leavenn.
/ˈlɛvn/, U.S. /ˈlɛvən/ 1. † b. More generally: any substance that produces (supposed) fermentation; a ferment (ferment n. 1); a causative agent of a zymotic disease. Obsolete.
a. An agent added to dough to produce fermentation, a raising agent, e.g. yeast; spec. a quantity of fermenting dough reserved from a previous batch to be used for this purpose (cf. sourdough n.).In 16th to 18th centuries often plural; also in †to lay (also put) leaven(s).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > substances for food preparation > [noun] > leaven or yeast
barmc1000
yeastc1000
sourdough1303
leaven1340
fermentc1420
God's good1469
quickening1573
rising1594
sizzing1594
leavening1626
kneading1638
emptying1650
yeast-cake1795
hametz1891
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 205 Ase þe leuayne zoureþ þet doȝ.
a1400 Prose Life Christ (Pepys) (1922) 43 (MED) Þe leueyn þat makeþ þe doghȝe soure and forto rise þeiȝ þat it be litel.
a1425 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 663/21 Hoc leuamentum, lewan.
a1500 (a1477) Black Bk. (Soc. of Antiquaries) in A. R. Myers Househ. Edward IV (1959) 168 O [= one] yoman furnour..seasonyng the ouyn, and at the making of the leuayne at euery bache.
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Hiii To put the leuain, fermenter.
1539 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) 27 b Breadde of fyne floure of wheate, hauynge no leuyn, is slowe of digestion.
a1550 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) f. 59v Lyke as flower of wheat made into paste Reqwyreth leaven, which firment we call.
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 35v Washe dishes, lay leauens.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 566 The meale of Millet is singular good for Leuains.
1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xii. 15 Euen the first day yee shall put away leauen out of your houses. View more context for this quotation
1699 J. Evelyn Acetaria 53 Add a Pound of Wheat-flour, fermented with a little Levain.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery xvii. 151 The more Leaven is put to the Flour the lighter and spongier the Bread will be.
1773 tr. G. van Swieten Comm. Aphorisms Boerhaave XV. 162 The soles of his feet, and the hollows of his knees, to be kept..constantly poulticed with the acid leaven of bread.
1809 N. Pinkney Trav. South of France 33 The bread is made of wheat meal, but in some cottages consisted of thin cakes without leven.
1876 tr. P. Schützenberger On Fermentation 10 The ancients used as leaven for their bread either dough that had been kept till it was sour, or beer-yeast.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 928 Gradually men came to know that it was advantageous to keep some of the leaven from a good baking to use for bakings to follow.
2014 J. Al-Khalili & J. McFadden Life on Edge iii. 65 The transforming principle of fermentation appeared to be intrinsically associated with living yeast cells that were present..in the leaven used to make bread.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [noun] > agent or medium
infectiona1398
leavena1400
virusa1400
contagion1603
taint1623
fomes1800
conductor1807
infectant1832
zymin1842
contagium1870
noxa1872
pathogen1880
zyme1882
auto-infectant1887
insult1903
the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > chemical processes or reactions > [noun] > fermentation > substance producing fermentation
leavena1400
fermentc1420
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 352 (MED) Take þe wombis of cantarides & grinde hem wiþ leueyne [L. fermento].
a1500 in D. W. Singer Catal. Lat. & Vernacular Alchemical MSS (1928) I. 5 (MED) The Elixir, a leven which is medecyne to all corrupe mettalls.
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens ii. sig. Nj And yf ye veynes as yet appere nat wel, a day before he must haue a plaster of leueyne.
1623 R. N. E. tr. Reuelation Secret Spirit vii. 64 But, because the perfection of euery stone, consisteth in the vertue of his earth;..it is called the nurse, or leauen vnto it.
1658 R. White tr. K. Digby Late Disc. Cure Wounds 111 As wine doth the vinal spirits, The oyl of tartar fermented by the levain of Roses [Fr. vn leuain de roses] draws the volatil spirits of the rose.
1668 N. Culpeper & A. Cole tr. T. Bartholin Anat. (new ed.) i. ii. 26 The Fermentum stercoreum or turdie Leaven, which turns the Excrements of the Chyle into plain Turds.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ iii. xxii. 430 Rie, the leaven is more powerfull than that of Wheat, in breaking all Aposthumes.
1689 G. Harvey Art of curing Dis. by Expectation iv. 21 [The] humours..acquire a levain so pernicious, as to deprave and subvert the animal Faculty.
1739 J. Sparrow tr. H. F. Le Dran Observ. Surg. xxxv. 135 Her Blood was loaded with a bad Leven.
1747 tr. J. Astruc Academical Lect. Fevers 254 Moreover such a foreign levain is so disproportioned to our nature, that its effects will be the greater; nor must we admire, that this mortal ferment should be the product of some particular countries.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. II. 195 The activity of its [sc. typhus'] leaven, by which it assimilates all the fluids of the body to its own nature.
1892 O. R. Gleason Horse Bk. 333 And this pus being absorbed into the general circulation, thus forming a Ferment, a Zumin, or a Leaven, as the Bible has it, within the blood, the effort of nature to get rid of this offending matter is seen in the ulcerations of the lining membrane of the nose.
2. figurative and in figurative contexts. literary.
a. General uses. spec. (a) (chiefly with allusion to certain passages of the Christian gospels, e.g. Matthew 13:33, 16:6) an agency that produces profound change by progressive inward operation; a pervasive influence that transforms something; (b) = old leaven at sense 2b; (c) a tempering or modifying element; a tinge or admixture (of some quality).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > sudden or complete change > [noun] > agent of
sourdoughc1380
leavena1393
yeast1769
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > [noun] > admixture or addition as ingredient > that which is added as an ingredient
leavena1393
intermixture1586
admixture1607
amalgam1841
additive1901
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 446 He is the levein of the bred, Which soureth al the past aboute.
1531 tr. E. Fox et al. Determinations Moste Famous Vniuersities f. 11v Our vniuersite..dyd determine and conclude, with moste pure and clere conscience, and defyled with no maner of leuen or corruption: that [etc.].
?1548 A. Gilby Answer Deuillish Detection S. Gardiner f. clxxxxvii The phariseies that folowed them haue thriste all thynges so ful of their leuen of Hypocrisie.
a1555 J. Philpot Apol. spitting vpon Arrian sig. B8v, in Exam. J. Philpot (?1556) What pharisaical leuen dothe they scatter abrode.
1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Longolius in Panoplie Epist. 410 You have your fine walkes..and therewithall communication seasoned with the leven of learning [L. literatas collocutiones].
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 57 The Uniuersities, of christendome which should be..the leauen, the salt, the seasoning of the world.
1610 D. Price Def. of Truth i. vii. 163 For thy selfe, I know thee to be tainted with the leauen of Covetousnesse.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 62 The soure levin of humane Traditions mixt in one putrifi'd Masse with the poisonous dregs of hypocrisie in the hearts of Prelates.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 7 And thus the Romans levened with the Gospell..insinuated that leven by degrees, which in the conclusion prevailed over all.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 406 Their Style had some Leaven from the Age that each of them liv'd in.
1720 J. Clarke Ess. Educ. Youth 119 The latter [sc. Seneca]..has a Mixture of the Stoick Leaven.
1725 Visct. Bolingbroke Let. 24 July in J. Swift Lett. (1766) II. 282 Lest so corrupt a member should come again into the house of lords, and his bad leaven should sour that sweet, untainted mass.
1793 T. Holcroft tr. J. C. Lavater Ess. Physiognomy (abridged ed.) i. 13 Virtue unsullied by the leven of vanity.
1799 J. Adams Let. 4 Aug. in Wks. (1854) IX. 8 There is a very sour leaven of malevolence in many English and in many American minds against each other.
1833 J. Galt in Fraser's Mag. Dec. 657 The leaven of unrighteousness was still within him.
1864 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta 318 Pleasure with pain for leaven.
1865 F. Parkman Huguenots ii, in Pioneers of France in New World 17 To the utmost bounds of France, the leaven of the Reform was working.
1878 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. III. xxi. 542 The evil leaven of these feelings remained.
