glean
UK: ɡliːn | US: ɡliːn
vt. to gather information or material bit by bit with effort
vt. to collect leftover crops from a field after harvest
The word "glean" traces back to Old French glener, meaning "to gather," which itself derives from Late Latin glennare (to pick up). Originally tied to agricultural practices of collecting leftover grain, its meaning expanded metaphorically to include gathering information or fragments of knowledge. The evolution reflects a shift from literal harvesting to abstract accumulation.
Historians glean insights from ancient manuscripts.
She gleaned useful tips from the workshop.
Farmers once allowed the poor to glean leftover wheat.
The detective gleaned clues from witness statements.
Researchers glean data from social media trends.