4 ms·

For any non-native speaker who’s confused, leave can mean the same thing as permission, which is how it’s being used here.

neom 3y ago
Just to further this who are still confused as to how tf leave became permission. It's a very British thing, I would hazard it might also be specifically English. I grew up in Scotland and we did use it, but I was in a border town, I would be surprised if it's used in Glasgow or Edinburgh (could be wrong) - it comes from the permission to not be at something. I would get "leave from school" meaning I had permission not to be at school, same thing for work. In my opinion, it's basically slang, I'm surprised to see it in official documents (so I guess it's not technically slang).
- sorokod 3y ago
  It didn't become, it had a sense of permission for a while https://www.etymonline.com/word/leave https://www.etymonline.com/word/leave
- triceratops 3y ago
  French has the same dual meaning in the verb laisser. It can be used when departing, or allowing. No idea if other Romance languages are similar. I'd hazard that it came into English from French, or maybe the other way around.
  - neom 3y ago
    Apparently some German in there too. Etymology From Old French lesser, lessier, laissier (“to let, let go, leave”), from Latin laxō, laxāre (“to relax, loosen”); partly from or influenced by Old High German lāzan (“to let, let go, leave”) (German lassen), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan (“to let, leave, leave alone”). I can't find anything about it and I've been poking around for the better part of 20 minutes, but my presumption would be this comes from Royal Court, to take leave of the court or the presence of the Royal estate? I'm guessing you would be granted permission to take your leave > take leave > permission. Total guess, however. Who knew leave could be so fun. ;)
- exe34 3y ago
  Do you have annual leave from work in Scotland? Or is it called something else?
  - neom 3y ago
    You know I've been thinking about this leave thing for over an hour now - it's got me super curious for some reason. I think there is a class thing here as well? I never ever heard anyone say that, take holiday, take time, take off, but take leave... it would sound very posh and jarring to hear someone say that, the only time I can think of was a friend who boarded in England and he took annual leave from boarding school (that's what originally made me think it's an English thing) - Fact is however, I have no idea what I'm talking about and could be writing fan fiction here. Maybe I've found my PhD, ha.

neom 3y ago

Just to further this who are still confused as to how tf leave became permission. It's a very British thing, I would hazard it might also be specifically English. I grew up in Scotland and we did use it, but I was in a border town, I would be surprised if it's used in Glasgow or Edinburgh (could be wrong) - it comes from the permission to not be at something. I would get "leave from school" meaning I had permission not to be at school, same thing for work. In my opinion, it's basically slang, I'm surprised to see it in official documents (so I guess it's not technically slang).

sorokod 3y ago
It didn't become, it had a sense of permission for a while https://www.etymonline.com/word/leave https://www.etymonline.com/word/leave
triceratops 3y ago
French has the same dual meaning in the verb laisser. It can be used when departing, or allowing. No idea if other Romance languages are similar. I'd hazard that it came into English from French, or maybe the other way around.
- neom 3y ago
  Apparently some German in there too. Etymology From Old French lesser, lessier, laissier (“to let, let go, leave”), from Latin laxō, laxāre (“to relax, loosen”); partly from or influenced by Old High German lāzan (“to let, let go, leave”) (German lassen), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan (“to let, leave, leave alone”). I can't find anything about it and I've been poking around for the better part of 20 minutes, but my presumption would be this comes from Royal Court, to take leave of the court or the presence of the Royal estate? I'm guessing you would be granted permission to take your leave > take leave > permission. Total guess, however. Who knew leave could be so fun. ;)
exe34 3y ago
Do you have annual leave from work in Scotland? Or is it called something else?
- neom 3y ago
  You know I've been thinking about this leave thing for over an hour now - it's got me super curious for some reason. I think there is a class thing here as well? I never ever heard anyone say that, take holiday, take time, take off, but take leave... it would sound very posh and jarring to hear someone say that, the only time I can think of was a friend who boarded in England and he took annual leave from boarding school (that's what originally made me think it's an English thing) - Fact is however, I have no idea what I'm talking about and could be writing fan fiction here. Maybe I've found my PhD, ha.