*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of leer

Exact development uncertain, but apparently from a verb *leer (“to make a face, look sideways”), from leer (“cheek, face, profile”) (see below).

5 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 5 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
verb

To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent. · To entice with a leer or leers.

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.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Exact development uncertain, but apparently from a verb *leer (“to make a face, look sideways”), from leer (“cheek, face, profile”) (see below).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.",
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

The cheek. · The face. · One's appearance; countenance. · Complexion; hue; colour.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English ler, leor (“face, cheek”), from Old English hlēor (“face, cheek, profile”), from Proto-West Germanic *hleuʀ, from Proto-Germanic *hleuzą (“ear, cheek”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlews- (“temple of the forehead, cheek”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to hear”). Cognate with Scots lire, lere (“face, appearance, complexion”), Dutch lier (“cheek”), Swedish lyra (“pout”), Norwegian lia (“hillside”), Icelandic hlýr (“the face, cheek, countenance”). Related to Old English hlyst (“sense of hearing, listening”) and hlysnan (“to listen”). More at list, listen.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionlerenm
  • Inherited-form mentionhlēorang · face, cheek, profile
  • Inherited-form mention*hleuʀgmw-pro
  • Inherited-form mention*hleuzągem-pro · ear, cheek
  • Derivation mention*ḱlews-ine-pro · temple of the forehead, cheek
  • Derivation mention*ḱlew-ine-pro
  • Cognate mentionliresco
  • Cognate mentionliernl
  • Cognate mentionlyrasv
  • Cognate mentionliano
  • Cognate mentionhlýris
  • Cognate mentionhlystang

This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
adj

Empty; unoccupied; clear. · Destitute; lacking; wanting. · Faint from lack of food; hungry. · Thin; faint.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English lere, from Old English ġelǣr, *lǣre (“empty, void, empty-handed”), from Proto-West Germanic *lāʀi, *lāʀī, from Proto-Germanic *lēziz, *lēzijaz (“empty”), from Proto-Indo-European *les- (“to collect, pick”). Cognate with Dutch laar (“a clearing in the woods”), German leer (“empty”). Related to Old English lesan (“to gather, collect”). More at lease.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionlereenm
  • Inherited-form mentionġelǣrang
  • Inherited-form mention*lāʀigmw-pro
  • Inherited-form mention*lēzizgem-pro
  • Derivation mention*les-ine-pro · to collect, pick
  • Cognate mentionlaarnl · a clearing in the woods
  • Cognate mentionleerde · empty
  • Cognate mentionlesanang · to gather, collect

This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/lāʀi"
    ],
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      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/lāʀī"
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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗
verb

To teach. · To learn.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English leren, from Old English lǣran (“to teach, instruct, guide, enjoin, advise, persuade, urge, preach, hand down”), from Proto-West Germanic *laiʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *laizijaną (“to teach”), from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“track, footprint, furrow, trace”). Cognate with Dutch leren (“to teach, to learn”), German lehren (“to teach”), Swedish lära (“to teach”). Related to Old English lār (“lore, learning, science, art of teaching, preaching, doctrine, study, precept, exhortation, advice, instigation, history, story, cunning”). See lore.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionlerenenm
  • Inherited-form mentionlǣranang · to teach, instruct, guide, enjoin, advise, persuade, urge, preach, hand down
  • Inherited-form mention*laiʀijangmw-pro
  • Inherited-form mention*laizijanągem-pro · to teach
  • Derivation mention*leys-ine-pro · track, footprint, furrow, trace
  • Cognate mentionlerennl · to teach, to learn
  • Cognate mentionlehrende · to teach
  • Cognate mentionlärasv · to teach
  • Cognate mentionlārang · lore, learning, science, art of teaching, preaching, doctrine, study, precept, exhortation, advice, instigation, history, story, cunning
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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      "name": "cog",
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      "name": "cog",
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Source etymology 5

Original entry ↗
noun

Alternative form of lehr.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

See lehr.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for leer →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
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Import run
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Permanent entry ID
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