I. ˈlevən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English levain, from Middle French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin levamen, from Latin levare to raise — more at lever
1.
a. : a substance (as yeast) acting or used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid ; especially : sourdough
b. : a material (as sour milk and soda or baking powder) used to produce a gas that lightens dough or batter while it is baking ; also : a gas so produced (as carbon dioxide, air, or steam)
2. : leavening
a few really funny stories by way of leaven — Geoffrey Boumphrey
without the leaven of popular education, a landlocked region was not apt to make much progress — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
II. transitive verb
( leavened ; leavened ; leavening -v(ə)niŋ ; leavens )
Etymology: Middle English levainen, from levain, n.
1.
a. : to cause (as dough) to ferment
b. : to make light by aerating (as with carbon dioxide by the action of yeast or baking powder) : raise 11b
practically all breads, rolls, and some products like coffee cake are yeast- leavened; crackers, biscuits, pretzels, cookies, and the major portion of cakes are chemically leavened — Oscar Skovholt
2. : to mingle or permeate with some modifying, alleviating, or vivifying element
serious poetry leavened with wit — Sara H. Hay
a large fund of shrewd ability leavened by charm — Current Biography
his bitterness is leavened by a mischievous humor — N.R.Nash
Synonyms: see infuse