English

level up

To raise to the same level or status; to improve so as to make as good as others.

    Etymology graph

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    • borrowed
    • derived
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    • meaning component
    • sound component
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    React Flow

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    Origin

    From level + up. The video game sense is a calque of Japanese レベルアップ (reberu appu) using the SOV word order.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • partEnglishlevel “The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishlevel
        • borrowedOld Frenchlivel
    • calqueJapaneseレベルアップ
    • partEnglishup “Away from the surface of the Earth or other planet; in opposite direction to the downward pull of g…”
      • inheritedMiddle Englishup
        • inheritedOld Englishupp “up”

    Sources