levee

the english word 'levee' has a dual meaning tracing back to a single french source. it entered the language in the 17th century from the french 'levée', the feminine past participle of 'lever' meaning 'to raise'. this origin neatly explains both modern senses. the primary meaning, a raised riverbank, comes directly from the concept of a built-up, raised earthwork. the secondary, now largely historical meaning of a morning reception arose because such events were originally held by a monarch upon rising from bed, i.e., at the 'rising' or 'lever' of the day. the french 'lever' itself derives from latin 'levāre' (to lift, raise), which originates from the proto-indo-european root legwh- (light in weight, to be light).

this word is a loanword from french, adopted into english as a single, unanalyzable unit in its modern spelling.