leernessEtymologyFrom Middle English lereness, from Old English lǣrnes (“emptiness”), equivalent to leer (“empty”) + -ness.nounThe quality of being leer; lack; emptiness; dullness.“It cometh from the very chilled maw, or from the too much heated maw, or from too mickle fulness, or of too mickle leerness, that is emptiness, or of evil wet or humour rending and scarifying the maw.”