leaven
1 of 2noun
leaven
2 of 2verb
transitive verb
Example Sentences
Tim Kelleher, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022 Pulque would supply a baker with an abundance of yeasts to leaven bread. Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2022 Having faith that we are created beings made for more than our jobs and presidential elections makes things like virtue and the Beatitudes leaven in our mess of the world. Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 28 Feb. 2022 Larger, more opulent parades will follow in February as Mardi Gras nears and the city attempts to leaven the season's joy with caution. Kevin Mcgill, ajc, 6 Jan. 2022 But touches like the Ron Swanson leaven the deep thoughts with a little fun. al, 7 Sep. 2021 During the seven or eight-day festival, all leaven, in bread or otherwise, is prohibited, and only matzo — unleavened bread — may be eaten, which symbolizes Hebrew suffering while in slavery and their ensuing deliverance and exodus. Andre Toran, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2021 To leaven the choice, Bush designated Bob Teeter to be deputy chief of staff. Tevi Troy, Washington Examiner, 18 Feb. 2021 The first casualty of that policy could be the handful of lighter and quirky bills that usually leaven each session. Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2020 See More Word History
Noun
Middle English levain, from Anglo-French levein, from Vulgar Latin *levamen, from Latin levare to raise — more at lever
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
leaven
verb
leaven
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- enliven
- suffuse
- infuse
- inculcate
- animate
- imbue
- invigorate
- inoculate
- permeate
- pervade
- charge
- plant
- endue
- indue
- steep
- instill
- saturate
- engrain
- impregnate
- ingrain
- flood
- overwhelm
- implant
- fill
- invest
- submerge
- deluge
- inundate
- drown
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deprive
- remove
- take (away)
- eliminate
- empty
- clear
- strip
- divest
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of leaven are imbue, infuse, ingrain, inoculate, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.
The words imbue and leaven are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.
The synonyms infuse and leaven are sometimes interchangeable, but infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.
Although the words ingrain and leaven have much in common, ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.
The meanings of inoculate and leaven largely overlap; however, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.
While the synonyms suffuse and leaven are close in meaning, suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.