levy
[lev-ee]
- an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force.
- the amount owed or collected.
- the conscription of troops.
- the troops conscripted.
Show More
- to impose (a tax): to levy a duty on imports.
- to conscript (troops).
- to start or wage (war).
Show More
- to seize or attach property by judicial order.
Show More
Origin of levy
1375–1425; late Middle English leve(e) < Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of lever to raise < Latin levāre, akin to levis light; cf. levee2
Synonyms
See more synonyms for levy on Thesaurus.com6. draft, enlist, callup.
Levy
[lee-vee, lev-ee for 1; lee-vee, -vahy for 2]
- Uriah Phillips,1792–1862, U.S. naval commander.
- a male given name.
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for levy
Contemporary Examples
The Arab leaders told Levy that they had been ordered out—and even threatened—by al-Husseini and must obey.
The Bain investment is likely welcome news for retailers such as Levy.
Another major turning point, Levy said, was the popularity of National Geographic and Discovery programming.
In the wake of 26/11, Scott-Clark and Levy report, the ISI perpetuated the lie that the ten gunmen had been martyred in Kashmir.
Hume noted that government debt is easy to levy while its costs are hidden.
Historical Examples
And now this levy for home defence had swept the farms clean.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
Their last attempt was to levy a duty upon the things that were re-embarked.
The Life of Horatio Lord NelsonRobert Southey
Kindly and well-meant advice, but Levy would have none of it.
The New LandElma Ehrlich Levinger
He pushed the dice aside and rose to release Levy from his bonds.
The New LandElma Ehrlich Levinger
Levy hardly knew him for the shy, taciturn playfellow of his boyhood.
The New LandElma Ehrlich Levinger
levy
- to impose and collect (a tax, tariff, fine, etc)
- to conscript troops for service
- to seize or attach (property) in accordance with the judgment of a court
Show More
- the act of imposing and collecting a tax, tariff, etc
- the money so raised
- the conscription of troops for service
- a person conscripted in this way
Show More
Word Origin
C15: from Old French levée a raising, from lever, from Latin levāre to raise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for levy
v.
early 13c., "act of raising or collecting," from Anglo-French leve, from Old French levée "act of raising," noun use of fem. past participle of lever "to raise" (see lever). Originally of taxes, later of men for armies (c.1500). Related: Levied; levying.
Show More
n.
"an act of levying," early 15c., from Anglo-French leve, Old French levée "a raising, lifting; levying," noun use of fem. past participle of lever "to raise" (see lever).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper