Obs. Forms: 1 léan, 2–3 lean, lan, 3 læn, len, lyen. [OE. léan str. neut. = OFris. lân, OS., OHG., MHG. lôn (Du. loon, mod.G. lohn masc.), ON. laun neut. pl. (Sw. lön, Da. løn), Goth. laun neut.:—OTeut. *laun-. The root lau- is referred to the same source as OSlav. lovŭ capture, booty, L. lū-crum gain, Gr. ἀπο-λαύειν to enjoy.] Reward, recompense.

1

Beowulf, 1021 (Gr.). Siʓores to leane.

2

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xix. 29. Be hundfealdon he onfehþ lean & hæfð ece lif.

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a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 64. Þer me scal … ȝeuen us ure swinkes lan [12[?] in O. E. Misc., 60 lean; a. 1300 in E. E. P., 24 lyen] efter ure erninge.

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c. 1200.  Ormin, 1518. Ȝiff þu shæwesst hemm whatt læn Iss ȝarrkedd hemm inn heoffne.

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c. 1205.  Lay., 16691. Nu þu scalt fon þat læn þæt þu for-ferdest Jerusalem.

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a. 1250.  Prov. Ælfred, 407, in O. E. Misc. Þe mon þat her wel deþ he cumeþ þar he lyen foþ.

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c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2838. Pharaun … Was dead and hadde is werkes len.

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  Lean sb.2: see after LEAN a.

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