I. ˈlevē, -vi noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English levee, levy, from Middle French levee levy, action of raising, from Old French, action of raising, from feminine of levé, past participle of lever to raise — more at lever
1.
a. : the imposition or collection of an assessment, tax, tribute, or fine
make a levy on all meat, out of which to pay the running costs of the … organization — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin
specifically : the taking of property on execution to satisfy a judgment
it authorizes a levy upon property of the witness — E.D.Dickinson
b. : an amount levied : impost , tax
a direct food levy was imposed — Leonard Mason
2.
a. : the enlistment or conscription of men for military service : muster
the levy of the militia, which had previously been confined to the countryside, was extended to Paris — Evelyn Cruickshanks
b. : the troops raised by a levy
defeat followed by victory had transmuted green levies into veteran soldiers — Peter Rainier
levies, who were eating the village out of hearth and home — Marguerite Steen
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English levyen, levien, from levee, levy, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to impose or collect (as a tax or tribute) by legal process or by authority : exact
we cannot levy unlimited drafts on the future to avoid bankruptcy in the present — W.R.Inge
there will be no European army if the exclusive right to levy taxes is left to individual governments — European Federation Now
the time-honored graft that policemen usually levy on prostitutes — Green Peyton
levied a heavy fine for contempt of court
b. : to exact or require (as a service) by authority or power
upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond service unto this day — 1 Kings 9:21 (Authorized Version)
2. : to enlist or conscript for military service
go levy men and make prepare for war — Shakespeare
the armies of the early 17th century were mercenary, rapidly levied, disbanded again, haphazard — Hilaire Belloc
3. : to carry on (war) : make , wage
treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort — U.S. Constitution
only a skirmish in the general war levied upon social distinctions — V.L.Parrington
4. law
a. : to seize in satisfaction of a legal claim or judgment
b. : to carry into effect (as a writ of execution) : enforce
c. : to arrange (a fine) in settlement of a suit to establish title to land
she was also prohibited from levying a fine — Joshua Williams
intransitive verb
1. : to seize real or personal property or subject it to attachment or execution : make a levy
levied on the judgment debtor's property under an execution
2. : to draw for provisions or resources — usually used with on
I have levied on many writers for my essential conception of American culture — Max Lerner
had levied on their cellars to produce new offerings — A.J.Liebling
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: by shortening & alteration from eleven pence (approximate value of the coin)
1. : a Spanish real — used especially in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware
2. : the sum of 12 1/2 cents