Also 6 lere, 6–7 leare, leere. [Perh. f. LEER sb.1 in the sense ‘cheek’; the early examples of the vb. suit well the explanation ‘to glance over one’s cheek.’]
1. intr. To look obliquely or askance; to cast side glances. Now only, to look or gaze with a sly, immodest, or malign expression in one’s eye. Also with adverbs, as aside, up, back; occas. with clause.
1530. Palsgr., 606/2. I leare or lere, as a dogge dothe underneth a doore. Je regarde de longue veue.
1575. Gamm. Gurton, I. iii. 32. By chaunce a-syde she leares, And Gyb, our cat, in the milke pan she spied ouer head and eares.
1576. Gascoigne, Philomene (Arb.), 106. And now on hir, and then on him, Full lowringly did leare.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. v. 1012. Even as a wolf,… Flyes with down-hanging head, and leareth back Whether the Mastife doo pursue his track.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. v. 7. I will leere vpon him, as he comes by: and do but marke the countenance that hee will giue me.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. II. xcv. Here Graculo learing up with one eye View’d the broad Heavens.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 6. Though Dame Fortune seem to smile And leer upon him for a while.
1720. Gay, Tales, Mad-dog, 35. They leer, they simper at her shame.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 9. Here Fannia leering on her own good man.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Grace bef. Meat. C. V. L. when importuned for a grace used to inquire, first slily leering down the table, ‘Is there no clergyman here?’
1851. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., vi. (1858), 310. The foul Satyr’s eyes leer out of the leaves constantly.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, xix. 218. He passed out through the ante-chamber, leering at the slave-girls.
fig. 1727. Swift, Lett. to Gay, xxvi. Wks. 1751, VII. 94 (J.). I wonder whether you begin to taste the pleasure of Independency? or whether you do not sometimes leer upon the Court, oculo retorto?
† 2. To walk stealthily or with averted looks; to slink away. Obs.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 260. He came learing softlye on the other side the hedge.
a. 1634. Randolph, Muses Looking-gl., II. ii. Who knows but they come learing after us To steale away the substance?
1666. Bunyan, Grace Ab., ¶ 144. Methought I saw as if the Tempter did lear and steal away from me, as being ashamed of what he had done. Ibid. (1678), Pilgr., I. (1862), 71. I met him once in the Streets, but he leered away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done.
1847–78. Halliwell, Leer, to go or sneak away. North.
3. trans. a. To give a leer with (the eye).
1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xi. Leering his eye at his father.
1838. D. Jerrold, Men of Char., Matthew Clear, ii. (1851), 147. [A parrot] cocking his head, leering his eye, and working his black tongue.
b. To beguile or reduce to by leering.
1681. Dryden, Sp. Friar, I. 6. But Bertran has been taught the Arts of Court, To guild a Face with Smiles; and leer a man to ruin.
Hence Leering vbl. sb.
1619. Fletcher, M. Thomas, IV. ii. Footra for leers, and learings.
c. 1685. in Roxb. Ballads, VII. 426. She knew him a Knave by his learing.
