Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
Meanings
(archaic, not-comparable) Lesser; smaller.
Hig speed is another cause of bullheads and cracks, because of the greater shock of contact than is the case where the speed is less. 1916, The Wood-Worker, volume 35, number May 1916, page 36:
This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that. 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped:
Such too, to a greater or less extent, is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England, which is the great workhouse of the world. 1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC:
Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
Meanings
Minus; not including
I earned $45,000 last year, less tax and insurance.
Total: $500, less $50 expenses.
It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
ca menys (not including) · pt menos (not including) · arz ناقص (not including) · pt fora (not including) · fi pois lukien (not including) · pt exceto (not including) · bg без (not including) · no minus (not including) · ar نَاقِص (not including) · fi lukuun ottamatta (not including) · ru ми́нус (not including) · fi paitsi (not including) · no fratrukket (not including) · ru за вы́четом (not including)
Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
Meanings
(comparative, diminutive, form-of) comparative degree of little
I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
All my cares grew less until completely gone.
I like him less each time I see him.
I slept even/much less last night than I did the night before.
(comparative, diminutive) Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.
This section of space is much less empty than that between the stars, […] 1957, Lester Del Rey, Rockets Through Space: The Story of Man's Preparations to Explore the Universe:
Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.
In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual. 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
I'm not any less happy for being on my own.
That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past. 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times:
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
Demanding? I've never known a less demanding patient!
(comparative, diminutive) To a smaller extent or degree.
The grammar book was less than (that is, not at all) helpful.
That this is a positive one makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.
hi न्यून (to a smaller extent or degree) · de weniger (to a smaller extent or degree) · hu kevésbé (to a smaller extent or degree) · sv lite (to a smaller extent or degree) · ms kurang (to a smaller extent or degree) · ja ...より少ない (to a smaller extent or degree) · sh мање (to a smaller extent or degree) · got 𐌼𐌹𐌽𐍃 (to a smaller extent or degree) · nrf mouôins (to a smaller extent or degree) · osp menos (to a smaller extent or degree) · ru ме́нее (to a smaller extent or degree) · io min (to a smaller extent or degree) · lv mazāk (to a smaller extent or degree) · ru ме́ньше (to a smaller extent or degree) · ca menys (to a smaller extent or degree) · cmn 不那么 (to a smaller extent or degree) · uk ме́нше (to a smaller extent or degree) · sh manje (to a smaller extent or degree) · fur mancul (to a smaller extent or degree) · fr moins (to a smaller extent or degree) · hi अल्प (to a smaller extent or degree) · ar أَقَلّ (to a smaller extent or degree) · ia minus (to a smaller extent or degree) · fi vähemmän (to a smaller extent or degree) · lad menos (to a smaller extent or degree) · sl manj (to a smaller extent or degree) · uk менш (to a smaller extent or degree) · nrf meins (to a smaller extent or degree) · sh manj (to a smaller extent or degree) · pcd moins (to a smaller extent or degree) · cs méně (to a smaller extent or degree) · es menos (to a smaller extent or degree) · it meno (to a smaller extent or degree) · es en menos (to a smaller extent or degree) · fa کمتر (to a smaller extent or degree) · ht mwens (to a smaller extent or degree) · nl minder (to a smaller extent or degree) · sh manjše (to a smaller extent or degree) · bg по-ма́лко (to a smaller extent or degree) · eo malpli (to a smaller extent or degree) · lad manko (to a smaller extent or degree) · la minus (to a smaller extent or degree) · pl mniej (to a smaller extent or degree) · sv mindre (to a smaller extent or degree) · he פָּחוֹת (to a smaller extent or degree) · el λιγότερο (to a smaller extent or degree) · be менш (to a smaller extent or degree) · cmn 更少 (to a smaller extent or degree) · mk помалку (to a smaller extent or degree) · pt menos (to a smaller extent or degree) · ja それほど...ない (to a smaller extent or degree) · roa-brg moins (to a smaller extent or degree) · no mindre (to a smaller extent or degree) · cmn 不太 (to a smaller extent or degree) · arz أقل (to a smaller extent or degree) · sk menej (to a smaller extent or degree) · ur کم (to a smaller extent or degree) · et vähem (to a smaller extent or degree)
Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
Meanings
(comparative, form-of, qualifier:Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) comparative form of little: more little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
We are likewise ready to maintain with the hazard of all that is near and dear to us, that six is less than seven in all times and all places […]. 1711, The Spectator, number 126:
Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse, which they take from the taile of a snake. 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 141:
It is also easy to see that the straight line, representing the locus of centres of buoyancy for a rectangular section, must lie at a less inclination to the base (i.e., to the horizontal) than a line representing the locus of such centres for a parabolic section […] 1885, Edward James Reed, A Treatise on the Stability of Ships:
A smaller amount of; not as much.
