I.fut. perf. levasso, Enn. ap. Cic. de Sen. 1), v. a. 1. levis, to lift up, raise, elevate (syn.: extollo, erigo).
I. Lit. (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “ter sese attollens cubitoque annixa levavit,” Verg. A. 4, 690: “se de caespite,” to rise, Ov. M. 2, 427: “se saxo,” id. F. 4, 528: “cum se matura levarit progenies (avium),” Juv. 14, 83: “apis se confestim levat sublimius,” Col. 9, 12, 1; Plin. 2, 16, 13, § 69; 36, 16, 24, § 122: “per hiemem, quae altius levat Alpes, i. e. by the snow,” Flor. 3, 3, 11.—
B. Transf.
1. To make lighter, lighten, to relieve, ease: cantantes ut eamus, ego te fasce levabo, Verg. E. 9, 65: “serpentum colla levavit,” i. e. alighted from the dragon-car, Ov. M. 8, 798: “dentes,” to clean the teeth, Mart. 14, 22: “vesicam,” Spart. Carac. 7: “jactatur rerum utilium pars maxima, sed nec damna levant,” do not lighten the ship, Juv. 12, 53.—
2. To take away, take: “furcā levat ille bicorni sordida terga suis,” takes down, Ov. M. 8, 647: “alicui manicas atque arcta Vincla,” Verg. A. 2, 146: “tributum,” to raise, levy, Dig. 50, 15, 4, § 2.—
II. Trop., to lighten, relieve, console, refresh, support a person or thing with any thing (freq. and class.). —Of a personal object: “non nihil enim me levant tuae litterae hoc tempore,” Cic. Att. 11, 8, 1.—Of things as objects: O Tite, si quid te adjuero curamve levasso, Enn. ap. Cic. de Sen. 1 (Ann. v. 339 Vahl.); so, “auxilio viros,” Verg. A. 2, 452; 4, 538: “curam et angorem animi sermone et consilio,” Cic. Att. 1, 18, 1: “molestias,” id. Fam. 4, 3, 2: “fonte sitim,” to slake, Ov. Tr. 4, 8, 26: “arida ora aqua,” to refresh, id. R. Am. 230; so, “membra gramine,” id. F. 6, 328.— Pass.: “levantur tamen miserae civitates, quod nullus fit sumptus in nos,” Cic. Att. 5, 16, 3.—
B. Transf.
1. To lighten, lessen, alleviate, mitigate (cf.: “laxo, libero): meam egestatem,” Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 62: “alicui paupertatem,” id. Ep. 4, 1, 33: “morbum,” id. Mil. 4, 6, 57: “inopiam multum,” Caes. B. C. 3, 48, 1: “salutari arte fessos Corporis artus,” Hor. C. S. 63: “morbi vim levaturus,” Curt. 3, 6, 2: “levavitque apertis horreis pretia frugum,” reduced, Tac. A. 2, 59: “vario viam sermone,” Verg. A. 8, 309: “injurias,” Caes. B. C. 1, 9: “suspicionem,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 59, § 136: “ut sumptus levaretur,” Plin. Ep. 10, 43 (52), 2: “calamitatem innocentium,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 3, 7: “his levabat omnem vulnerum metum nobilitas mortis,” id. Tusc. 2, 24, 59: “qui paupertatem levet propinqui,” Juv. 14, 236.—
2. To lessen, diminish, weaken, impair: cave lassitudo poplitum cursum levet, Att. ap. Non. 336, 29: “laudem alicujus,” id. ib. 31: “inconstantiā levatur auctoritas,” Cic. Ac. 2, 22, 69: “multa fidem promissa levant,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 10.—
3. To relieve, release, discharge, free from any thing.
(α).
With abl.: “leva me hoc onere,” Cic. Fam. 3, 12, 3: “aliquem miseriis,” id. ib. 3, 8: “me molestia,” id. ib. 16, 9, 2: “aliquem metu,” Liv. 2, 22: “animos religione,” id. 21, 62; cf.: “qui hac opinione non modo verbis, sed etiam opere levandi sunt,” Cic. Lael. 20, 72: “ut homines populares supplicio aut exsilio levarentur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 6, § 13: “se aere alieno,” id. Att. 6, 2, 4: “se infamiā,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 61, § 141: se vitā, Varr. ap. Non. 336, 33.—*