1375 (c1350) (1867) l. 2431 (MED) So loþ hem was þo to lese or leue hem bi-hinde. c1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Fairf. 16) (1871) l. 108 O woful Mars..That..Art..left by-hynde in peril to be sleyn. c1450 (Fairf. 16) f. 198 Why that she lefte pitee alle behynde. 1580 T. M. in (rev. ed.) To Rdr. sig. A.vi/2 So Barret..Hath left behind..This Hiue of his, referst with honie meates. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc 9 Considering they might leave me behind, or sell me. 1670 T. S. & A. Roberts 159 The Guards that were at the Gate obliged us to leave our Sandals behind. 1709 M. Prior 88 My Soul surpriz'd,..Left all Reserve, and all the Sex behind. 1754 22–25 June A Seeding Minister..has run off with a young Woman in that Parish, and left behind a Wife and small Family to bewail his unseasonable Amour and Elopement. 1806 J. Beresford I. vi. 136 After starting on a very long journey..discovering that you have left your road-book behind, so that you see everything in profound ignorance. 1813 S. Y. Wells 91 Come, confess, leave sin behind. 1896 A. E. Housman iii. 4 Leave your home behind, lad. 1924 5 Jan. 595/1 For when I reached my diggings, I discovered I'd left my coat behind! 1970 C. Manson in 16 Mar. 37/1 So burn all your bridges, leave your old life behind. 2014 10 Feb. 30/3 Minutes before, she had left her wallet behind on the counter at a Jamba Juice. the world > existence and causation > causation > [verb (transitive)] > bring about as a consequence or entail 1424Lefft behynde [see sense 1b]. 1563 J. Foxe 893/2 Let the priest rence his hands, lest any parcels of the body or bloud be left behind in his fingers or in the chalice. 1645 T. Blake 4 Reproaches are called aspersions, by a Metaphor drawn from sprinkling; which being by any liquid substance of a staining nature, it leaves a spot or macula behind. 1681 J. Oldham 70 A Wound though cur'd, yet leave behind a Scar. 1725 R. Bradley at Scorzonera The Flower..when it fades, leaves a Cottonny Roundel behind where the Seed is. 1785 F. Grose Pref. 2 The fashionable words, or favourite expressions of the day,..vanish without leaving a trace behind. 1813 Ld. Byron (ed. 5) 61 The wither'd frame, the ruined mind, The wrack by passion left behind. 1867 H. Macmillan (1870) xv. 291 Those little pools that are left behind among the rocks by the retiring tide. 1906 R. W. Sindall iv. 37 The organic matter is burnt off, and the mass left behind consists mainly of impure carbonate of soda. 1922 T. M. Lowry iv. 50 Glauber..examined the residue that was left behind in the retort when oil of vitriol and salt were heated together. 1936 A. Russell 44 Where one flood will leave behind a well-filled waterhole..the next, probably, will fill the hole with sand. 1973 9 Mar. (Colour Suppl.) 12/2 You can see the mouse-run quite clearly because of the slick of oil which all rodents leave behind. 2015 (Nexis) 29 June Freelance hackers are skilled at carrying out attacks that leave behind little direct evidence connecting them to their sponsors. the world > life > death > [verb (transitive)] > have remaining after death 1509 S. Hawes (de Worde) xxxix. sig. R.vii This worldly treasure I must leue behynde. 1577 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara 131 After her death she left behinde a slaunderous memorie. 1609 W. Shakespeare ix. sig. B2v The world wilbe thy widdow and still weepe, That thou no forme of thee hast left behind. 1653 Bp. H. King Will in (1843) App. p. cxi I mention thus much..without pleading merritt for my Nephews regard towards those I leave behind. 1693 T. Southerne in W. Congreve sig. A3 His [sc. Dryden's] Body yielding must submit to Fate, Leaving his deathless Works, and thee behind. a1771 T. Smollett (1777) 249 I am left behind..To sing thy dirge in sad funereal ray. 1825 T. Campbell in 14 289 To live in hearts we leave behind, Is not to die. 1843 E. Thompson iii. 68 If the occasional tear falls,..it is on account of a passing doubt entertained for the temporal care and prosperity of those, he is about to leave behind. 1895 Mar. 142/1 Besides the husband, she leaves behind two children, a son and daughter, both grown up. 1948 20 Feb. 209/3 He leaves behind a host of friends who will remember his gallantry. 2005 10 July ii. 26/1 Wölfli..left behind a legacy of some 25,000 works. the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > be careless or heedless of [verb (transitive)] > neglect a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 4056 Sche..preide..To Pluto..And..Proserpine. And so sche soghte out al the line Of hem that longen to that craft, Behinde was no name laft. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 26389 Þis ypocrites..þai leue þe grettes plight be-hind. c1460 Abraham & Isaac in N. Davis (1970) 41 Þouȝ it had be þiself and I [to be sacrificed], It shuld not haue ben left behynde. the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake > outstrip a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. l. 2303 (MED) He..hasteth faste forto ride, Til alle men be left behinde. 1568 T. North tr. A. de Guevara (rev. ed.) iv. xii. f. 142 Their secret frends in gardeins & blynd tauerns, come not behynd them at al in delicacy of fare, and in suptuous expence, but rather goe before, & leaue them farre behynd. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch 720 But since it is reason we should geue the first place and honor of the discipline of warres, vnto a Captaine of the greatest skill and experience in warres: the Lacedæmonian then leaueth the Romane farre behind. 1641 Bp. J. Hall To Rdr. sig. A2v These hotspurs run themselves breathlesse, and leave others so far behind that they despair to follow. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 105 He..leaves the Scythian Arrow far behind. View more context for this quotation 1750 S. Johnson No. 72. ⁋5 The hearers either strain their faculties to accompany its towerings, or are left behind in envy and despair. 1792 C. Pigott (ed. 2) 49 Did the general character of Col. F— keep pace with his intellectual accomplishments, he..would leave all competition far behind. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iv. 496 He made such rapid progress in the doctrines of toleration that he left Milton and Locke behind. 1877 20 Dec. 7/3 In that [sc. political tergiversation] he..has left all competitors behind. 1936 4 Jan. 3/1 Dr. Townsend has now left all his rivals behind in competition for the votes of the lunatic fringe. 1968 Aug. 717/2 On the second lap Hill and Stewart had left the rest behind. 2007 (National ed.) 4 Nov. ix. 3/1 In a season of boyfriend cardigans..Nanette Lepore's sequined version is leaving the competition behind. 4. the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > remain in one place ?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 95v, in at Leven Put in alle þe wine þat lefte behynde & meddel alle wele togider. a1475 (1889) 5 Þat þat leeueþ bihynde, putte it to þe fier. 1539 Ded. But now though many faultes perchaunce be yet left behind vncastigat,..I trust your maiestie..wyll pardon me. 1570 T. North tr. A. F. Doni iv. f. 105v The vnhappie Ladie had scant dronke off a part of this potion, but she felt hir hart labor..: so leauing the reast behinde vndronke,..she wofully in short time left hir life. 1649 R. Baillie 54 If the Warner..had blotted out of his booke that errour, the Repentance had beene commendable: But hee has left so much yet behind unscraped out, as does shew his minde to continue what it was. 1695 J. Lead i. 34 Jesus,..the Finisher and Consummator of what is yet left behind to be done. 1880 W. MacCormac 147 The coagulum left behind undisturbed will presently organise. 1917 Oct. 23/2 He is helping in some way to win this war: By fighting, by supporting those who have gone to fight,..by doing the work they have left behind to do. 2007 F. Close (2009) vii. 108 The photon may eject them [sc. a virtual electron and positron] out of the atom, leaving the atom behind undisturbed. the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] > discontinue 1548 6 Feb. (single sheet) That no maner persone..do omitte, leaue doune,..or innouate any ordre, Rite or Ceremonie, commonly vsed..and not commaunded to bee left doune..in the reigne of our late souereigne lorde. 1654 C. Sydenham v. 121 As if God came and once manifested himself in flesh to satisfie for the sins of his Elect, and so to leave it down againe, but very flesh remaines to this day, and shall remaine. 1762 16 Q. Who saw you leave the Bayonet on the Table? A. Lieutenant Grant and Lieutenant Maiban saw me leave it down; Surgeon Davis was in the Tent; I can't say whether he saw me leave it down, or no. 1894 J. Jacobs xxxiii. 77 Och! thresher, thresher, leave down your flail at me, that I may give the crane a rest! 1985 H. H. Glassie xcviii. 213 ‘Leave down that corpse,’ says he. 1998 P. Williams (1999) 92 One of the ERU members shouted back: ‘Leave down your guns and put your hands over your head and you won't be harmed.’ the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease from (an action or operation) [verb (transitive)] the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > refrain from using [verb (transitive)] > cease to use a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Josh. Prol. l. 19 Leue he off [L.V. a1450 New Coll. Oxf. stynte; L. desistat], holy work to repreue wiþ venymyd toonge. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. l. 2389 (MED) Thus was this wise king excused, And thei lefte of here evele speche. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xx. l. 207 (MED) ‘What crafte is best to lerne?’ ‘Lerne to loue,’ quod kynde, ‘& leue [c1400 Trin. Cambr. leef, a1450 Cambr. lief] of [C text c1400 Huntington HM 137 lef] alle othre.’ c1410 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (BL Add.) (1869) II. 97 Afterward þe Romayns lefte of þe regnynge in Britayne. a1450 (1885) 316 Leffe of þi talke. 1535 Luke v. 4 Whan he had left of talkinge he sayde [etc.]. c1540 (?a1400) (2002) f. 56v Leue of þis Langore. 1570 J. Foxe (rev. ed.) I. 339/1 [Francis of Assisi] left of shoes, had but one coate, & that of course clothe. 1581 R. Mulcaster v. 33 That the learning to write be not left of, vntill it be verie perfit. 1589 G. Puttenham iii. xxiii. 228 Bid him leaue off such affected flattering termes. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. 41 His crosse fortune, which did neuer leaue off to persecute him. 1640 R. Brathwait v. 249 It is long since your husband dyed, so as..you might before this time have left off that habit. 1688 G. Miege ii. sig. Nn3v/1 Leave off this wrangling, cessez de vous quereler. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Antiq. Jews i. iii, in tr. Josephus 10 But I will leave off for the time to come to require such punishments. 1800 R. Warner iv. 101 When I left off play, I found I had got back my own half-guinea. 1832 A. Earle 146 The white taboo'd day, when the packeahs (or white men) put on clean clothes, and leave off work. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato (ed. 2) III. 303 Those invalids who..will not leave off their habits of intemperance. 1891 21 Nov. 774/3 We had reluctantly to leave off fishing. 1926 S. T. Warner ii. 85 There was no sound, for the birds had left offsinging. 1976 W. W. Warner iii. 37 It would scarcely do to leave off crabbing or oystering on a weekday. 2008 (Nexis) 18 Apr. c7 The 10 players could assume them like veils, leaving off Frenchness to assume Germanism. 2. intransitive. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. ix. 28 Prey ȝe þe lord þat þe þonders of god & þe haul leuen of [a1425 L.V. ceesse; L. desinant]. 1415 T. Hoccleve Addr. to Sir John Oldcastle l. 152 in (1970) i. 13 Your wit Is al to feeble to despute... Stynte and leue of. a1450 (a1400) (BL Add.) (1921) l. 438 (MED) More wolde I speke of þis matere, But I mot leue of riȝt here. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1237 If ye leve of now, thys wycked day of Desteny ys paste. 1535 Psalms xxxvi[i]. 8 Leaue of from wrath, let go displeasure. 1563 J. Foxe 1204/2 Nowe death draweth nye, and I by your leaue must now leaue of to prepare for hym. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 174 Is nane so gude as leif of, and mak na mair stryfe. 1611 Ecclus. xxxi. 17 Leaue off first for maners sake, and be not vnsatiable. View more context for this quotation 1666 J. Beale Let. 10 Aug. in R. Boyle (2001) III. 200 Though it is good to learne first to spell well; yet we must not leave off there. 1700 J. Dryden Pref. sig. Bij He knows also when to leave off; a Continence which is practis'd by few Writers. 1711 J. Addison No. 130. ¶4 Here the printed Story leaves off. 1749 Mar. 100/2 I will subsume the thread of his Phœnician history, where we left off. 1816 G. Crabb 174/2 A break is made in a page of printing by leaving off in the middle of a line. 1852 30 Oct. 1036/2 Railway Shares leave off firm this afternoon, with an improvement in some of the leading Stocks. 1857 1 Aug. 1082/3 Several of the heavier stocks left off at about a quarter per cent. lower. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato I. 198 Take up the enquiry where I left off. 1895 Oct. 25/1 It is merely a first volume, and we leave off with an appetite. 1905 16 Feb. 13/1 Consols left off..½ above the ‘street’ price last night. 1928 A. E. Krows xxxii. 340 In order to have one speech pick up where another leaves off, the controlling thought is placed toward the end of the speech. 1968 26 Jan. 325/2 Sanity returned in the late dealings when the shares left off at a nominal £2 to £3. 1984 B. Bainbridge iv. 180 Sometimes he finished his sentences, and sometimes he left off in the middle of them. 2007 I. Stewart viii. 127 It took up the story of constructibility where Gauss had left off. the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > leave off! or stop it! 1785 W. Crakelt (rev. ed.) Hold, stop! cease! leave off! forbear! 1840 82 Leave off, sir, or I will cane you again. 1897 2 Oct. 8/1 Leave off this minute, ye wild one, leave off or I'll fetch ye a clip over the head. 1915 J. Conrad ii. viii. 160 ‘What's she like? It's the girl you—’ ‘Leave off!’ muttered Schomberg, utterly pitiful behind his stiff military front. 1959 A. Wesker Chicken Soup with Barley ii. i, in I. 206 Leave off! That's all he can say—leave off, leave me alone. 1974 B. Bainbridge iv. 60 Leave off... I'm not an invalid. 2003 C. Birch vi. 90 ‘Oh, leave off, Walter, do!’ Bennet turned her face to the wall and rocked, sighed, closed her eyes. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 2 Þe bokes of Ipocras & of many oþer were leften of [L. fuerunt omissi]. a1535 T. More (1553) ii. xvii. sig. L.iiiv If it so be that a man..perceyueth that in wealth & auctoritie he doth hys own soule harme,..than would I in any wise aduise him to leaue of that thyng. 1590 R. Greene i. sig. E3v If you be the man I take you,..leaue off your armes and fall to amours. a1661 R. Mathews (1662) 27 Left off by a very honest and able Doctor. 1706 T. Hearne (1885) I. 154 To oblige him to leave off Pupils he made him his Curate. 1712 R. Steele No. 264. ⁋2 He left off all his old Acquaintance to a Man. 1720 D. Defoe 340 He would send her sufficient to enable her to leave off her Shop. 1776 D. Garrick 14 May (1963) III. 1098 As I..have not yet left offtrade, I cannot, till I make my transfer, be absent from the Shop one Night. 1827 July 79 The Right Honourable the Lady Louisa Berkeley being left off by other physicians. 1833 6 Apr. 73/3 You have, perhaps, left off acquaintance with a particular Peghler, as contractor for building a dyke near your residence in the country. 1994 G. Pontiero tr. J. Saramago 77 He got a good estate by merchandise, and leaving off his trade lived afterward at York. c1585 R. Browne 3 The prayers may be..left off by occasions: as when the Minister is to preach. 1647 J. Berkenhead Pref. Verses in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher sig. d3v You Two thought fit To weare just Robes, and leave off Trunk-hose-Wit. 1704 No. 4083/4 Tho. Brown..wears a Wig, but his Hair almost long enough to leave it off. 1745 M. Folkes 16 The old device of the pellets..was now left off, as well as the inner circle with the name of the place of mintage on the same side. 1792 W. Bligh 239 Nelson..was taken ill, in consequence of a cold caused by imprudently leaving off warm clothing. 1828 H. H. Wilson in 16 135 Nagas..carry their secession from ordinary manners so far as to leave off every kind of covering. 1836 186 Thirty-eight..are used the same as in Latin, with the exception of fourteen, which have a letter or two left off at the end. 1858 A. J. Graham 51 Pronounce the word eat distinctly several times; and finally leave off the sound indicated by t. 1924 Nov. 26/4 If you do want a plain leather case this ancient Indian quiver and bowcase may be used as a model with all the ornaments left off. 1966 J. Derrick vi. 210 Meaning is conveyed..with a reduced form of grammar—word-endings are left off, structural words omitted, etc. 2014 S. A. McKeever 23 Clay and I were technically on leave, so we had a choice to wear or leave off our uniforms. society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport or convey in a vehicle [verb (transitive)] > set down 1848 J. J. Oswandel Jrnl. 3 July in (1885) 592 As usual, we stopped at several towns to leave off and take on passengers. 