Leer vs Observe - What's the difference?
leer | observe | Related terms |
To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.
To entice with a leer or leers.
* (Dryden)
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.
(obsolete) The cheek.
(obsolete) The face.
(obsolete) One's appearance; countenance.
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) Complexion; hue; blee; colour.
(obsolete) Flesh; skin.
The flank or loin.
Empty; unoccupied; clear.
Destitute; lacking; wanting.
Faint from lack of food; hungry.
Thin; faint.
Having no load or burden; free; without a rider.
Lacking sense or seriousness; trifling; frivolous.
(lb) To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.
:
*1892 , (Arthur Conan Doyle),
*:“One horse?” interjected Holmes. ¶ “Yes, only one.” ¶ “Did you observe the colour?”
*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03, author=Frank Fish, George Lauder
, volume=101, issue=2, page=114, magazine=(American Scientist)
, title= (lb) To follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).
:
*Bible, (w)
*:Ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread.
*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=November 10, author=Jeremy Wilson, work=Telegraph
, title= (lb) To comment on something; to make an observation.
:
*
*:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed , lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
In intransitive terms the difference between leer and observe
is that leer is to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent while observe is to comment on something; to make an observation.In transitive terms the difference between leer and observe
is that leer is to learn while observe is to follow or obey the custom, practice, or rules (especially of a religion).As a noun leer
is a significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.As an adjective leer
is empty; unoccupied; clear.leer
English
Etymology 1
Exact development uncertain, but apparently from *. See below.Verb
(en verb)- To gild a face with smiles; and leer a man to ruin.
Noun
(en noun)Etymology 2
From (etyl) ler, . More at (l), (l).Alternative forms
* (l), (l), (l)Noun
(en noun)- (Holinshed)
- a Rosalind of a better leer than you
Anagrams
* *Etymology 3
From (etyl) lere, from (etyl) . More at (l).Alternative forms
* (l)Adjective
(en adjective)- a leer stomach
- (Gifford)
- a leer horse
- (Ben Jonson)
- 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.Etymology 5
See (lehr)observe
English
Verb
(observ)Not Just Going with the Flow, passage=An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex . The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.}}
England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report, passage=A sell-out crowd of 10,000 then observed perfectly a period of silence before the team revealed their black armbands, complete with stitched-in poppies, for the match. After Fifa’s about-turn, it must have been a frantic few days for the England kit manufacturer. The on-field challenge was altogether more straightforward. }}