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