Skip to content

levee

noun

  1. ridge or wall to hold back water
L24013 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈlɛvi/ / /ˈlɛveɪ/ / /ləˈvi/

noun

Etymology: From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”).

  1. The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.

    c. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee

    The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox […]

  2. A reception of visitors held after getting up.
  3. A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.

    I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing.

    At the King's levee on the morning of the 13th, Philippe was first ignored; then asked by His Majesty (rudely) what he wanted; then told, ‘Get back where you came from.’

verb

Etymology: From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”).

  1. To attend the levee or levees of.

    He levees all the great.