Part 6493

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

<h1>Levo-</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Le"vo-</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <def>A prefix from L. <ets>laevus</ets></def>, meaning: <sd>(a)</sd> <def><it>Pertaining to, or toward, the left</it>; <as>as, <ex>levo</ex>rotatory</as></def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Chem. & Opt.)</fld> <def><it>Turning the plane of polarized light to the left</it>; <as>as, <ex>levo</ex>tartaric acid; <ex>levo</ex>racemic acid; <ex>levo</ex>gyratory crystals, etc.</as></def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>l\'91vo-</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Levogyrate</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Le`vo*gy"rate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Levo-</ets> + <ets>gyrate</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Chem. & Physics)</fld> <def>Turning or twisting the plane of polarization towards the left, as levulose, levotartaric acid, etc.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>l\'91vogyrate</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Levorotatory</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Le`vo*ro"ta*to*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Levo-</ets> + <ets>rotatory</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Chem. & Physics)</fld> <def>Turning or rotating the plane of polarization towards the left; levogyrate, as levulose, left handed quartz crystals, etc.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>l\'91vorotatory</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Levulin</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev"u*lin</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>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 <i>levulose</i>.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>l\'91vulin</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Levulinic</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev`u*lin"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid (called also <i>acetyl-propionic acid</i>), <chform>C5H8O3</chform>, obtained by the action of dilute acids on various sugars (as levulose).</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>l\'91vulinic</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Levulosan</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev`u*lo"san</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>An unfermentable carbohydrate obtained by gently heating levulose.</def>

<h1>Levulose</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev"u*lose`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Levo-</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>A sirupy variety of sugar, rarely obtained crystallized, occurring widely in honey, ripe fruits, etc., and hence called also <altname>fruit sugar</altname>. It is called <i>levulose</i>, because it rotates the plane of polarization to the left.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>l\'91vulose</asp>.]</altsp><-- also called fructose: <chform>C6H12O6</chform -->>

<note>&hand; It is obtained, together with an equal quantity of dextrose, by the inversion of ordinary cane or beet sugar, and hence, as being an ingredient of <i>invert sugar</i>, is often so called. It is fermentable, nearly as sweet as cane sugar, and is metameric with dextrose. Cf. <er>Dextrose</er>.</note>

<h1>Levy</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Levies</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[A contr. of <ets>elevenpence</ets> or <ets>elevenpenny bit</ets>.]</ety> <def>A name formerly given in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to the Spanish real of one eight of a dollar (or 12<frac12/ cents), valued at eleven pence when the dollar was rated at 7s. 6d.</def>

<h1>Levy</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev"y</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>lev\'82e</ets>, fr. <ets>lever</ets> to raise. See <er>Lever</er>, and cf. <er>Lever</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of levying or collecting by authority; <as>as, the <ex>levy</ex> of troops, taxes, etc.</as></def>

<blockquote>A <b>levy</b> of all the men left under sixty. <i>Thirlwall.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc.</def> " The Irish <i>levies</i>."

<i>Macaulay.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>The taking or seizure of property on executions to satisfy judgments, or on warrants for the collection of taxes; a collecting by execution.</def>

<cs><col>Levy in mass</col> <ety>[F. <ets>lev\'82e en masse<ets>]</ety>, <cd>a requisition of all able-bodied men for military service.</cd></cs>

<h1>Levy</h1> <Xpage=847>

<hw>Lev"y</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Levied</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Levying</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To raise, as a siege.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <i>Holland</i>.

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrollment, conscription. etc.</def>