1883 S. C. Hall Retrospect Long Life II. 185 A leaven of gaiety clung to her through life.
1884 Manch. Examiner 23 June 6/1 We should remember their temptations and mix a large leaven of charity with our judgments.
1916 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 30 Dec. 920/1 The small secret leaven of high churchism and medievalism, which..transformed the Anglican Church.
1938 tr. T. Louverture in C. L. R. James Black Jacobins viii. 160 Already perfidious emissaries have stepped in among us to ferment the destructive leaven prepared by the hands of liberticides.
1944 Washington Post 20 Sept. 6/1 A leaven of genuine competition would..prove a real benefit to the trade associations.
1970 P. Anderson Tau Zero (1973) 118 I am supposed to be a leaven, to the best of what abilities I have.
2006 F. Wilczek Fantastic Realities 38 In all methods and systems which involve the idea of force there is a leaven of artificiality.
b. old leaven: (in religious language) the unregenerate condition, a manifestation of this; (hence) inconsistently retained prejudice, the survival of undesirable historical beliefs or attitudes.Frequently with allusion to 1 Corinthians 5:6, 7. [After post-classical Latin vetus fermentum (Vulgate) and its model Hellenistic Greek παλαιὰ ζύμη (New Testament), used figuratively in Corinthians 5:7.]
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [noun] > degeneracy consequent on fall > unregenerate character of man
old manOE
old leaven1537
Adama1569
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > bias, prejudice > [noun] > from the past
old leaven1722
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. v. 7 Pourge therfore the olde leven.]
1537 W. Turner tr. Urbanus Regius Compar. Olde Learnynge & Newe sig. C.iii They that make so lyght a thyng of this olde leuen [L. vetus..fermentum] of malyce, callynge it a lytel infirmite onely.
1572 J. Bridges tr. R. Gwalther Hundred, Threescore & Fiftene Homelyes vppon Actes Apostles xv. 594 The Authors hereof were those of the Phariseys that beleeued in Christ, yet retayning this smatche of olde leauen, that they strengthly vrged the fulfylling of the righteousnesse of the lawe.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers 4 The Prejudice of the old Leaven.
1774 I. Fletcher Diary 21 Aug. (1994) 288 I approve not of their doctrine or visit. The old leven appears much in them; zealous without knowledge; fiery & enthusiastic.
1839 W. B. Stonehouse Hist. Isle of Axholme 191 The old leaven of dissent, in which Wesley was brought up.
1881 Spectator 28 May 695/2 There was no trace of the old leaven in his speech.
1910 T. F. Tout in Standard 3 Jan. 12/3 Traces of the old leaven are still working, and the organization of the higher teaching of history still leaves much to be desired.
1930 L. P. Roche tr. J. Plattard Life F. Rabelais xv. 245 Those acquainted with the intentions of the two parties thought that France was on the verge of a schism. The old leaven of Gallicanism was fermenting everywhere.
2002 R. Eden tr. C. de Gaulle Enemy's House Divided v. 131 The old leaven of discord between the different Germanic peoples..inspired mutual malevolence.
c. of the same (also a different, a person's own, etc.) leaven: of the same (a different, one's own, etc.) kind or character.
ΚΠ
1543 J. Bale Yet Course at Romyshe Foxe sig. Gviiv (margin) More lousye doctors of the same leuen.
1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) i. ii, in Wks. I. 9 One is a Rimer sir, o' your owne batch, your owne leuin.
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Num. xxiii. 1) 48 A loafe of the same leaven, was that resolute Rufus.
1659 J. Milton Considerations touching Hirelings 55 They quote Ambrose, Augustin, and som other ceremonial doctors of the same leaven.
1727 J. Swift Let. to very Young Lady in Misc. II. 323 Of the same leaven are those Wives, who when their Husbands are gone a Journey, must have a Letter every Post.
1774 W. Paley Def. Considerations on Propriety of requiring Subscription to Articles of Faith 8 Bishops being taken out of the lump of the community will generally be of the same leaven, and partake, both of the opinions and moderation of the times they live in.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock II. xi. 40 Desborough had been created a Commissioner in the Woodstock matter to gratify Cromwell,..and Bletson as a sincere republican, and one of their own leaven.
