lean English · revision 7290

+ Word Origins notes that the two words spelled lean are of different origins, though both are Old English: to incline, related to Latin clinare, and thin, of uncertain origin.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈliːn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|incline}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ine-pro *ḱley-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English lenen, [[inh|ang|hleonian|t=to recline, lie down, bend]] (West Saxon hlinian),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Proto-Germanic *hlinēn, source also of Old Saxon hlinon, Dutch [[m|nl|leunen]] and German [[m|de|lehnen]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*ḱley-|alt=*klei-|t=to lean]], also the root of Latin clīnāre, to bend (as in [[incline]]) and Greek [[m|grc|κλίνω|tr=klínein|t=to lean]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To lean or recline: about 725, in Beowulf.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively, to trust for support, is from the early 13th century,^(Etymonline) and to incline the body against something for support from the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) To cause to lean or rest is 14th-century,^(Etymonline) and to favour mentally, ''lean towards'', late 14th-century.^(Etymonline) The noun, an act of leaning, is from 1776.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Lean on'', to put pressure on someone, is first recorded in 1960.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – to recline.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – to rely on.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – to incline mentally.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1776 – a lean (noun).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1960 – to lean on, pressure.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bend or move from a vertical position.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To rest against something for support.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(lean on)'' To depend on for support, or ''(informal)'' to put pressure on.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(lean towards)'' To favour an opinion or course.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A slope or inclination.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lean-to]]

+ * [[leaning]]

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+ {{homograph|2|thin}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=ang hlǣne}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English lene, [[inh|ang|hlǣne|t=lean, thin]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) of uncertain origin.^(Hoad 1986) Skeat derived it from hlǣnan, to cause to lean or bend, connecting it with lean, to incline,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) but the OED prefers a PIE *klóynyo-, with cognates in Lithuanian klynas, scrap, and Latvian kleins, feeble.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Thin, with little flesh: about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Extended and figurative senses, such as meagre or unproductive, are from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) Of meat, containing little fat, it is a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) In business jargon from the 1970s it was paired with mean, suggesting the aggressiveness of hunger.^(Etymonline) An obsolete Old English lean meant reward or recompense.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – thin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – figurative senses.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1970s – lean and mean.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Thin, especially healthily so; having little body fat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of meat, containing little fat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Offering little reward or nourishment; [[meagre]]: ''lean years''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of an organization, efficient and with no waste.^(AHD)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The lean part of meat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leanness]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[climate]]

+ * [[cline]]

+ * [[incline]]

+ * [[decline]]

+ * [[recline]]

+ * [[clinic]]

+ * [[ladder]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}