Definition of level at

The phrase "level at" has its roots in the broader concept of levelness, which refers to a state of being even or horizontal. In the context of measuring or comparing objects, "level at" has come to mean that two things are at the same elevation or height. The word "level" itself originates from the Old French "niveler," meaning "to make even or smooth." This word was likely borrowed from the Latin "conenderetur," which meant "would lie together," or "were leveled." In the 16th century, "level" first appeared in English with the meaning "a carpenter's device for determining the horizontal plane." The preposition "at" has been used to indicate location since the Old English "āt," meaning "to." Over time, "at" has come to signify a location or position, particularly in compound words like "atmosphere" (referring to the air surrounding a planet) and "elevator" (meaning a vertical device to move people between floors). In the phrase "level at," the meaning of "level" and "at" combine to describe a specific type of location, where two things are at the same height or elevation. This usage can be traced back to the mid-17th century, when it first appeared as "level'd at" in English. Over time, the two words have been contracted into the modern "level at."