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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

level

/ˈlɛvəl/
The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.

    Etymology graph

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    • derived
    • parts
    • meaning component
    • sound component
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    Origin

    From Middle English level, from Old French livel, liveau m, later nivel, niveau, from Latin libella f (“a balance, a level”), diminutive of libra f (“a balance, a level”); see libra, librate. Doublet of libella and niveau.

    The verb is from Middle English levelen, from the noun.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishlevel
      • borrowedOld Frenchlivel
        • inheritedLatinlibella
          • partLatinlibra “scales, balance”
            • inheritedProto-Italic*līðrā
              • derivedProto-Indo-European*leyH-
              • derivedProto-Indo-European*-dʰrom
            • borrowedTurkishlira
              • borrowedArabicلِيرَة
            • calqueAncient Greekζυγόν “yoke”
              • calqueAkkadian𒀯𒍣𒁀𒉌𒌈 “scales”
          • partLatin-lus
            • inheritedProto-Italic*-elos

    Related: English niveau (doublet), English libella (doublet)

    Words built on it: level up, level best, high-level

    Meanings

    adj
    1. The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
    2. At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.
    3. Unvaried in frequency.
    4. Unvaried in volume.
    5. Calm.
    6. In the same position or rank.
    noun
    1. A tool for finding whether a surface is level, or for creating a horizontal or vertical line of reference.
    2. A distance relative to a given reference elevation.
    3. Degree or amount.
    4. Achievement or qualification.
    5. Distance from the root node of a tree structure.
    6. One of several discrete segments of a game, generally increasing in difficulty and representing different locations in the game world.
    verb
    1. To adjust so as to make as flat or perpendicular to the ground as possible.
    2. To destroy by reducing to ground level; to raze.
    3. To progress to the next level.
    4. To aim or direct (a weapon, a stare, an accusation, etc).
    5. To direct or impose (a penalty, fine, etc) at or upon (someone) [with on or against or at].
    6. To make the score of a game equal.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: level