leers

Noun (1)

leer (plural leers)

1. A significant side glance; a glance expressive of some passion, as malignity, amorousness, etc.; a sly or lecherous look.
   • Nevertheless humanity stood before him no longer in the pensive sweetness of Italian art, but in the staring and ghastly attitudes of a Wiertz Museum, and with the leer of a study by Van Beers.1891, Thomas Hardy, chapter XXXIX, in Tess of the d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: James R[ipley] Osgood, McIlvaine and Co....
2. An arch or affected glance or cast of countenance.

Noun (2)

leer (plural leers)

1. (obsolete) The cheek.
   • No ladie (quoth the earle with a lowd voice, and the tears trilling downe his leeres)1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC
2. (obsolete) The face.
3. (obsolete) One's appearance; countenance.
   • a Rosalind of a better leer than youc. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
4. (obsolete) Complexion; hue; colour.
   • Here's a young lad fram'd of another leer.
     Look, how the black slave smiles upon the father;c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...

See all 22 meanings of leer