leave English · revision 2499

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /liːv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|to go away}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English lǣfan)|origins=ine-pro *leip-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|leven]], [[inh|ang|lǣfan|t=to let remain; to bequeath]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*laibjanan]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a causative of the verb meaning “to remain” seen in Old English [[m|ang|belīfan]] and German [[m|de|bleiben]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[ine-pro|*leip-|t=to stick, adhere]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986) Its relatives include [[non|leifa|t=to leave behind]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) and in English [[life]] and [[live]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) It is not related to [[leave#2]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To let remain, to have left behind, to bequeath: Old English ''lǣfan'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Germanic verb seems to have meant only “to remain, continue”, but this is usually explained as a development of the older sense “to stick”.^(Etymonline) It was at first a strong verb but early became weak.^(Etymonline) “To leave alone” is recorded in 1127.^(Barnhart 1988) The sense “to go away, depart” arose about 1200 from the idea of leaving something behind,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart finds it probably before 1200 in the ''Ancrene Riwle'' and Layamon.^(Barnhart 1988) Also from about 1200 it meant “to stop, give up”, “to omit” and “to abandon”.^(Etymonline) ''Leave out'', “to omit”, is from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) The colloquial use for “let, allow” is by 1840, chiefly American according to the OED.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''lǣfan'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1127 – to leave alone.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – to go away; to give up.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – ''leave out''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1840 – to let, allow.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To go out of or away from; to [[depart]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To go without taking: ''left my keys at home''.^(AHD)

+ # To have as a result or remainder.^(AHD)

+ # To let remain in a given state: ''leave the door open''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To have remaining after death; to [[bequeath]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To hand over to another to deal with.^(AHD)

+ # To [[abandon]] or give up.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ {{homograph|2|permission}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 900 (Alfred)|origins=ine-pro *leubh-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|leve]], [[inh|ang|lēafe]], the dative and accusative of [[m|ang|lēaf|t=permission]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*laubō]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*leubh-|t=to care, desire, love]], the first idea being approval arising from pleasure.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Its relatives include [[non|leyfi|t=permission]] and [[de|Urlaub|t=leave of absence]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and in English [[lief]], [[love]], [[believe]] and [[furlough]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Permission: Old English ''lēafe'', before 900, in Alfred's translation of Gregory's ''Pastoral Care''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Middle English form ''leve'' is found in 1129.^(Barnhart 1988) The military sense, permission to be absent from duty, is from 1771.^(Etymonline) The noun also came to mean a departure or farewell, as in ''take one's leave''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 900 – Old English ''lēafe'' (Alfred).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1129 – Middle English ''leve''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1771 – leave of absence from military duty.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Permission to do something.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Official permission to be absent from work or duty, or the time allowed.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A departure or farewell: ''take one's leave''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[life]]

+ * [[live]]

+ * [[lief]]

+ * [[love]]

+ * [[believe]]

+ * [[furlough]]

+ * [[leaf]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A third verb ''leave'', “to put forth leaves”, was formed from [[leaf]] about 1250.^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD) The American Heritage Dictionary accepts ''leave alone'' in the sense “to refrain from disturbing”, as in ''leave him alone and he will produce''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}