TAKE LEAVE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does take leave mean? 

• TAKE LEAVE (verb)
  The verb TAKE LEAVE has 1 sense:

1. go away or leave

  Familiarity information: TAKE LEAVE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TAKE LEAVE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go away or leave

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

depart; quit; take leave

Hypernyms (to "take leave" is one way to...):

go away; go forth; leave (go away from a place)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "take leave"):

walk out of (leave, usually as an expression of disapproval)

congee (depart after obtaining formal permission)

beat a retreat (depart hastily)

plump out (depart suddenly)

break camp; decamp (leave a camp)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

Well, I am certain of—I shall be able to take leave, however.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

"No, no—let us be gone," was the anxious reply; and without waiting to take leave of Mr. Rochester, they made their exit at the hall door.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

So we were left to take leave of one another without any restraint.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I must take leave to observe, Sir Walter, said Mr Shepherd one morning at Kellynch Hall, as he laid down the newspaper, that the present juncture is much in our favour.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

You are too obliging, my dear Miss Woodhouse; but we really must take leave.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Then he will be very joyful; and you will mount the golden horse that they are to give you, and put out your hand to take leave of them; but shake hands with the princess last.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

She was immediately told that the two gentlemen from Rosings had each called during her absence; Mr. Darcy, only for a few minutes, to take leave—but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at least an hour, hoping for her return, and almost resolving to walk after her till she could be found.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

A look of consciousness as he spoke, and what seemed a consciousness of manner on Miss Crawford's side as she made some laughing answer, was sorrowfull food for Fanny's observation; and finding herself quite unable to attend as she ought to Mrs. Grant, by whose side she was now following the others, she had nearly resolved on going home immediately, and only waited for courage to say so, when the sound of the great clock at Mansfield Park, striking three, made her feel that she had really been much longer absent than usual, and brought the previous self-inquiry of whether she should take leave or not just then, and how, to a very speedy issue.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her gratitude, and only wondered that after hearing such a sentence, the Colonel should be able to take leave of them, as he immediately did, with the utmost sang-froid, and go away without making her any reply!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I was at the coach office to take leave of her and see her go; and there was he, returning to Canterbury by the same conveyance.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)