ley
UK[leɪ]US[leɪ]
n
A piece of land put down to grass, clover, etc., for a period of time in a crop rotation system.
n
(also ley line) A hypothetical straight line connecting ancient or prominent sites, believed to have spiritual or mystical significance.
Etymology
The word 'ley' originates from the Old English 'lēah', meaning a tract of open ground, a meadow, or a clearing in a forest. This term is of Germanic origin, related to the Old High German 'lōh' (grove) and is thought to be derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to shine' or 'light', likely referring to a bright, open space. Over time, its primary meaning in agricultural contexts narrowed to refer specifically to land temporarily sown with grass. In the early 20th century, the term was adopted by Alfred Watkins, who coined the phrase "ley line," applying the old word for a meadow path to his theory of ancient alignments, thus giving the word a second, modern esoteric meaning.
Analysis
The word 'ley' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a complete lexical unit.
Examples
The farmer left the field as a ley for three years to restore its fertility.
According to some theories, Stonehenge sits on a powerful ley line.
The old map showed a public footpath running along the edge of the ley.