A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Laven, Leven, n. Also: lawen, levane, -in, leaven. [ME. and e.m.E. levayne (1340), -ain, -en, leaven, F. levain (12–13th c.), med.L. levanum.]
1. Fermenting dough, sour-dough, leaven. Also attrib. with bread (-made with leaven), and see Laven-trouch, -tub.1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 58.
As a pece of leauen mixit vith vnleuenit deauch makis ane breidattrib. 1666 Stirling B. Rec. I. 252.
[The baxters] to bake sufficient leven bread
2. fig. a. Orig. with allusion to passages in the Gospels, as Matth. xvi. 6, etc.: Insidious and disturbing influence. b. Used for: A tinge or admixture (of some undesirable quality).So also ME. (1390) and e.m.E. (1555– ).c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xvi. 6.
[Be ye war of the sourdauch of the Phariseis Id. Luke xij. 1.]
Be ye war of the sourdauche of the Phariseis. that is ypocrisie Id. I. 10.
The lawen of the Pharesyis Id. Matth. xvi. 12.
Thai vndirstude that he said nocht to be war of the sourdauch (or laven) of laaues, bot of the teching of Phariseis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 110 b.
The … immaculat lambe of god, quha is vithout all sournes of leuane and spott of syn 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 600.
Quhateuer may be the plauseable and faire carriage of some of that enimey, ȝet doubtles, ther is ane levin of error & hypcrassy amongst them ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III. 61.
The episcopall leaven … was not wholly purged out
