† leesev.¹

Forms: (Old English léosan), Middle English leosen, (Middle English leosien), (Middle English 2nd person singular lust), Middle English lesen, leose, (Kent. Middle English liese, lyese, 3rd person singular present lyest, liest), Middle English–1500s lese, Middle English–1500s lease, Middle English Scottish leiss, Middle English les, Middle English–1600s leese, (Middle English lesyn, ? lyse), Middle English–1500s lesse, leze, lees, Scottish leis, 1500s leeze. past tense. α. strong Old English léas), Middle English læs, las, leos, leas, (plural and subjunctive Middle English lure, lore, plural lorn), lese, lees, Kentish lyeas, (Middle English ? lyse), 1500s Scottish leis. β. weak Middle English leosede, Kentish liesed, Middle English leste, leest, lest, Scottish lessit, lessyt. past participle α. strong Old English -loren), Middle English i-loren, ilore, yloren, lorin, losen, losin, ylore, ylorn(e, lore(n, yloore, Middle English–1600s lorne, Middle English– lorn (see lorn adj.). β. weak Middle English ileosed, Middle English lest(e, 1500s Scottish lesit.

Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English -léosan , only in compounds, beléosan , forléosan (-léas , -luron , -loren ) corresponds to Old Frisian ur-liasa , Old Saxon far-liosan (Dutch ver-liezen ), Old High German vir-liosan (Middle High German verliesen , modern German verlieren , influenced by the past tense and past participle), Gothic fra-liusan ; other derivatives of the root (*leus- : laus- : los- ) are leasing n.¹, -less suffix, loose adj., loose v., lose v.¹, loss n.¹The root *leus- is usually regarded as an extension of the *leu-, *lu- in Greek λύειν, Latin solvĕre to loosen.

Obsolete.

1. transitive. = lose v.¹, in its various senses; to part with or be parted from by misadventure, through change in conditions, etc.; to be deprived of; to cease to possess; to fail to preserve, or maintain; to fail to gain or secure; to fail to profit by, to spend (time) unprofitably; to use (labour) to no advantage. Also reflexive.

a. In present stem.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)]

losec950

forgarc1175

letc1200

leese?c1225

forgoc1275

tinec1300

wanta1425

lessena1500

becosta1522

amit1525

perish1531

to make shipwreck of1588

to come short of1690

the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > waste time

leese?c1225

losea1340

defer1382

wastea1400

slip1435

consumea1500

superexpend1513

slow?1522

sloth1523

to fode forth1525

slack1548

dree1584

sleuth1584

confound1598

spenda1604

to fret out1608

to spin out1608

misplace1609

spend1614

tavern1628

devast1632

to drill away, on, outa1656

dulla1682

to dally away1685

squander1693

to linger awaya1704

dangle1727

dawdle1768

slim1812

diddle1826

to run out the clock1957

the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] > lose or be deprived of a person

leese?c1225

losec1275

the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] > become unable to find

losec950

missc1175

leese?c1225

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > fail to take use or advantage of

leese?c1225

losea1340

missa1628

waste1836

maunder1846

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 81 Þe cat of helle..makede hire leose baðe god & mon wið brad scheome & sunne.

c1250 Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 He was ofdred for to liese his king riche of ierusalem.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12433 Idelnesse makeð mon his mon-scipe leose [c1300 Otho lease].

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10036 Þat he scal þat lif leosen & leosien his freonden.

a1300 Beket (Percy Soc.) 859 Thu must do so. Other thu lust thi bischop~riche: other peraventure thi lyf.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 52 Þos he lyest al his time, and þe niȝt and þane day.

1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 131 Heo doth men leosen heore lond and heore lyues after.

?a1366 Romaunt Rose 448 For a litel glorie veine, They lesen god and eek his reine.

1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 49 He is worþy to lese [MS. γ luse] his heed.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xiv. xliv. 717 Þis mounte..is perilous to straungers þat knowen nouȝt þe weyes þerinne for þey mowe liȝtly lese hemself.

1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) xii. xxxii. 432 The pecok lesyth his fetheres whan the fyrste tree lesyth his leues.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6 (MED) Þere many thosand lesis þer lijf.

?a1400 Arthur 231 As þu wold nat leze þy lyf, Fulfylle þys wythoute stryff.

c1430 Hymns Virg. 46 I leese on him so myche trauaile.

1485 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 384 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 To lesse and forfayte one hundred shillinges.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cclix. 384 He that all coueteth al leseth.

a1547 Earl of Surrey Poems (1964) 10 In standing nere my fyer, I know how that I frese; Farr of, to burn; in both to wast, and so my lief to lese.

