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to levant

to levant

9.9
To leave a place secretly to avoid paying a bill
  • verb
  • /lɪˈvænt/
  • Archaic
: desaparecer
  • The innkeeper was furious when he realized the guest had levanted without settling his bill.

Examples

  • When the debts became too much, she simply levanted and disappeared.

  • Don't levant without paying your bills!

  • He planned to levant in the middle of the night to escape his creditors.

  • He decided to levant in the middle of the night.

  • He planned to levant in the middle of the night to escape his creditors.

  • When the debts became overwhelming, she decided to levant to a new city without telling anyone.

  • The con artist would often levant to avoid being caught by the police.

Synonyms

to desert
vsto levant
92 4.2

To leave people or a place when you are needed

leaves secretly rather than abandoning where one is needed
to bunk
vsto levant
  • UK
9.6

To leave without paying, often on a bus or train

leaves secretly specifically to avoid paying a debt

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

31 3.4

To pay money you owe

Compounds

Levant cotton
  • Specialized
9.8

A cotton plant with short grey fibers that stick to its seeds and are hard to remove

A large garlic plant with a big bulb and tall stalk bearing purple-tinged flowers

Levant morocco
  • Archaic
9.9

A strong, high-quality leather with a visible grain used to cover books

How Secret

to abscond
  • Formal
11 8.5
to levant
  • Archaic
9.9
to sneak off
  • Informal
35 4.0
to slip away
55 3.4
to leave
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

levant infinitive
levant past
levant past participle
levanting present participle
levants third person singular

Etymology

Levant comes from an old root lev- meaning 'to lift' or 'get up', the same root you see in elevator and levitate. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone 'getting up' and quietly leaving a hotel or restaurant without paying. So, to levant means to leave secretly to avoid a debt.