level

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

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.

1. Solid low-level waste will be disposed of deep underground.

放射性水平低的固体废料将做地下深埋处理。

来自柯林斯例句

2. Faculty members complain that their students are unprepared to do college-level work.

学院的老师们抱怨说他们的学生还很不适应大学的课业。

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3. The water level in Lake Taihu has reached record levels.

太湖水位达到了历史最高值。

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4. The person who embodies democracy at the local level is the mayor.

在地方上代表民主的人是市长。

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5. The results show the level of frustration among hospital doctors.

这些结果显示了医院医生的不满程度。

来自柯林斯例句