Levant

/lɪˈvænt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A historical region in the eastern Mediterranean, including modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Israel and Palestine.

The Levant has been a crossroads of various civilizations for centuries.

The countries and regions of the eastern Mediterranean, especially in relation to trade and cultural exchange.

During the Renaissance, merchants from Europe sought to expand their trade in the Levant.

verb

To rise or lift up, often used in the context of something that lifts or rises.

The sails levant as the wind filled them.

To make something rise or to abandon a place.

The fisherman decided to levant his boat early in the morning.

From Middle French 'lever' meaning to rise or to lift.

levant in the night

to leave quietly, often without informing others

levant with the wind

to leave suddenly, taking advantage of circumstances

abscond

to leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest

fugitive

a person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding

to skip town

He was in debt, so he decided to levant and skip town.

to ghost someone

She just levant on her friends without a word.