1839 Wizard of Windshaw I. xvii. 354 It is not of him that I would speak; his mischief is of another leaven.
1847 B. Disraeli Tancred II. iv. v. 220 Piastres and this Frank stranger are not of the same leaven.
1893 Man of World 8 Mar. 5/2 There are, indeed, lords of a different leaven, and perhaps in the present age there has existed no worthier social type of English gentlemen than the Truemen-Powers.
1911 R. B. Cunninghame Graham in Eng. Rev. Feb. 447 Aunt Eleanor was of another leaven, for in her composition the Yorkshire blood had overpowered the Scotch.
1975 A. Prieditis Fate of Nations iv. 130 Two to three times 29 years after the profanation of the sanctuaries, people there will be of a ‘different leaven’, i.e., again they will pay due honor to the church and to religion.
2010 H. Javadi & W. Floor tr. A. J. Khunsari in tr. Educ. Women 149 As if the writer of the book had wanted to say that [such men and women] are of the same leaven.
Compounds
General attributive, as leaven bread, leaven loaf, etc.
ΚΠ
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 25v (MED) Medulle panis fermentacei, i. crommez of leuen brede [?c1425 Paris soure brede; L. panis frumentacei]..be þai infused bi an houre in ferment water..and be þer made a softe emplastre.
1522 in E. Beveridge Burgh Rec. Dunfermline (1917) I. 209 Ane laven tub, ane bakbred, ane girdill.
1566 Protocol Bks. T. Johnsoun (1920) 102 The Girnale. Ane bowtyne fatt. Ane laven trouch.
1608 Closet for Ladies & Gentlewomen 76 Put in some crummes of leauen bread, and boyle them well together.
1644 S. Rutherford Lex, Rex xlii. 432 The Prelate, by office, was more in two elements, in Church and State, then any Frogs even in the Kings Leaven-tubs ordinarily.
1776 Crit. Rev. Apr. 326 A shining table..loaden with a leaven loaf, a cheese, and scatter'd leeks.
1845 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 19 Apr. 256/2 We defy your..leaven bread.
1880 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea (ed. 4) VI. vi. 134 The army of General Canrobert was often..able to provide itself with good leaven bread.
1911 E. Phillpotts Fight to Finish xiv. 106/1 He thought of white leaven loaves baking in the oven.
1957 V. W. von Hagen Anc. Sun Kingdoms of Americas ii. ii. 240 Until 600 B.C. the Greeks ate..a coarse leaven bread baked in ashes.
2008 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 16 Apr. 4 The law forbids merchants from displaying leaven products in public for sale or consumption.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
leavenv.
/ˈlɛvn/, U.S. /ˈlɛvən/ 1. transitive. To produce fermentation in (dough) by means of a leaven.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of bread > prepare bread [verb (transitive)] > add leaven or raise
sourdoughc1384
leavena1400
raisea1500
set1743
sponge1773
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 274 (MED) He schal ete breed þat is wel leueyned [L. panez bene fermentatum].
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 241 The brede be hit made of whete and euenly y-lauenyt.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. M.ij The texte declarethe .v. propretes of good breadde. The fyrst, hit muste be well leuende.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Hosea vii. 2 As it were an ouen yt the baker heateth..till the dowe be leuended.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Cor. v. 6 Know ye not that a little leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe? View more context for this quotation
1638 W. Rawley tr. F. Bacon Hist. Nat. & Exper. Life & Death 314 Bread, a little leavened, and very little salted, is best.
1684 J. Browne Adenochoiradelogia i. xvi. 149 A small quantity thereof is sufficient to leven the whole Loaf.
1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Bread They take a Minot of this Flower..leaven and boult it, and cover it well with the same Flower or Meal.
1797 Monthly Mag. 3 33/1 The bread..is slightly baked in thick cakes, being previously leavened.
1850 R. W. Mackay Progress of Intellect II. ix. xiii. 446 The people must have had leisure to leaven their bread as well as to bake and eat it.
