'Leaven' definitions:
Definition of 'leaven'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Leaven'
From: GCIDE
- Leaven \Leav"en\, n. [OE. levain, levein, F. levain, L. levamen alleviation, mitigation; but taken in the sense of, a raising, that which raises, fr. levare to raise. See Lever, n.]
- 1. Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce, fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough, produces a general change in the mass, and renders it light; yeast; barm. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass. [1913 Webster]
- Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. --Luke xii. 1. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Leaven'
From: GCIDE
- Leaven \Leav"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Leavened; p. pr. & vb. n. Leavening.]
- 1. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment. [1913 Webster]
- A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. --1 Cor. v. 6. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate. [1913 Webster]
- With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he leavens also his prayer. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'leaven'
From: Easton
- Leaven
- Heb. seor (Ex. 12:15, 19; 13:7; Lev. 2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid.
- Heb. hamets, properly "ferment." In Num. 6:3, "vinegar of wine" is more correctly "fermented wine." In Ex. 13:7, the proper rendering would be, "Unfermented things [Heb. matstsoth] shall be consumed during the seven days; and there shall not be seen with thee fermented things [hamets], and there shall not be seen with thee leavened mass [seor] in all thy borders." The chemical definition of ferment or yeast is "a substance in a state of putrefaction, the atoms of which are in a continual motion."
- The use of leaven was strictly forbidden in all offerings made to the Lord by fire (Lev. 2:11; 7:12; 8:2; Num. 6:15). Its secretly penetrating and diffusive power is referred to in 1 Cor. 5:6. In this respect it is used to illustrate the growth of the kingdom of heaven both in the individual heart and in the world (Matt. 13:33). It is a figure also of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life (Matt. 16:6, 11; Mark 8:15; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8).
Synonyms of 'leaven'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abate,
- adjust to,
- agent,
- alter,
- alterant,
- alterative,
- alterer,
- assuage,
- bespread,
- besprinkle,
- box in,
- breathe,
- brew,
- catalyst,
- catalytic agent,
- circumscribe,
- color,
- condition,
- crawl with,
- creep with,
- decoct,
- diffuse,
- diminish,
- dredge,
- dye,
- entincture,
- extend throughout,
- ferment,
- fermentation,
- fill,
- flavor,
- hedge,
- hedge about,
- honeycomb,
- imbrue,
- imbue,
- impregnate,
- infiltrate,
- infuse,
- innovationist,
- innovator,
- instill,
- introducer,
- leave no void,
- leavening,
- limit,
- mitigate,
- moderate,
- modificator,
- modifier,
- modify,
- modulate,
- narrow,
- occupy,
- overrun,
- overspread,
- overswarm,
- palliate,
- penetrate,
- permeate,
- pervade,
- precursor,
- qualify,
- raise,
- reduce,
- regulate by,
- restrain,
- restrict,
- run through,
- saturate,
- season,
- set conditions,
- set limits,
- soften,
- steep,
- suffuse,
- swarm with,
- teem with,
- temper,
- tincture,
- tinge,
- transformer,
- transfuse,
- transmogrifier,
- yeast