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leaven
leaven Yeast, added to dough. In the Bible leaven had two incompatible significances: as fermented dough left over unbaked from a previous batch it was added to cause further fermentation. It could therefore be regarded either as a living substance which should not be burnt in sacrifices on the altar or as a corrupting influence which caused a kind of decay. The latter was the understanding of the rabbis: leaven symbolized the corruption of human nature. Hence Jesus' condemnation of the leaven (‘yeast’, NRSV) of Pharisees and others (Mark 8: 15) and Paul's denunciation in 1 Cor. 5: 6–8 of the Corinthians' arrogance and in Gal. 5: 9 of the wiles of his opponents. On the other hand leaven as life-giving is used in the parables of Matt. 13: 33 and Luke 13: 20–1.
During the feast of Unleavened Bread, which became combined with the Passover, Jews ate only unleavened bread (Exod. 13: 7–8). |
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "leaven." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "leaven." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-leaven.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "leaven." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-leaven.html |
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leaven
leav·en / ˈlevən/ • n. a substance, typically yeast, that is added to dough to make it ferment and rise. ∎ dough that is reserved from an earlier batch in order to start a later one fermenting. ∎ fig. a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it for the better: they acted as an intellectual leaven to the warriors who dominated the city. • v. [tr.] 1. [usu. as adj.] (leavened) cause (dough or bread) to ferment and rise by adding leaven: leavened breads are forbidden during Passover. 2. permeate and modify or transform (something) for the better: the proceedings should be leavened by humor [as n.] (leavening) companies of militia volunteers with a leavening of regular soldiers. |
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"leaven." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "leaven." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-leaven.html "leaven." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-leaven.html |
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Leaven
Leaven (Heb., ḥamez). Raising agent forbidden to Jews during the season of Passover—hence this is sometimes called the festival of unleavened bread. Leaven must necessarily come from the preceding year's harvest, but the festival looks forward, in absolute trust in God, to the new year. The search for leaven (bedikat ḥamez) is based on the injunction in Exodus 12. 15 ff., to ‘eliminate leaven from your houses’.
In the New Testament, leaven is a likeness of the potential for growth in the kingdom (Matthew 13. 33); but equally it is an illustration of the speed with which evil and corruption spread (1 Corinthians 5. 8; Luke 12. 1). Leavened vs. unleavened bread for the eucharist became a matter of dispute between the E. and the W. Churches: see AZYMITES. |
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Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Leaven." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Leaven." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Leaven.html JOHN BOWKER. "Leaven." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Leaven.html |
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leaven
leaven , agent used to raise bread or other flour foods. Physical leavens include water vapor, which is released as steam at high temperatures (as in popovers), and air, which is incorporated by beating. Chemical leaven (baking powder and baking soda) and biological leavens (yeasts and certain bacteria) raise the mixture by the formation of carbon dioxide gas, which is expanded by heat. Some of the earliest leavens were barm, a yeast of fermenting malt liquor, and sourdough, a portion saved from a mass of dough as a starter for the next batch. |
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"leaven." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "leaven." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-leaven.html "leaven." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-leaven.html |
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leaven
leaven in figurative use, a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it for the better, as in Matthew 13:33. Although the term is now used to denote a force for good, it was originally used also to warn against bad influences, as in Matthew 16:6.
of the same leaven of the same sort or character. See also old leaven. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "leaven." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "leaven." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-leaven.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "leaven." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-leaven.html |
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leaven
leaven substance added to dough to produce fermentation. XIV. ME. levain — (O)F. :- Gallo—Rom. use of L. levāmen lit. ‘means of raising’, only in sense ‘alleviation, relief’, f. levāre lighten, relieve, raise (cf. LEVITY).
Hence vb. XV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "leaven." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "leaven." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-leaven.html T. F. HOAD. "leaven." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-leaven.html |
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leaven
leaven Yeast, or a piece of dough kept to ferment the next batch.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "leaven." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "leaven." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-leaven.html DAVID A. BENDER. "leaven." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-leaven.html |
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leaven
leaven •Melanchthon
•lengthen, strengthen
•Nathan
•Elizabethan, Ethan
•Phaethon • python • leviathan
•Jonathan • marathon • earthen
•Carmarthen • leathern • heathen
•northern • southern • burthen
•Avon, Cavan, cavern, raven, tavern
•Caernarfon, Dungarvan, Javan
•Wilhelmshaven • Tórshavn
•Bevan, Devon, eleven, Evan, heaven, leaven, Pleven, seven, Severn
•Hesvan
•craven, graven, haven, maven, shaven, Stratford-upon-Avon
•even, Sivan, Steven
•driven, forgiven, given, misgiven, Niven, riven, shriven, thriven
•silvern, sylvan
•Godgiven • Sullivan
•enliven, Ivan, liven
•cloven, interwoven, woven
•Beethoven • Eindhoven • proven
•coven, govern, misgovern, oven, sloven
•cordovan • Donovan • Quechuan
•Bronwen • Iowan
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Cite this article
"leaven." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "leaven." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-leaven.html "leaven." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-leaven.html |
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