1896 3 Apr. 9/3 ‘Please leave me off at Tutherford,’ I said. 1951 J. Kerouac (2007) 199 They left me off a quarter-mile up and drove to the door. 1986 R. Ford viii. 202 You can see the UPS truck on our street every day still, leaving off hammocks and smokers and God knows what all. 2011 D. Parr xxxv. 308 If you leave me off any closer, someone at the house might see the coach. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being exclusive > exclude [verb (transitive)] > omit or leave out c1450 in T. Wright (1861) II. 228 (MED) The hole rowte That servyth silvyre and levyth the law oute. c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner (1876) 203 (MED) They seyng and redynge hys papyr, commaundyd to leve owte and put a way many troughtys. 1483 W. Caxton in (new ed.) Prohemye sig. aiiv I erryd..in settyng in somme thynges that he neuer..made, and leuynge out many thynges that he made. 1545 R. Ascham ii. f. 3 And these thynges althoughe they be trifles, yet..I woulde not leue them out. 1583 W. Fulke iv. 138 The other translatours..left out that title altogither, as being no part of the text and word of God. 1613 S. Purchas To Rdr. sig. ¶5 The most leaue out their Authors, as if their own assertion were sufficient authoritie. 1653 I. Walton ii. 46 A companion that feasts the company with wit and mirth, and leaves out the sin which is usually mixed with them. View more context for this quotation 1676 M. Lister Let. 2 July in J. Ray (1848) 124 I shall only put you in mind that you leave not out the vinegar. 1694 W. King (new ed.) ii. 55 They can, on occasion, transpose the Parts of them, change, add, or leave out, as they see Reason. 1735 Ld. Tyrawly Let. 29 July in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 387 in (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 They could not with any decency do it for him and leave me out. 1766 O. Goldsmith I. xi. 104 He seldom leaves any thing out, as he writes only for his own amusement. 1843 H. Rogers in Apr. 559 They can leave out, if they do not put in. 1887 ‘L. Carroll’ i. § i. 6 We agree to leave out the word ‘Cakes’ altogether. 1933 O. Jespersen xxxiv. 357 A non-restrictive..clause..may be left out without injury to the precise meaning of the word it is joined to. 1971 S. Linton in S. Jacobs 11 A theory which leaves out half the human species is unbalanced. 2005 Y. Huang 17 How to imagine a relation or a preposition If you don't have ‘Lived experience’ In-born memory Whether to put in or leave out. 1826 R. Chambers 266 It was customary for the mistress of the house to leave out work for him [sc. a brownie],—such as the supper-dishes to be washed, or the churn to be prepared,—and he never failed to have the whole done in the morning. 1895 K. Grahame 164 Our thoughtless elders occasionally left the biscuits out, a prize for the night-walking adventurer with nerves of steel. 1946 J. Brophy v. 73 Your suit's all rumpled. Leave it out and I'll send it to be pressed. 1958 J. Creasey viii. 81 His wife had probably left some sandwiches out, but it was a household rule that if he didn't eat them, one of the boys would take them for lunch next day. 2013 R. W. Nielsen 78 ‘While you have a shower, I will cook breakfast. I will leave a clean towel out,’ said William. the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] > leave off! or stop it! the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > nonsense! [interjection] 1969 10 Oct. 18/3 Leave it out, I don't believe you, or pull the other leg. 1986 P. Theroux xxxiii. 393 No—leave it out! He had been wrong. 1990 C. Brayfield xx. 436 ‘It's like a nuclear disaster out there—no cars, no one on the streets...’ ‘Leave it out, Baz. You two have never been on time for a rehearsal yet.’ the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > remain as opposed to go 1394 in J. Raine (1836) I. 186 (MED) If ther lefe oght ouer, I will al be done whar yhe four will. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. ix. iv. 521 In þat ȝere comeþ vp a lun[a]cioun, a moone of þritty dayes, and þre dayes leueþ ouer [L. desuper remanentibus]. ?c1425 Crafte Nombrynge in R. Steele (1922) 6 (MED) Articulis ben alle þat may be deuidyt into nomburs of ten & nothynge leue ouer, as twenty, thretty, [etc.]. a1599 R. Rollock (1619) xvi. 173 Thou shalt leaue ouer, and repose, and rest vpon him sweetly. 2. the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (transitive)] > for later treatment or consideration the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > that which is left or remainder > leave [verb (transitive)] > leave over ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 72 Lefte ouer [1483 BL Add. 89074 of or ouer], residuus. 1535 Exod. xii. B And ye shal leaue nothynge of it ouer vntyll the mornynge: but yf eny thinge be left ouer vntyll the mornynge ye shal burne it with fyre. 1575 G. Turberville 365 I leaue it ouer to thy vse and discretion till thou neede it. 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe iii. f. 268 To leaue ouer in the meane space the vnspeakeable abuses and misteries of your couert Paphia, to the couert consideration of your couled confessioners. 1657 W. Guild (Song of Sol. ii. 3) 91 There is then plenty of sweet fruit in him to all the world to be found, and (as of the five loaves and two fishes) aboundance to leave over, so that the deficiency may be on our part. 1797 3 A new set of rules and constitutions, which being read were left over for further consideration at the next meeting. 1820 Feb. 72 No great stock of the foreign grain imported in 1818, was left over at the beginning of the last year. 1849 Sept. 151 Two pennyworth..would replenish his half-crown pomatum-pot, and leave some over. 1887 (Weekly ed.) 14 Oct. 3/2 He thought the matter might be left over for the present. 1899 G. B. Burgin ii. i. 138 The undigested fragments which were left over after the making of the world. 1919 L. Merrick xiv. 170 It did not leave much over from the salary for their incidental expenses. 1940 J. O'Hara 114 Choice meats like steak & chops etc. that was left over from the nite before. 1984 i. 34 The zucchini (and yellow squash) left over from making a julienne of the tender peelings. 1991 May 27/1 If he is good, he can cut a skin without leaving anything over. 2013 16 Mar. d6/6 She also got her hands on some gin trash, rich soil left over from the gin processing of cotton. 1535 Ruth ii. C She ate, & was satisfyed, and lefte ouer [Ger. lies vber]. 1585 Abp. E. Sandys xvii. 305 Then he set it before them & they did eate & left ouer. 1875 7 160 A few loaves feed a great multitude, so that they are sated and even leave over. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > refrain from using [verb (transitive)] a1646 J. Burroughes (1650) (x. 12) 481 There's..many arguments why a gracious heart will not leave over seeking till the Lord comes. 1665 T. Brooks 334 Abraham left over asking, before God left over granting. 1761 tr. P. de Charlevoix I. viii. 229 The Basques or people of Bayonne in France, have left it [sc. the whale-fishery] over, only that they might give themselves up entirely to the fur-trade. a1873 C. Knight (1874) I. iv. 84 And now, my dear brother, I must leave over writing. 1925 26 96/2 The figures come in..every day, with the result that the officials have not the time to devote to them, and..there is a tendency..to leave over looking at them until the elusive to-morrow. 1939 ‘H. Green’ 112 She left over thinking out whether he had really asked after her until she was alone. 2006 M. Ball vii. 105 ‘Leave over shouting, dearie,’ she advised. Obsolete. society > authority > office > withdrawing from or vacating office > vacate (office) [verb (transitive)] society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (transitive)] > resign (an office or position) the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose or intention [verb (transitive)] 1422 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 144 (MED) For þe grete pris of þe malt, many breweres yn that ȝere lefte vp her Brewehouses and her brewyng. a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) ix. l. 2941 (MED) The secounde [son] lefft up his clergie. a1450 (c1405) On translating Bible (Trin. Cambr.) in (1938) 7 179 (MED) He wolde on þe morowe leue vp his office of chaunceler and for-sake þe worlde. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. lv. 76 The kyng might be fayne..to leave up the siege at Tourney. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. ccxv. 271 That was the cause that dyuers of them left vp their fortresses. 1572 A. Golding tr. T. de Bèze f. 82 Sinne is krept into mankynd and there abydeth, yelding ill frute in as manye as God lysteth too leaue vp too their owne lustes. 1655 T. P. 66 [He] shall yeild and leave up one Acre of the said coppice of woods of six years growth. 1744 G. Horseman II. 30 At the End..of the said Term of fourteen Years, [he] shall and will leave up the same so preserved and kept into the Hands of the said Alfred Aston. 1887 E. C. Buck ii. 60 They leave up the throne and then the Englishmen took our India. Compounds 1985 (Nexis) 10 May s14 Pantene for Gray Hair, consisting of a shampoo and leave-in conditioning mousse, claims to moisturize hair and enhance the gray color. 1988 Summer 10/4 You can condition your hair with a revolutionary condition leave-in treatment. 2002 3 Apr. 79/4 To keep your hair soft and smooth, spritz damp hair with a leave-in conditioner before styling. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022). leavev.2 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymon: leaf n.1 Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Middle Dutch looven , Middle Low German loven , Middle High German louben (early modern German lauben ) < the Germanic base of leaf n.1 Compare later leaf v.On medial v see discussion at leaf n.1 the world > plants > part of plant > leaf > plant defined by leaves > have leaves [verb (intransitive)] > grow leaves or be in leaf c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 168 in C. Horstmann (1887) 350 Þis maister nam þe ȝeorde and sette hire on þe grounde And heo bi-gan to leui þare in well uyte stounde. c1450 tr. (Royal) 27 (MED) The humydite of the erthe..makith trees and herbes to leve and flowre. 1611 R. Cotgrave Fueiller, to leafe; or leaue; to beare, or bring forth leaues. 1695 J. Evelyn (1955) V. 209 The Spring now begins to appeare yet the trees hardly leav'd. 1715 J. Petiver in (Royal Soc.) 29 232 It leaves like our Corn Marygold. 1829 10 Oct. 114/2 Buds that should have leaved out in May..were made to burst into life and vigor in the middle of July. 1866 15 Mar. 85/3 I cut some more slips from the hedge... These leaved out a little, but as the weather continued very dry, they withered away. 1895 K. Tynan I. 20 I..watch my lilies bud and leave. 1912 61 252/1 The great procession is now on; all the trees are leaving. 1980 61 1070/2 Trees in population A..often leaved out before old leaves had fallen. 2015 J. C. Lake vi. 409 Trees leaved, wild flowers burst in profusion on the far side of the lake. 1785 M. Cutler in 1 450 A shrub which blooms very early in the spring, commonly before other trees are leaved out. 1824 27 Mar. 277/2 After your trees are in full bloom or leaved out, it is best not to wash the buds in it. 1895 Mar. 578 The poplars were leaved out. 1942 Mar. 74/2 Before the trees are leaved out, the woods..are as beautiful..as they are in the Fall. 1963 B. Brilmayer xv. 253 In spring we've planted..plants that were fully leaved out and bursting with buds. 2008 A. H. Gabhart xii. 152 The trees were leaved out and the grass was lush and green. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † leavev.3Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French lever. Etymology: < Middle French lever to raise, levy (see levy n.1). Obsolete. society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [verb (transitive)] > levy or mobilize 1590 E. Spenser ii. x. sig. X8v An army strong she leau'd, To war on those, which him had of his realme bereau'd. 1624 D. Featley sig. Q3 To leaue an Armie of bastard apocryphall Authors.., or in so weighty a cause to rely on the ragged regiment of Authors mustred vp,..I hold it rather a dishonor, and disaduantage, then any credit or aduantage to the truth. 1661 iii. ii. sig. E2 Our purse and people are at thy dispose, leave an army of the stoutest men Affrick affords. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online September 2021). <  n.1eOE n.21885 v.1eOE v.2c1300 v.31590 |
