leaven

English

/ˈlɛv.ən/

noun
Definitions
  • Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.
  • (figurative) Anything that makes a general assimilating change in the mass.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English levain derived from Latin levāmen, levō (I soften, I lift, I relieve, I raise, rise, lift up, raise, mitigate, alleviate).

Origin

Latin

levō

Gloss

I soften, I lift, I relieve, I raise, rise, lift up, raise, mitigate, alleviate

Concept
Semantic Field

Motion

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji
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Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms