From Middle English leven, from Old English lǣfan (“to leave”), from Proto-West Germanic *laibijan, from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to let stay, leave”), causative of *lībaną (“to stay, remain”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to stick; fat”).
Cognate with Old Frisian lēva (“to leave”), dialectal Dutch loven (“to have left over, save, keep”), Old Saxon lēvian, Old High German leiban (“to leave”), Old Norse leifa (“to leave over”) (whence Icelandic leifa (“to leave food uneaten”), Swedish leva (“to leave”)), lifna (“to be left”) (whence Danish levne). More at lave, belive.
The noun is attested since the 19th century, with earliest references to billiards.
Meanings
The action of the batsman not attempting to play at the ball.
He made 45 leaves in his innings of 64.
The arrangement of balls in play that remains after a shot is made (which determines whether the next shooter — who may be either the same player, or an opponent — has good options, or only poor ones).
Having counted 38 points he tried a beautiful massé out of the corner, hit the first ball just a trifle too hard and kissed his own ball off just when victory seemed to be his. The leave was unfortunate for Ives. Slosson played brilliantly and ran the game out, a close winner, with 22 points. 1890 February 27, “Slosson’s Close Shave”, in New York Times:
The tiles remaining on a player's rack after his or her turn.
From Middle English leven, from Old English lǣfan (“to leave”), from Proto-West Germanic *laibijan, from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to let stay, leave”), causative of *lībaną (“to stay, remain”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to stick; fat”).
Cognate with Old Frisian lēva (“to leave”), dialectal Dutch loven (“to have left over, save, keep”), Old Saxon lēvian, Old High German leiban (“to leave”), Old Norse leifa (“to leave over”) (whence Icelandic leifa (“to leave food uneaten”), Swedish leva (“to leave”)), lifna (“to be left”) (whence Danish levne). More at lave, belive.
The noun is attested since the 19th century, with earliest references to billiards.
Meanings
(transitive) To have a consequence or remnant. ▸ To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely.
The ants did not leave so much as a crumb of bread.
Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]. The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation,[…]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe. 2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
[…] St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and left only a dull oppression of the spirit. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
There's not much food left. We'd better go to the shops.
I left my car at home and took a bus to work.
(copulative, intransitive, transitive) To have a consequence or remnant. ▸ To cause, to result in.
The accident left the car a heap of twisted metal.
There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up[…].” 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 1, in Twelve O'Clock:
She left disappointed.
[Rural solar plant] schemes are of little help to industry or other heavy users of electricity. Nor is solar power yet as cheap as the grid. For all that, the rapid arrival of electric light to Indian villages is long overdue. When the national grid suffers its next huge outage, as it did in July 2012 when hundreds of millions were left in the dark, look for specks of light in the villages. 2013 July 20, “Out of the gloom”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
The lightning left her dazzled for several minutes.
Infantile paralysis left him lame for the rest of his life.
The slightest effort made the patient cough. He would stand leaning on a stick and holding a hand to his side, and when the paroxysm had passed it left him shaking. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
(transitive) To have a consequence or remnant. ▸ To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver, with a sense of withdrawing oneself.
We should leave the legal matters to lawyers.
Leave your hat in the hall.
The foot / That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks. c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 5:24:
I left my sewing and went to the window to watch the falling snow.
(transitive) To depart; to separate from. ▸ To let be or do without interference.
I'll leave it to you to decide.
I left him to his reflections.
I leave my hearers to judge.
(transitive) To depart; to separate from. ▸ To depart from; to end one's connection or affiliation with.
I left the country and I left my wife.
His bow and arrow never leaves him.
I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
(transitive) To depart; to separate from. ▸ To end one's membership in (a group); to terminate one's affiliation with (an organization); to stop participating in (a project).
2018, The Independent, "Brexit: Theresa May 'not bluffing' in threat to leave EU without a deal, Tory minister Liam Fox says"
If we were to leave, the economic impact on a number of European countries would be severe.
I left the band.