1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados xi. viii. 75 Thou sall neuer leis [(ed. Small) los]..Sic ane peuische and catiue saule as thine.

a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 19 I do not meene..that yong Ientlemen..by vsing good studies, shold lease honest pleasure.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 168 Mans memorie..oftentimes it assaieth and goeth about to leese it selfe, euen whiles a mans body is otherwise quiet and in health.

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Aa2 Water..doth scatter and leese it selfe in the ground, except it be collected into some Receptacle.

1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets v. sig. B2 Flowers distil'd,..Leese but their show, their substance still liues sweet.

1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings xviii. 5 Peraduenture we may finde grasse to saue the horses and mules aliue, that we leese not all the beasts.

1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 113 For that that he winnes in the Hundred, he leeseth in the Shire.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §390 Flowers Pressed or Beaten, do leese the Freshness and Sweetness of their Odour.

1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses x. 119 Your life, quoth he, amongst the rest you'll leese.

b. In past tense and past participle.

ΚΠ

α. strong.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 45 Ha leas hire maiden had..& wes imaket hore.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10210 Þenne [wes]..heore wurð-scipe iloren a þissere worlde-richen.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9083 Ne les [c1300 Otho leos] he næuere leouere mon.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7744 Þe king his swinc læs [c1300 Otho les].

c1275 XI Pains Hell 139 in Old Eng. Misc. 151 Heo heore mayden-hod lure.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 5133 Hii ssolleþ ȝut keuery moche lond þat hii abbeþ y lore.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6287 He dradde wanne he lore þat lif, & were ybroȝt to deþe.

a1300 Body & Soul in Map's Poems (Camden) 337 Al mi love on the I las.

1307 Elegy Edw. I ix Jerusalem, thou hast ilore The flour of all chivalerie.

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1116 Þai lorn al her swink.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 85 Ac þis lhordssip he leas be zenne.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 203 Be huam he wes ouercome, and be huam he lyeas his miȝte.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 70 Al is dayes werk þer were yloren.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Prol. 26 If that olde bokis weryn aweye I-loryn were of remembrance the keye.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 945 By the weye his wif Crusa he les [v.r. lees].

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. viii. 132 The sonne for sorwe ther-of lees lyght for a tyme.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiii. 182 Oþer sedes..That ben leide on louh erthe ylore as hit were.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 714 To win þat bliss þat he ha lorin [Fairf. lorne].

1406 T. Hoccleve La Male Regle 349 My purs his stuf hath lore.

c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 892 As dyde the knyght..That slew his hounde and lyse hys lyfe, For a worde of hyse wyfe.

c1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 79 At euery hour a poynt is y-loore.

1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 39 Here shal I hope no labour be lorn.

c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 3731 Fond this blynd seching..Grasping al aboute to fynd þat he had lore.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 44 [He] Persauit the hund the sleuth had lorn.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. x. 104 The port of Drepanoun, and the raid quhar..I leis my fadir.

β. weak.c1250 Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 30 Alle þo..þet..þurch yemer i-wil liesed þo blisce of heuene.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14144 Nu ich ileosed [c1300 Otho i-lore] habbe mine sweines leofe.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13166 While þine aldren France ieoden..and seoðen heo hit leoseden [c1300 Otho losede].c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5301 Þa Pohtes weoren uuele. he leoseden heore aðele.a1300 Cursor Mundi 2084 Nine hundreth ȝere and tensith fiue Was noe wen he lest his liue.1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. x. 269 Ich leyue, for thy lacchesse thow leest meny wederes.c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 9 Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere.1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1544) i. i. 2 b They lost the dominacion Of Paradise..Their fredome lest, and became mortal.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ix. l. 605 Feyll lossyt thar.. lyff apon the Sotheroun sid.a1555 D. Lindsay Tragedie in Dialog Experience & Courteour (1559) sig. Siij Efter that boith strenth, and speche wes lesit.

2. absol. and intransitive. To lose, be a loser.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > defeat > be defeated [verb (intransitive)]

to have (also get) the worsec1275

leesec1300

to lick the dust, the earth1382

to get (also have) the waura1393

to go downa1400

to go away (also flee) with the worsea1413

to have the worsta1470

to go to (also unto) the worse1485

to go by the worse (also worst)1528

to have the overthrow1536

lose1548

tine1681

the mind > possession > loss > be lost [verb (intransitive)] > suffer loss

losec1230

leesec1300

tine1340

to lose a loss1498

vary1532

sweat1533

to be shorn1740

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > be defeated or overthrown [verb (intransitive)] > be defeated or lose

to have (also get) the worsec1275

leesec1300

lose1548

to deserve or lose the bell1600

to have the lower hand1693

to have the second best1708

to come off second best1777

skunk1867

to be dumped on1967

c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 6233 We habbeþ for oure loue ilore of [c1275 Cailg. ilosed] vre leode.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde i. iii. 10 He may wynne by doyng well and also lese by doyng euyll.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope xviii Suche supposen to wynne somtyme whiche lesen.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 347 Thai haf tald..how thai lessit [1489 Adv. lesyt] off thair men.

