Forms: 1 líesan, lýsan, lésan, 2–4 lese(n, 4 les, lais(e, layse, 5 lesse, 6 Sc. leis, 7 leese. Pa. t. 1 lýsde, 3 lesede, 4 lais(e)d. [OE. líesan wk. vb. = OS. lôsian (MDu. lôsen, lôzen, Du. loozen), OHG. lôsen (MHG. lœsen, mod.G. lösen), ON. løysa (Sw. lösa, Da. löse), Goth. (and OTeut.) lausjan, f. OTeut. *lauso-: see LOOSE a. The forms laise, layse, are from ON. Cf. ALESE.]
1. trans. To set free, deliver, release (in material and immaterial senses).
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 1209. Hu se sylfa cyning mid sine lic-homan lysde of firenum þurh milde mod.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Luke xii. 58. Sel ʓeornlice ðætte ðu se ʓilesed from him [L. da operam liberari ab illo].
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 71. Lif and saule beon … ilesed ut of sorȝen.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 69. Ure helendes wille þe lesde us of deaðe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16442. He barabas, es laisd o prisun. Ibid., 18327. For us artu hider soght Fra ded of hell all to lais us.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., vii. 29. Levedy, of alle londe Les me out of bonde.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxxv. 5. We ere lesyd of syn.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 7342. Generides was lessed of his thoght.
1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, II. 558. Perauenture thay wold ȝow leis of cair.
1607. Middleton, Five Gallants, IV. viii. Keep thou thine owne heart, thou liu’st vnsuspected, I leese you againe now.
2. To loosen, unloose; to unfasten, open; to relax (the body).
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3152. Heued and fet … lesen fro ðe bones and eten.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18640. Leon o rightwisnes has raised Him-self, and his prisun laisd [Fairf. laused, Gött. laised].
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 836. Lesande þe boke with leuez sware [= square].
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 16. To myche slepinge … coldiþ & lesiþ al his bodi.
1507[?]. Communyc. (W. de W.), A iij. Lorde, let these werkes lesse my bandes.