(euphemistic, transitive) To depart; to separate from. ▸ To die (the object denotes those affected by the death).
The other evening Sheri called to tell me that Connie had left us, and that I will never again be able to hold my pot luck supper plate on my knee and listen to Connie's wonderful talk or see her slow, almost impish smile. 1982 February 13, Nancy Walker, “Connie”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 29, page 10:
(intransitive) To depart; to separate from. ▸ To depart; to go away from a certain place or state.
I think you'd better leave.
(transitive) To transfer something. ▸ To transfer possession of after death.
When my father died, he left me the house.
(transitive) To transfer something. ▸ To intentionally place (something) to be received by another; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit.
I'll leave the car in the station so you can pick it up there.
An hour later, Brianna left a note for her roommate, Jillian Stout, saying she would be back after a work shift. 2026 July 16, Nicholas Muhoro, “Inside the 2004 Brianna Maitland Case: One of Vermont’s Most Haunting Mysteries”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 21 Jul 2026:
(transitive) To transfer something. ▸ To transfer responsibility or attention of (something) (to someone); to stop being concerned with.
Can't we just leave this to the experts?
(intransitive, obsolete) To remain (behind); to stay.
Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,[…]. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter II, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
And whanne sire launcelot sawe them fare soo / he gat a spere in his hand / and there encountred with hym al attones syr bors sir Ector and sire Lyonel / and alle they thre smote hym atte ones with their speres /[…]/ and by mysfortune sir bors smote syre launcelot thurgh the shelde in to the syde / and the spere brake / and the hede lefte stylle in his syde 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVIII:
(archaic, transitive) To stop, desist from; to "leave off" (+ noun / gerund).
I will learn to leave these fruitless tears … c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
Now leave Complaining, and begin your Tea. 1716, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, The Basset-Table. An Eclogue.:
When he had leeft speakynge, he sayde vnto Simon: Cary vs into the depe, and lett slippe thy nette to make a draught. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Luke:
es abjurar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · gl marchar (to depart (intransitive)) · lo ປະ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · qu ripuy (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · de davonmachen (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ja 引き離れる (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pl zostawić (to transfer possession after death) · ru уйти́ (to end one's membership in) · it lasciare (to transfer responsibility or attention) · fr partir (to depart (intransitive)) · acw راح (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pt deixar (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · af verlaat (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · hu testál (to transfer possession after death) · ru уе́хать (to depart (intransitive)) · pl zostawiać (to transfer possession after death) · oc partir (to depart (intransitive)) · hy մեկնել (to depart (intransitive)) · lv pamest (to depart (intransitive)) · fur partî (to depart (intransitive)) · it andarsene (to depart (intransitive)) · rup las (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · pt deixar (to transfer possession after death) · osx farlēƀian (to depart (intransitive)) · la proficiscor (to depart (intransitive)) · hu kilép (to end one's membership in) · mi haere atu (to depart (intransitive)) · chr ᎠᏓᏅᏍᏗ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · he השאיר (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · cmn 離開 /离开 (to depart (intransitive)) · ca deixar (to end one's membership in) · it lasciare (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sv åka (to depart (intransitive)) · nl laten (to transfer possession after death) · nl achterlaten (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · tl hayaan (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · cs opustit (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sh ostavljati (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ko 떠나다 (to depart (intransitive)) · pt sair (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · nrf laîssi (to transfer possession after death) · lv atstāt (to transfer possession after death) · acw راح (to depart (intransitive)) · cs zanechat (to transfer possession after death) · ia abandonar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · bg тръгна (to depart (intransitive)) · ar تَرَكَ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · rm lascher (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hi रवाना (to depart (intransitive)) · es legar (to transfer possession after death) · lld lascer (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · scn lassari (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · es abandonar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · es apostatar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · hy լքել (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · id meninggalkan (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · es desafiliarse (to end one's membership in) · ru переда́ть (to transfer responsibility or attention) · zza vındarden (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · km ចាកចេញ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · bg тръгвам (to depart (intransitive)) · de fortfahren (to depart (intransitive)) · lo ຈາກ (to depart (intransitive)) · el φεύγω (to depart (intransitive)) · bg напу́сна (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · es dejar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ota براقمق (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · da efterlade (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu ráhagy (to transfer responsibility or attention) · be адхо́дзіць (to depart (intransitive)) · vec lasar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru оста́вить (to transfer responsibility or attention) · hu átruház (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · bg оста́вям (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu otthagy (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · bg оста́вям (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · hy թողնել (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · de wegfahren (to depart (intransitive)) · da forlade (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · bg замина́вам (to depart (intransitive)) · lt palikti (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ky кетүү (to depart (intransitive)) · es dejar (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · ar غَادَرَ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · gl partir (to depart (intransitive)) · ru уйти́ (to depart (intransitive)) · it lasciare (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ssy xabe (to depart (intransitive)) · rm partir (to depart (intransitive)) · de hinterlassen (to transfer possession after death) · chk feino (to depart (intransitive)) · it partire (to depart (intransitive)) · ta கிளம்பு (to depart (intransitive)) · vec caminare (to depart (intransitive)) · fa رفتن (to depart (intransitive)) · af gaan vertrek (to depart (intransitive)) · ru предоставля́ть (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · bcl walat (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · nl verlaten (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · be пакіда́ць (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · fi lähteä (to depart (intransitive)) · nl achterlaten (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · nl deponeren (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · fo fara avstað (to depart (intransitive)) · es dejar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ba ҡалдырыу (to transfer possession after death) · acw طِلِع (to depart (intransitive)) · hu indul (to depart (intransitive)) · ro pleca (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ba тапшырыу (to transfer responsibility or attention) · is fara (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pt deixar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru уходи́ть (to end one's membership in) · ka ტოვებს (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · hy թողնել (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · grc λείπω (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ko 방치하다 (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · el αφήνω (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · no forlate (to depart (intransitive)) · ru поруча́ть (to transfer responsibility or attention) · ba китеү (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ru предоста́вить (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · ru покида́ть (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ru поручи́ть (to transfer responsibility or attention) · hi छोड़ना (to end one's membership in) · it abbandonare (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · io livar (to depart (intransitive)) · vec łasar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · uga 𐎚𐎁𐎓 (to depart (intransitive)) · bg изоста́вям (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sw toka (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · mi maiki (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ru передава́ть (to transfer responsibility or attention) · ru оста́вить (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · vi rời khỏi (to depart (intransitive)) · pl odejść (to depart (intransitive)) · ro lăsa (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · qu saqiy (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · nl weggaan (to depart (intransitive)) · es irse (to depart (intransitive)) · ja 去る (to depart (intransitive)) · lld partir (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · kmr çûn (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · id tinggal (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · clt pya (to depart (intransitive)) · de lassen (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hi जाना (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pl opuścić (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · be застаўля́ць (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu ráhagy (to transfer possession after death) · ja 残す (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · mr निघणे (to depart (intransitive)) · qu hagii (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ar اِنْصَرَفَ (to depart (intransitive)) · sh остављати (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · gu વધવું (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ca deixar (to transfer responsibility or attention) · mi wira (to transfer possession after death) · qu yarquy (to depart (intransitive)) · ja 放置する (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ang lǣtan (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sw toka (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · af nalaat (to transfer possession after death) · cs nechat (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ckb بەجێی بێڵە (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ckb بە جێ ھێشتن (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ny kupita (to depart (intransitive)) · cs nechat (to transfer responsibility or attention) · ru оставля́ть (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · got 𐌱𐌹𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌰𐌽 (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pl odchodzić (to depart (intransitive)) · ca deixar (to transfer possession after death) · ga fág (to depart (intransitive)) · hu felad (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sq Ik (to depart (intransitive)) · oc daissar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · rup