WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Leav"en
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. levain, levein, F. levain, L. levamen alleviation, mitigation; but taken in the sense of, a raising, that which raises, fr. levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
Definition : 1. 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. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke xii. 1.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Leav"en
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 1. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 1 Cor. v. 6.

2. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate. With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he leavens also his prayer. Milton.

t. [imp. & p. p. Leavened; p. pr. & vb. n. Leavening.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913