middle east



Le"vant (lē"vant), a. [F., p. pr. of lever to raise.] (Law) Rising or having risen from rest; -- said of cattle. See Couchant and levant, under Couchant.

Le*vant" (l&esl;*vănt"), n. [It. levante the point where the sun rises, the east, the Levant, fr. levare to raise, levarsi to rise: cf. F. levant. See Lever.]

1. The countries washed by the eastern part of the Mediterranean and its contiguous waters.

2. A levanter (the wind so called).

Le"vant (lē"vant; 277), a. Eastern. [Obs.]

Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds.
Milton.

Le*vant" (l&esl;*vănt"), v. i. [Cf. Sp. levantar to raise, go from one place to another.] To run away from one's debts; to decamp. [Colloq. Eng.] Thackeray.

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