lear

¹

[ leer ]

noun

, Scot. and North England.

1. learning; instruction; lesson.

Lear

²

[ leer ]

noun

1. Edward, 1812–88, English writer of humorous verse and landscape painter.
2. (italics) King Lear.

Lear

/ lɪə /

noun

1. LearEdward18121888MEnglishWRITING: humorous writerARTS AND CRAFTS: painter Edward. 1812–88, English humorist and painter, noted for his illustrated nonsense poems and limericks

Word History and Origins

Origin of lear¹

1350–1400; late Middle English lere lesson, noun use of lere to teach, Old English lǣran; cognate with Dutch leren, German lehren, Gothic laisjan; akin to lore ¹

Example Sentences

Not since Jane Smiley’s “A Thousand Acres” has Shakespeare’s King Lear had such a strong treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

It brought Ian McKellen to Brooklyn as King Lear, built a replica of its main theater in an Upper East Side drill hall and sent a stream of shows to Broadway.

From New York Times

After that, I’m going to do King Lear.

From Los Angeles Times

Rivulets of paint dribbling from the edges of a trumpeting, undulating, otherwise indescribable robotic form are said to represent the tears of grief-stricken King Lear, wildly attempting to humanize the cold if nearly inexplicable scientific reality of Man Ray’s source.

From Los Angeles Times

BBC Weather’s Louise Lear said the week would start off with some wet weather “in the south west to begin with, then the rain will gradually spread its way steadily north, so as we go through the week ahead, some areas along west-facing coasts could see as much as 50-70mm of rainfall”.

From BBC