v. i. [ L. levitas, -atis, lightness. See Levity. ] To rise, or tend to rise, as if lighter than the surrounding medium; to become buoyant; -- opposed to gravitate. Sir. J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Spiritualism) To make buoyant; to cause to float in the air; as, to levitate a table. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. levis light in weight. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Lightness; buoyancy; act of making light. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or process of making buoyant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Levites, Gr. Leyi:`ths, fr. Heb. Levi, one of the sons of Jacob. ] 1. (Bib. Hist.) One of the tribe or family of Levi; a descendant of Levi; esp., one subordinate to the priests (who were of the same tribe) and employed in various duties connected with the tabernacle first, and afterward the temple, such as the care of the building, bringing of wood and other necessaries for the sacrifices, the music of the services, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A priest; -- so called in contempt or ridicule. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Leviticus, Gr. Leyitiko`s. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a Levite or the Levites. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Priestly. “ Levitical questions.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to, or designating, the law contained in the book of Leviticus. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Levitical degrees, degrees of relationship named in Leviticus, within which marriage is forbidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. After the manner of the Levites; in accordance with the levitical law. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Levitical. ] The third canonical book of the Old Testament, containing the laws and regulations relating to the priests and Levites among the Hebrews, or the body of the ceremonial law. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. levitas, fr. levis light in weight; akin to levare to raise. See Lever, n. ] 1. The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk; relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or floating upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; -- opposed to gravity. [ 1913 Webster ]

He gave the form of levity to that which ascended; to that which descended, the form of gravity. Sir. W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

This bubble by reason of its comparative levity to the fluidity that incloses it, would ascend to the top. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lack of gravity and earnestness in deportment or character; trifling gayety; frivolity; sportiveness; vanity. “ A spirit of levity and libertinism.” Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

He never employed his omnipotence out of levity. Calamy. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Lack of steadiness or constancy; disposition to change; fickleness; volatility. [ 1913 Webster ]

The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with everything of which it is in possession. Burke.

Syn. -- Inconstancy; thoughtlessness; unsteadiness; inconsideration; volatility; flightiness. -- Levity, Volatility, Flightiness. All these words relate to outward conduct. Levity springs from a lightness of mind which produces a disregard of the proprieties of time and place.Volatility is a degree of levity which causes the thoughts to fly from one object to another, without resting on any for a moment. Flightiness is volatility carried to an extreme which often betrays its subject into gross impropriety or weakness. Levity of deportment, of conduct, of remark; volatility of temper, of spirits; flightiness of mind or disposition. [ 1913 Webster ]