%leve%

‖n. [ F., fr. bouleverser to overthrow. ] Complete overthrow; disorder; a turning upside down. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cant an external angle + lever a supporter of the roof timber of a house. ] [ Written also cantaliver and cantilever. ] 1. (Arch.) A bracket to support a balcony, a cornice, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Engin.) A projecting beam, truss, or bridge unsupported at the outer end; one which overhangs. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cantalever bridge, a bridge in which the principle of the cantalever is applied. It is usually a trussed bridge, composed of two portions reaching out from opposite banks, and supported near the middle of their own length on piers which they overhang, thus forming cantalevers which meet over the space to be spanned or sustain a third portion, to complete the connection. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Cantalever. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F., p. p. of champlever to engrave. See 3d Champ, Camp, Lever a bar. ] (Art) Having the ground engraved or cut out in the parts to be enameled; inlaid in depressions made in the ground; -- said of a kind of enamel work in which depressions made in the surface are filled with enamel pastes, which are afterward fired; also, designating the process of making such enamel work. -- n. A piece of champlevé enamel; also, the process or art of making such enamel work; champlevé work. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Origin uncertain. Cf. OE. cliver eager, AS. clyfer (in comp.) cloven; or clifer a claw, perh. connected with E. cleave to divide, split, the meaning of E. clever perh. coming from the idea of grasping, seizing (with the mind). ] 1. Possessing quickness of intellect, skill, dexterity, talent, or adroitness; expert. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two great creative minds. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever. C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T would sound more clever
To me and to my heirs forever. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Well-shaped; handsome. “The girl was a tight, clever wench as any was.” Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Good-natured; obliging. [ U. S. ]

Syn. -- See Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat clever. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a clever manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Never was man so clever absurd. C. Smart. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being clever; skill; dexterity; adroitness.

Syn. -- See Ingenuity. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Surv.) A level having a short telescope (hence its name) rigidly fixed to a table capable only of rotatory movement in a horizontal plane. The telescope is usually an inverting one. It is sometimes called the
Troughton level, from the name of the inventor, and a variety improved by one Gavatt is known as the
Gavatt level. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ F., fr. élever to raise, bring up. ] A pupil; a student. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. enleven, AS. endleofan, endlufon, for nleofan; akin to LG. eleve, ölwe, ölwen, D. elf, G. elf, eilf, OHG. einlif, Icel. ellifu, Sw. elfva, Dan. elleve, Goth. ainlif, cf. Lith. vënolika; and fr. the root of E. one + (prob.) a root signifying “to be left over, remain, ” appearing in E. loan, or perh. in leave, v. t., life. See One, and cf. Twelve. ] Ten and one added; as, eleven men. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The sum of ten and one; eleven units or objects. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A symbol representing eleven units, as 11 or xi. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Cricket & American Football) The eleven men selected to play on one side in a match, as the representatives of a club or a locality; as, the all-England eleven. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. an examination taken by 11 and 12 year old students in England to select suitable candidates for grammar school; -- now no longer used.
Syn. -- 11-plus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. AS. endlyfta. See Eleven. ] 1. Next after the tenth; as, the eleventh chapter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Constituting one of eleven parts into which a thing is divided; as, the eleventh part of a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) Of or pertaining to the interval of the octave and the fourth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quotient of a unit divided by eleven; one of eleven equal parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) The interval consisting of ten conjunct degrees; the interval made up of an octave and a fourth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Eleven. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE., fr. AS. lēfan, abbrev. fr. gelēfan. See Believe. ] To believe. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Dear. See Lief. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. & v. Same as 3d & 4th Leave. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To live. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. leven, AS. lēfan, l&ymacr_;fan. See Leave permission. ] To grant; -- used esp. in exclamations or prayers followed by a dependent clause. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

God leve all be well. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. Cf. Lebeccio. ] (Meteor.) A dry sirocco of Spain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. lever, fr. lever to raise, se lever to rise. See Lever, n. ] 1. The act of rising. “ The sun's levee.” Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England a ceremonious day reception, when attended by both ladies and gentlemen, is called a drawing-room. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To attend the levee or levees of. [ 1913 Webster ]

He levees all the great. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. levée, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Levy. ] An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖pos>n. [ F. ] See Levy in mass, under Levy, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Leve, n. + -ful. ] Allowable; permissible; lawful. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. level, livel, OF. livel, F. niveau, fr. L. libella level, water level, a plumb level, dim. of libra pound, measure for liquids, balance, water poise, level. Cf. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

After draining of the level in Northamptonshire. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shot from the deadly level of a gun. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Somebody there of his own level. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be the fair level of thy actions laid
As temperance wills and prudence may persuade. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

When merit shall find its level. F. W. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ample spaces o'er the smooth
And level pavement. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Young boys and girls
Are level now with men; the odds is gone. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Everything lies level to our wish. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Straightforward; direct; clear; open. [ 1913 Webster ]

A very plain and level account. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [ Colloq. ] “ A level consideration.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Phonetics) Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection. H. Sweet. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Leveled r Levelled; p. pr. & vb. n. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower. [ 1913 Webster ]

And their proud structures level with the ground. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

He levels mountains and he raises plains. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, leveled a quarrel out of a crossbow. Stow. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children. [ 1913 Webster ]

For all his mind on honor fixed is,
To which he levels all his purposes. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With such accommodation and besort
As levels with her breeding. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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; as, he leveled a gun at the bandit and fired. [ 1913 Webster ]

The foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The glory of God and the good of his church . . . ought to be the mark whereat we also level. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

She leveled at our purposes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also leveller. ] 1. One who, or that which, levels. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who would remove social inequalities or distinctions; a socialist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. exercising or showing good judgment or common sense; sensible.
Syn. -- healthy, intelligent, sound. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

-- lev"el*head"ed*ly, adv. -- lev"el*head"ed*ness, n. [ PJC ]

n. [ Written also levelling. ] 1. The act or operation of making level. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leveling instrument. See Surveyor's level, under Level, n. --
Leveling staff, a graduated rod or staff used in connection with a leveling instrument for measuring differences of level between points. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The disposition or endeavor to level all distinctions of rank in society. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an even or level manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being level. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Levin. ] Lightning. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Wild thunder dint and fiery leven. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Old compar. of leve or lief. ] More agreeable; more pleasing. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be lever than. See Had as lief, under Had. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Rather. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

For lever had I die than see his deadly face. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever to raise, L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. Alleviate, Elevate, Leaven, Legerdemain, Levee, Levy, n. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mach.) (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compound lever, a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon each other. --
Lever escapement. See Escapement. --
Lever jack. See Jack, n., 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The action of a lever; mechanical advantage gained by the lever. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. levraut, dim. of lièvre hare, L. lepus. Cf. Leporine. ] (Zool.) A hare in the first year of its age. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Lark. ] A lark. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The American hop hornbeam (Ostrya Virginica), a small tree with very tough wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. leáf a leaf + sæl, sel, a room, a hall. ] A leafy shelter; a place covered with foliage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Behind the mill, under a levesel. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. lever to raise. ] A trumpet call for rousing soldiers; a reveille. [ Obs. ] Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]