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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.

Levetenand, Lef-, Liv(e)-, Lif(e)-, Letenand, n. Also: lev-, leiv(e)-, leiw(e)-, leav(e)-; leif-; liev(e)-, liew(e)-; lief-; liw(e)-, lyv(e)-; lie- and -tennand, -ten(n)ant(e, -ent. [ME. leve-, leeftenaunt (Trevisa), lyef-, lieuftenaunt (15th c.), e.m.E. leftenaunt (1526), leauetenaunt (1553), lievtenant (a 1586), etc.: cf. Lieutenand and Luf(e)tenand.]Some of the spellings illustrated, such as those in lev-, liev-, liew-, liw-, could equally represent the type entered as Lieutenand, Leutenant. Conversely, some of the instances of the latter may possibly represent forms with a labial consonant.

1. An officer wielding delegated authority, a deputy or vicegerent. = Lieutenand n. 1. a. Of the sovereign. Also transf. Also lord-levetenand, q.v. under Lord-. b. Of a subject.a. (a) 1475–6 Breadalbane Doc. No. 14.
Coline, Erll of Ergyle, Lord Cambell & Lorne, levetenand till our souerane lorde 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 408.
That the sadis levtennandis of Ingland salbe warnit 1547 Sutherland Chart. 106.
Johne Eirle of Sutherland, leiwtennent from Spaie north, and Allexander, postolat off Cathenes 1572 Cal. Sc. P. IV. 711.
According to sic warning as salbe gevin by my selff or other levetennent for the King my Soverane 1614 Highland P. III. 164.
[To state] what credeit I schall hawe with the levtenent in Iyla 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. viii. 7.
A bill … complaining that the Duke of Lenox, as Leivtennent of the North, intended to repledge 1681 Acts VIII 351/1.
The said High Admiral as he is his majesties Leivetenent and Justice General upon the seastransf. 1490 Irland Mir. in Innes Rev. VI. 91.
How the king is levetenand of God in this mortal lif of the gouernance of the pepil(b) 1603 Moysie 30.
John Erle of Montroise wes maid leiftennent vpone the borderis(c) 1453 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 403.
Neuertheles the said principales … wald noght admit the said Ranald as depute to the lievtenand [infra lord lievtenant] 1456 Hay II. 163/9.
And luke that our all thing thou send never thy soveraine baillie na thy lieuetenant to be thy messagere 1570 Conv. Burghs I. 19.
Sic as brocht … wrytingis frome oure Kings mothir, or hir liewtennentis(d) 1606 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 271.
Every general hosting to bee made in parson by our lieftenant and deputie generall of that our realme(e) 1544 Acts II. 450/2.
The King of Ingland, his counsale, livetenentis and subditis 15.. Clar. v. 2856.
When he [the King] sex monthis had maid sojorning, Then under him he maid ane livetenand 1596 Dalr. II. 22/10.
Bancho … the King his liuetenant in Lochquhaber 1613 Grant Chart. 213.
Archibald Erle of Argyll, his Maiesteis lyuetennent against the Clangregour c 1614 Melrose P. 597.
The liwtenant [in charge of suppressing the rebellion in Islay] remanit at Duntrown, prowyding niwe wittallis c1650 Spalding I. 22.
The countrie people … cryit out aganis the livetennand for not pvnissing of thir grevous offences 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 126.
He wes his majesties livetennent in the province of Kent(f) 1570 Leslie 162.
The Erle of Huntley … wes appointit lifetenant to remane on the bordouris for suddand incursions(g) 1520 Edinb. Chart. 204.
James, Erle of Arrane … ane of the regentis of the realme, lietennent of the Mers and Louthiane and wardane of the Est Merschis 1528 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIX. 14.
That the letenand haif power to do justice on all crymes and disobesance maid to him 1544 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 367.
He hed ane commissioun of his maister the lietennentis [sc. Huntly] to tak cognitioun vpoun the hinging of the image of Sanct Franceisb. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 1482.
The douzepeiris drew ay to the king alsua And leiftennentis into thair sted thai ma 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 366.
Maister Alexander Strathauchin … justice deput and livetennent to … Archibald erle of Argill, … Greit Justice till our souerane lord

