laisser

Meaning

1. to leave, to leave behind
2. to forget, to leave alone
3. to leave with, to give
4. to let, to allow
5. to allow oneself, to let oneself

Pronounced as (IPA)

/lɛ.se/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French laisser, from Old French lesser, lessier, laissier (“to let, let go, leave”), from Latin laxāre (“to relax, loosen”); possibly 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”). More at let, lay.
Cognates
Cognate with Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, leave, rent”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (lētan, “to release, forgive”), Italian lasciare (“to leave, let, allow”). Conflated also with Old French laiier (“to leave, abandon, allow”) (compare Old Occitan laihar, laiar, Old Northern Italian lagare), also of Germanic origin, from Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (lagjan, “to lay, let lie, leave”), from Proto-Germanic *lagjaną (“to lay”).

Sentences

Mon rôle est de me laisser écrire .

My role is to let myself write.

Elle demande à Ruprecht de l'épargner et de se laisser plutôt tuer .

She asks Ruprecht to spare her and let herself be killed instead.

Bruine s’écarte pour laisser passer la nouvelle venue .

Drizzle pulls away to let the newcomer in.