1525 J. Froissart Cronycles III. lvii. f. 79/2 Wherby the empyre of Constantynoble leseth and is lyke to lese.

1599 George a Greene sig. D2^v To know whether we shall win or leese.

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. M1^v Copies cannot but leese of the life and truth.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 59 All things [are] to follow in an easie and expedite course if you win: but all against you, if you leese.

a. transitive. To destroy; to bring to ruin or perdition; to spoil. = Latin perdere.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to

undoc950

shendOE

forfarea1000

endc1000

to do awayOE

aquenchc1175

slayc1175

stathea1200

tinea1300

to-spilla1300

batec1300

bleschea1325

honisha1325

leesea1325

wastec1325

stanch1338

corrumpa1340

destroy1340

to put awayc1350

dissolvec1374

supplanta1382

to-shend1382

aneantizec1384

avoidc1384

to put outa1398

beshenda1400

swelta1400

amortizec1405

distract1413

consumec1425

shelfc1425

abroge1427

downthringc1430

kill1435

poisonc1450

defeat1474

perish1509

to blow away1523

abrogatea1529

to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529

dash?1529

to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531

put in the pot1531

wipea1538

extermine1539

fatec1540

peppera1550

disappoint1563

to put (also set) beside the saddle1563

to cut the throat of1565

to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568

to make a hand of (also on, with)1569

demolish1570

to break the neck of1576

to make shipwreck of1577

spoil1578

to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579

cipher1589

ruinate1590

to cut off by the shins1592

shipwreck1599

exterminate1605

finish1611

damnify1612

ravel1614

braina1616

stagger1629

unrivet1630

consummate1634

pulverizea1640

baffle1649

devil1652

to blow up1660

feague1668

shatter1683

cook1708

to die away1748

to prove fatal (to)1759

to knock up1764

to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834

to put the kibosh on1834

to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835

kibosh1841

to chaw up1843

cooper1851

to jack up1870

scuttle1888

to bugger up1891

jigger1895

torpedo1895

on the fritz1900

to put paid to1901

rot1908

down and out1916

scuppera1918

to put the skids under1918

stonker1919

liquidate1924

to screw up1933

cruel1934

to dig the grave of1934

pox1935

blow1936

to hit for six1937

to piss up1937

to dust off1938

zap1976

a1325 Prose Psalter v. 6 Þou shalt lesin [L. perdes] alle þat speken lesyng.

c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 130 Þurw þat sinne he was lorn.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 988 Þerfor, comeliche creature..les nouȝt is liif ȝut for a litel wille.

c1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 462 Oyl pausia, whil hit is grene is best, But sone in age hit is corrupt & lest.

c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1885) xix. 155 It is no prerogatyff or power to mowe lese any good, or to mowe wast, or put it awey.

c1480 (a1400) Prol. 52 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 2 Hou þat crist ves of hire borne, to ransone mankynd þat ves lorne.

c1485 in Early Eng. Misc. (Warton Club) 30 Sone after the sperit with a dredly speche Begane to crye and sayd,—I am lorne!

1496 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (de Worde) i. viii. 39/2 The fendes that ben besy nyght & daye to lese us.

1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados x. vi. 64 Syne smate he Lycas, and him has al to lorne [(ed. Small) torn], That of his dede moderis wame furth was schorne.

b. With dative: To cause (a person) the loss of.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] > cause loss of

lose1428

tine?a1500

leese1550

forfeit1619

1550–3 Decaye of Eng. (E.E.T.S.) 100 It leseth the kings Maiesty in prouision for his noble housholdes,..v. thousande markes by the yeare.

4. intransitive. To come to ruin, to be ‘lost’. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > reprobation > suffer reprobation [verb (intransitive)]

losec888

leesec1175

perishc1275

to go to supper with the devil1529

damn1620

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 109 Vniseli bið þe ȝitsere þe þurh his iselhðe leosað.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 646 To succour thaim that was in poynt to leis.

5. To fail to do something. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > fail to do something

leesec1400

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 887 Þay lest of Lotez logging any lysoun to fynde.

