lev|ée

lev|ee¹ «LEHV ee», noun, verb, lev|eed, lev|ee|ing.

–n.

1. a bank built to keep a river from overflowing: »

There are levees in many places along the lower Mississippi River.

SYNONYM(S): embankment.

2. a landing place for boats, such as a quay or pier.

3. a raised bank along a river, occurring naturally as the result of deposits left during successive floods: »

The Yellow River in China has high levees.

4. a ridge around a piece of irrigated land.

–v.t.

U.S. to provide with a levee or levees: »

An act to authorize the leveeing of Blue River, in Shelby County (Indiana Senate Journal).

╂[American English < French levée < lever to raise < Latin levāre < levis light²]

lev|ee² or lev|ée «LEHV ee, leh VEE», noun.

1. a reception. French kings used to hold levees in the morning while they were getting up and dressing.

2. U.S. one of the President's receptions.

3. (in Great Britain and Ireland) an assembly held in the early afternoon by the sovereign or his representative, for men only: »

I think an English gentleman never appears to such disadvantage as at the levee of a minister (Tobias Smollett).

╂[< French levé (or lever, noun use of infinitive) < lever to raise; see etym. under levee¹ (Cf. ↑levee)]