alas (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · nah itopanecauiloc (to depart (intransitive)) · be ад'язджа́ць (to depart (intransitive)) · ba сығыу (to end one's membership in) · sa रिणक्ति (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · et lahkuma (to depart (intransitive)) · ast marchar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ru поки́нуть (to end one's membership in) · fi jättää (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · fi jättää (to transfer responsibility or attention) · ru броса́ть (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · vec caminar (to depart (intransitive)) · rm schar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sv lämna efter sig (to transfer possession after death) · gd falbh (to depart (intransitive)) · nl laten (staan, zijn) (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sc lassare (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sl pustiti (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · io departar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · hu elmegy (to depart (intransitive)) · es dejar (to transfer responsibility or attention) · la descisco (to depart (intransitive)) · vec ndar vìa (to depart (intransitive)) · ist lassà (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · id berangkat (to depart (intransitive)) · bg преда́м (to transfer responsibility or attention) · pt deixar (to end one's membership in) · kmr bi cih hiştin (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · es desertar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · gd fàg (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · af erf (to transfer possession after death) · bi lego (to depart (intransitive)) · rm laschar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · uk відхо́дити (to depart (intransitive)) · la colo (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · bg оста́вя (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · ca marxar (to depart (intransitive)) · sa जहाति (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pt deixar (to transfer responsibility or attention) · hy թողնել (to transfer possession after death) · acw راح (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ast marchar (to depart (intransitive)) · nl overdragen (to transfer responsibility or attention) · sh оставити (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ota براقمق (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · fi jättää (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · es dejar (to transfer possession after death) · th เหลือ (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · es ausentarse (to depart (intransitive)) · ru оста́вить (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · uk поки́нути (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · la lego (to transfer possession after death) · cs nechávat (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ca partir (to depart (intransitive)) · ko 나가다 (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · de weggehen (to depart (intransitive)) · tr çıkmak (to depart (intransitive)) · la exeō (to depart (intransitive)) · fi erota (to end one's membership in) · sv lämna (kvar) (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · alt калдырар (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru поки́нуть (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · yi אַוועקניין (to depart (intransitive)) · gd fàg (to transfer responsibility or attention) · tg рафтан (to depart (intransitive)) · sw toka (to end one's membership in) · sq lëshoj (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · kmr bi rê ketin (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · vec ndar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · acw ساب (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · vi bỏ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · cmn 包在……身上 (to transfer responsibility or attention) · be пакі́нуць (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ja 出発する (to depart (intransitive)) · la descisco (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sc lassai (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · mk остави (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · zdj uroha (to depart (intransitive)) · hu otthagy (to end one's membership in) · ta கிளம்பு (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sv lämna (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · gsw verlaa (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · fr quitter (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · acw ترك (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ta புறப்படு (to depart (intransitive)) · nap lassà (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · eu utzi (to depart (intransitive)) · bg оста́вя pf преда́вам (to transfer responsibility or attention) · nl vertrekken (to depart (intransitive)) · ca deixar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · af oordra (to transfer responsibility or attention) · cy gadael (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sh ostaviti (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · af los (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ba китеү (to depart (intransitive)) · ru оставля́ть (to transfer responsibility or attention) · la discedo (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · kmr hêlan (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · gur we (to depart (intransitive)) · sa रिणक्ति (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu átad (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · qu sagii (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · da gå (to depart (intransitive)) · lo ຈາກ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ast colar (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sq Le (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · la decedo (to depart (intransitive)) · da forlade (to end one's membership in) · acw نَدَر (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ta புறப்படு (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ota