Word of the Day : June 6, 2021

glean \GLEEN\ verb

Definition

1 : to gather grain or other produce left by reapers

2 : to gather information or material bit by bit

3 a : to pick up after a reaper

b : to strip of the leavings of reapers

4 a : to gather (something, such as information) bit by bit

b : to pick over in search of relevant material

5 : find out

Did You Know?

Glean comes from Middle English glenen, which traces to Anglo-French glener, meaning "to glean." The French borrowed their word from Late Latin glennare, which also means "to glean" and is itself of Celtic origin. Both the grain-gathering sense and the collecting-bit-by-bit senses of English's glean date back at least to the 14th century. Over the years, and especially in the 20th and 21st centuries, glean has also come to be used frequently with the meaning "to find out, learn, ascertain." This sense has been criticized by folks who think glean should always imply the drudgery involved in the literal grain-gathering sense, but it is well established and perfectly valid.

Aired June 6, 2021

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