▪ I. gleen, n. Obs. exc. arch. rare.
(gliːn)
Also 7 glean.
[Prob. a dialect word, of Scandinavian origin: cf. Sw. (dial.) glena, Da. (dial.) glene a clear strip or patch of sky. The ON. mythologic name Glenr, the husband of the sun, is perhaps connected.]
A gleam of light; a warm blaze of sunlight.
| 1656 W. D. tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. §35. 17 Fiery Meteors; namely, falling Stars, flying Dragons, fals Fiers; also Gleans, Flashings, openings of the skie, suddenly disappearing. 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies i. xvi. 104 Another time I remember suffocating Gleans of the Sun, πνῖγος the Ancients call it. 1825 Hogg in Blackw. Mag. XVII. 111 All glitter'd with a glowing gleen. |
▪ II. † gleen, v. Obs. rare.
Also 6 glene.
[See prec. and cf. Sw. (dial.) glena to shine.]
= gleam v.
Hence † ˈgleening vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1547–64 Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) 145 Those..being led by their owne blind iudgements..are oftentimes trained out of the way of truth by likely glenings of reason. 1662 J. Chandler Van Helmont's Oriat. Proph. conc. Auth., If thou belov'd Narcissus hadst not seen Thy proper figure in a well to gleen [etc.]. c 1709 Prior 1st Hymn Callim. 86 Those who..Bend stubborn steel, and harden gleening armour. |