Leer , v. t. To entice with a
leer, or leers; as, to leer a man
to ruin. Dryden.
Leer , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leered (lērd); p. pr. & vb. n. Leering.]
To look with
a leer; to look askance with a suggestive expression,
as of hatred, contempt, lust, etc.; to cast a sidelong lustful or malign look.
I will leerupon him as a' comes by.
Shak. The priest, above his book,
Leering at his neighbor's wife.
Tennyson.
Leer , n. [OE. lere cheek, face, look, AS. hleór cheek, face; akin to OS.
hlear, hlior, OD. lier, Icel. hl&ymacr;r.]
1. The
cheek. [Obs.] Holinshed.
2. Complexion; aspect; appearance.
[Obs.]
A Rosalind of a better
leer than you.
Shak. 3.
A distorted expression
of the face,
or an indirect glance of the eye,
conveying a sinister or immodest suggestion.
With jealous leer malign
Eyed them askance.
Milton.
She gives the leer of invitation.
Shak. Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer.
Pope.
Leer , n. An oven in which glassware is annealed.
Leer , a. [OE. lere; akin to G. leer, OHG. & OS. lāri.]
[Obs. or Prov.
Eng.] Empty; destitute; wanting;
as: (a) Empty of contents. "A leer stomach."
Gifford. (b) Destitute of a rider; and hence, led, not ridden; as, a leer
horse. B. Jonson.
(c) Wanting sense or seriousness; trifling;
trivolous; as, leer
words.
Leer (lēr),
v. t. To learn. [Obs.]
See Lere, to learn.
Hear it pronounced