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Leer vs Lear - What's the difference?

leer | lear |

Lear is a alternative form of leer.



As verbs the difference between leer and lear

is that leer is to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent while lear is to teach.

As nouns the difference between leer and lear

is that leer is a significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look while lear is something learned; a lesson.

As an adjective leer

is empty; unoccupied; clear.

leer

English

Etymology 1

Exact development uncertain, but apparently from *. See below.

Verb

(en verb)
  • To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.
  • To entice with a leer or leers.
  • * (Dryden)
    • To gild a face with smiles; and leer a man to ruin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.
  • An arch or affected glance or cast of countenance.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) ler, . More at (l), (l).

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) The cheek.
    • (Holinshed)
  • (obsolete) The face.
  • (obsolete) One's appearance; countenance.
  • * Shakespeare
    • a Rosalind of a better leer than you
  • (obsolete) Complexion; hue; blee; colour.
  • (obsolete) Flesh; skin.
  • The flank or loin.

    • Anagrams

    * *

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) lere, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Empty; unoccupied; clear.
    • a leer stomach
    (Gifford)
  • Destitute; lacking; wanting.
  • Faint from lack of food; hungry.
  • Thin; faint.
  • Having no load or burden; free; without a rider.
    • a leer horse
    (Ben Jonson)
  • Lacking sense or seriousness; trifling; frivolous.
    • leer words

    Etymology 4

    From (etyl) leren, from (etyl) . Related to (etyl) {{m, ang, l?r, , lore, learning, science, art of teaching, preaching, doctrine, study, precept, exhortation, advice, instigation, history, story, cunning }}. See lore.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To teach.
  • To learn.

    • Etymology 5

    See (lehr)

    Noun

    (en noun)
    • English intransitive verbs ----

    lear

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun

  • Something learned; a lesson.
  • Learning, lore; doctrine.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.vii:
    • when all other helpes she saw to faile, / She turnd her selfe backe to her wicked leares / And by her deuilish arts thought to preuaile [...].
  • * 1898 , (Francis James Child) (editor), Lord William, or Lord Lundy , from ,
    • They dressed up in maids' array,
    And passd for sisters fair;
    With ae consent gaed ower the sea,
    For to seek after lear .

    Etymology 2

    See (lere)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, archaic, and, Scotland) To teach.
  • (archaic) To learn.
  • * 14thC , (Geoffrey Chaucer), The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale , from ,
    • He hath take on him many a great emprise,
    Which were full hard for any that is here
    To bring about, but they of him it lear .

    Etymology 3

    See (lehr)

    Noun

    (en noun)

    • Anagrams

    * ---- ==Volapük==

    Noun

    (vo-noun)
  • olive tree

    • Declension

    (vo-decl-noun)