Levite
(ˈliːvaɪt)
Also 4–5 levyte.
[ad. L. levīta, also levītēs, ad. Gr. λευίτης, f. λευί Levi (Heb. Lēvī, which also means ‘Levite’).]
1. Israelitish Hist. a. A descendant of Levi; one of the tribe of Levi. b. One of that portion of the tribe who acted as assistants to the priests in the temple-worship.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 21241 Marc..efter his kind..was leuite. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 115 Archa dei in þe olde lawe leuites it kepten. a 1420 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1755 In þe abhomynable oppressioun Of þe leuytes wyfe. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 180 The Leuites at thair awin hand Thay reft thair teind. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 197 In the Christian Church, the Office of Deacons succeeded in the Place of the Levites among the Jews. 1891 Cheyne Orig. Psalter ii. i. 59 note, The singers were Levites. |
† 2. transf. (from 1 b). A deacon. Obs.
A frequent rhetorical use of the word in med. Latin.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iii. 130 Laurens þe leuite lyggynge on þe gredire, Loked vp to oure lorde. 1570 Levins Manip. 151/26 A Leuite,..diaconus. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. xiv. 365 The divell..hath placed in the order of his priests, some greater or superiors, and some lesse, the one as Acolites, the other as Levites. |
† 3. Used somewhat contemptuously for: A clergyman. Also, in allusion to Judges xvii. 12, a domestic chaplain. Obs.
| 1640 H. Glapthorne Wit in Constable iv. G b, There shall a little Levite Meet you, and give you to the lawfull bed. 1655 Sir G. Sondes Narr. in Harl. Misc. (1813) X. 51 If I had not a Levite in my house, I performed the office myself. 1687 Congreve Old Bach. iv. i, I say he is a wanton young Levite. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. Marriage Wks. 1730 i. 58 The Levite it keeps from parocial duty. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 327 A young Levite—such was the phrase then in use—might be had for his board, a small garret, and ten pounds a year. |
† 4. A loose dress, so called from its supposed resemblance to the dress of the Levites. Obs. [After F. lévite.]
| 1779 H. Walpole Let. to C'tess Ossory 15 Nov. (1848) I. 379 A habit-maker..is gone stark in love with Lady Ossory, on fitting her with the new dress. I think they call it a Levite, and says he never saw so glorious a figure..but where the deuce is the grace in a man's nightgown bound round with a belt? |