levy Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a charge imposed and collected
noun the act of drafting into military service
levy en masse.
verb impose and collect
impose.
- levy a fine
verb cause to assemble or enlist in the military
recruit; raise.
- raise an army
- recruit new soldiers

A contr. of elevenpence or elevenpenny bit.

plural Levies

A name formerly given in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to the Spanish real of one eight of a dollar (or 12½ cents), valued at eleven pence when the dollar was rated at 7s. 6d.

F. levée, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Lever.

The act of levying or collecting by authority; as, the levy of troops, taxes, etc.
A levy of all the men left under sixty. Thirlwall.
That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc. " The Irish levies." Macaulay.
(Law) The taking or seizure of property on executions to satisfy judgments, or on warrants for the collection of taxes; a collecting by execution.

imperfect & past participle Levied ; present participle & verbal noun Levying

To raise, as a siege. Obs. Holland.
To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrollment, conscription. etc.
Augustine . . . inflamed Ethelbert, king of Kent, to levy his power, and to war against them. Fuller.
To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority; as, to levy taxes, toll, tribute, or contributions.
If they do this . . . my ransom, then, Will soon be levied. Shak.
(Law) (a) To gather or exact; as, to levy money. (b) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast up; as, to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc. Obs. Cowell. Blackstone. (c) To take or seize on execution; to collect by execution.

To seize property, real or personal, or subject it to the operation of an execution; to make a levy; as, to levy on property; the usual mode of levying, in England, is by seizing the goods.