1898 Judy 9 Nov. 530/1 If the flames of the matches and candles [used in London during twelve months] combined were utilized for lightening dough instead of being used as household illuminants, they would suffice to leaven the bread of the whole of the English-speaking world.
1951 N. Y. Times 20 Apr. 20/4 In the exodus there was no time to leaven the bread that was eaten.
1973 C. A. Wilson Food & Drink in Brit. vii. 259 The dough was leavened overnight in a sour trough.
2000 Sat. Evening Post (U.S.) May 88/3 It only takes..a little bit of yeast to leaven the bread.
2. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To permeate with a transforming influence as leaven does; to imbue or mingle with some tempering or modifying element. Also: †(rare) to debase or corrupt by admixture (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [verb (transitive)] > by admixture
leaven1534
the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > sudden or complete change > cause sudden or complete change [verb (transitive)] > as agent
leaven1534
ferment1823
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)] > corrupt > taint or infect
smiteeOE
besmiteeOE
smitOE
besmita1250
empoisonc1400
fadec1400
infect?c1400
attainta1529
leaven1534
inquinate1542
contaminate1563
taint1573
tack1601
beleper?a1625
1534 Bible (Tyndale) To Rdr. False Prophetes & malicious ypocrytes, whose perpetuall stodye is to leven the scripture with gloses.
1550 H. Latimer Moste Faithfull Serm. before Kynges Maiestye sig. Diiv But beware ye that are magestrates, theyr synne dothe leauen you all.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 35 Your advise, being leavened with singular wisedome.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Nucillus in Panoplie Epist. 238 When I had perceived..that your friendshippe was leavened with lightnesse and inconstancie.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. 7 Thus the Romans levened with the Gospell..insinuated that leven by degrees.
a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) i. 1 Leven not good Actions nor render Virtues disputable.
1682 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Rights Princes (new ed.) Pref. 29 Only they were too much leavened with a superstitious conceit of the Rights of the Church.
c1718 M. Prior Ladle 166 That cruel something unpossess'd Corrodes and leavens all the rest.
1776 J. Wesley Let. 16 Sept. (1931) VI. 232 Probably, if they stand firm, religion will in a while leaven the whole family.
1861 C. Reade Cloister & Hearth III. i. 10 When this revelation had had time to leaven the city.
1862 E. M. Goulburn Thoughts Personal Relig. II. iii. xii. 260 The indolent, evil thought would still insinuate itself until it leavened their entire character.
1865 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire (new ed.) VIII. lxv. 144 Bithynia..and the adjacent parts of Asia were at the time more leavened with Christian opinions than other districts of the empire.
1877 M. Oliphant Makers of Florence (ed. 2) xi. 273 A mob which it was very easy to leaven with noisy men here and there.
1930 T. Okey Basketful of Memories vii. 61 The Marxian bible..had begun to leaven English democratic thought.
1956 A. Huxley Adonis & Alphabet 120 If there were no ‘angels’, there would be no worst-selling literature to leaven the enormous lump of intellectual and artistic conformity.
2011 Economist 28 May 103/2 In the 1940s Australia was about 98% Anglo-Celtic; by the 1980s a few other Europeans,..and latterly some Vietnamese, had started to leaven the mix.
3. intransitive. To act as a leaven, to cause dough to rise; (also) to be fermented by a leaven, to prove, to rise. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Exod. xx. 17) 74 In the Meat-offering, it was not lawful to offer leaven, or anie thing that leaveneth, as honie.
1814 L. Dow Hist. Cosmopolite v. 84 I saw a person put leaven in a bowl of meal, it leavened and leavened until it swelled clear over on the ground.
1936 Spoken Word 24 Mar. 5/2 We shall continue to leaven, and leaven, and leaven, until we shall have leavened the whole Universe.
1978 J. Neusner Hist. Mishnaic Law Holy Things II. v. 78 Meir's view is that one allows a little of the flour to leaven, and this he then puts into the dough.
2010 S. Harris Diabetic Pastry Chef vii. 101 Tea breads..do not require yeast to leaven and rise.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1340v.a1400