[glean] vb [ME glenen, fr. MF glener, fr. LL glennare, of Celtic origin; akin to OIr doglenn he selects] vi (14c) 1: to gather grain or other produce left by reapers
2: to gather information or material bit by bit ~ vt 1 a: to pick up after a reaper b: to strip (as a field) of the leavings of reapers
2. a: to gather (as information) bit by bit b: to pick over in search of relevant material "~ing old files for information"
3: find out -- glean.able adj -- glean.er n