Definitions for: Levy


[n] the act of drafting into military service
[n] a charge imposed and collected
[v] cause to assemble or enlist; "raise an army"
[v] impose and collect; "levy a fine"



Webster (1913) Definition: Lev"y (-[y^]), n.; pl. Levies (-[i^]z). [A contr. of
elevenpence or elevenpenny bit.]
A name formerly given in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia
to the Spanish real of one eighth of a dollar (or 121/2
cents), valued at eleven pence when the dollar was rated at
7s. 6d.


Lev"y, n. [F. lev['e]e, fr. lever to raise. See Lever,
and cf. Levee.]
1. The act of levying or collecting by authority; as, the
levy of troops, taxes, etc.

A levy of all the men left under sixty. --Thirlwall.

2. That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc. ``
The Irish levies.'' --Macaulay.

3. (Law) The taking or seizure of property on executions to
satisfy judgments, or on warrants for the collection of
taxes; a collecting by execution.

Levy in mass [F. lev['e]e en masse], a requisition of all
able-bodied men for military service.


Lev"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Levied (l[e^]v"[i^]d); p.
pr. & vb. n. Levying.]
1. To raise, as a siege. [Obs.] --Holland.

2. To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army
by enrollment, conscription, etc.

Augustine . . . inflamed Ethelbert, king of Kent, to
levy his power, and to war against them. --Fuller.

3. To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority;
as, to levy taxes, toll, tribute, or contributions.

If they do this . . . my ransom, then, Will soon be
levied. --Shak.

4. (Law)
(a) To gather or exact; as, to levy money.
(b) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to
raise or cast up; as, to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a
nuisance, etc. [Obs.] --Cowell. --Blackstone.
(c) To take or seize on execution; to collect by
execution.

To levy a fine, to commence and carry on a suit for
assuring the title to lands or tenements. --Blackstone.

To levy war, to make or begin war; to take arms for attack;
to attack.


Lev"y, v. i.
To seize property, real or personal, or subject it to the
operation of an execution; to make a levy; as, to levy on
property; the usual mode of levying, in England, is by
seizing the goods.

To levy on goods and chattels, to take into custody or
seize specific property in satisfaction of a writ.

Synonyms: impose, levy en masse, raise, recruit

See Also: bill, charge, charge, conscription, distrain, draft, draft, enlist, fine, lay, mulct, muster, muster in, reimpose, revenue enhancement, selective service, tax, tax, taxation, tithe, tithe

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