leaven
pronunciation
How to pronounce leaven in British English:
UK [ˈlevn]
How to pronounce leaven in American English:
US [ˈlɛvən]
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- Noun:
- a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid
- an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something
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- Verb:
- cause to puff up with a leaven
Word Origin
- leaven (n.)
- mid-14c., from Old French levain "leaven, sourdough" (12c.), from Latin levamen "alleviation, mitigation," but used in Vulgar Latin in its literal sense of "a means of lifting, something that raises," from levare "to raise" (see lever). Figurative use from late 14c.
- leaven (v.)
- c. 1400, from leaven (n.). Related: Leavened; leavening.
Example
- 1. Beware of the leaven of the pharisees which is hypocrisy .
- 2. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven .
- 3. Whether you like it or not , your life is a leaven .
- 4. A little leaven leavens the whole lump .
- 5. Take nothing which has leaven in it ; wherever you are living let your food be unleavened cakes .