c. Attrib. or comb. with court, deputry, governor. 1476 Breadalbane Doc. No. 14.
All & sindry vther thingis til do & vse that till the office of levetennand deputry pertenis or may pertene 1549 Ib. No. 69.
That thai sall compeir befoir vs … in ane levetenent court 1691 Annandale Corr. 46.
You hav never mentioned uhom yow think fitt for liftenant governor of Innerlochy

2. The sovereign's deputy as commandant of a military force or detachment or of a garrison.Also Levetenand-generall n. 1456 Hay I. 182/13.
A symple capitane has na power to geve sauf condyt to na … man that is inymy to the King of Fraunce to pas throu his realme but leve of the King or of thame that has power of him in generale, as lievetenand, constable or mareschall — c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 906 (see Lufetenand-general(l n.).
Leftennend — 1544 Acts II. 450/2.
The Erle of Hertfurd as livetenent of the said King of Ingland with ane gret army of Inglismen was send in this realme a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 30.
That nobill King … Be his levetennent and nobill men of weir Tuik vpon hand to sege that strongest toun a1578 Pitsc. I. 193/24.
This message past … to … Schir Edward Brakinberrie leiftennand of the Towr of Londoun 1594 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 822.
We … sall … passe fordwart with his Majestie his livetennants … or vthers having his Majesties power and commissioun 1596 Dalr. II. 206/11.
Quhom the King … creat Lord Meffen and maid leauetennant of the gret gunis Ib. 212/24.
He obteined of the King and his counsel to be leiuetennant thair in the weiris Ib. 217/25.
Lord Meffen … gret lieuetennant of the gret artilȝie c1615 Breve Cron. Earlis Ross 16.
The Erll of Crawfurde was made admirall of the sea; and the Erll of Atholl … was livetennent of the armie be land 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallan 252.
Monsieur Duncan Mure, late livetenent to the King of France guard

3. An officer of the army ranking between the captain and the ensign of a company. Also, a naval lieutenant.(1) 1626 Edinb. B. Rec. VI. 304.
[The council] electes to ilk cumpanie ane captain, leivetennent, anseinyie and four serjandis 1627 Kelly Pallas Armata (1627) 4.
Everie companie hath for officers of the field; a captaine, a lieuetenant, an enseigne [etc.] 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 28.
With libertie to ilk ane of the saids capitanes to chuise thair awne lieveten[en]tis, ancientis, and wther inferiour officiaris 1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 142.
James Moresoune, litster, is electit to be the said capitaines leivtennent of the said companie 1650 Dingwall Presb. 170.
Thos of the gentrie … vnder the degrie of a lifeten[en]t … ar ordayned to sitt in sackcloth 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 170.
Ane levetenant of ane of the kings Majesties frigats 1692 Seafield Corr. 92.
Ane great partie … off Collonell Buchan's regiement, consisteing of ane captaine, lyvetenent, ensigne [etc.](2) 1645–6 Peebles B. Rec. 421.
Gewin to John Plenderlaith smyth to go for Drumfreis with twa letteres fra leivetennant Eliot 1668 Salmon Borrowstounness 82.
[John Ritchie] called Leivetennant 1680 Irvine Mun. II. 282.
John Mountgomrie bayliffe, … Liftenant Dalyell and the ancient 1689 Melville Corr. 142.
This gentleman, Levetenna[n]t Honiken, … was very desirous I should wrett to your grace

4. = Levetennent-colonell n. 1639 Articles of Militarie Discipline 4.
The collonell shal be president, and in his absence his leivetennant 1678 Stirlings of Keir 515.
My Lord Earlie is thought wilbe his lifetenante