Dictionary — ontologydriven

little en · ADJ

Pronunciation

/ˈlɘ.tl̩/ (New-Zealand)
/lɪʈl̩/ (South-Asia)
(UK) audio
[ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩] (Australia)
(US) audio
[lɪʈ.(ʈ)ɨɭ] (India, South)
(General-American) audio
(New-Zealand) audio
[lɪʈ.ɐl] (India, North)
/ˈlɪ.tl̩/

Etymology

From Middle English litel, litell, luitel, lutel, lutil, luytel, from Old English lȳtel, lyttel, from Proto-West Germanic *lūtil (“little”), from *lūtan (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to bend, crouch, duck”), equivalent to lout + -le. Cognates Cognate with Yola lethel, litha, lithel, lythea (“little”), North Frisian letj (“little, small”), Saterland Frisian litje (“little, small”), West Frisian lyts (“little, small”), Dutch luttel (“few, little, mere”), German lütt, lützel (“little, small”), Low German lütt, lüttje (“little, small”), Danish liden, lille (“little, small”), Elfdalian litn (“small”), Faroese lítil (“little, small”), Icelandic lítill (“little, small”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish liten (“little, small”), Crimean Gothic lista (“insufficient, very little”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (leitils, “little, small”); also Albanian lus, lut (“to beg, plead, request”), Lithuanian liūdnas (“sad, sorrowful”), Bulgarian and Macedonian луд (lud, “crazy, insane, mad”), Serbo-Croatian лу̑д, lȗd (“crazy”). Related also to Old English lūtan (“to bow, bend low”); and perhaps to Old English lytiġ (“deceitful”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍄𐍃 (liuts, “deceitful”). More at lout.

Meanings

Small, not large, limited, particularly
- Not that she cared twopence for the enormous sum, really, now that concord was established! No, her little flutters of honest remorse were constantly disappearing in the immense exultant joy of being alive and of contemplating her idol. 1914, Arnold Bennett, The Price of Love, Harper & Brothers, page 418:
Small, not large, limited ▸ Small, limited in size.
- This is a little table.
Small, not large, limited ▸ Short, limited in extent.
- It’s only a little ways now.
Small, not large, limited ▸ Brief, limited in duration.
- I always feel better after a little sleep.
Small, not large, limited ▸ Young, limited in growth.
- Where's the little boys' room?
(especially, of siblings) Small, not large, limited ▸ Younger, regardless of size or height.
- You may be an Olympic weightlifter but you're still my little sister.
Small, not large, limited ▸ Undeveloped or underdeveloped, limited in development, particularly (offensive, of a male) in the genitals.
- "You are a little, little man," she proclaimed, staring obviously below my waist as she pronounced the second "little." It was almost disappointing. I'd heard that one before, but it still left a new scar each time. 2017, David Russell, Winston Patrick Mystery 2-Book Bundle, page 70:
Small, not large, limited ▸ Small, limited in number, having few members.
- That's a mighty little herd you've got there.
Small, not large, limited ▸ Insignificant, trivial, limited in importance.
- It’s of little importance.
- Urania speaks with darken’d brow: ⁠‘Thou pratest here where thou art least; ⁠This faith has many a purer priest, And many an abler voice than thou: […]’ 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 57:
(offensive) Small, not large, limited ▸ Weak, inferior, unimportant, etc., used to belittle a person.
- Listen up, you little shit.
(capitalized, often, qualifier:particularly a country or capital, with the name of a place) Small, not large, limited ▸ Denoting a neighborhood whose residents or storekeepers are from that place.
- If you want to find Little France, take any turning on the north side of Leicester square, and wander in a zigzag fashion Oxford Streetwards. The Little is rather smokier and more squalid than the Great France upon the other side of the Manche. 1871 October 18, The One-eyed Philosopher [pseudonym], "Street Corners", in Judy or The London Serio-comic Journal, vol. 9, page 255 http://books.google.com/books?id=_B4oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA255
- In the forties, hurdy-gurdy men could still be heard in all those East Coast cities with strong Italian neighbourhoods: New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. A visit to Baltimore’s Little Italy at that time was like a trip to Italy itself. 2004, Barry Miles, Zappa: A Biography, edition, published 2005, →ISBN, page 5:
- “The theatre was bought by the Croatian immigrants as so many immigrants came here in the ’30s and mostly for mining jobs, but in Schumacher itself it was called little Zagreb, and Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia. There were so many of them that they wanted to have their own little community, so they bought the theatre and they renovated it at that time, remodelled it and made it into a Croatian Hall,” she explained. 2020, Richa Bhosale, “Croatian Hall in need of repairs to remain open”, in Timmins Daily Press:
(capitalized, derogatory, often, qualifier:particularly a country, with the name of a place) Small, not large, limited ▸ Used with the name of a place to imply that the inhabitants have an insular attitude and are hostile to those they perceive as foreign.
- He is the embodiment of Fleet Street bullying, using his newspaper to peddle his Little-England, curtain-twitching Alan Partridgesque view of the world, which manages to combine sanctimonious, pompous moralising and prurient, voyeuristic, judgmental obsession 2012, Steve Coogan, Comedian Steve Coogan on Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre:
(derogatory) Small, not large, limited ▸ Mean, selfish, bigoted, etc., limited in spirit.
- Showing unmistakably what a little person he really was, in June 1949 he wrote his newly married daughter with nauseating disregard for the truth 2001, Nicholas Petsalis-Diomidis, The Unknown Callas: the Greek Years, page 547:
- The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise, / Because their natures are little. 1855, Alfred Tennyson, “Maud”, in Maud, and Other Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 20:
- A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
(capitalized, figuratively, often) Small, not large, limited ▸ Independent, limited in scale, especially contrasted with well-organized and well-capitalized cartels controlling most of an industry, market, etc.
- Little Science vs Big Science... Little Steel vs Big Steel...

