level的词源

英文词源

level

level: [14] The Latin word for a ‘balance’ or ‘scales’ was libra (it has given English Libra the zodiacal sign [14] and also lies behind many terms for units of measurement, including litre and the abbreviation lb for ‘pound’). Its diminutive form was lībella, which denoted an ‘instrument for checking horizontality’, and hence a ‘horizontal line’. It passed into Old French as livel (which in modern French has become niveau ‘level’), and English took it over as level.
=> litre

level (n.)

mid-14c., "tool to indicate a horizontal line," from Old French livel "a level" (13c.), ultimately from Latin libella "a balance, level," diminutive of libra "balance, scale, unit of weight," from PIE *lithra. Cognate Spanish nivel, Modern French niveau are from the same source but altered by dissimilation. Meaning "horizontality" is from c. 1400. Meaning "position as marked by a horizontal line" is from 1530s. Phrase on the level "fair, honest" is from 1872; earlier it meant "moderate, without great ambition" (1790).

level (v.)

mid-15c., "to make level," from level (n.). From c. 1600 as "to bring to a level;" 1958 as "to cease increasing." Meaning "to aim a gun" is late 15c. Slang sense of "tell the truth" is from 1920. To level up "to rise" is attested by 1863.

A word here as to the misconception labored under by our English neighbor; he evidently does not understand the American manner of doing things. We never level down in this country; we are always at work on the up grade. "Level up! Level up!" is the motto of the American people. [James E. Garretson, "Professional Education," in "The Dental Cosmos," Philadelphia, 1865]

To level off "cease rising or falling" is from 1920, originally in aviation.

level (adj.)

early 15c., from level (n.). To do one's level best is from 1851.

中文词源

level：水平，层级

来自拉丁语libella,平衡，秤，词源同Libra,deliberate.引申词义水平，层级。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：level 词源，level 含义。

level：水平线，水平面；水平高度；数量，强度；水平，等级

来源于拉丁语中libra(平衡,刻度)派生的libella(检查水平的仪器),古法语为livel。英语litre和重量单位“英镑pound”的缩写lb.也来源于拉丁语libra。

同源词：litre, lb.