Word of the Day: Levy

levy

lev-y / lĕv-ē

noun (plural levies)

1. the imposition and collection of a tax, fee, assessment or fine

Capital levies and high income taxes on the larger incomes are extraordinarily popular with the masses, who do not have to pay them.

Ludwig von Mises. 1881 – 1973

2. the amount collected through the imposition or collection of taxes, fees or fines

Bozeman schools to ask for $680K in levies on May ballots.

Patrick Bouman, “Bozeman schools to ask for $680K in levies on May ballots”, ‘Bozeman Daily Chronicle’, www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/education/bozeman-schools-to-ask-for-680k-in-levies-on-may-ballots/article_1b25e5c0-db11-11ee-b800-4b061c3ef13c.html, March 5, 2024

3. a military draft

The Emperor is to be here tomorrow… there’s to be an Extraordinary Meeting of the nobility, and they are talking of a levy of ten men per thousand.

From “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy, 1828 – 1910

4. the people drafted into military service

Each took local militia–the “train bands” of Cromwell, the colonial levies of Washington–and forged professional armies on a national scale.

Garry Wills, 1934 –

verb (levied, levying, levies)

1. to impose a tax or collect a fee or fine

The best taxes are such as are levied upon consumptions, especially those of luxury; because such taxes are least felt by the people.

David Hume, 1711 – 1776

2. to enlist or draft into military service; to gather people for service

This proposal, however, was not without its difficulties, for they suspected that when we should arrive at the Portuguese territories, we would levy an army, return back to Abyssinia, and under pretence of establishing the Catholic religion revenge all the injuries we had suffered.

From “A Voyage to Abyssinia” by Father Jeronimo Lobo, 1593 – 1678

3. to declare or engage in war

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

From “The Declaration of Independence”, first published July 4, 1776

4. to confiscate property through a judicial order

A judgment was recovered against Ames and the land was levied on and sold at execution in satisfaction of this judgment.

Weaks v. Gress, 474 S.W.2d.424 (1971) Supreme Court of Tennessee, www.law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/supreme-court/1971/474-s-w-2d-424-2.html, accessed May 6, 2024