from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lean \Lean\ (l[=e]n), a. [Compar. {Leaner} (l[=e]n"[~e]r);
superl. {Leanest}.] [OE. lene, AS. hl[=ae]ne; prob. akin to
E. 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.
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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." --Shak.
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Their lean and flashy songs. --Milton.
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What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. --Num.
xiii. 20.
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Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something. --Shak.
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3. (Typog.) Of a character which prevents the compositor from
earning the usual wages; -- opposed to {fat}; as, lean
copy, matter, or type.
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Syn: slender; spare; thin; meager; lank; skinny; gaunt.
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