Level | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Lĕv'el, a.

adjective

a. [A-S. læfeldre. See LEVEL, n.]

Not having one part higher than another; not ascending or descending; even; flat; smooth; as, a level plain or field; level ground.
Coinciding with the plane of the horizon; horizontal.
Even with any thing else; of the same height; on the same line or plane. “So level lies, that no one swelling improbability is above the rest.” Fuller.
Equal in rank or degree; having no degree of superiority.

Be level in preferments, and you will soon be as level in your learning. Bentley.

Lēv'el, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. LEVELED, or LEVELLED; p. pr. & vb. n. LEVELING, or LEVELLING.]

To make smooth or even; to reduce or remove inequalities of surface in; as, to level a road or walk.
To make horizontal.
To reduce or bring to the same height with something else; to lay flat; to reduce to an even surface or plane.

And their proud structures level with the ground. Sandys.

He levels mountains, and he raises plains. Dryden.

To reduce to equality of condition, state, or degree; as, to level all ranks and degrees of men.
To point, in taking aim; to elevate or depress so as to direct a missile weapon to an object; to aim; as, to level a cannon or musket.
To point; to direct; to utter; as, severe remarks leveled at the vices and follies of the age.
To bring to the same level with; hence, to adapt to the capacity of; as, to level observations to the capacity of children.

Lēv'el, v. i.

verbintransitive

Sense 1. To accord; to agree; to suit. [Obs.] Shak.

Sense 2. To aim; to point a gun or an arrow to the mark.

Sense 3. To direct the view or purpose; to aim;—usually with at.

The glory of God and the good of his church ought to be the mark at which we level. Hooker.

Sense 4. To conjecture; to attempt to guess. [Obs.] Shak.

Lĕv'el, n.

noun

n. [A-S. læfel, a level, It. livello, livella, Pr. & Pg. livel, nivel, Sp. nivel, Fr. niveau, from Lat. libella, level, water-level, plummet-level, diminutive of libra, balance, water-poise, level.]

Sense 1. A line or plane, to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is at right angles, or which is every where parallel to the surface of still water;—this is the true level, and is a curve, the center of which coincides with the earth’s center.

Sense 2. An horizontal line or surface; that is, a straight line or surface which is tangent to the surface of a true level at a given point; and hence, parallel to the horizon at that point;—this is the apparent level at the given point.

Sense 3. A smooth or even line, plane, or surface; an horizontal line or surface.

Sense 4. Equal elevation with something else; a state of equality.

Providence, for the most part, sets us on a level. Addison.

Sense 5. Degree of energy, intensity, or attainment; rate; standard.

Sense 6. Fixed or quiet condition; a position, as free from exaltation or depression; a position of rest. “When merit shall find its level.” F. W. Robertson.

Sense 7. Rule; plan; scheme.

Sense 8. The line of direction in which a missive weapon is aimed.

Sense 9. (Mech.) An instrument by which to find an horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to such a line.

Sense 10. (Mining.) (a.) An horizontal gallery excavated in a mine at different depths, as ten, twenty, thirty fathoms below the adit. (b.) In some mining regions, as Newcastle, a gutter for water to run in.

Sense 11. (Gun.) An instrument to determine the highest points of the breech and muzzle of a cannon, when the carriage-wheels stand on uneven ground.

Carpenter's and mason's level, either the plumb-level, or a straight bar of wood, in which is imbedded a small spirit-level. — James's level, an instrument to find the highest points of the breech and muzzle of a cannon; — so called from the inventor. See def. 11. — Plumb-level, one in which the horizontal arm is placed in true position by means of a plummet or plumb-line, to which it is at right angles. — Spirit-level, one in which the adjustment to the horizon depends on the position of a bubble, or small vacant space, in the upper side of a glass tube, which is slightly curved and nearly filled with alcohol or ether. — Surveyor's level, or leveling instrument, a telescope, with a spirit-level attached, and with suitable screws, &c., for accurate adjustment, the whole mounted on a tripod, for use in leveling. — Water-level, an instrument to show the level by means of the surface of water in a trough, or the upright ends of a bent tube.

Four types of levels are shown: a spirit or air level, an artillery foot level, a carpenter's level, and a mason's level. — a, spirit or air level; b, artillery foot level; c, carpenter's level; d, mason's level.

A diagram of a surveying level mounted on a curved support. — James's Level.