Levy dictionary definition

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levy

[lev′ē]

noun

The definition of levy is a required or collected fee or tax.
An example of levy is sales tax.

verb

Levy is defined as to force into military service or to declare and fight in a war.
An example of levy is the military draft.

levy

noun

pl. levies

an imposing and collecting of a tax or other payment
an amount levied; tax, etc.
1. the enlistment, usually compulsory, of personnel, as for military service
2. a group so enlisted

Origin of levy

Middle English levee ; from Middle French feminine past participle of lever, to raise: see lever

transitive verb

levied, levying

to impose or collect (a tax, tribute, fine, etc.)
to enlist (troops) for military service, usually by force
to wage (war)

intransitive verb

to make a levy
Law to seize property in order to satisfy a judgment: often with on

levy

verb

lev·ied, lev·y·ing, lev·ies

verb

, transitive

a. To impose (a tax or fine, for example) on someone.
b. To impose a tax, fine, or other punishment on (a person or business).
To enlist or conscript into military service: levy recruits.
To declare and wage (a war).

verb

, intransitive

To confiscate property, especially in accordance with a legal judgment.

noun

pl. lev·ies

The act or process of levying.
Money, property, or troops levied.

Origin of levy

Middle English levien, from leve, levy, tax, from Old French levee, from feminine past participle of lever, to raise; see lever.

Related Forms:

lev′i·er
noun

levy

Verb

(third-person singular simple present levies, present participle levying, simple past and past participle levied)

To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property
to levy a tax
To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority.
To draft someone into military service
To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrolment, conscription. etc.
To wage war
To raise, as a siege.
(law) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast up.
to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc.

Noun

(plural levies)

The act of levying.
The tax, property or people so levied.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman leve, from Old French levee, from lever "to raise".

Noun

(plural levies)

(US, obsolete, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia) The Spanish real of one eighth of a dollar, valued at elevenpence when the dollar was rated at seven shillings and sixpence.

Origin

Contraction of elevenpence.