levee English · revision 386

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɛvi/, /ləˈvi/; /ˈlɛvi/, /ˈlɛveɪ/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ There are two words, both from [[fr|lever|t=to raise, (reflexive) to rise]], [[der|la|levāre|t=to raise, lighten]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ The embankment (1719) is [[bor|fr|levée|t=a raising; an embankment]], the feminine past participle of ''lever'' used as a noun, first used in English in descriptions of New Orleans.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ The reception (1672) is [[bor|fr|lever|t=a rising (from bed)]], the verb used as a noun, spelled to represent its French pronunciation,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) or else from ''levé''.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A reception of visitors on rising from bed, a morning assembly held by a prince or person of rank (1672).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ French kings held levees in the morning while getting up and dressing.^(Barnhart 1995) By the mid-18th century the word was used of assemblies or receptions held at any hour,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) including in Britain the early-afternoon court assembly at which the sovereign received men only (1760–72),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and in the United States the President's receptions.^(OED 1989)

+

+ The embankment sense arose in Louisiana French and is recorded in English from 1719.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Levees were also used as landing places, so the word came to mean a river quay or pier (1813 in Barnhart; 1842 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) In geology it names the low natural ridge of sediment along a river (1870).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1672 – a reception on rising.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1719 – an embankment against river floods.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1760–72 – a British royal afternoon assembly.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1766 – any reception of visitors.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1813 – a landing place, quay.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1832 – verb, to provide with a levee.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[embankment]] built to keep a river from overflowing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(geology)'' A natural ridge of sediment along a river bank.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A small ridge bordering a field to be [[irrigation|alt=irrigated]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A landing place on a river; a [[pier]] or [[quay]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A formal reception, especially one held in someone's honour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' A reception of visitors held by a royal or noble person on rising from bed.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To provide with a levee or embankment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lever]]

+ * [[levy]]

+ * [[levity]]

+ * [[elevate]]

+ * [[relieve]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}