Word: levy (verb, noun)

Associations

The word "levy" can be a verb or a noun.

As a verb, "levy" means to officially demand or collect something, usually money, like taxes or fines.

• The government levies taxes on income. (The government collects money from people based on their earnings.)
• The city levied a fine on the company for pollution. (The city demanded the company pay a penalty.)
• The army levied soldiers from the local population. (The army officially recruited or forced people to join.)

As a noun, "levy" refers to the amount of money or the act of collecting it.

• The new tax levy will help fund schools. (The money collected by tax.)
• The levy on imports increased prices. (The charge or tax on goods brought into a country.)
• There was a levy imposed to repair the roads. (An official demand for payment.)

Synonym: "tax" is a common synonym for "levy" when used as a noun or verb related to money. The difference is "levy" is more formal and can also apply to other official demands, not just taxes. "Tax" is more specific to government money collection.

Substitution

Instead of "levy," you can use:

• impose (to officially put a rule or tax)
• collect (to gather money or items)
• charge (to ask for payment)
• demand (to ask strongly for something)

Example: "The government imposed a new tax." (similar to "levy")

Deconstruction

"Levy" comes from Old French "levée," meaning "a raising" or "lifting." It is related to the verb "to raise," as in raising money or troops. The root is from Latin "levare," meaning "to raise" or "lift up."

No prefix or suffix here; the word itself is simple but formal.

Inquiry

• Can you think of situations where a government or group might levy something other than money?
• Have you ever heard about a levy being used to raise soldiers or workers? How is that different from collecting money?
• How would you explain the difference between "levy" and "tax" to a friend?