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Peer vs Leer - What's the difference?

peer | leer |

In intransitive terms the difference between peer and leer

is that peer is to look with difficulty, or as if searching for something while leer is to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

As an adjective leer is

empty; unoccupied; clear.

peer

English

(wikipedia peer)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To look with difficulty, or as if searching for something.
  • * Shakespeare
  • peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads
  • * Coleridge
  • as if through a dungeon grate he peered
  • * 1900 , , The House Behind the Cedars , Chapter I,
  • He walked slowly past the gate and peered through a narrow gap in the cedar hedge. The girl was moving along a sanded walk, toward a gray, unpainted house, with a steep roof, broken by dormer windows.
  • * 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 6
  • He would peek into the curtained windows, or, climbing upon the roof, peer down the black depths of the chimney in vain endeavor to solve the unknown wonders that lay within those strong walls.
  • to come in sight; to appear.
  • * Shakespeare
  • So honour peereth in the meanest habit.
  • * Ben Jonson
  • See how his gorget peers above his gown!

    Etymology 2

    From Anglo-Norman peir , (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Somebody who is, or something that is, at a level equal (to that of something else).
  • * Dryden
  • In song he never had his peer .
  • * Isaac Taylor
  • Shall they draw off to their privileged quarters, and consort only with their peers ?
  • # Someone who is approximately the same age (as someone else).
  • A noble with a hereditary title, i.e., a peerage, and in times past, with certain rights and privileges not enjoyed by commoners.
  • a peer of the realm
  • * Milton
  • a noble peer of mickle trust and power
  • A comrade; a companion; an associate.
  • * Spenser
  • He all his peers in beauty did surpass.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to make equal in rank.
  • (Heylin)
  • (Internet) To carry communications traffic terminating on one's own network on an equivalency basis to and from another network, usually without charge or payment. Contrast with transit where one pays another network provider to carry one's traffic.
  • Derived terms
    * peer-to-peer

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone who pees, someone who urinates.
  • * '>citation
  • * '>citation
  • * '>citation
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    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)