levee

plural levees · alternative uncommon levée

1. An elevated ridge of deposited sediment on the banks of a river, formed by the river's overflow at times of high discharge.
2. An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi.

   Synonyms: dike, floodwall

3. USThe steep bank of a river.

   The purchaser of a riparious estate under the words "front to the levee," does not acquire the alluvion or batture, when there is land susceptible of separate ownership beyond the levee.

   1826, William Christy, A Digest of Martin's Reports

4. USThe border of an irrigated field.
5. USA pier or other landing place on a river.

present singular third person levees · participle present leveeing · participle past leveed · past leveed · alternative uncommon levée

1. UStransitiveTo keep within a channel by means of levees.

   to levee a river

plural levees · alternative uncommon levée

1. obsoleteThe act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.

   c. 1763, Thomas Gray, letter to Mr. Nichols And look before you were up in the morning, though you were a punctual courtier at the sun's levee

   1 more example

   The sturdy hind now attends the levee of his fellow-labourer the ox […]

   1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 414

2. A reception of visitors held after getting up.
3. A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.

   I must take my leave, for the Cardinal holds a levee to-day, and let those fail in attendance who want nothing.

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 179

   1 more example

   At the King's levee on the morning of the 13th, Philippe was first ignored; then asked by His Majesty (rudely) what he wanted; then told, ‘Get back where you came from.’

   1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, published 1993, →ISBN, page 195

present singular third person levees · participle present leveeing · participle past leveed · past leveed · alternative uncommon levée

1. transitiveTo attend the levee or levees of.

   He levees all the great.

   1725–1728, [Edward Young], “(please specify the page)”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson […], published 1741, →OCLC