I. verb
or leaze ˈlēz
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English lesen, from Old English lesan to gather, glean; akin to Old High German lesan to gather, select, Old Norse lesa to gather, pick, Gothic lisan to gather, Lithuanian lesti to peck up
intransitive verb
now dialect England : to glean grain
transitive verb
dialect England : to separate (as impurities from grain) by picking
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English leese, lese, from Old English lǣs open pasture (gen., dative, & accusative lǣse, lǣswe ); perhaps akin to Old Norse lāth landed property — more at lathe
dialect : an open pasture or common
III. ˈlēs noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English les, from Anglo-French, from lesser, v.
1. : a contract by which one conveys lands, tenements, or hereditaments for life, for a term of years, or at will or for any less interest than that of the lessor, usually for a specified rent or compensation ; also : the act of such conveyance, the instrument by which it is made, or the term for which it is made — distinguished from license
2. : a piece of land or property that is leased
3. : a continuance or opportunity of continuance especially in vigorous existence or action usually because of some favoring change or development : hold , term — often used in the phrase lease on life or lease of life
criticism took on a new lease on life — C.I.Glicksberg
with the development of civilian air commerce it took on a new lease of life — Current Biography
if the election yields a majority prepared to support them, the ministry is given a new lease on life — F.A.Ogg & Harold Zink
the Scottish forwards seemed to have got a new lease of life — John Buchan
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Anglo-French lesser, from Old French laissier, lessier to let loose, let go, leave, from Latin laxare to loosen, from laxus slack, loose, spacious — more at slack
transitive verb
1. : to grant or convey to another by lease : let
leased his house for the summer
2. : to hold under a lease : take a lease of
a tenant leases his land from the owner
intransitive verb
1. : to be under lease or be subject to lease
this property leases at a monthly rental of $100
2. : to lease a property
fitted to limn the genus summer renter, having leased to a few invaders himself — New York Times Magazine
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps alteration of leash (I)
1. : a system of crossing warp threads with cords or rods alternately over and under one end or in groups to keep them in position during beaming and weaving
2. : lash 4
VI. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to make a lease in (yarn or thread)