براقمق (to depart (intransitive)) · gl deixar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · bg зами́на (to depart (intransitive)) · alu tahi (to depart (intransitive)) · nrf tchitter (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · tr bırakmak (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ka ტოვებს (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sw kuondoka (to depart (intransitive)) · el αφήνω (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sk nechávať (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · cs přenechat (to transfer responsibility or attention) · it dimenticare (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · vi rời (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ba тапшырыу (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · pt ir embora (to depart (intransitive)) · cy gadael (to transfer possession after death) · sa त्यजति (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · gd fàg (to end one's membership in) · izh jättää (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · da overlade (to transfer responsibility or attention) · lv atstāt (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sl zapustiti (to transfer possession after death) · eo lasi (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ang forlǣtan (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · rup plec (to depart (intransitive)) · es largarse (to depart (intransitive)) · grc λείπω (to depart (intransitive)) · pt partir (to depart (intransitive)) · bg напу́скам (to end one's membership in) · sw toka (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · fur partî (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · km ចចេញ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · mi wehe atu (to depart (intransitive)) · acw مشي (to depart (intransitive)) · uk від'їжджа́ти (to depart (intransitive)) · yue 留 (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu elhagy (to end one's membership in) · gd fàg (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · bo ཐོན (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · hy հեռանալ (to depart (intransitive)) · ba ҡалдырыу (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · ru оста́вить (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · la discedo (to depart (intransitive)) · ta செல் (to depart (intransitive)) · yi אַוועקפֿאָרן (to depart (intransitive)) · eo foriri (to depart (intransitive)) · gd fàg (to depart (intransitive)) · tl umalís (to depart (intransitive)) · fr laisser (to transfer responsibility or attention) · ar تَرَكَ (to depart (intransitive)) · ru оставля́ть (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · nap lascià (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · uli chiuy (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ba биреү (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · te వెళ్ళిపో (to depart (intransitive)) · ru уезжа́ть (to depart (intransitive)) · cy gadael (to depart (intransitive)) · el αφήνω (to transfer possession after death) · acw طِلِع (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pt sair (to end one's membership in) · nrf laîssi (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · nah itopanecauiloc (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · mk остава (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · gd fàg (to transfer possession after death) · nl beëindigen (to end one's membership in) · cmn 離開 /离开 (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · acw انقلع (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sl oditi (to depart (intransitive)) · cy gadael (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · uk відійти́ (to depart (intransitive)) · gsw laa (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ca deixar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sl zapustiti (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · uk залиша́ти (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · kij -la- (to depart (intransitive)) · de fortgehen (to depart (intransitive)) · bg оста́вя (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · uk від'ї́хати (to depart (intransitive)) · hi छोड़ना (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · mi ngawīi (to depart (intransitive)) · gl largar (to depart (intransitive)) · no etterlate (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru бро́сить (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ga fág (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · de zurücklassen (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · bg оста́вям (to transfer responsibility or attention) · is fara (to depart (intransitive)) · nl nalaten (to transfer possession after death) · gl liscar (to depart (intransitive)) · nl overlaten (to transfer responsibility or attention) · fr laisser (to transfer possession after death) · th จาก (to depart (intransitive)) · af beëindig (to end one's membership in) · hu elhagy (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · no forlate (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · eo eliri (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · mr सोडणे (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · es salir de (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sw toka (to transfer possession after death) · hy գնալ (to depart (intransitive)) · be заста́віць (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru оставля́ть (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · he עזב (to depart (intransitive)) · vec ndar via (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sw toka (to transfer responsibility or attention) · gd fàg (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · nl verlaten (to end one's membership in) · pl zostawiać (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sk opustiť (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · aa cabe (to depart (intransitive)) · izh lähtiä (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · bg завеща́я (to transfer possession after death) · hu elindul (to depart (intransitive)) · hi छोड़ना (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · la abambulo (to depart (intransitive)) · fur lassâ (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sv avresa (to depart (intransitive)) · fa رفتن (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · el αφήνω (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ko 떠나다 (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · la abeo (to depart (intransitive)) · cmn 留 (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ka დატოვებს (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · grc ἀφίημι (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · be ад'е́хаць (to depart (intransitive)) · hi चला जाना (to depart (intransitive)) · tl iwanan (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · km ចេញ (to depart (intransitive)) · bg изоста́вя (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · hu elhagy (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · fi jättää (to transfer possession after death) · es delejar (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · bo འགྲོ་བ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · fi jättää (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · arz مشى (to depart (intransitive)) · ms tinggal (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ba ҡалдырыу (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · vec ndar vìa (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ca sortir (to depart (intransitive)) · ja 引き離す (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · es absentarse (to depart (intransitive)) · sv ge sig av (to depart (intransitive)) · ur چھوڑنا (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu rábíz (to transfer responsibility or attention) · be адысці́ (to depart (intransitive)) · ru оставля́ть (to transfer possession after death) · pt partir (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sv kvarlåta (to transfer possession after death) · la pono (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · la egredior (to depart (intransitive)) · es partir (to depart (intransitive)) · de verlassen (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · so tago (to depart (intransitive)) · ang forlǣtan (to depart (intransitive)) · rm parteir (to depart (intransitive)) · fi jättää (to end one's membership in) · ru покида́ть (to end one's membership in) · pl opuszczać (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · uk залиши́ти (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · uk покида́ти (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ga fág (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · atj matcaw (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ast dexar (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · as এৰা (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ca dipositar (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · ne जानु (to depart (intransitive)) · hu elutazik (to depart (intransitive)) · bg напу́скам (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ar غَادَرَ (to depart (intransitive)) · hu hátrahagy (to transfer possession after death) · la desero (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru оста́вить (to transfer possession after death) · ba китеү (to end one's membership in) · bg завеща́вам (to transfer possession after death) · es salir (to depart (intransitive)) · he עזב (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · pl zostawić (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · kmr hiştin (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ro pleca (to depart (intransitive)) · ga fág (to end one's membership in) · da efterlade (to transfer possession after death) · acw مشي (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · vec ndar via (to depart (intransitive)) · ga fág (to transfer possession after death) · ga imigh (to depart (intransitive)) · acw سَيَّب (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu hagy (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ga tiomnaigh (to transfer possession after death) · fr laisser (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ru уходи́ть (to depart (intransitive)) · acw ترك (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · eu utzi (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · sh napustiti (to end one's membership in) · bg напу́сна (to end one's membership in) · ar تَرَكَ (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · ga fág (to transfer responsibility or attention) · bo ཆས་པ (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · no etterlate (to transfer possession after death) · da aflevere (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · sh prepustiti (to give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit) · tl matira (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · sk nechať (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting) · hu felhagy (to depart from, end one's connection or affiliation with) · ta விடு (to cause to remain as available, not take away, refrain from depleting)
From Middle English leve, from Old English lēaf (“permission, privilege”), from Proto-Germanic *laubō, *laubą (“permission, privilege, favour, worth”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ- (“to love, hold dear”). Cognate with obsolete German Laube (“permission”), Swedish lov (“permission”), Icelandic leyfi (“permission”). Related to Dutch verlof, German Urlaub, Erlaubnis, Verlaub. See also love.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Permission to be absent; time away from one's work.
I've just been given three weeks' leave by my boss — I don't think I still have some leave owing to me.
(countable, dated, uncountable) Permission.
Since I have your good leave to go away, / I will make haste: but, till I come again, / No bed shall e'er be guilty of my stay, / Nor rest be interposer 'twixt us twain. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
Might I beg leave to accompany you?
The applicant now seeks leave to appeal and, if leave be granted, to appeal against these sentences.
