transitive verb left, leaving leav′·ing

1. to cause or allow to remain; not take away to leave some of the food for latecomers
2. to make, place, deposit, etc., and cause to remain behind one to leave one's calling card
3. to have remaining after one the deceased leaves a widow
4. to bequeath to leave a fortune to charity
5. to let be in the care of; entrust: with to or up to to leave a decision to another
6. to give as a remainder by subtraction ten minus two leaves eight
7. to reject take it or leave it
8. to go away from to leave the house
9. to let stay or cause to be in a certain condition the flood left them homeless
10. to give up; abandon; forsake
11. to stop living in, working for, or belonging to
12. Chiefly Dial. to let or allow leave us go now

Etymology: ME leven < OE læfan, lit., to let remain (< *lafjan < base of laf, remnant, what remains), akin to (be)lifan, to remain, Ger bleiben, OHG belīban < IE *leip-, to smear with grease, stick to < base *lei-, viscous, sticky > L limus: see lime

intransitive verb

noun

1. permission
2. 1. permission to be absent from duty or work, esp. such permission given to personnel in the armed services
   2. the period for which such permission is granted

Etymology: ME leve < OE leaf, permission, akin to obs. Ger laube, permission, erlauben, to allow, permit < IE base *leubh-, to like, desire > lief, love, L libido

intransitive verb leaved, leaving leav′·ing

Etymology: ME leven < lefe, leaf