levy
levy Lexical Profile
levy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An act of imposing or collecting a tax, fee, or fine, or the sum of money raised by such an assessment.
"The municipal government introduced a new carbon levy to fund public transit improvements."
The conscription or enlistment of troops for military service, or the body of troops so assembled.
"Historical records detail the emergency levy of local citizens during the border crisis."
• verb
To impose or collect a tax, fee, or fine by legal authority.
"Regulators voted to levy a hefty fine against the corporation for violating environmental standards."
To enlist or conscript someone into military service.
"The monarch sought parliamentary approval to levy additional troops for the campaign."
To embark on or wage war, or to seize property in satisfaction of a legal judgment.
"The court authorized the sheriff to levy upon the debtor's commercial assets."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'levy' (to impose or collect a tax or fine) with its homophone 'levee' (an embankment built to prevent a river from overflowing).
• Rhymes for levy
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'levy', borrowed from Old French 'levee' (a raising or collecting), the feminine past participle of 'lever' (to raise), from Latin 'levare' (to lift or raise).