I. lə̇ˈvant adjective
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: Levant, the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, from Middle English levaunt East, Orient, from Middle French levant, from present participle of lever to raise ( se lever to rise), from Latin levare; from the direction of the sunrise — more at lever
: levantine , eastern
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Levant, the countries of the eastern Mediterranean
1. : levanter 2
2. usually capitalized : levant morocco
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to give (leather) the finish of Levant morocco
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps from Spanish levantar to break (camp), raise, from Old Spanish, to raise, irregular from levar, from Latin levare
obsolete : a wager made with intent not to pay if lost
V. lə̇ˈvant intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
chiefly Britain : to default a losing bet or a debt and abscond
his Buddhist friend has levanted after taking my name and address — Rudyard Kipling