Lev"y (?), n.; pl. Levies (#). [A contr. of elevenpence or elevenpenny bit.]
A name formerly given in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to the Spanish real of one eight of a dollar (or 12
© Webster 1913.
Lev"y, n. [F. lev'ee, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Lever.]
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'ee en masse], a requisition of all able-bodied men for military service.
© Webster 1913.
Lev"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Levied (?); 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.