Leukoplast (lū"ko*plăst) noun (Botany) See Leucoplast .

Levana (le*vā"nȧ) noun [ Latin , from levare to raise.] (Rom. Myth.) A goddess who protected newborn infants.

Levant (lē"v a nt) adjective [ French, present participle of lever to raise.] (Law) Rising or having risen from rest; -- said of cattle. See Couchant and levant , under Couchant .

Levant (le*vănt") noun [ Italian levante the point where the sun rises, the east, the Levant, from levare to raise, levarsi to rise: confer French levant . See Lever .]
1. The countries washed by the eastern part of the Mediterranean and its contiguous waters.

2. A levanter (the wind so called).

Levant (lē"v a nt; 277) adjective Eastern. [ Obsolete]

Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds.

Milton.

Levant (le*vănt") intransitive verb [ Confer Spanish levantar to raise, go from one place to another.] To run away from one's debts; to decamp. [ Colloq. Eng.] Thackeray.

Levanter (le*vănt"ẽr) noun [ From Levant , v. ] One who levants, or decamps. [ Colloq. Eng.]

Levanter noun [ From Levant , noun ] A strong easterly wind peculiar to the Mediterranean. W. H. Russell.

Levantine (le*vănt"ĭn or lĕv" a nt*īn; 277) adjective [ French levantin , or Italian levantino . See Levant , noun ] Of or pertaining to the Levant. J. Spencer.

Levantine noun
1. A native or inhabitant of the Levant.

2. [ French levantine , or Italian levantina .] A stout twilled silk fabric, formerly made in the Levant.

Levari facias (le*vā`ri fā"shĭ*ăs). [ Law Latin , cause to be levied.] A writ of execution at common law.

Levation (le*vā"shŭn) noun [ Latin levatio .] The act of raising; elevation; upward motion, as that produced by the action of a levator muscle.

Levator (le*vā"tŏr) noun [ New Latin , from Latin levare to raise. See Lever , noun ]
1. (Anat.) A muscle that serves to raise some part, as the lip or the eyelid.

2. (Surg.) A surgical instrument used to raise a depressed part of the skull.

Leve (lēv) adjective Dear. See Lief . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Leve noun & v. Same as 3d & 4th Leave . [ Obsolete]

Leve intransitive verb To live. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Leve transitive verb [ Middle English , from Anglo-Saxon lēfan , abbrev. from gelēfan . See Believe .] To believe. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Leveche noun [ Spanish Confer Lebeccio .] (Meteor.) A dry sirocco of Spain.

Levee (lĕv"e; often lĕv*ē" in U. S.) noun [ French lever , from lever to raise, se lever to rise. See Lever , noun ]
1. The act of rising. " The sun's levee ." Gray.

2. A morning assembly or reception of visitors, -- in distinction from a soirée , or evening assembly; a matinée ; hence, also, any general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, whether in the daytime or evening; as, the president's levee .

» In England a ceremonious day reception, when attended by both ladies and gentlemen, is called a drawing-room .

Levee transitive verb To attend the levee or levees of.

He levees all the great.

Young.

Levee noun [ French levée , from lever to raise. See Lever , and confer Levy .] An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river. [ U. S.]

Levee transitive verb To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river. [ U. S.]

Levée en masse (l e *va" äN` mȧs"). [ French] See Levy in mass , under Levy , noun

Leveful (lēv"ful) adjective [ Leve , noun + -ful .] Allowable; permissible; lawful. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Level (lĕv"ĕl) noun [ Middle English level , livel , Old French livel , French niveau , from Latin libella level, water level, a plumb level, dim. of libra pound, measure for liquids, balance, water poise, level. Confer Librate , Libella .]
1. A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; -- this is the true level , and is a curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere.

2. A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; -- this is the apparent level at the given point.

3. An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the earth; as, to climb from the level of the coast to the level of the plateau and then descend to the level of the valley or of the sea.

After draining of the level in Northamptonshire.

Sir M. Hale.

Shot from the deadly level of a gun.

Shak.

4. Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation.

Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level .

Addison.

Somebody there of his own level .

Swift.

Be the fair level of thy actions laid
As temperance wills and prudence may persuade.

Prior.

5. A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level .

When merit shall find its level .

F. W. Robertson.

6. (Mech. & Surv.) (a) An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line. (b) A measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a level; as, to take a level .

7. A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.

Air level , a spirit level . See Spirit level (below). -- Box level , a spirit level in which a glass-covered box is used instead of a tube. -- Carpenter's level , Mason's level , either the plumb level or a straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small spirit level. -- Level of the sea , the imaginary level from which heights and depths are calculated, taken at a mean distance between high and low water. -- Line of levels , a connected series of measurements, by means of a level, along a given line, as of a railroad, to ascertain the profile of the ground. -- Plumb level , one in which a horizontal bar is placed in true position by means of a plumb line, to which it is at right angles. -- Spirit level , one in which the adjustment to the horizon is shown by the position of a bubble in alcohol or ether contained in a nearly horizontal glass tube, or a circular box with a glass cover. -- Surveyor's level , a telescope, with a spirit level attached, and with suitable screws, etc., for accurate adjustment, the whole mounted on a tripod, for use in leveling; -- called also leveling instrument . -- Water level , an instrument to show the level by means of the surface of water in a trough, or in upright tubes connected by a pipe.

