Lexic.us

Definition of Leaven

1. Noun. A substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid.

2. Verb. Cause to puff up with a leaven. "They leaven more bread"; "Unleavened bread"

3. Noun. An influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something. "His sermons benefited from a leavening of humor"

Definition of Leaven

1. n. Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce, fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough, produces a general change in the mass, and renders it light; yeast; barm.

2. v. t. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment.

Definition of Leaven

1. Noun. Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) To add a leavening agent. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To cause to rise by fermentation. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive figuratively) To temper an action or decision. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Leaven

1. to produce fermentation in [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Leaven

leave nothing in the tank leave nothing to the imagination leave of absence leave off leave office leave one's options open leave out leave over leave somebody high and dry leave somebody holding the bag

leave someone in the lurch leave to one's own devices leave well enough alone leaved leaveless leaven (current term) leavened leavening leavening agent leavenings

leavenless leavenous leavens leaver leavers leaves leaves alone leaves behind leaves for dead leaves of three let it be

Literary usage of Leaven

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Ninety-six Sermons by Lancelot Andrewes (1841)
"Latin Vulg.j [Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ge mag be a new lump, at ge are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is ..."

2. The National Preacher by Austin Dickinson (1851)
"The word leaven is used by the apostle in every instance, I think, ... Thus the apostle speaks, in one place, of " the leaven of malice and wickedness. ..."

3. Dr. William Smith's Dictionary of the Bible: Comprising Its Antiquities by William Smith (1892)
"Various substances were known to have fermenting qualifie«; but the ordinary leaven consisted of a lump of old dough in a high state of fermentation, ..."

4. The Social Teachings of the Prophets and Jesus by Charles Foster Kent (1917)
"XXVII THE ADOPTION OF JESUS' SOCIAL PRINCIPLES DURING THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CENTURY The Spread of Jesus' Social leaven. The second half of the first Christian ..."

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