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Suffuse vs Leaven - What's the difference?

suffuse | leaven |

In lang=en terms the difference between suffuse and leaven

is that suffuse is to spread through or over something, especially as a liquid, colour or light; to perfuse while leaven is to cause to rise by fermentation.

In figuratively|lang=en terms the difference between suffuse and leaven

is that suffuse is (figuratively) to spread through or over in the manner of a liquid while leaven is (figuratively) to temper an action or decision.

As verbs the difference between suffuse and leaven

is that suffuse is to spread through or over something, especially as a liquid, colour or light; to perfuse while leaven is to add a leavening agent.

As a noun leaven is

any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.

suffuse

English

Verb

(suffus)
  • To spread through or over something, especially as a liquid, colour or light; to perfuse.
  • The entire room was suffused with a golden light.
  • (figuratively) To spread through or over in the manner of a liquid.
  • The warmth suffused his cold fingers.

    Usage notes

    The verb is often used in the passive voice.

    Synonyms

    * diffuse

    Derived terms

    * suffusion * suffusive ----

    leaven

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.
  • (figurative) Anything that makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass.
  • * Bible, Luke xii. 1
  • Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

    Derived terms

    * leavenless * natural leaven

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To add a leavening agent.
  • To cause to rise by fermentation.
  • (figuratively) To temper an action or decision.
  • *
  • With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get
  • To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.
  • * Milton
  • With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he leavens also his prayer.

    Derived terms

    * leavened * leavening * unleavened

    See also

    * yeast