mid-14c., from Old French levain "leaven, sourdough" (12c.), from Latin levamen "alleviation, mitigation," but used in Vulgar Latin in its literal sense of "a means of lifting, something that raises," from levare "to raise" (see lever). Figurative use from late 14c.
leaven (v.)
c. 1400, from leaven (n.). Related: Leavened; leavening.
雙語例句
1. A few jokes add leaven to a boring speech.
幾句笑話可給枯燥無味的演講增添活躍的氣氛。
來自《權威詞典》
2. He found congenial officers who knew how to leaven war's rigours with riotous enjoyment.
他找到了懂得用狂歡來沖淡戰爭的嚴酷的志趣相投的軍官。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The leaven of reform was working.
改革的影響力在起作用.
來自辭典例句
4. You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defence.
你們是構成我國整個國防系統的最重要要素.
來自演講部分
5. These men have been the leaven in the lump of the race.