Also 4 livel, 5 lewel, 5–7 levell, 6 leavell, 6–7 levill. [a. OF. livel (13th c.), later nivel, mod.F. niveau = Pr. livell, nivel, It. livello, Sp. nivel, Pg. livel, nivel:—popular L. *libellum = classical L. lībella, dim. of lībra balance.]
I. 1. An instrument that indicates a line parallel to the plane of the horizon, used in determining the position as to horizontality of a surface to which it is applied.
There are various forms of this instrument according to the materials used and the art in which it is employed, as carpenter’s, dumpy, foot, mercurial, plummet, spirit, surveying, water level, etc.: see these words.
1340. Ayenb., 150. He deþ al to wylle and to þe line, and to þe reule, and to þe leade, and to þe leuele.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 135. I … lered hem liuel [v.r. leuel] and lyne, þauȝ I loke dimme.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 38. Ley this ronde plate vp-on an euene grond … & ley it euen bi a leuel.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xi. To make them ioyne by leuell and by lyne.
1573. Baret, Alv., L 243. A Leauell, lyne, or carpenters rule.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., IV. i. (1636), 443. I … do thinke it better for you to have such a little levell made of purpose.
1616. Inv. of P. Oldfeild, in Earwaker, Sandbach (1890), 136. A Levill and a staffe vjd.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 123. If the Plumb-line hang just upon the Perpendicular dd, when the Level is set flat down upon the Work, the Work is Level.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegy, x. 35. The poor mechanic wanders home Collects the square, the level, and the line.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 385. The Level, used by bricklayers, is similar to that of the carpenter.
1866. R. M. Ferguson, Electr. (1870), 20. A level is … hung on the axis of the telescope.
fig. 1578. Timme, Calvin on Gen., 281. The deeds of Men … are … to be examined by Gods level and line.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 11. The lawe in it selfe, is the square, the leuell, and rule of equitie and iustice.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 239. We steal by lyne and leuell, and ’t like your grace.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., I. ii. Wks. 1851, III. 103. Should not he … by his owne prescribed discipline have cast his line and levell upon the soule of man?
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 34, Statesmen frame and build by the levell and plummet of his wisdome.
† b. Erroneously glossed as = plumb-line.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 301/1. Level, rewle, perpendiculum.
1483. Cath. Angl., 215/1. A Levelle, perpendiculum (MS. A. plemmett).
1552. Huloet, Leuel or lyne called a plomb-lyne, perpendiculum.
† c. fig. To give level to: ? to take as one’s rule or standard. Obs.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, xcvi. 166. Neither doo they alowe the Traditions of auncient Doctoures & Fathers, sayinge, that they maie be deceaued and deceaue, but they doo geue leauell to the Churche of Rome alone, which, as they saie, cannot erre.
† 2. Level condition or position; horizontality. Chiefly in phrases: on, upon a level, in a horizontal line or plane; the level, the horizontal; in level, on the ground (cf. L. in plano). Obs.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3261. Now in leuell, now on-loft, now on lawe vndire.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 580/30. Equilibrium, a lewel.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., II. 15. Hee commeth to spread it [dung] all ouer the ground, and layeth the same in equall leuill.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xiii. ¶ 3. File off the rising side of the Punch, which brings the Face to an exact Level.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. iv. The rising of the water brought me a little more upon a level; and a little after, the water still rising, my raft floated again.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, III. iv. The current of a river whose course is more upon a level.
3. Position as marked by a horizontal line; an imaginary line or plane perpendicular to the plumb-line, considered as determining the position of one or more points or surfaces. On a (or † the) level with: in the same horizontal plane as.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 18. Suche groundes as lye within the leuell of the said water marke.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts, 152. At least twenty foot in direct height from the level whereon they stand.
1712. W. Rogers, Voy., 367. A Stage is made above the Water, on a Level with the Side of the Boat.
1717. trans. Frezier’s Voy. S. Sea, 93. Two natural Ditches … sunk down almost to the Level of the Sea. Ibid., 313. The Rampart behind it is generally upon the Level with Earthwork.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 190. It has been said, that all fluids endeavour to preserve their level; and … that a body pressing on the surface, tended to destroy that level.
1820. Keats, Hyperion, I. 46. To the level of his ear Leaning with parted lips, some words she spake.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xv. 99. The line which marks the level of the ancient ice.
1879. Harlan, Eyesight, viii. 116. Light coming from below the level of the head is worse than useless.
1880. Haughton, Phys. Geog., iv. 170. The level of the lake will continue to fall.
b. To find one’s or its level: said of persons or things arriving at their proper place with respect to those around or connected with them.