6. Spenser uses the verb in the strong past tense and past participle (lore, lorn) with the sense ‘to forsake, desert, leave’. Cf. the corresponding sense of lorn adj., which first appears in the 16th cent.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > forsake

forlet971

beleavec1175

letc1175

forleavec1225

forsakea1300

waivec1330

forgoa1400

forhowa1400

sakea1400

forloinc1400

forlesec1460

abandonc1475

destitute1530

aband1587

bandon1587

leese1590

linquish1591

desert1603

derelicta1631

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. C8 After that he had faire Vna lorne, Through light misdeeming of her loialtie.

1596 E. Spenser Faerie Queene (new ed.) iii. xii. sig. Oo7^v Neither of them she found where she them lore.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

† leesev.²

Forms: Old English líesan, lýsan, lésan, Middle English lese(n, Middle English les, lais(e, layse, Middle English lesse, 1500s Scottish leis, 1600s leese. past tense Old English lýsde, Middle English lesede, Middle English lais(e)d.

Etymology: Old English líesan weak verb = Old Saxon lôsian (Middle Dutch lôsen , lôzen , Dutch loozen ), Old High German lôsen (Middle High German lœsen , modern German lösen ), Old Norse løysa (Swedish lösa , Danish löse ), Gothic (and Germanic) lausjan , < Germanic *lauso- : see loose adj. The forms laise , layse , are from Old Norse. Compare alese v.

1. transitive. To set free, deliver, release (in material and immaterial senses).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)]

areddec885

leeseOE

reddOE

winc1220

deliver?c1225

ridc1225

quita1250

betellc1275

casta1300

to cast outa1300

liverc1330

rescuec1330

wrechec1330

borrowc1350

to put out of ——c1350

to bring awaya1400

redea1400

wreakc1400

rescourec1425

rescousa1450

savec1480

relue1483

salue1484

redeem1488

recovera1500

redressa1500

eschewc1500

rescours1511

to pull (also snatch) out of the fire1526

recourse1533

withtakec1540

redeem1549

vindicate1568

retire1578

repair1591

reprieve1605

to bring off1609

OE Crist III 1209 Se sylfa cyning mid sine lichoman lysde of firenum þurh milde mod.

c975 Rushw. Gosp. Luke xii. 58 Sel geornlice ðætte ðu se gilesed from him [L. da operam liberari ab illo].

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 71 Lif and saule beon..ilesed ut of sorȝen.

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 69 Ure helendes wille þe lesde us of deaðe.

a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxxv. 5 We ere lesyd of syn.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 34 Leuedy of alle londe, Les me out of bonde.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18327 For us artu hider soght Fra ded of hell all to lais us.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16442 He barabas, es laisd o prisun.

c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 7342 Generides was lessed of his thoght.

1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 27^v Perauenture thay wald ȝow leis of cair.

1608 T. Middleton Your Fiue Gallants sig. G4^v Keep thou thine owne heart, thou liu'st vnsuspected, I leese you againe now.

2. To loosen, unloose; to unfasten, open; to relax (the body).

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > loose or stiff condition > [verb (transitive)]

leesea1325

lithe1362

unloosec1390

relax?a1425

supple1526

supply1534

nimble1581

relaxate1598

lax1661

limber1748

unstiffen1855

untense1970

the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)]

undoc893

untinec950

openOE

to-doOE

undita1225

leesea1325

unfolda1325

unspeara1325

unclosea1350

to open upa1400

disclose?1440

opea1450

unlock?1548

uncask1594

unhinge1624

unsluice1652

reserate1657

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)]

unbindc950

undoc950

unleeseOE

breaka1225

unfest?c1225

leesea1325

loosena1382

unloosea1382

loose1388

resolvea1398

unlace?c1400

unfastenc1440

unloosen?a1475

to let slip1526

unbrace?1526

diffibulatea1538

unframe1567

unclit1587

undight1590

unclip1598

unclenchc1600

unreeve1600

unlock1609

ungrapple1611

unquilt1611

abstringe1623

renode1623

unspan1648

unfast1684

disengage1780

undub1807

unclap1846

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3152 Heued and fet..Lesen fro ðe bones, and eten.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18640 Leon o rightwisnes has raised Him-self, and his prisun laisd [Fairf. laused, Gött. laised].

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 836 Lesande þe boke with leuez sware [= square].

c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 16 To myche slepinge..coldiþ & lesiþ al his bodi.

c1510 Remors of Conscyence (de Worde) sig. a.iv^v Lorde let these werkes lesse my bande.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2021).

