Ask leave or ask for leave?
I will ask leave to call on you on Monday if you can spare me the time.

In most cases, we use ask for leave to refer to ask for permission to do something. Why does the author use ask leave here? Do they have the same meaning? Thank you!

Question

Ask leave or ask for leave?
I will ask leave to call on you  on Monday if you can spare me the time.

In most cases, we use ask for leave to refer to ask for permission to do something. Why does the author use ask leave here? Do they have the same meaning? Thank you!

Answer

Adding on to the answers, I may ASK FOR LEAVE from my boss at work. This usage is not obsolete and is more frequent.

A. Are you going on a trip next month ?
B. I don't know ! I need to ask for leave from my supervisor. I can only go if the leave is granted !

Answer

The register here is antiquated (old), and a little formal (too formal).

"My lady, I ask leave to visit with you another day..."

says the Earl of Leicester to Queen Elizabeth I, who is sitting on her throne, as he bows and walks backward out of the hall...

Answer

"Ask leave" is an old way of saying "ask permission".
You almost never hear it or even read it any more, except in the most formal of situations.