The primary use seems to be that referring to the tendency of two bodies of liquid to ‘find their level,’ i.e., to equalize the vertical elevation of their upper surfaces, when free communication is established between them.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 413. We have adopted a cant-phrase, That things will find their level.… It is true with regard to prices, and was at first introduced under this acceptation; But with regard to population it is most incorrect.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 64. It was in vain to fret about it; and I soon found my level.
1817. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 101. Instead of the position that all things find, it would be less equivocal … to say that Things are always finding their level.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. i. (1869), 30. A member of parliament soon finds his level as a commoner.
† c. To hold its level with: to be on an equality with. Obs.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 17. Could such inordinate and low desires … hold their leuell with thy Princely heart?
4. Position, plane, standard, in social, moral or intellectual matters. On or upon a level: on the same ‘plane,’ on an equality (with).
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, IV. xviii. Aboue the leuell of subiection.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xvii. (1848), 269. All these shall sink themselves to his Level.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., Pref. They inspired me with thoughts above my ordinary level.
1693. South, Serm., 331. Men whose aspiring intellectuals had raised them above the common level.
1710. Swift, Lett. to Abp. King, 10 Oct., Lett. 1767, I. 56. Their two lordships might have succeeded easier than men of my level are likely to do.
1712. Berkeley, Pass. Obedience, § 20, Wks. 1871, III. 119. The precept against rebellion is one on a level with other moral rules.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 295, ¶ 4. Where the Age and Circumstances of both Parties are pretty much upon a level.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 13. To degrade human-kind to a level with brute beasts.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. xii. ¶ 5. It was only reducing feasts and fasts to the level of bread and water.
1828. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 189. The popular man stands on our own level.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, vii. 94. The calamity … had reduced all to one level.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. vii. 182. A present madness which has brought down wisdom to a common level with folly.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xi. 3. We must place English and Norman writers on a level.
1874. Sweet, Engl. Sounds, 40. Middle English is practically on a level with Dutch.
1882. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 348. A much higher level of doctrine and ritual.
5. A (more or less) horizontal superficies; a level or flat surface. Also fig.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett., 80. To affoord vs meanes to catch Trouts and Pykes, leauing them vpon the leuill [F. sur la terre].
1725. Pope, Odyss., XII. 187. The vessel light along the level glides.
1798. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 274. The levels of many of the new streets improperly and irregularly laid out.
1820. Shelley, Œdipus, I. 99. There’s something rotten in us—for the level Of the State slopes, its very bases topple.
1840. Milman, Lat. Chr., III. 367. The level of ecclesiastical or episcopal dignity gradually broke up.
1842. Tennyson, Morte d’Arth., 51. He, stepping down By zig-zag paths … Came on the shining levels of the lake.
1874. Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 86. Of the Chancel levels and steps.
b. The level, the earth’s surface. rare–1.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, ii. ‘Where have you worked all your life?’ ‘Mostly underground, Sir, ’till I got married. I come to the level then.’
c. On the level: moderate in ambition or aim.
1790. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., xv. (1842), 269. The Caracci … formed … a most respectable school, a style more on the level, and calculated to please a greater number.
6. A level tract of land; a stretch of country approximately horizontal and unbroken by elevations: applied spec. (as a proper name) to certain large expanses of level country, e.g., Bedford Level or the Great Level in the fen district of England; The Levels (formerly The Level), the tract including Hatfield Chase in Yorkshire.
1623. E. Wynne, in Whitbourne, Newfoundland, 109. Our high leuels of land are adorned with Woods.
1642. Sir C. Vermuiden, Disc. Drain. Fens, 4. The Levell lyeth in sixe Counties.
1661. N. N. (title), A Narrative of all the Proceedings in the Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, Extending into the Counties of Northampton, Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and Huntingdon; and the Isle of Ely.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 253. Such Tombs as we met with at Bonaru Level.
1751. J. Bartram, Observ. Trav. Pennsylv., etc. 64. We … crossed a run and rode along a rich level for several miles.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 284. The levels of Hatfield-Chace, in Yorkshire.
1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 138/1. Bedford Level … is divided into three parts, which are distinguished as the North, the Middle, and the South Levels.
1841. J. C. Booth, Mem. Geol. Surv. Maryland, 89. The beautiful tract of land … appropriately called the Levels.
1859. All Year Round, No. 33. 162. In one level alone, fifteen thousand sheep were drowned.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 222. The great saltbush levels of the interior.
7. Mining. a. A nearly horizontal ‘drift,’ passage or gallery in a mine. b. A ‘drift’; often (more fully water-level) one serving for drainage purposes; also see quot. 1860. For blind, dip-head, drowned, etc., level see the first member.
1721. Connect. Col. Rec. (1872), VI. 253. Any disagreement that may happen … amongst … lessees … concern’d in the mines aforesaid, about making any levels (or clearing and cleansing the said levels or shafts).
1805. R. Forsyth, Beauties Scotl., I. 270. This gentleman opened a level or mine from the sea,… it drained the upper coal-works.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises, II. 137. The leaseholds had mostly been demised as ‘coal-mines and levels at rents.’
1851. Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh., 35. Level, a drain cut in the bottom stone, to set away or convey water. A pair of levels are a pair of drifts, driven in the water-level direction of the coal, for the purpose of winning coal.
1860. Mining Gloss. Newcastle Terms, Levels, gutters for the water to run in.
1867. W. W. Smyth, Coal & Coal-mining, 129. When the coal to be cut away is a short block, as in the driving of levels.
† 8. The equinox. Obs. (? nonce-use).
1548. Elyot, Dict., Æquidiale, the tyme whan the dayes and the nyghtes bee of one lengthe, the leuell of the yere.
II. Senses derived from the verb.
† 9. a. The action of aiming a missile weapon, aim. To give level to: to aim (a gun). To lay, bend, take level: to take aim, to aim. Also, the line of fire, the range of the missile. Often in fig. context. Obs.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 36 b. They shotte out of their towers peces of ordinaunce and hurt such as came within there levell.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 388. The thing whereat you lay the levell of your thoughtes and purposes. Ibid. (1576), trans. Caius’ Dogs, in Arb., Garner, III. 245. Missing our mark whereat we directed our level.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. CVI. i. O blessed they whose well advised sight Of all their life the levell straight doe bend, With endlesse ayming at the mark of right.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1321/2. Hir statelie seat is set so high, as that no leuell can be laid against hir walles.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. iii. 103. As if that name shot from the dead leuell of a Gun, Did murder her. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, II. i. 159. I am not an Impostrue [sic], that proclaime My selfe against the leuill of mine aime.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Wks. 1856, I. 38. If you discharge but one glance from the levell of that set face, O, you will strike a wench.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., III. ii. 82. My Life stands in the leuell of your Dreames.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, Ded. 2. All his leuels are at true Pietie.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. 78. How by the Table to give Level to a Piece of Ordnance, without the Gunner’s Rule.
1700. Dryden, Sigism. & Guisc., 142. But in what quarter of the cops it lay His eye by certain level could survey.
1718. Prior, Solomon, III. 43. Be the fair level of thy actions laid, As temperance wills, and prudence may persuade.
b. That which is aimed at; a mark. Obs.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xxxviii. 115. The genoways crosbowes shotte so surely, that lightly they myst nat of their leuell.
1591. Spenser, Bellay’s Vis., iii. 4. So far as Archer might his level see.
1600. Heywood, 2nd Pt. Edw. IV., Wks. 1874, I. 101. My breast the leuell was, though you the marke.
† c. fig. Aim, purpose, design. Obs.
a. 1592. H. Smith, Yng. Man’s Task, Serm. (1594), 239. This then is the leuel of our message. Ibid., Humil. Paul, ibid. 465. That this should be the leuell of all our thoughts that [etc.].
1605. Play Stucley, in Simpson, Sch. Shaks. (1878), I. 187. That is the end or levels of my thought.
† 10. The ‘sight’ of a gun. Obs.
1611. Cotgr., Mire, the leuell, or little button at th’ end of a Peece.
11. Surveying. † To make a level of: to ascertain the differences of elevation in (a piece of land). Obs. Also, to take a level = LEVEL v. 5 (absol.).
[OF. liveau occurs in this sense.]
1693. [see LEVELLER 1].
1798. I. Allen, Hist. Vermont, 4. In 1785 Captain Twist made a survey and level to ascertain the expence of a canal from the River St. Lawrence to Lake Champlain.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 454/2. Among the operations of levelling, which, within a few years, have been performed on an extensive scale, may be mentioned the series of levels taken across the lands between the Black and the Caspian seas.
12. Comb.: level-error (see quot.); level-point (see quot. 1839); level-range (see quot.); level-staff = levelling staff.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Level-error, the microscopic deviation of the axis of a transit instrument from the horizontal position.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), X. 10/2. The height of the *level-point determined on the staff at this place.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 453/2. The relative heights of a series of points on the ground are obtained by means of their vertical distances from others which, on the supposition of the earth being a sphere, are equally distant from its centre; and these … are called level-points.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), *Level-Range, (in Gunnery) the same as Point-blank Shot, or the Distance that a piece of Ordinance carries a Ball in a direct Line.
187[?]. Dict. Archit. (Archit. Publ. Soc.), *Level staff, an upright staff five feet long, graduated to feet and decimals of a foot…. The staff contains two thinner leaves called vanes.
