level | Words related to level | Online Etymology Dictionary

Words related to level

zodiac constellation represented by a pair of scales, late Old English, from Latin libra "a balance, pair of scales," also "pound (unit of weight)," from Proto-Italic *leithra- "pound." De Vaan compares Greek litra "name of a Sicilian coin," which "was probably borrowed from an Italic language at the stage containing [-thr-]."

Not a separate constellation in ancient Greece, where it was khelae, "the claws" of adjacent Skorpios. Nativized in Old Norse as skala-merki. Meaning "person born under the sign of Libra" is from 1894. Related: Libral; Libran.

leveller (n.)

also leveler, 1590s, someone or something that levels or makes even; agent noun from level (v.). In English history, from 1640s (with initial capital) as the name of a political party of the time of Charles I that advocated abolishing all differences of position and rank.

multilevel (adj.)

also multi-level, "having or involving several levels," 1952, from multi- "many" + level (n.).

sea-level (n.)

"the mean surface of the sea," presumed to be level, halfway between the mean high and low water; by 1806, see sea + level (n.). Sea-line for "the horizon at sea" is by 1680s.

split-level (adj.)

1951 as a type of building plan, from split (adj.) + level (n.). As a noun from 1954, short for split-level house, etc.

level-headed (adj.)

also levelheaded, "sensible, shrewd," 1869, from level (adj.) + -headed. The notion is of "mentally balanced." Related: Levelheadedness.

Words related to level

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