Levy
(Lev"y), n. [F. levée, fr. lever to raise. See Lever, and cf. Levee.]
1. 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. 2. That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc. " The Irish levies." Macaulay.
3. (Law) The taking or seizure of property on executions to satisfy judgments, or on warrants for the
collection of taxes; a collecting by execution.
Levy in mass [F.
levée en masse],
a requisition of all able-bodied men for military service.
Levy
(Lev"y), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Levied (lev"id); p. pr. & vb. n. Levying.]
1. To raise, as a siege. [Obs.] Holland.
2. 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. 3. 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. 4. (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 levy a fine,
to commence and carry on a suit for assuring the title to lands or tenements. Blackstone.
— To levy war, to make or begin war; to take arms for attack; to attack.
Levy
(Lev"y), v. i. 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.
To levy on goods and chattels,
to take into custody or seize specific property in satisfaction of a writ.