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# levy

noun (a levy, levies); verb (levy, levies, levied, levying)

«levy» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A levy is a tax or charge that people or companies must pay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#m1)
2. To levy a tax or fine is to make people pay it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#m2)
3. (history) A levy was also a group of soldiers called up to fight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in news, adult life and money lessons: a sugar levy on fizzy drinks, a plastic bag levy. In history: a king levied taxes or levied troops. Phrases: levy a tax, impose a levy.

### Examples

- The government put a levy on sugary drinks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x1)
- Shops charge a small levy for plastic bags. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x2)
- The king levied a tax on wool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x3)
- The council levied a fine on the builder. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x4)
- A levy of soldiers was raised for the war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x5)
- Part of the price goes to the levy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x6)
- But don't you levy taxes too early." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/#x7)

### Note

Plural: levies. Past: levied. It is a formal word; in everyday talk people say «tax» or «charge». In a maths problem, a levy is an extra amount added to the price, so you add it.

## In Jewish tradition

A levy is a share taken from the spoil of war and given to God. In the time of the kings it also meant a group of workers called up from the people for the king's service, with an officer set over it.

**Interpretation.** The tradition reads the levy as dedicating part of the victory to God. Solomon's levy of thirty thousand men is told as a heavy burden on the people.

### Examples

- and levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war that went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the flocks; (Torah NUM.31.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/levy/#x1)
- and Adoram was over the levy; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; (Prophets 2SA.20.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/levy/#x2)
- and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the levy. (Prophets 1KI.4.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/levy/#x3)
- And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. (Prophets 1KI.5.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/levy/#x4)

### Note

Plural: levies. Past: levied. It is a formal word; in everyday talk people say «tax» or «charge». In a maths problem, a levy is an extra amount added to the price, so you add it.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «levy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/levy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«levy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/levy.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «levy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/levy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«levy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/levy.html) on Mova free.