The Ancient Future Church

glean

verb \?gl?n\

Definition of GLEAN

intransitive verb

1 : to gather grain or other produce left by reapers

2 : to gather information or material bit by bit

transitive verb

1 a : to pick up after a reaper

   b : to strip (as a field) of the leavings of reapers

 2 a : to gather (as information) bit by bit

b : to pick over in search of relevant material <gleaning old files for information

— glean·able \?gl?-n?-b?l\adjective

— glean·ernoun

Examples of GLEAN            

• She gleaned her data from various studies.
• He has a collection of antique tools gleaned from flea markets and garage sales.
• They spent days gleaning the files for information.
• They spent hours gleaning in the wheat fields.
• gleaning stray ears of corn

Origin of GLEAN

Middle English glenen, from Anglo-French glener, from Late Latin glennare, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish doglenn he selects

First Known Use: 14th century