nl toestemming (permission to be absent) · sh о̀дмор (absence from work) · pt licença (absence from work) · es despedida (departure) · ta விடுப்பு (permission to be absent) · ru позволе́ние (permission to be absent) · ru побы́вка (absence from work) · sk dovolená (absence from work) · el άδεια (absence from work) · ru о́тпуск (absence from work) · af verlof (permission to be absent) · sv ledighet (absence from work) · id cuti (permission to be absent) · nb permisjon (permission to be absent) · hu búcsú (departure) · uk відгу́л (absence from work) · fr congé (absence from work) · cy gwyliau (absence from work) · az məzuniyyət (absence from work) · gu રજા (permission to be absent) · sw toka (absence from work) · el άδεια (permission to be absent) · cs dovolená (absence from work) · es diábetes (absence from work) · da frihed (absence from work) · sv tillåtelse (permission to be absent) · pl pozwolenie (permission to be absent) · de Urlaub (absence from work) · id Berangkat (departure) · tr izin (absence from work) · hu kimenő (permission to be absent) · mi whakamatuatanga (permission to be absent) · es permiso (permission to be absent) · ar إِجَازَة (absence from work) · mn амралт (absence from work) · af verlaat (departure) · sv lov (permission to be absent) · id cuti (absence from work) · bg разреше́ние (permission to be absent) · hu kimenő (absence from work) · cy gadawiad (departure) · hu eltávozás (absence from work) · ta விடுமுறை (absence from work) · nl verlof (permission to be absent) · pt afastamento (absence from work) · de Abschied (departure) · pl urlop (absence from work) · cy seibiant (absence from work) · bg замина́ване (departure) · ru разреше́ние (permission to be absent) · mk одмор (absence from work) · da tilladelse (permission to be absent) · uk відпу́стка (absence from work) · nn permisjon (permission to be absent) · fi vapaa (absence from work) · it partenza (departure) · ota رخصت (absence from work) · ca permís (permission to be absent) · id perlop (permission to be absent) · af verlof (absence from work) · mr रजा (permission to be absent) · it permesso (permission to be absent) · bg позволе́ние (permission to be absent) · da orlov (absence from work) · de Beurlaubung (absence from work) · be во́дпуск (absence from work) · es excedencia (absence from work) · ka შვებულება (permission to be absent) · sw toka (permission to be absent) · ar عُطْلَة (absence from work) · id izin (permission to be absent) · uk до́звіл (permission to be absent) · hi छुट्टी (absence from work) · nn løyve (permission to be absent) · de Freistellung (absence from work) · de Verlaub (permission to be absent) · da afsked (departure) · ang lēaf (permission to be absent) · ta விடை (departure) · nb tillatelse (permission to be absent) · ota رخصت (permission to be absent) · pt saída (departure) · sw toka (departure) · ta லீவு (absence from work) · pt permissão (permission to be absent) · fr congé (departure) · sh òdmor (absence from work) · sv avsked (departure) · ta விடுப்பு (absence from work) · be дазво́л (permission to be absent) · fr permission (permission to be absent) · eo forpermeso (permission to be absent) · ru отгу́л (absence from work) · bg о́тпуск (absence from work) · cy caniatad (permission to be absent) · hu eltávozás (permission to be absent) · hu búcsúzás (departure) · de Erlaubnis (permission to be absent) · hu szabadság (absence from work) · da permission (permission to be absent) · nl verlof (absence from work) · pt partida (departure) · hi छुट्टी (permission to be absent) · fa مرخصی (absence from work) · ca comiat (departure) · fi vapaa (permission to be absent) · es licencia (permission to be absent) · sl dopust (absence from work) · fr permis (permission to be absent) · fi lähtö (departure)
From Middle English leven, from Old English līefan (“to allow, grant, concede; believe, trust, confide in”), from Proto-West Germanic *laubijan, from Proto-Germanic *laubijaną (“to allow, praise”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ- (“to love, hold dear”). Cognate with German erlauben (“to allow”), German glauben (“to believe”), Icelandic leyfa (“to allow”).
Meanings
(transitive) To give leave to; allow; permit; let; grant.
From Middle English leven, from lef (“leaf”). More at leaf.
Meanings
(intransitive, rare) To produce leaves or foliage.
Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say:
Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday? 1868, Edward Fitzgerald, The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, 2nd edition:
bg разлиствам се (To produce leaves) · nb lauve (To produce leaves) · nb lauve (To produce leaves) · nb lauvast (To produce leaves) · nb løves (To produce leaves)
From French lever. Compare levy. Compare also Middle English leve, a variant of levy that may have been monosyllabic.
Meanings
(obsolete) To raise; to levy.
[…]au^([sic – meaning an]) army ſtrong ſhe leau'd,[…] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 31, page 334: