Lever, lē′vėr, n. a bar of metal or other substance turning on a support called the fulcrum or prop, for imparting pressure or motion from a source of power to a resistance—of three kinds, according to the relative positions of the power, weight, and fulcrum: (fig.) anything which exerts influence: any one of various tools on the principle defined above—in surgery, dentistry, &c.: a removable rod or bar inserted in a machine, to be operated by hand leverage.—ns. Lē′verage, the mechanical power gained by the use of the lever: advantage gained for any purpose; Lē′ver-watch, a watch having a vibrating lever in the mechanism of the escapement. [Fr. levier—lever—L. levāre, to raise.]
Lever, lē′vėr, adv. an obsolete comp. of lief.
Leveret, lev′ėr-et, n. a hare in its first year. [O. Fr. levret (Fr. lièvre)—L. lepus, lepŏris, a hare.]
Leviable, lev′i-a-bl, adj. able to be levied or assessed.
Leviathan, le-vī′a-than, n. (B.) a huge aquatic animal in Job xli., here a crocodile; in Isa. xxvii. 1, apparently the great python of Egyptian monuments: anything of huge size: any huge sea-monster, as in Ps. civ. 26. [Heb. livyāthān—lāvāh, to cleave.]
Levigate, lev′i-gāt, v.t. to make smooth: to grind to a fine, impalpable powder.—adj. made smooth, polished.—adj. Lev′igable, capable of being ground down to fine powder.—n. Levigā′tion. [L. lēvigāre, -ātum—lēvis, smooth; Gr. leios, akin to level.]
Levigate, lev′i-gāt, v.t. to lighten, belittle. [L. lĕvigāre, -ātum—lĕvis, light.]
Levin, lev′n, n. (Spens.) lightning.—Also Lev′en.
Levirate, lev′i-rāt, n. marriage between a man and a childless brother's widow—an obligation amongst the ancient Hebrews.—adj. Levirat′ical.—n. Levirā′tion. [L. levir, a brother-in-law.]
Levitation, lev-i-tā′shun, n. act of rendering light: the floating in the air of heavy bodies believed in by spiritualists.—v.t. Lev′itate, to cause to float.