glean

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To gather information or knowledge slowly, bit by bit and often with effort.

   We gleaned a few useful facts from the old report.

2. 2
   verb

   To gather grain or other crops left in a field after the harvest.

   The poor were allowed to glean the wheat left in the fields.

The verb is derived from Late Middle English glenen (“to gather (heads of grain left by reapers), glean; to gather (things) together, collect”), from Old French glener, glainer (modern French glaner (“to gather, glean”)), from Late Latin glen(n)are, the present active infinitive of glen(n)ō (“to make a collection”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Gaulish, from Proto-Celtic *glanos (“clean; clear”, adjective), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰleh₁- (“to glow, shine; to be glowing or shining”). The noun is derived from Late Middle English glene (“collection of heads of grain ga…

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