lévén

Etymology
From the stem of, compare , , and ,.

Participle

 * 1)  mostly used as an adverb of reason

Usage notes
This participle is currently undergoing a conversion into a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, due to the fact that there are sentences where both interpretations are possible, especially when this word introduces a clause, and it may be reanalyzed as a conjunction. For example:

Due to this latter use, the word may become virtually synonymous with  or. In the original participial usage, would typically remain at the end of the clause, as part of a complex predicate (such as ), but this usage may be perceived as literary or dated. If the verb is not part of the predicate of the reason clause,  cannot be used as a conjunction, unless as part of the phrase, which formally creates a separate clause. With respect to its original meaning, may not be justified when the reason already involves the verb, e.g. the phrasing  may be disputed, and either  or a more old-fashioned  may be preferable instead from a prescriptive point of view.