(Now with initial capital.) Also 4–5 levyte. [ad. L. levīta, also levītēs, ad. Gr. λευίτης, f. Λευί Levi (Heb. Lēvī, which also means ‘Levite’).]
1. Israelitish Hist. a. A descendant of Levi; one of the tribe of Levi. b. One of that portion of the tribe who acted as assistants to the priests in the temple-worship.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21241. Marc … efter his kind … was leuite.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 115. Archa dei in þe olde lawe leuites it kepten.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1755. In þe abhomynable oppressioun Of þe leuytes wyfe.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 180. The Leuites at thair awin hand Thay reft thair teind.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 197. In the Christian Church, the Office of Deacons succeeded in the Place of the Levites among the Jews.
1891. T. K. Cheyne, Orig. Psalter, II. i. 59, note. The singers were Levites.
† 2. transf. (from 1 b). A deacon. Obs.
A frequent rhetorical use of the word in med. Latin.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 130. Laurens þe leuite lyggynge on þe gredire, Loked vp to oure lorde.
1570. Levins, Manip., 151/26. A Leuite,… diaconus.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. xiv. 365. The divell … hath placed in the order of his priests, some greater or superiors, and some lesse, the one as Acolites, the other as Levites.
† 3. Used somewhat contemptuously for: A clergyman. Also, in allusion to Judges xvii. 12, a domestic chaplain. Obs.
1640. Glapthorne, Wit in Constable, IV. G b. There shall a little Levite Meet you, and give you to the lawfull bed.
1655. Sir G. Sondes, Narr., in Harl. Misc. (1813), X. 51. If I had not a Levite in my house, I performed the office myself.
1687. Congreve, Old Bach., IV. i. I say he is a wanton young Levite.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Sat. Marriage, Wks. 1730, i. 58. The Levite it keeps from parocial duty.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 327. A young Levite—such was the phrase then in use—might be had for his board, a small garret, and ten pounds a year.
† 4. A loose dress, so called from its supposed resemblance to the dress of the Levites. Obs. [After F. lévite.]
1779. H. Walpole, Lett. to C’tess Ossory, 15 Nov. (1848), I. 379. A habit-maker … is gone stark in love with Lady Ossory, on fitting her with the new dress. I think they call it a Levite, and says he never saw so glorious a figure … but where the deuce is the grace in a man’s nightgown bound round with a belt?
