Middle English Dictionary Entry
levain n.
Entry Info
| Forms | levain n. Also levein, leven, leaven, lewan. |
| Etymology | OF levain |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A raising agent in the making of bread; leaven, sourdough; also, bread dough; ~ bred, leavened bread; (b) med. & surg. a fermenting substance used in applications to encourage suppuration, sourdough; sour ~; (c) alch.?a substance causing effervescence in metals.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)205/21 : Ase þe leuayne zoureþ þet doȝ and hit draȝþ to smac.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) Corp.Chr.(Vrn)178/231 : [The Eucharist] is mad wiþ-oute leueyn [vr. leuaine] Aȝeyn Envye..ffor Envye makeþ Men swelle.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5210/16 : Pro j bussello de breen una cum emptione de leueyn pro equis domini, v d.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.446 : Cheste..is the levein of the bred Which soureth al the past aboute.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)43/16 : Þe leueyn þat makeþ þe doghȝe soure and forto rise þeiȝ þat it be litel.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Gal.5.9 : A lytil sourdowgh corruptis alle substaunce of þe leueyne [L totam massam corrumpit].
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)663/21 : Hec pasta: dagh; Hoc leuamentum: lewan; Hoc fermentum: surdagh.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)25b/b : Medulle panis fermentacei, i. crommez of leuen brede [*Ch.(2): soure brede; L panis frumentacei].. be þai infused bi an houre in ferment water..and be þer made a softe emplastre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)300 : Levene of dowe: Frumentum [?read: fermentum], zima.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)227/8 : Riȝt as þe leuayne draweþ to hym at þe douȝhe and makeþ it bere his sauour.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)141/6,7 : This woman..toke upon her to make leuein for brede of whete, and with her hondes as thei were, pasted with the leuein that she handeled, al floury..comithe forthe.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)261 : Leveyn, or dowe: ffermentum.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)70 : One yoman furnour..making the weyght of brede..seasonyng the ovyn, and at the making of the levayne at every bache.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)59b : Lyke as flower of wheat made into paste Reqwyereth leaven, which firment we call, Of breade that it maye haue the kindelye taste.
b
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)65/4 : Fermentum, spersum idem..angl. leueyne.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)256/13 : Leie þer-vpon an enplaster..of garleke, & rotis of lilie..grounden wiþ butter, & do þerto leuayn [L fermento] & a litil vinegre.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)352/20 : Anoþir good ruptorie..take þe wombis of cantarides & grinde hem wiþ leueyne & leie hem in what place þou wolt & it wol make vlcera.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)41b/b : Be þai brissed strongly, & be þer incorperate with hem ferment, i. leuen wele soure, or egre farinum [*Ch.(2): wel sowrede sowre dogh; L fermenti bene acris].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)168a/b : Of putrefying forsoþ þat bene made of egre or sowre leuene, i. sowre dowe [L ex fermento acri].
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)312/1030 : Put it in an erþen pot & lat stand ij days..tak a quantitee if soure levyn as grete as a costard & put it þerin.
c
- a1500 in Singer Cat.Alchem.1.5 : The Elixir, a leven which is medecyne to all corrupe mettalls.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)56/139 : To breke a sore..with an hede, take sourdingh that is clepid bebyn [?read: levyn] & .. make a playster.
Note: New spelling. Additional quot. for sense (b). Editor glosses as 'beban' .. 'an Arabic drink made of coagulated sour milk'.