单词	leese
释义	† leesev.¹ Forms: (Old English léosan), Middle English leosen, (Middle English leosien), (Middle English 2nd person singular lust), Middle English lesen, leose, (Kent. Middle English liese, lyese, 3rd person singular present lyest, liest), Middle English–1500s lese, Middle English–1500s lease, Middle English Scottish leiss, Middle English les, Middle English–1600s leese, (Middle English lesyn, ? lyse), Middle English–1500s lesse, leze, lees, Scottish leis, 1500s leeze. past tense. α. strong Old English léas), Middle English læs, las, leos, leas, (plural and subjunctive Middle English lure, lore, plural lorn), lese, lees, Kentish lyeas, (Middle English ? lyse), 1500s Scottish leis. β. weak Middle English leosede, Kentish liesed, Middle English leste, leest, lest, Scottish lessit, lessyt. past participle α. strong Old English -loren), Middle English i-loren, ilore, yloren, lorin, losen, losin, ylore, ylorn(e, lore(n, yloore, Middle English–1600s lorne, Middle English– lorn (see lorn adj.). β. weak Middle English ileosed, Middle English lest(e, 1500s Scottish lesit. Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English -léosan , only in compounds, beléosan , forléosan (-léas , -luron , -loren ) corresponds to Old Frisian ur-liasa , Old Saxon far-liosan (Dutch ver-liezen ), Old High German vir-liosan (Middle High German verliesen , modern German verlieren , influenced by the past tense and past participle), Gothic fra-liusan ; other derivatives of the root (leus- : laus-* : los- ) are leasing n.¹, -less suffix, loose adj., loose v., lose v.¹, loss n.¹The root leus- is usually regarded as an extension of the leu-, lu- in Greek λύειν, Latin solvĕre* to loosen. Obsolete. 1. transitive. = lose v.¹, in its various senses; to part with or be parted from by misadventure, through change in conditions, etc.; to be deprived of; to cease to possess; to fail to preserve, or maintain; to fail to gain or secure; to fail to profit by, to spend (time) unprofitably; to use (labour) to no advantage. Also reflexive. a. In present stem. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] losec950 forgarc1175 letc1200 leese?c1225 forgoc1275 tinec1300 wanta1425 lessena1500 becosta1522 amit1525 perish1531 to make shipwreck of1588 to come short of1690 the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > waste time leese?c1225 losea1340 defer1382 wastea1400 slip1435 consumea1500 superexpend1513 slow?1522 sloth1523 to fode forth1525 slack1548 dree1584 sleuth1584 confound1598 spenda1604 to fret out1608 to spin out1608 misplace1609 spend1614 tavern1628 devast1632 to drill away, on, outa1656 dulla1682 to dally away1685 squander1693 to linger awaya1704 dangle1727 dawdle1768 slim1812 diddle1826 to run out the clock1957 the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] > lose or be deprived of a person leese?c1225 losec1275 the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] > become unable to find losec950 missc1175 leese?c1225 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > fail to take use or advantage of leese?c1225 losea1340 missa1628 waste1836 maunder1846 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 81 Þe cat of helle..makede hire leose baðe god & mon wið brad scheome & sunne. c1250 Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 He was ofdred for to liese his king riche of ierusalem. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12433 Idelnesse makeð mon his mon-scipe leose [c1300 Otho lease]. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10036 Þat he scal þat lif leosen & leosien his freonden. a1300 Beket (Percy Soc.) 859 Thu must do so. Other thu lust thi bischop~riche: other peraventure thi lyf. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 52 Þos he lyest al his time, and þe niȝt and þane day. 1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 131 Heo doth men leosen heore lond and heore lyues after. ?a1366 Romaunt Rose 448 For a litel glorie veine, They lesen god and eek his reine. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 49 He is worþy to lese [MS. γ luse] his heed. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xiv. xliv. 717 Þis mounte..is perilous to straungers þat knowen nouȝt þe weyes þerinne for þey mowe liȝtly lese hemself. 1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) xii. xxxii. 432 The pecok lesyth his fetheres whan the fyrste tree lesyth his leues. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6 (MED) Þere many thosand lesis þer lijf. ?a1400 Arthur 231 As þu wold nat leze þy lyf, Fulfylle þys wythoute stryff. c1430 Hymns Virg. 46 I leese on him so myche trauaile. 1485 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 384 in Parl. Papers (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 To lesse and forfayte one hundred shillinges. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cclix. 384 He that all coueteth al leseth. a1547 Earl of Surrey Poems (1964) 10 In standing nere my fyer, I know how that I frese; Farr of, to burn; in both to wast, and so my lief to lese. 1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados xi. viii. 75 Thou sall neuer leis [(ed. Small) los]..Sic ane peuische and catiue saule as thine. a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 19 I do not meene..that yong Ientlemen..by vsing good studies, shold lease honest pleasure. