Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der. Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder. Proto-Italic *līðrā? Latin lībra Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -la Latin libella Old French livelbor. Middle English level English level From Middle English level, from Old French livel, liveau m, later nivel, niveau, from Latin libella f (“a balance, a level”), diminutive of libra f (“a balance, a level”); see libra, librate. Doublet of libella and niveau. The verb is from Middle English levelen, from the noun.
The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
This table isn't quite level; see how this marble rolls off it?
the smooth and level pavement1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2
At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.
We tried to hang the pictures so that the bottom of the frames were level with the dark line in the wallpaper.
Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 14, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
3
Unvaried in frequency.
His pulse has been level for 12 hours.
4
Unvaried in volume.
His voice has been unchanged. It has been level for 12 hours.
5
Calm.
He kept a level head under stress.
He kept a level gaze.
6
In the same position or rank.
Young boys and girls Are level now with men.c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene xv]:
After a poor start to the season, Roy Hodgson's men are now unbeaten in four matches and 10th in the Premier League table, level with Aston Villa on 11 points.2011 October 22, Sam Sheringham, “Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
7
Straightforward; direct; clear.
a very plain and level account1873, Matthew Arnold, Literature and Dogma:
8
Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial.
a level head; a level understanding
a level considerationc. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
9
Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sciences Of even tone; without rising or falling inflection; monotonic.
Intonation or tone is either level, rising, or falling, marked respectively1891, Henry Sweet, A History of English Sounds from the Earliest Period:
10
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Perpendicular to a gravitational force.
The earth's oceans remain level in relation to the pull of gravity.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der. Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder. Proto-Italic *līðrā? Latin lībra Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -la Latin libella Old French livelbor. Middle English level English level From Middle English level, from Old French livel, liveau m, later nivel, niveau, from Latin libella f (“a balance, a level”), diminutive of libra f (“a balance, a level”); see libra, librate. Doublet of libella and niveau. The verb is from Middle English levelen, from the noun.
A tool for finding whether a surface is level, or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.
Hand me the level so I can tell if this is correctly installed.
2
A distance relative to a given reference elevation.
By the end of the day, we'd dug down to the level of the old basement floor.
3
Degree or amount.
This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XVII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. […] The public realm is privatised, the regulations restraining the ultra–wealthy and the companies they control are abandoned, and Edwardian levels of inequality are almost fetishised.2013 May 17, George Monbiot, “Money just makes the rich suffer”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 23, page 19:
2 more examples
The sound level is much too high; this hurts my ears.
Video games One of several discrete segments of a game, generally increasing in difficulty and representing different locations in the game world.
Many of the levels change over time, from day to night or from one location to another, and some undergo a total transformation.2007 December 23, Chris Slate, “Get Ready to Smash”, in Nintendo Power, volume 222, page 49:
It took me weeks to get to level seven. Watch out for the next level; the bad guys there are really overpowered.
7
Video games A numeric value given to a character (or other element of a game) that represents its relative power, challenge or eligibility to do things, used as a game mechanic to govern progression through a game.
Roleplaying games
My half-orc barbarian reached fifth level before he was squashed by a troll.
8
A floor of a multi-storey building.
Take the elevator and get off at the promenade level.
The troops grow mutinous—the revenue fails— There’s something rotten in us—for the level Of the State slopes, its very bases topple, The boldest turn their backs upon themselves!1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oedipus Tyrannus; Or, Swellfoot The Tyrant: A Tragedy in Two Acts:
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyH-der. Proto-Indo-European *-dʰromder. Proto-Italic *līðrā? Latin lībra Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -la Latin libella Old French livelbor. Middle English level English level From Middle English level, from Old French livel, liveau m, later nivel, niveau, from Latin libella f (“a balance, a level”), diminutive of libra f (“a balance, a level”); see libra, librate. Doublet of libella and niveau. The verb is from Middle English levelen, from the noun.
To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
You can level the table by turning the pads that screw into the feet.
This pitfall, beginning in February and finishing in May, resulted in a drop of about 3 ft. in the platform level; during this period it was necessary to level the track three times weekly, and impose a service slack of 15 m.p.h. The subsidence appears now to have finished, and normal speed is once again permitted.1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Pitfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 456:
1 more example
The work involved a complete rewiring of the system, while the addition of four higher-capacity Mechan jacks and the increased length of the new train meant the entire floor (the length of four train carriages) had to be dug up, levelled and strengthened to meet tolerance requirements.2020 August 12, “Network News: Four new jacks at Clacton depot”, in Rail, page 18:
2
To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
The hurricane leveled the forest.
He levels mountains and he raises plains.1700, [John] Dryden, “Sigismonda and Guiscardo, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
He levelled an accusation of fraud at the directors. The hunter levels the gun before taking a shot.
Bertram de Gordon, standing on the castle wall, levelled a quarrel out of a crossbow.1592, John Stow, The Annales of England:
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But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶[…]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
5
To direct or impose (a penalty, fine, etc) at or upon (someone) [with on or against or at].
If the right of killing salmon belong exclusively to the King, and consequently to his donatories, why has not the Legislature secured the right by levelling penalties against such as should encroach upon it … ?1809, William Ross (Jr.), Abridgement of the laws of Scotland relating to hunting [etc], page 60
How can the Minister reconcile the first statement with the clause, when he is in fact levelling punishment at the woman and not at the errant father … ?1978, Parliamentary Debates of the New Zealand House of Representatives, page 4955
2 more examples
There is no purpose in levelling fines because they would be merely paid from the £1.8 billion which the BBC collects.1995, The Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) of the [Great British] House of Lords:
Ultimately, Ms. Kroes [European Union Antitrust Commissioner] could level a fine and order Intel to change its business practices.2007, Mary Jacoby, EU investigators endorse charges against Intel, Wall Street Journal Europe, 17 January, page 32, column 5
6
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To make the score of a game equal.
Holt was furious referee Michael Oliver refused to then award him a penalty after Ledley King appeared to pull his shirt and his anger was compounded when Spurs immediately levelled.2012 April 9, Mandeep Sanghera, “Tottenham 1-2 Norwich”, in BBC Sport:
7
Figuratively To bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.
to level all the ranks and conditions of men
8
To adjust or adapt to a certain level.
to level remarks to the capacity of children
For all his mind on honour fixed is, / To which he levels all his purposes.1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:
9
To speak honestly and openly [with with ‘someone’] (see: level with).
Sean, I'll level with you. This could get ugly. Do you have a gun?2010, James William Jones, Triple Crossed:
10
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences To replace (an irregular form) with a more common form; to remove irregularities or complexities, such as within a paradigm; to regularize.