leaven

American  

[lev-uhn] / ˈlɛv ən /

noun

1. a substance, as yeast or baking powder, that causes fermentation and expansion of dough or batter.

2. fermented dough reserved for producing fermentation in a new batch of dough.

3. an element that produces an altering or transforming influence.

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verb (used with object)

leavens, present (3rd person singular) leavened, past participle, past leavening present participle

1. to add leaven to (dough or batter) and cause to rise.

2. to permeate with an altering or transforming element.

leaven British  

/ ˈlɛvən /

noun

1. any substance that produces fermentation in dough or batter, such as yeast, and causes it to rise

2. a piece of such a substance kept to ferment a new batch of dough

3. an agency or influence that produces a gradual change

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verb

1. to cause fermentation in (dough or batter)

2. to pervade, causing a gradual change, esp with some moderating or enlivening influence

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• leavening
  present
• leavened
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• leaven
  simple
• leavens
  simple
• have leavened
  perfect
• has leavened
  perfect
• am leavening
  progressive
• are leavening
  progressive
• is leavening
  progressive
• have been leavening
  perfect progressive
• has been leavening
  perfect progressive

Past

• leavened
  simple
• had leavened
  perfect
• was leavening
  progressive
• were leavening
  progressive
• had been leavening
  perfect progressive

Future

• will leaven
  simple
• will have leavened
  perfect
• will be leavening
  progressive
• will have been leavening
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of leaven

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English levain, levein, leven, from Anglo-French levein, levain, Old French levain, from Vulgar Latin levāmen (unrecorded) “means of raising or lifting,” from Latin levāmen “alleviation, mitigation, relief,” derivative of levā(re) “to raise, lift up; relieve, reduce” + -men noun suffix

Explanation

Leaven, as a noun, is that which causes transformation. It’s the source of yeast that makes your bread rise, it’s the risen bread, and it’s anything that changes the nature of something else. Coming through Old French from the Latin verb levare, which means “to raise,” leaven changes everything. It makes dough go from flat to loaf, and it’s also the term to describe the risen dough before it’s baked. And leaven can be anything that causes transformation — "Winning the lottery will be the leaven that allows you to travel the world." Additionally it’s a verb: "When you bake bread, you leaven the dough to make it rise."

Example Sentences

The Leaven Community Land and Housing Coalition, which represents churches in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, is overseeing development.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

At least 68 faith congregations in Oregon are either starting the development process or considering it, said the Rev. Julia Nielson, executive organizer of the Leaven Community Land and Housing Coalition.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

In late February, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon joined with Leaven Land and Housing and several other organizations to place House Bill 3482 before the Oregon Legislature.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

One morning, we bought several of Wild Leaven Bakery’s high-altitude sourdoughs, denser and heavier than loaves produced at sea level.

From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2022

“You’re not grown so very tall, Miss Jane, nor so very stout,” continued Mrs. Leaven.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• imbue
• infuse