mid-14c., from Old French levain "leaven, sourdough" (12c.), from Latin levamen "alleviation, mitigation," but used in Vulgar Latin in its literal sense of "a means of lifting, something that raises," from levare "to raise" (see lever). Figurative use from late 14c.
leaven (v.)
c. 1400, from leaven (n.). Related: Leavened; leavening.
双语例句
1. A few jokes add leaven to a boring speech.
几句笑话可给枯燥无味的演讲增添活跃的气氛。
来自《权威词典》
2. He found congenial officers who knew how to leaven war's rigours with riotous enjoyment.
他找到了懂得用狂欢来冲淡战争的严酷的志趣相投的军官。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The leaven of reform was working.
改革的影响力在起作用.
来自辞典例句
4. You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defence.
你们是构成我国整个国防系统的最重要要素.
来自演讲部分
5. These men have been the leaven in the lump of the race.