Leavening

3 definitions found

From 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              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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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Leavening \Leav"en*ing\, n.
     1. The act of making light, or causing to ferment, by means
        of leaven.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which leavens or makes light. --Bacon.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  leavening
       n 1: an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify
            something; "his sermons benefited from a leavening of
            humor" [syn: {leaven}]
       2: a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a
          liquid [syn: {leaven}]