No less than eight pints of beer.
Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7:
You have even less sense than an inanimate object.
I have less tea than coffee.
(proscribed) Fewer; a smaller number of.
This is not a happy situation as far as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes is concerned because it means less jobs for the union's members here at home. 1952 September 7, Thomas M Pryor, New York Times:
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
The express checkout lane is for those with ten items or less.
No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion. 1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 555:
... on his land he will have less manure, less corn, and less people; ... 1681, John Houghton, A Collection For the Improvement of Husbandry and Trade, page 263:
Although my hosts, G S Aviation, can teach you to fly in Wiltshire, an intensive week at their French airfield means less problems with the weather, cheap but good living, and complete removal from any distractions. 2003 December 16, Timandra Harkness, The Guardian:
There are less people here now.
I thinke there are few Vniuersities that haue lesse faultes than Oxford, many that haue more. 1579, Lyly, Euphues, page 208:
id lebih sedikit (smaller number of) · pt menos (smaller number of) · arz أقل (not as much) · de weniger (not as much) · lad menos (not as much) · ro mai puțin (not as much) · ar أَقَلّ (not as much) · hu kevesebb (smaller number of) · ca menys (not as much) · it meno (not as much) · es menos (not as much) · nl minder (not as much) · sv färre (smaller number of) · ar أَقَلّ (smaller number of) · de weniger (smaller number of) · lb wéineger (not as much) · sv mindre (not as much) · dsb mjeńšy (not as much) · got 𐍆𐌰𐍅𐌹𐌶𐌰 (smaller number of) · arz أقل (smaller number of) · ru ме́ньше (smaller number of) · grc ἐλάσσων (smaller number of) · uk ме́ньше (smaller number of) · no færre (smaller number of) · bg по-малко (not as much) · fr moins (not as much) · hu kevesebb (not as much) · gl menos (not as much) · pt menos (not as much) · la minus (not as much) · no mindre (not as much) · osp menos (not as much) · fi vähemmän (not as much) · scn cchiù picca (smaller number of) · ru ме́ньше (not as much) · bg по-малко (smaller number of) · lb manner (not as much) · uk ме́ньше (not as much) · got 𐍆𐌰𐍅𐌹𐌶𐌰 (not as much) · nl minder (smaller number of) · lad manko (not as much) · fi vähemmän (smaller number of) · is síður (not as much)
Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
Meanings
(uncountable) A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
Last month less of my salary was taken up with household expenses.
Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
Meanings
(archaic) To make less; to lessen.
The scattered beauties thro' the air, Have lessed the woe, the dread, the care; 1886, Horace Eaton Walker, The Lady of Dardale and Other Poems, page 74:
The protracted term of life, and the lingering illness through which this gentleman had passed, had neither impaired the original vigour of his mind, nor lessed the uncommon warmth of his affections. 1816, "Joseph Wharton" [obituary notice], Poulson's Advertiser, quoted in Genealogy of the Wharton Family of Philadelphia: 1664 to 1880, Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1880)
Soon as I lessed the tree of this, it waned — Less cause, gave less effect 1852, Charles Heavysege, The revolt of Tartarus, a poem, page 116:
c. 1650, Patrick Gordon of Ruthven, A short Abridgement of Britane's Distemper, from the yeares of God 1639 to 1649, printed 1844 for the Spalding Club
Som of the wiser sort, divining upon this vission, attrebute to the pen-knyves the lenth of tym before this should com to pass, and it hath been observed by sindrie that the earles of that hous befor wer the richest in the kingdom, having treasure and store besyde them, but ever since the addittion of this so great a revenue, they have lessed the stock by heavie burdens of debt and ingagment.
1386-90, Gower, Confessio Amantis
What he will make lesse, he lesseth.
From Middle English lesse, les, from Old English lǣs, as in þȳ lǣs þe.
Meanings
(dialectal, nonstandard) unless
To tell you true, 'tis too good for you, 'less you had grace to follow it 1614 November 10 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Beniamin Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson], Bartholmew Fayre: A Comedie, […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page):