The purchaser of a riparious estate under the words "front to the levee," does not acquire the alluvion or batture, when there is land susceptible of separate ownership beyond the levee.1826, William Christy, A Digest of Martin's Reports:
Etymology From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”).
1
Obsolete The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.
c. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee
The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox […]1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 414:
2
A reception of visitors held after getting up.
3
A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.
I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 179:
At the King's levee on the morning of the 13th, Philippe was first ignored; then asked by His Majesty (rudely) what he wanted; then told, ‘Get back where you came from.’1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, published 1993, →ISBN, page 195:
levee
verb
Etymology From French levé variant of the noun lever (“the act of getting up in the morning”).
1
To attend the levee or levees of.
He levees all the great.1725–1728, [Edward Young], “(please specify the page)”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson […], published 1741, →OCLC: