Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 2 leðien, 3 leoðien, 4 leþ(e, 6, 8–9 dial. lathe, 8–9 leath(e, leeth. [ME. leþien, f. leþ LEATH sb.]
1. trans. To mitigate, soften, relax.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 71. Alse wat swo þe man his sinne sore bimurneð ure drihten leðeð þe sinne bendes, and blisseð swo þe soule.
c. 1205. Lay., 21922. Leoðe [c. 1275 slake] vre benden.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 86. Goddes graz … conforted him … And lethed his soru and his kare.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 13. Suffraunce may aswagend hem & þe swelme leþe.
1796. Marshall, Yorks., II. 330. Leathe, to relax; as a cow when near calving.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., 310. Leathe, to soften, to render that which is rigid more or less soft and pliant.
† 2. intr. To cease, abate. Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 12042. Þat weder leoðede.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 5572 (Fairf.). Of his wikkenes walde he noȝt leþ.
13[?]. St. Erkenwolde, 347, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 274. Þe ay-lastand life, þat lethe shalle neuer.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 377. Now I hit se, now leþez my loþe. Ibid., B. 648. Er þy lyuez lyȝt leþe vpon erþe … schal Sare consayue & a sun bere.
Hence Leathing vbl. sb.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7438. Ai quen [saul] was trauaild mast … And [dauid] bigan to gleu or sing, Of his vn-ro he tok lething.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1858), I. 219. The king of Pechtis, into siclike number, Than haistilie come ouir the watter of Humber, Without lathen, that tyme he wes not lidder; Syne in ane feild tha lichtit all togidder. Ibid., 401. Without lathin he maid no langar lat.