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 168 Mans memorie..oftentimes it assaieth and goeth about to leese it selfe, euen whiles a mans body is otherwise quiet and in health. 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Aa2 Water..doth scatter and leese it selfe in the ground, except it be collected into some Receptacle. View more context for this quotation 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets v. sig. B2 Flowers distil'd,..Leese but their show, their substance still liues sweet. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Kings xviii. 5 Peraduenture we may finde grasse to saue the horses and mules aliue, that we leese not all the beasts. View more context for this quotation 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 113 For that that he winnes in the Hundred, he leeseth in the Shire. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §390 Flowers Pressed or Beaten, do leese the Freshness and Sweetness of their Odour. 1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses x. 119 Your life, quoth he, amongst the rest you'll leese. b. In past tense and past participle. ΚΠ α. strong. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 45 Ha leas hire maiden had..& wes imaket hore. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10210 Þenne [wes]..heore wurð-scipe iloren a þissere worlde-richen. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9083 Ne les [c1300 Otho leos] he næuere leouere mon. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7744 Þe king his swinc læs [c1300 Otho les]. c1275 XI Pains Hell 139 in Old Eng. Misc. 151 Heo heore mayden-hod lure. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 5133 Hii ssolleþ ȝut keuery moche lond þat hii abbeþ y lore. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6287 He dradde wanne he lore þat lif, & were ybroȝt to deþe. a1300 Body & Soul in Map's Poems (Camden) 337 Al mi love on the I las. 1307 Elegy Edw. I ix Jerusalem, thou hast ilore The flour of all chivalerie. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1116 Þai lorn al her swink. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 85 Ac þis lhordssip he leas be zenne. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 203 Be huam he wes ouercome, and be huam he lyeas his miȝte. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 70 Al is dayes werk þer were yloren. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Prol. 26 If that olde bokis weryn aweye I-loryn were of remembrance the keye. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 945 By the weye his wif Crusa he les [v.r. lees]. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. viii. 132 The sonne for sorwe ther-of lees lyght for a tyme. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiii. 182 Oþer sedes..That ben leide on louh erthe ylore as hit were. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 714 To win þat bliss þat he ha lorin [Fairf. lorne]. 1406 T. Hoccleve La Male Regle 349 My purs his stuf hath lore. c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 892 As dyde the knyght..That slew his hounde and lyse hys lyfe, For a worde of hyse wyfe. c1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 79 At euery hour a poynt is y-loore. 1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 39 Here shal I hope no labour be lorn. c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 3731 Fond this blynd seching..Grasping al aboute to fynd þat he had lore. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vii. 44 [He] Persauit the hund the sleuth had lorn. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. x. 104 The port of Drepanoun, and the raid quhar..I leis my fadir. β. weak.c1250 Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 30 Alle þo..þet..þurch yemer i-wil liesed þo blisce of heuene.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14144 Nu ich ileosed [c1300 Otho i-lore] habbe mine sweines leofe.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13166 While þine aldren France ieoden..and seoðen heo hit leoseden [c1300 Otho losede].c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5301 Þa Pohtes weoren uuele. he leoseden heore aðele.a1300 Cursor Mundi 2084 Nine hundreth ȝere and tensith fiue Was noe wen he lest his liue.1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. x. 269 Ich leyue, for thy lacchesse thow leest meny wederes.c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 9 Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere.1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1544) i. i. 2 b They lost the dominacion Of Paradise..Their fredome lest, and became mortal.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ix. l. 605 Feyll lossyt thar.. lyff apon the Sotheroun sid.a1555 D. Lindsay Tragedie in Dialog Experience & Courteour (1559) sig. Siij Efter that boith strenth, and speche wes lesit. 2. absol. and intransitive. To lose, be a loser. