Where does “leer” come from?
Leer comes from Middle English leren, from Proto-Germanic laizijaną meaning "to teach," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots including ḱel- and leys-.
leer (English): To look sideways or obliquely; now especially...
Definitions
- To look sideways or obliquely; now especially...
Ancestry of “leer”, step by step
leer traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English lere
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lere | empty; Alternative form of lore |
| 2 | Old English | lār | teaching; doctrine; lore, learning, science, art... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | laiʀu | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | laizō | teaching; lore; doctrine |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | laizijaną | to teach |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | loyséyeti | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | leys | to trace; to track |