%lever%

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. [ 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 ]

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 ]