Part 667

Le"vite (l"vt), n. [L. Levites, Gr. Leyi:`ths, fr. Heb. Levi, one of the sons of Jacob.] 1. (Bib. Hist.) One of the tribe or family of Levi; a descendant of Levi; esp., one subordinate to the priests (who were of the same tribe) and employed in various duties connected with the tabernacle first, and afterward the temple, such as the care of the building, bringing of wood and other necessaries for the sacrifices, the music of the services, etc.

2. A priest; -- so called in contempt or ridicule.

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Le*vit"ic*al (l*vt"*kal), a. [L. Leviticus, Gr. Leyitiko`s.] 1. Of or pertaining to a Levite or the Levites.

2. Priestly. " Levitical questions." Milton.

3. Of or pertaining to, or designating, the law contained in the book of Leviticus. Ayliffe.

Levitical degrees, degrees of relationship named in Leviticus, within which marriage is forbidden.

Le*vit"ic*al*ly, adv. After the manner of the Levites; in accordance with the levitical law.

Le*vit"i*cus (-*ks), n. [See Levitical.] The third canonical book of the Old Testament, containing the laws and regulations relating to the priests and Levites among the Hebrews, or the body of the ceremonial law.

Lev"i*ty (lv"*t), n. [L. levitas, fr. levis light in weight; akin to levare to raise. See Lever, n.] 1. The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk; relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or floating upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; -- opposed to gravity.

He gave the form of levity to that which ascended; to that which descended, the form of gravity.

Sir. W. Raleigh.

This bubble by reason of its comparative levity to the fluidity that incloses it, would ascend to the top.

Bentley.

2. Lack of gravity and earnestness in deportment or character; trifling gayety; frivolity; sportiveness; vanity. " A spirit of levity and libertinism." Atterbury.

He never employed his omnipotence out of levity.

Calamy.

3. Lack of steadiness or constancy; disposition to change; fickleness; volatility.

The levity that is fatigued and disgusted with everything of which it is in possession.

Burke.

Syn. -- Inconstancy; thoughtlessness; unsteadiness; inconsideration; volatility; flightiness. -- Levity, Volatility, Flightiness. All these words relate to outward conduct. Levity springs from a lightness of mind which produces a disregard of the proprieties of time and place.Volatility is a degree of levity which causes the thoughts to fly from one object to another, without resting on any for a moment. Flightiness is volatility carried to an extreme which often betrays its subject into gross impropriety or weakness. Levity of deportment, of conduct, of remark; volatility of temper, of spirits; flightiness of mind or disposition.

Le"vo- (l"v-). A prefix from L. laevus, meaning: (a) Pertaining to, or toward, the left; as, levorotatory. (b) (Chem. & Opt.) Turning the plane of polarized light to the left; as, levotartaric acid; levoracemic acid; levogyratory crystals, etc. [Written also lævo-.]

Le`vo*gy"rate (-j"rt), a. [Levo- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Physics) Turning or twisting the plane of polarization towards the left, as levulose, levotartaric acid, etc. [Written also lævogyrate.]

Le`vo*ro"ta*to*ry (-r"t*t*r), a. [Levo- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Physics) Turning or rotating the plane of polarization towards the left; levogyrate, as levulose, left-handed quartz crystals, etc. [Written also lævorotatory.]

Lev"u*lin (lv"*ln), n. (Chem.) A substance resembling dextrin, obtained from the bulbs of the dahlia, the artichoke, and other sources, as a colorless, spongy, amorphous material. It is so called because by decomposition it yields levulose. [Written also lævulin.]

Lev`u*lin"ic (-ln"k), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid (called also acetyl-propionic acid), C5H8O3, obtained by the action of dilute acids on various sugars (as levulose). [Written also lævulinic.]

Lev`u*lo"san (-l"san), n. (Chem.) An unfermentable carbohydrate obtained by gently heating levulose.

Lev"u*lose` (lv"*ls`), n. [See Levo-.] (Chem.) A sirupy variety of sugar, rarely obtained crystallized, occurring widely in honey, ripe fruits, etc., and hence called also fruit sugar. It is called levulose, because it rotates the plane of polarization to the left. [Written also lævulose.]>