Level (lĕv"ĕl) adjective
1. Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth's surface; as, a level field; level ground; the level surface of a pond or lake.

Ample spaces o'er the smooth
And level pavement.

Milton.

2. Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level .

3. Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; -- followed by with , sometimes by to .

Young boys and girls
Are level now with men; the odds is gone.

Shak.

Everything lies level to our wish.

Shak.

4. Straightforward; direct; clear; open.

A very plain and level account.

M. Arnold.

5. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [ Colloq.] " A level consideration." Shak.

6. (Phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection. H. Sweet.

Level line (Shipbuilding) , the outline of a section which is horizontal crosswise, and parallel with the rabbet of the keel lengthwise. -- Level surface (Physics) , an equipotential surface at right angles at every point to the lines of force.

Level transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Leveled (-ĕld) or Levelled ; present participle & verbal noun Leveling or Levelling .]
1. To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a road, a walk, or a garden.

2. To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower.

And their proud structures level with the ground.

Sandys.

He levels mountains and he raises plains.

Dryden.

3. To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct.

Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, leveled a quarrel out of a crossbow.

Stow.

4. Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the ranks and conditions of men.

5. To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children.

For all his mind on honor fixed is,
To which he levels all his purposes.

Spenser.

Level intransitive verb
1. To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit. [ Obsolete]

With such accommodation and besort
As levels with her breeding.

Shak.

2. To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object.

The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife.

Shak.

The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the mark whereat we also level .

Hooker.

She leveled at our purposes.

Shak.

Leveler (-ẽr) noun [ Written also leveller .]
1. One who, or that which, levels.

2. One who would remove social inequalities or distinctions; a socialist.

Leveling noun [ Written also levelling .]
1. The act or operation of making level.

2. (Surveying) The art or operation of using a leveling instrument for finding a horizontal line, for ascertaining the differences of level between different points of the earth's surface included in a survey, for establishing grades, etc., as in finding the descent of a river, or locating a line of railroad.

Leveling instrument . See Surveyor's level , under Level , noun -- Leveling staff , a graduated rod or staff used in connection with a leveling instrument for measuring differences of level between points.

Levelism (-ĭz'm) noun The disposition or endeavor to level all distinctions of rank in society.

Levelly adverb In an even or level manner.

Levelness noun The state or quality of being level.

Leven (lĕv" e n) noun [ See Levin .] Lightning. [ Obsolete]

Wild thunder dint and fiery leven .

Chaucer.

Lever (lē"vẽr) adjective [ Old compar. of leve or lief .] More agreeable; more pleasing. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

To be lever than . See Had as lief , under Had .

Lever adverb Rather. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

For lever had I die than see his deadly face.

Spenser.

Lever (lē"vẽr or lĕv"ẽr; 277) noun [ Middle English levour , Old French leveor , prop., a lifter, from French lever to raise, Latin levare ; akin to levis light in weight, English levity , and perhaps to English light not heavy: confer French levier . Confer Alleviate , Elevate , Leaven , Legerdemain , Levee , Levy , noun ]
1. (Mech.) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; -- used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum . It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

2. (Machinery) (a) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. (b) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.

Compound lever , a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon each other. -- Lever escapement . See Escapement . -- Lever jack . See Jack , noun , 5. -- Lever watch , a watch having a vibrating lever to connect the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance. -- Universal lever , a machine formed by a combination of a lever with the wheel and axle, in such a manner as to convert the reciprocating motion of the lever into a continued rectilinear motion of some body to which the power is applied.

Leverage (lĕv"ẽr*aj or lē"vẽr*aj) noun The action of a lever; mechanical advantage gained by the lever.

Leverage of a couple (Mech.) , the perpendicular distance between the lines of action of two forces which act in parallel and opposite directions. -- Leverage of a force , the perpendicular distance from the line in which a force acts upon a body to a point about which the body may be supposed to turn.

Leveret (lĕv"ẽr*ĕt) noun [ French levraut , dim. of lièvre hare, Latin lepus . Confer Leporine .] (Zoology) A hare in the first year of its age.

Leverock (-ŏk) noun [ See Lark .] A lark. [ Scot.]

Leverwood (lĕv"ẽr*wod`) noun (Botany) The American hop hornbeam ( Ostrya Virginica ), a small tree with very tough wood.

Levesel (lĕv"e*sĕl) noun [ Anglo-Saxon leáf a leaf + sæl , sel , a room, a hall.] A leafy shelter; a place covered with foliage. [ Obsolete]

Behind the mill, under a levesel .

Chaucer.

Levet (lĕv"ĕt) noun [ Confer French lever to raise.] A trumpet call for rousing soldiers; a reveille. [ Obsolete] Hudibras.

Leviable (lĕv"ĭ*ȧ*b'l) adjective [ From Levy to assess.] Fit to be levied; capable of being assessed and collected; as, sums leviable by course of law. Bacon.

Leviathan (le*vī"ȧ*th a n) noun [ Hebrew livyāthān .]

1. An aquatic animal, described in the book of Job, ch. xli., and mentioned in other passages of Scripture.

» It is not certainly known what animal is intended, whether the crocodile, the whale, or some sort of serpent.

2. The whale, or a great whale. Milton.

Levier (lĕv"ĭ*ẽr) noun One who levies. Cartwright.

Levigable (lĕv"ĭ*gȧ*b'l) adjective [ See Levigate , transitive verb ] Capable of being levigated.