Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Levy?

\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.