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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Leaven \Leav"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Leavened}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Leavening}.]
1. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to
ferment.
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A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. --1 Cor.
v. 6.
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2. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.
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With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he
leavens also his prayer. --Milton.
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Leaven \Leav"en\, n. [OE. levain, levein, F. levain, L. levamen
alleviation, mitigation; but taken in the sense of, a
raising, that which raises, fr. levare to raise. See {Lever},
n.]
1. Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce,
fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of
fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of
dough, produces a general change in the mass, and renders
it light; yeast; barm.
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2. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a
corrupting) change in the mass.
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Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy. --Luke xii. 1.
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