Meaning
To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recline, lie down, rest”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną (“to lean, incline”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-. Cognate via Proto-Germanic with Middle Dutch leunen (“to lean”), German lehnen (“to lean”); via Proto-Indo-European with climate, cline.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
richenrich
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 23 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-21NABEJLY
- 2026-08-11NAELMTY
- 2026-08-02NACDEHL
- 2026-04-23ADQLENU
- 2026-04-12NALECHO
- 2025-11-25EAONLGH
- 2025-11-01LAMEDHN
- 2025-09-20ADENYZL
- 2025-09-05ABEJLNY
- 2025-08-03EAOLGNY
- 2025-05-25NPAOEBL
- 2025-05-17LZATIEN
+11 earlier appearances in the archive.