v. Obs. Forms: 1 linnan, 2 linnen, 3–7 lynn(e, 5–7 lyn(e, (6 lenne, 7 Sc. lein), 6–7 linne, 6–8 lin, 8 Sc. lean, leen. Pa. t. 1 lann, 4 lan, 5 lyne, 6 lin; weak 6 linde, 7 lind, lynned. [OE. linnan = OHG. (bi-)linnan (cf. BLIN v.), ON. linna (Da. linne, linde), Goth. (af-)linnan:—OTeut. *linnan (?:—*linw-), cogn. w. ON. lin-r soft, yielding, OE. líðe (:—*linþjo-) gentle: see LITHE a.
The Sc. forms, lein, leen, lean, seem to be due to association with leend, LEND v.2]
1. intr. To cease, leave off; desist from (something; in OE. const. dative); also const. to with inf. Of the wind: To drop, lull. Also as a command, ‘Leave off!’ ‘Let go!
Beowulf, 1478. Gif ic æt þearfe þinre scolde aldre linnan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 67. For ure fond nefre ne linnen for to fonden us mid sunnen.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1717. Þe neauer ne linneð nowðer ne lesseð, ah leaseð aa mare.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 354. Rymenhild ȝef he cuþe Gan lynne wiþ hire Muþe.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 38. Þat never þai no lan Þe pouer to wirche wo.
1539. Cranmer, Pref. to Bible. Which thyng [i.e., reading the Bible at home] also I neuer lynne to beate into the eares of them that bene my famyliers.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Clifford, i. Couer fire, and it wil neuer linne.
1560. in Nichols, Progr. Q. Eliz., III. 473. My lippes shall never lenne To power thye prayses to my penne.
1590. Greene, Mourn. Garm. (1616), 63. All things did from their weary labour linne.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 315. If one pluck off the wings from a drone, and put him again within the hiue, he will neuer lin vntill he haue done the like by all the rest of the same kind.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., IV. Intermeane (1631), 62. Set a beggar on horse-backe, hee’ll neuer linde till hee be a gallop.
1644. Z. Boyd, Gard. Zion, 26 (Jam.). For th’ uncle and the nephew never lin, Till out of Canaan they have chac’t them clean.
1652. C. B. Stapylton, Herodian, II. 85. On both sides to Assayle they never lin.
1693. R. Lyde, Acc. Retaking a Ship, 23. At two in the Afternoon, the wind was at N.N.W. and Lynn’d a little. Ibid., 25. I bore away … thinking to go in over the Bar in the Morning tide, but by five the Wind Lin’d.
1697. W. Cleland, Poems, 96 (Jam.). Pareing time, and all the year, Is one to them, they never lein [rhyme keen].
[1710. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 31 Dec. When the year with MD ’gins, It without MD never lins. (These Proverbs have always old words in them; lins is leaves off.)]
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., IV. i. (1728). Let gang your Grips, fy, Madge!—howt, Bauldy leen [rhyme seen].
¶ b. Misused for: To fail, omit.
c. 1720. Prior, Wand. Pilgr., 20. They seldom miss to bake and brew, Or lin to break their fast.
2. trans. To cease from, leave off, discontinue.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 319. Þi tale nu þu lynne, For Horn nis noȝt her-inne.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 558. Þe lavdabyll lyfe of lecherry let hur neuer lynne.
1548. Patten, Exped. Scot., L iv b. Our Northern prikkers … sum hoopynge, sum whistelyng … never linde these troublous … noyses all ye night long.
1610. Cruel Shrew, 9, in Roxb. Ball. (1871), I. 95. She never linnes her bauling Her tongue it is so loud.
b. with vbl. sb. as obj., or intr. with pr. pple. as complement.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 5950. His leman lan neuer wepeing Aniȝt, when sche alon was.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Tim., 5. I was so cruell a persecutour, that I coulde neuer lynne doynge of vyolence.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Aristides (1595), 358. He [a horse] neuer lin flinging till he cast his maister on the ground.
1607. Middleton, Your Five Gallants, I. i. 292. A ruby that ne’er lins blushing for the party that pawned it.
1643. Milton, Divorce, I. Pref. We should never lin hammering out of our own hearts, as it were out of a flint, the … sparkles of new misery to ourselves.
