levee

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 ]