Now rare and arch. Forms: 3 liache, Orm. læchenn; 3–6 leche, 4–5 liche, 5–6 lech, 5, 7 leach, 6 leeche, 9 leech. [Early ME., f. LEECH sb.1; cf. Sw. läka, Da. læge. The sense was expressed in OE. by lácnian, lǽcnian: see LECHNE v.] trans. To cure, heal.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4274. He comm her to læchenn uss Off all þatt dæþess wunde. Ibid., 17227. Hiss gast Iss clennsedd & rihht lachedd.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 176. Iesu crist … openlik bigan … alle þat sek ware to leche. Ibid., 11841. Þai moght not leche his wa.
1382. Wyclif, Job v. 18. [The Lord] woundeth and lecheth; smyteth, and his hondis shuln helen.
c. 1440. York Myst., xvii. 156. A barne is borne Þat shall … leche þam þat ar lorne.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1832. He taght goddis wordes … And synfull’ men lyues lechyd.
1564. Louth Corporat. Acc. (1891), 78. Paid for leching my horses verie sicke, vs.
1618. Fletcher, Loyal Subj., III. v. Have ye any crack maidenhead to new leach or mend?
1820. Scott, Ivanhoe, xviii. Let those leech his wounds for whose sake he encountered them.
1850. Blackie, Æschylus, I. 63. A disease that none may leech.
