levant

See also Levant

English

Etymology 1

Transferral use of Levant, from French levant. Compare French faire voile en Levant (“be stolen away”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /lɪˈvænt/

Noun

levant (plural levants)

1. A disappearing or absconding after losing a bet.

Verb

levant (third-person singular simple present levants, present participle levanting, simple past and past participle levanted)

1. To abscond or run away, especially to avoid paying money or debts.
   • 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Night 16:

     In a mighty little time their husbands played them false and, taking whatever they could lay hands upon, levanted and left them in the lurch.

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     He died of a Tuesday. Got the run. Levanted with the cash of a few ads.

Translations

to abscond or run away

• Finnish: livistää (fi)

Etymology 2

From French levant.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈlɛvənt/

Adjective

levant (not comparable)

1. (heraldry) Rising, of an animal.
2. (law) Rising or having risen from rest; said of cattle.

Anagrams

• valent

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French

Etymology

Participle adjective of lever (“to raise”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ləvɑ̃/

• Audio (Paris)

  (file)

Adjective

levant m (feminine levante, masculine plural levants, feminine plural levantes)

1. (moon, sun) Rising.

Noun

levant m (plural levant)

1. The east, the orient.

Verb

levant

1. Present participle of lever.

Derived terms

• Levant

Anagrams

• lavent
• valent

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Latin

Verb

lēvant

1. third-person plural present active indicative of lēvō