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > defeat > be defeated [verb (intransitive)] to have (also get) the worsec1275 leesec1300 to lick the dust, the earth1382 to get (also have) the waura1393 to go downa1400 to go away (also flee) with the worsea1413 to have the worsta1470 to go to (also unto) the worse1485 to go by the worse (also worst)1528 to have the overthrow1536 lose1548 tine1681 the mind > possession > loss > be lost [verb (intransitive)] > suffer loss losec1230 leesec1300 tine1340 to lose a loss1498 vary1532 sweat1533 to be shorn1740 the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > be defeated or overthrown [verb (intransitive)] > be defeated or lose to have (also get) the worsec1275 leesec1300 lose1548 to deserve or lose the bell1600 to have the lower hand1693 to have the second best1708 to come off second best1777 skunk1867 to be dumped on1967 c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 6233 We habbeþ for oure loue ilore of [c1275 Cailg. ilosed] vre leode. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde i. iii. 10 He may wynne by doyng well and also lese by doyng euyll. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope xviii Suche supposen to wynne somtyme whiche lesen. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xii. 347 Thai haf tald..how thai lessit [1489 Adv. lesyt] off thair men. 1525 J. Froissart Cronycles III. lvii. f. 79/2 Wherby the empyre of Constantynoble leseth and is lyke to lese. 1599 George a Greene sig. D2^v To know whether we shall win or leese. 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. M1^v Copies cannot but leese of the life and truth. View more context for this quotation 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 59 All things [are] to follow in an easie and expedite course if you win: but all against you, if you leese. 3. a. transitive. To destroy; to bring to ruin or perdition; to spoil. = Latin perdere. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to undoc950 shendOE forfarea1000 endc1000 to do awayOE aquenchc1175 slayc1175 slayc1175 stathea1200 tinea1300 to-spilla1300 batec1300 bleschea1325 honisha1325 leesea1325 wastec1325 stanch1338 corrumpa1340 destroy1340 to put awayc1350 dissolvec1374 supplanta1382 to-shend1382 aneantizec1384 avoidc1384 to put outa1398 beshenda1400 swelta1400 amortizec1405 distract1413 consumec1425 shelfc1425 abroge1427 downthringc1430 kill1435 poisonc1450 defeat1474 perish1509 to blow away1523 abrogatea1529 to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529 dash?1529 to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531 put in the pot1531 wipea1538 extermine1539 fatec1540 peppera1550 disappoint1563 to put (also set) beside the saddle1563 to cut the throat of1565 to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568 to make a hand of (also on, with)1569 demolish1570 to break the neck of1576 to make shipwreck of1577 spoil1578 to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579 cipher1589 ruinate1590 to cut off by the shins1592 shipwreck1599 exterminate1605 finish1611 damnify1612 ravel1614 braina1616 stagger1629 unrivet1630 consummate1634 pulverizea1640 baffle1649 devil1652 to blow up1660 feague1668 shatter1683 cook1708 to die away1748 to prove fatal (to)1759 to knock up1764 to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834 to put the kibosh on1834 to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835 kibosh1841 to chaw up1843 cooper1851 to jack up1870 scuttle1888 to bugger up1891 jigger1895 torpedo1895 on the fritz1900 to put paid to1901 rot1908 down and out1916 scuppera1918 to put the skids under1918 stonker1919 liquidate1924 to screw up1933 cruel1934 to dig the grave of1934 pox1935 blow1936 to hit for six1937 to piss up1937 to dust off1938 zap1976 a1325 Prose Psalter v. 6 Þou shalt lesin [L. perdes] alle þat speken lesyng. c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 130 Þurw þat sinne he was lorn. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 988 Þerfor, comeliche creature..les nouȝt is liif ȝut for a litel wille. c1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 462 Oyl pausia, whil hit is grene is best, But sone in age hit is corrupt & lest. c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1885) xix. 155 It is no prerogatyff or power to mowe lese any good, or to mowe wast, or put it awey. c1480 (a1400) Prol. 52 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 2 Hou þat crist ves of hire borne, to ransone mankynd þat ves lorne. c1485 in Early Eng. Misc. (Warton Club) 30 Sone after the sperit with a dredly speche Begane to crye and sayd,—I am lorne! 1496 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (de Worde) i. viii. 39/2 The fendes that ben besy nyght & daye to lese us. 1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados x. vi. 64 Syne smate he Lycas, and him has al to lorne [(ed. Small) torn], That of his dede moderis wame furth was schorne. b. With dative: To cause (a person) the loss of. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)] > cause loss of lose1428 tine?a1500 leese1550 forfeit1619 1550–3 Decaye of Eng. (E.E.T.S.) 100 It leseth the kings Maiesty in prouision for his noble housholdes,..v. thousande markes by the yeare. 4. intransitive. To come to ruin, to be ‘lost’. rare. ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > reprobation > suffer reprobation [verb (intransitive)] losec888 leesec1175 perishc1275 to go to supper with the devil1529 damn1620 c1175 Lamb. Hom. 109 Vniseli bið þe ȝitsere þe þurh his iselhðe leosað. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 646 To succour thaim that was in poynt to leis. 5. To fail to do something. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > fail to do something leesec1400 c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 887 Þay lest of Lotez logging any lysoun to fynde. 6. Spenser uses the verb in the strong past tense and past participle (lore, lorn) with the sense ‘to forsake, desert, leave’. Cf. the corresponding sense of lorn adj., which first appears in the 16th cent. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > relinquishing > casting or laying aside > [verb (transitive)] > forsake forlet971 beleavec1175 letc1175 forleavec1225 forsakea1300 waivec1330 forgoa1400 forhowa1400 sakea1400 forloinc1400 forlesec1460 abandonc1475 destitute1530 aband1587 bandon1587 leese1590 linquish1591 desert1603 derelicta1631 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iv. sig. C8 After that he had faire Vna lorne, Through light misdeeming of her loialtie. 1596 E. Spenser Faerie Queene (new ed.) iii. xii. sig. Oo7^v Neither of them she found where she them lore. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online December 2021). † leesev.² Forms: Old English líesan, lýsan, lésan, Middle English lese(n, Middle English les, lais(e, layse, Middle English lesse, 1500s Scottish leis, 1600s leese. past tense Old English lýsde, Middle English lesede, Middle English lais(e)d. Etymology: Old English líesan weak verb = Old Saxon lôsian (Middle Dutch lôsen , lôzen , Dutch loozen ), Old High German lôsen (Middle High German lœsen , modern German lösen ), Old Norse løysa (Swedish lösa , Danish löse ), Gothic (and Germanic) lausjan , < Germanic lauso- : see loose adj. The forms laise* , layse , are from Old Norse. Compare alese v. 1. transitive. To set free, deliver, release (in material and immaterial senses). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)] areddec885 leeseOE reddOE winc1220 deliver?c1225 ridc1225 quita1250 betellc1275 casta1300 to cast outa1300 liverc1330 rescuec1330 wrechec1330 borrowc1350 to put out of ——c1350 to bring awaya1400 redea1400 wreakc1400 rescourec1425 rescousa1450 savec1480 relue1483 salue1484 redeem1488 recovera1500 redressa1500 eschewc1500 rescours1511 to pull (also snatch) out of the fire1526 recourse1533 withtakec1540 redeem1549 vindicate1568 retire1578 repair1591 reprieve1605 to bring off1609 OE Crist III 1209 Se sylfa cyning mid sine lichoman lysde of firenum þurh milde mod. c975 Rushw. Gosp. Luke xii. 58 Sel geornlice ðætte ðu se gilesed from him [L. da operam liberari ab illo]. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 71 Lif and saule beon..ilesed ut of sorȝen. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 69 Ure helendes wille þe lesde us of deaðe. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxxv. 5 We ere lesyd of syn. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 34 Leuedy of alle londe, Les me out of bonde. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18327 For us artu hider soght Fra ded of hell all to lais us. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16442 He barabas, es laisd o prisun. c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 7342 Generides was lessed of his thoght. 1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 27^v Perauenture thay wald ȝow leis of cair. 1608 T. Middleton Your Fiue Gallants sig. G4^v Keep thou thine owne heart, thou liu'st vnsuspected, I leese you againe now. 2. To loosen, unloose; to unfasten, open; to relax (the body). ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > loose or stiff condition > [verb (transitive)] leesea1325 lithe1362 unloosec1390 relax?a1425 supple1526 supply1534 nimble1581 relaxate1598 lax1661 limber1748 unstiffen1855 untense1970 the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] undoc893 untinec950 openOE to-doOE undita1225 leesea1325 unfolda1325 unspeara1325 unclosea1350 to open upa1400 disclose?1440 opea1450 unlock?1548 uncask1594 unhinge1624 unsluice1652 reserate1657 the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] unbindc950 undoc950 unleeseOE breaka1225 unfest?c1225 leesea1325 loosena1382 unloosea1382 loose1388 resolvea1398 unlace?c1400 unfastenc1440 unloosen?a1475 to let slip1526 unbrace?1526 diffibulatea1538 unframe1567 unclit1587 undight1590 unclip1598 unclenchc1600 unreeve1600 unlock1609 ungrapple1611 unquilt1611 abstringe1623 renode1623 unspan1648 unfast1684 disengage1780 undub1807 unclap1846 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3152 Heued and fet..Lesen fro ðe bones, and eten. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18640 Leon o rightwisnes has raised Him-self, and his prisun laisd [Fairf. laused, Gött. laised]. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 836 Lesande þe boke with leuez sware [= square]. c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 16 To myche slepinge..coldiþ & lesiþ al his bodi. c1510 Remors of Conscyence (de Worde) sig. a.iv^v Lorde let these werkes lesse my bande. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2021). < v.¹c1175v.²OE
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† leesev.1

† leesev.2

† leesev.¹

† leesev.²