To rise and float in the air without visible support, either actually or as an illusion or trick.
From Latin 'levis' (light in weight) and the suffix '-ate' (to cause). The word emerged in the 1600s as scientific understanding of gravity developed, combining the ancient Latin root with modern verb formation.
Magicians have 'levitated' people on stage for centuries, but the word itself comes from physics—'levi' is the same root as 'elevator,' which makes things go up! Gravity is so strong that true levitation is still impossible, which makes stage illusions that create the illusion so impressive.
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