English Explanatory Dictionary

levin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Lightning; a bolt of lightning; also, a bright flame or light.
verb
  1. To strike, as lightning.
name
  1. A surname from Hebrew.
  2. A male given name.
  3. A town in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. Named after William Levin.

Pronunciation

/ˈlɛvɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-levin.wav /lɛˑvɪn/

Word forms

levin levins levining levined Leven Levene Lewin

Etymology

From Middle English levene. Spellings in Middle English and Early Modern English include leven, levin, levyn, leiven, and leyven. The earlier etymology is less clear. It is thought to be related to Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌷𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌹 (lauhmuni) (which see for some more), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright, to shine”). Possibly a regular reflex, possibly North Germanic loan, or possibly from a lost substrate.

Derived words

levin brand Cook-Levin theorem Levin search
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