leaven

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.

2. 2

   Anything that induces change, especially a corrupting or vitiating change.

   • Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
   • On the far side was reflected a single red and meteoric cloud, which had treasured one last crimson ray from the sunset, or perhaps nursed within it the fiery leaven.
   • The leaven of insincerity worked through all the fibres of his being.
3. 3

   Chametz.

   • On the fourteenth day of Nisan men search for leaven by candlelight.
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To add a leavening agent.

      • Yeast is used to leaven bread, making it rise during baking.
   2. 5

      To cause to rise by fermentation.

   3. 6

      To temper an action, decision, attitude, characteristic, etc.

      • Duke. No more euasion: We haue with a leauen'd, and prepared choice Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors:[...]
      • “A tinge of Jewish blood is not a bad thing. It leavens the”—she looked at him—“stolid stupidity of the ordinary Englishman.”
   4. 7

      To imbue

      To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.

      • The comedian's jokes helped leaven the atmosphere during the serious meeting.
      • Her optimism seemed to leaven the otherwise tense environment.
      • With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he levens also his prayer.
   5. 8

      To rise or become larger

      To rise or become larger; to prove.

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