Lean
Lean (lēn) , transitive verb
[Icelandic leyna; akin to German laugnen to deny, Anglo-Saxon lȳgnian, also English lie to speak falsely.]
To conceal. [Obsolete] — Ray
Lean (lēn) , intransitive verb
[Old English lenen, Anglo-Saxon hlinian, hleonian, v. i.; akin to Old Saxon hlinōn, Dutch leunen, Old High German hlinēn, linēn, German lehnen, Latin inclinare, Greek kli`nein, Latin clivus hill, slope. r40. Compare Declivity, Climax, Incline, Ladder.]
1.
To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning column.
He leant forward.
2.
To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; -- with to, toward, etc.
They delight rather to lean to their old customs.
3.
To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like; -- with on, upon, or against.
He leaned not on his fathers but himself.
Lean , transitive verb
[From Lean, v. i.; Anglo-Saxon hlanan, transitive verb, from hleonian, hlinian, v. i.]
To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. — Mrs. Browning
His fainting limbs against an oak he leant.
Lean (lēn) , adjective
[Old English lene, Anglo-Saxon hlane; prob. akin to English lean to incline. See Lean, v. i. ]
1.
Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; slim; not plump; slender; meager; thin; lank; as, a lean body; a lean cattle.
2.
Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness; deficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; -- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages.
No lean wardrobe.
Their lean and flashy songs.
What the land is, whether it be fat or lean.
Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something.
3.
(Typography) Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; -- opposed to fat; as, lean copy, matter, or type.
Lean , noun
1.
That part of flesh which consists principally of muscle without the fat.
The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy.
2.
(Typography) Unremunerative copy or work.