Definition of the word leave off

The phrase "leave off" can be traced back to Middle English, where it was spelled "leef biside" and meant "refrain from doing something." It evolved from the Old English phrase "leavian," which meant "to let go" or "to abandon." The word "leave" itself comes from the Old English "leafan," which also had a variety of meanings, including "to remain," "to let go," and "to depart." The sense of "to let go" or "to abandon" is what eventually led to the development of the phrase "leave off," which originally meant "to discontinue" or "to stop doing something." Over time, the spelling of "leef biside" evolved to "leave bysde" and eventually morphed into the modern-day phrase "leave off." The use of "off" as a suffix to indicate stopping or removal also has an interesting history, with roots in Old English "ofan," which meant "down from" or "away from." In summary, the phrase "leave off" descends from Old English roots and has evolved over the centuries to mean "to discontinue doing something." Its origins in the Old English "leafan" and "ofan" reveal its Middle English origins and highlight the complex history of the English language.