See Also: lean-to(dictionary)
lean-to(dictionary)
lean(4)(dictionary)
lean(3)(dictionary)
lean(2)(dictionary)
lean(1)(dictionary)
Lean(medicine)
Lean Operation(money)
Lean, Sir David(encyclopedia)
Lean, Sir David(dictionary)

lean(4) (iou)



lean verb. .

verbintrans. & refl. Recline, lie (down), rest. obsolete exc. Scot. OE.
verb intrans.
a. Bend or incline in a particular direction. (Foll. by back, over, towards, etc.) OE.
H. Jacobson I leaned towards them so as not to miss a single word.
b. Move or be situated obliquely; swerve (aside). LME.
R. L. Stevenson The gigs had leaned to their right.
a. verb intrans. Incline against an object for support; support oneself or be supported on, (up) against something. ME.
G. Greene She leant against the door and tried to steady herself.
b. Press upon; lay emphasis upon. M18.
verb intrans. fig. Rely or depend on. ME.
P. Casement Trainees..often lean too heavily upon the advice or comments of a supervisor.
verb trans.
a. Cause to lean or rest, prop (against, on, etc.). ME.
P. Theroux Haddy rolled the barrel..into the junkpile and leaned a log against it.
b. Cause to bend or incline. LME.
E. B. Browning I would lean my spirit o'er you.
verb intrans. Incline or tend towards or to some quality or condition. Also, have a tendency favourable to. LME.
Pope There's not a blessing Individuals find, But some way leans and hearkens to the Kind.
verb intrans.
a. Incline or tend in thought, affection, or conduct; be disposed to, towards. M16.
G. Keillor I lean toward this theory.
b. Defer to an opinion. M16-E17.
Shakespeare Cymbeline You lean'd unto his sentence with what patience Your wisdom may inform you.
Phrases & comb.: lean against (chiefly Law) be unfavourable to, not countenance. lean on colloq. put pressure on (a person) in order to force him or her to do something. lean-over an inclination down or forward; something over which one can lean. lean over backward(s): see BACKWARD adverb 1. lean to one side fig. (Politics) (of a political party, diplomatic policy, etc.) be biased towards a particular, esp. socialist, country, party, etc. lean upon Military be close up to something serving as a protection.
leaner noun M16.