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Weer vs Leer - What's the difference?

weer | leer |

As adjectives the difference between weer and leer

is that weer is comparative of wee while leer is empty; unoccupied; clear.

As a verb leer is

to look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

As a noun leer is

a significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.

weer

English

Adjective

(head)
  • (wee)

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    wee

    English

    (wikipedia wee)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (15c).

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (Scotland, Northern Ireland, North England, NZ) Small, little.
  • * 2008 , (James Kelman), Kieron Smith, Boy , Penguin 2009, p. 73:
    • I had not seen a wee' boy do it like that before. He was ' weer than me and his swimming was just like splashing about.
    You looked a little cold so I lit a wee fire.

    References

    * Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition (1997)

    Etymology 2

    Unknown

    Noun

    (-)
  • (colloquial, uncountable) urine
  • (colloquial) An act of urination.
    • to have a wee
    Synonyms
    * wee wee * See also * See also

    Verb

  • (colloquial) To urinate.
    • Synonyms
    * See also

    Anagrams

    * * English terms with homophones English terms with unknown etymologies ----

    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 ----