\Lev"er\ (l[=e]"v[~e]r), a. [Old compar. of leve or lief.]
More agreeable; more pleasing. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
{To be lever than}. See {Had as lief}, under {Had}.

\Lev"er\, adv.
Rather. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
      For lever had I die than see his deadly face.
                                               --Spenser.

\Le"ver\ (l[=e]"v[~e]r or l[e^]v"[~e]r; 277), n. [OE.
levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever to raise,
L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and
perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. {Alleviate},
{Elevate}, {Leaven}, {Legerdemain}, {Levee}, {Levy}, n.]
1. (Mech.) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about
   one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or
   more other points where forces are applied; -- used for
   transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a
   bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to
   exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its
   length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and
   turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It
   is usually named as the first of the six mechanical
   powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the
   fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is
   situated between the other two, as in the figures.
2. (Mach.)
   (a) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece
       to turn it.
   (b) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or
       to obtain motion from it.
{Compound lever}, a machine consisting of two or more levers
   acting upon each other.
{Lever escapement}. See {Escapement}.
{Lever jack}. See {Jack}, n., 5.
{Lever watch}, a watch having a vibrating lever to connect
   the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance.
{Universal lever}, a machine formed by a combination of a
   lever with the wheel and axle, in such a manner as to
   convert the reciprocating motion of the lever into a
   continued rectilinear motion of some body to which the
   power is applied.