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
lettel		alternative	lexicographic
lickle		alternative	lexicographic
lytell		alternative	lexicographic
littler	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
li'l		alternative	lexicographic
lil		alternative	lexicographic
litle		alternative	lexicographic
lyttel		alternative	lexicographic
lytel		alternative	lexicographic
least	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
lit'l		alternative	lexicographic
littel		alternative	lexicographic
lytle		alternative	lexicographic
li'l'		alternative	lexicographic
littlest	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
leetle		alternative	lexicographic
liddle		alternative	lexicographic
litell		alternative	lexicographic
lytyll		alternative	lexicographic
lesser	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
litel		alternative	lexicographic

Antonyms

big (antonym(s) of) · old (antonym(s) of)

Deriveds

Little Elbow · some little matter · little head · Little Brampton · littleleaf · wind around one's little finger · little bluestem grass · a little bird told me · Little Strickland · little spotted kiwi · little summer of St. Luke · little gull · don't worry your pretty little head · Little Hadham · little bittern · oh ye of little faith · little boy · have-a-little · little brown bat · a little bit of bread and no cheese · Little Mountain · Lyttelton · O ye of little faith · little-go · Little Egg Harbor · fighting little judge · little slick · ye gods and little fishes · little swimmer · Little Haven · little old me · say hello to my little friend · little bluestem · littling · littlish · little auk · to little avail · Little Eaton · Little England · Little Bookham · NoLIta · Little Dipper · Little Douglas · Litle · Little Chalfont · precious little · great cry and little wool · little brown dove · little piecer · little Ivy · Little Bridgeford · Little Ness · Little London · Great and Little Hampden · little person · little guy · Littlehampton · Little Plain · a little pot is soon hot · poor little rich boy · My Little Pony · little pitchers have big ears · little mester · a little bit · little office · Little Venice · Littlemill · Little Marlow · Little Whelnetham · little green bee-eater · Little Bokhara · little skate · little pitcher · Lyttle · Little Black Spot Mountain · little blue heron · little spiderhunter · Little Palestine · a little of something goes a long way · little rock wallaby · Little Irchester · little blue man · Little Ferry · little hour · Little Russia · a little goes a long way · every little helps · Little York · Little Bay · little green man · Little Italy · Little Stour · Little Dunmow · oh me of little faith · little heron · little lady · little sib · little tunny · little sibling · I spy with my little eye · Little Bowden · Little Dewchurch · little minivet · little-ease · little black ant · Little Smeaton · little owl · little corella · Little Buenos Aires · Little Mulgrave · Little Billabong · a little matter · little language · in one's own little world · Little Rock · little emperor · twist around one's little finger · little nail · little yus · little boys' room · a little of the creature · little white mushroom · Lytle · Little Saigon · Little Desert · a little birdie told me · Little France · little bit · every little bit helps · little ringed plover · tall oaks from little acorns grow · Little Billington · little hand · little house · Little Red Riding-Hood · Little Bourton · Great and Little Leighs · little-used · Little Mill · little ole · by little and little · Little Valley · happy little vegemite · O me of little faith · Little Jilliby · little Dick Fisher · Little Hartley · little strokes fell great oaks · Little Sodbury · little lorikeet · Little Ouse · litty · little v · little white shakers syndrome · unlittle · little millet · little girl · Little Scotland · little summer of St Luke · think little of · little professor · Little Bytham · little pitchers have long ears · Little Traverse · Little Munden · how's every little thing · little-minded · Little Red Book · Little Ilford · little grebe · little hat · LBFM · little toe · Gowrie Little Plain · Little River-Academy · little stint · in a little while · Lighthill · Little Ponton · Little Island · show a little ginger · Little Pelican · little spotted cat · Little Harrowden · little ol' · do a little trolling · Little Packington · little cassino · little joker · Littel · Little Compton · Little Sandy Desert · Little Belt · little one · bless someone's little cotton socks · ye of little faith · Little Bispham · little black serotine · little black cormorant · Little Snoring · little finger · Little Genesee · littlein · little friend · Little Comberton · Little Monster · a little knowledge is a dangerous thing · Little Silver · little spoon · a little from column A and a little from column B · Little Falls · Little Barford · little dodo · big-fish-little-pond effect · Lightley · one little duck · Little Neck · mighty oaks from little acorns grow · grandlittle · little girls room · Little Argentina · Little Tew · Little Shelford · little name · little fingernail · little-girlish · Little Weighton · Little Hereford · little blue pill · little woman · busy little beaver · Little Salkeld · Little Easton · little pink · Little Pine Lagoon · Little Russian · Little Downham · two little ducks · little by little · Little Ice Age · little raven · in little · Little Somerford · little Timmy · Little Optimum · littleneck · Little Baguio · Little Black Spot Mesa · Little Back Creek · little did one know · little Dick · Little Sutton · Little Kimble · Little Murray · little old · Little Grove · Little Clacton · little brown jug · Little Village · Fermat's little theorem · think with one's little head · Little Havana · Little Crater Lake · Little Wenlock · Little Rhody · live a little · do a little bit of trolling · Little Malvern · little peach · Little Wobby · little barley · little wonder · little bush moa · little toenail · Little Dalby · Little Yeldham · Little Bealings · little tern · Little Armenia · littlun · Little Billing · wrap around one's little finger · Littell · Little Wilbraham · little Eichmann · big fish in a little pond · poor little meow meow · make little of · a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds · little egret · leave little to the imagination · Little Forest · little red dot · Little Wratting · Little Colorado River · a little learning is a dangerous thing · big fish eat little fish · little-endian · little brown job · Little Thetford · little mad · little bustard · Little Missouri · little bronze cuckoo · little bunting · little monster · little man · Newton and Little Oakley · Little Missenden · Little Christmas · Little Tokyo · Little Osage · Little Lumley · little boys room · cry like a little girl · little folk · Little Hulton · mother's little helper · poor little rich girl · little shit · Little Dunham · little casino · Little Ramallah · Little Berlin · Little · not a little · little sister · Little Walsingham · Little Britain · little Johnny · do-little · Little Stoke · little people · great oaks from little acorns grow · littlie · little-known · take one's sweet little time · Little River · Little Chesterford · Little Ponton and Stroxton · little girl's room · Littlehaven · Little Topar · South Littleton · little black dress · in one's own little way · Little Jacks Creek · little sis · little go · little emperor syndrome · little tinamou · littleness · littlefur · Little Welnetham · and your little dog too · little white lie · Little Oakley · have little time for · little lunch · little girls' room · Little Houghton · little black book · Lightle · Little Englander · Little England beyond Wales · little boy's room · little dog syndrome · Little Brickhill · Littleton · littly · Little Gem · Little Hampton · Little Petherick · little penguin · little brother · little school · little friarbird · little slam · little man in the boat · Little Massingham

Descendants

likkle · likl

Hyponyms

small (small)

Synonyms

Translations (343)

pt mais novo ((of a sibling) younger) · ar صغير (small in size) · ba бәләкәй (small in size) · sat ᱯᱤᱞᱪᱩ (small in size) · hu kicsi (small in size) · hy փոքր (very young) · txb yekte (small in size) · ur چھوٹا ((of a sibling) younger) · scn nicu (very young) · kmr çûçik (small in size) · scn picca (small in number, few) · ro mic (small in size) · grc τυτθός (small in size) · fi pikku- ((of a sibling) younger) · da lille (small in size) · fi vähä (small in number, few) · quc chi'p ((of a sibling) younger) · sv föga (insignificant, trivial) · mhr изи (small in size) · arc זעורתא (small in size) · bg ма́лък (small in number, few) · ko 작은 (small in size) · id kecil (small in size) · gml luttel (small in size) · mhr изи (very young) · qu tumpa (insignificant, trivial) · ba кескәй (small in size) · es poco (insignificant, trivial) · sa स्वल्प (small in number, few) · de chlei (small in size) · no liten (very young) · hi तनिक (small in number, few) · ba әҙ (small in number, few) · sl majhen (small in size) · gug mbovy (small in number, few) · co chjucu (small in size) · qu wallka (insignificant, trivial) · zh 淡薄仔一些? (small in number, few) · zu -ncane (small in size) · no lille- ((of a sibling) younger) · scn tanticchia (insignificant, trivial) · nds kleen (small in size) · km តូច (small in size) · ota آز (insignificant, trivial) · da små (small in size) · eo iom (small in number, few) · pt pequeno (small in number, few) · zdj -titi (small in size) · tpi liklik (small in size) · gd beag (small in size) · az balaca (small in size) · mk малечок ((of a sibling) younger) · fr petit (small in size) · sk trochu (small in number, few) · de wenig (small in size) · txb totka (small in size) · cs malý ((of a sibling) younger) · quc laj (small in size) · ckb بِچووک (small in size) · mt żgħir (small in size) · ist peîcio (small in size) · pt pequeno (small in size) · da lille ((of a sibling) younger) · zun ts'ana (small in size) · fr cadet ((of a sibling) younger) · qu taksa (small in size) · de klein (small in size) · egy n:D-s-nDs (small in size) · wa pitit (small in size) · la paulus (small in size) · tg хурд (small in size) · fi pieni (very young) · my သေး (small in size) · quc xnit’ (small in size) · mi paku (small in size) · arc ܙܥܘܪܬܐ (very young) · arc זעורתא (very young) · ps وړوکی (small in size) · kk кішкене (small in size) · arc ܙܥܘܪܐ (small in size) · za iq (small in size) · mi iti (small in size) · ga beag (small in size) · chr ᎤᏍᏗ (small in size) · crh kiçik (small in size) · quc ch'ip ((of a sibling) younger) · fi vähäinen (insignificant, trivial) · ar زغير (small in size) · fi pieni (small in size) · udi пӏатӏар (small in size) · cy ifanc (very young) · tt кече (small in size) · eo malmulta (small in number, few) · quc wich’ (small in size) · sv liten (very young) · apw dayąhą́go (small in number, few) · gl pequeno (small in size) · ka პატარა (small in size) · ckb بچکۆلە (small in size) · ba бәләкәй (very young) · pt pequenino (very young) · ta சிறிய (small in size) · nl jongere ((of a sibling) younger) · kn ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ (small in size) · pl mały (small in size) · uz kichik (small in size) · sv lille- ((of a sibling) younger) · ps کوچنی (very young) · hy փոքր ((of a sibling) younger) · sq vogël (small in size) · mi riki (small in size) · quc ch’uti’n (small in size) · quc nuch’ (small in size) · dlm pauc (small in size) · jam likkle (small in size) · rif ameẓẓyan (very young) · ml കുഞ്ഞ് ((of a sibling) younger) · tt бәләкәй (small in size) · hy մանր (small in size) · mr लहान (small in size) · la iuvenis (very young) · sa अल्प (small in size) · el μικρός ((of a sibling) younger) · sa अर्भ (small in size) · ps وړوکی ((of a sibling) younger) · scn jùvini (very young) · ast pequeñu (small in size) · nl klein ((of a sibling) younger) · te చిన్న ((of a sibling) younger) · ca petit (small in size) · haw liʻiliʻi (small in size) · he קטן ((of a sibling) younger) · qu as (small in size) · quc ch’it (small in size) · rom tikno (small in size) · gml luttichel (small in size) · arc זעורא (very young) · hi छोटा (small in size) · lb kleng (small in size) · la iuvenis ((of a sibling) younger) · qu as (small in number, few) · mk мал (very young) · br bihan (small in size) · kmr çûk (small in size) · scn nicu ((of a sibling) younger) · de lützel (small in size) · eo malgranda (small in size) · sv yngre ((of a sibling) younger) · qu pisi (small in number, few) · ce жима (small in size) · gd meanbh (small in size) · mi nohinohi (small in size) · arc זעורא (small in size) · es poco (small in number, few) · ga beag (very young) · hu öcs ((of a sibling) younger) · fr pas beaucoup de (insignificant, trivial) · my နုပ် (small in size) · gd beag ((of a sibling) younger) · zh 小 (small in size) · grc μικρός (small in size) · ia parve (small in size) · hi थोड़ी (small in number, few) · izh peen (small in size) · ht ti (small in size) · ay jisk'a (small in size) · ka მცირე (small in size) · quc xit’ (small in size) · sco wee ((of a sibling) younger) · la parvus (small in size) · arc ܙܥܘܪܐ (very young) · cy bach (small in size) · el μικρός (small in size) · scn n'anticchia (small in number, few) · lt mažas (small in size) · no liten (small in size) · ne सानो (small in size) · sl mlajši ((of a sibling) younger) · fo lítil (small in size) · rap rikiriki (small in size) · rif ameẓẓyan (small in size) · ca mica (insignificant, trivial) · es pequeño (very young) · uga 𐎕𐎙𐎗 (small in size) · ar صَغِير (small in size) · oc pichon (small in size) · arc ܙܥܘܪܬܐ (small in size) · ps وړوکی (very young) · he מְעַט (small in number, few) · tl maliit (small in size) · jam likkle (very young) · ang lȳtel (small in size) · ckb بِچووک ((of a sibling) younger) · scn nicu (small in size) · ay juk'a (small in number, few) · hu kevés (small in number, few) · ckb بچکۆلە ((of a sibling) younger) · yi קליין (small in size) · bg ма́лък (small in size) · de wenig (small in number, few) · got 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (small in size) · scn nica (small in size) · it piccolo ((of a sibling) younger) · su sakedik (small in number, few) · bcl sadit (small in size) · ru ма́лый (small in size) · mk мал (small in size) · ms kecil (small in size) · ar صغير (small in size) · th เล็ก (small in size) · lv mazs (small in size) · ky кичине (small in size) · el λίγος (small in size) · quc alaj (small in size) · frr litj (small in size) · pt pequeno (insignificant, trivial) · hi अल्प (small in number, few) · jam likkle ((of a sibling) younger) · mk мал ((of a sibling) younger) · mi poniponi (small in size) · az kiçik (small in size) · de klein ((of a sibling) younger) · hy փոքր (small in size) · fa کوچک (small in size) · bg незначи́телен (insignificant, trivial) · crh kiçkene (small in size) · arn pichi (small in size) · pt pouco (small in number, few) · kk кіші (small in size) · fi vähäinen (small in number, few) · qu pisi (small in size) · zh 一些 (small in number, few) · sco peerie (small in size) · ba бәләкәс (small in size) · bcl saday (small in size) · bo ཆུང་ཆུང (small in size) · sh mȃl (small in size) · sv liten (small in size) · co picculu (small in size) · te చిన్న (small in size) · oc petit (small in size) · uk мали́й (small in size) · es pequeño (small in size) · sa स्वल्प (small in size) · si කුඩා (small in size) · bg мла́дши ((of a sibling) younger) · fi vähäpätöinen (insignificant, trivial) · bzj lee (small in size) · tr küçük (small in size) · rap iti (small in size) · hi थोड़ा (small in number, few) · ba кесе (very young) · de lütt (small in size) · quc nich’ (small in size) · fr peu (insignificant, trivial) · nl klein (very young) · quc nitz’ (small in size) · lo ນ້ອຍ (small in size) · be малы́ (small in size) · hu kis ((of a sibling) younger) · nl klein (small in size) · qu uchuy (small in size) · gd mean (small in size) · el μικρός (very young) · pt menor (insignificant, trivial) · uk мале́нький (small in size) · be мале́нькі (small in size) · he קטן (very young) · ps کوچنی ((of a sibling) younger) · gd mion (small in size) · tk kiçi (small in size) · qu uchuylla (very young) · nds lütt (small in size) · sco wee (small in size) · hu kis (small in size) · gu નાનું (small in size) · ro mică (small in size) · ce кегий (small in size) · mk малечок (very young) · sa ईषत् (small in number, few) · hi छोटा ((of a sibling) younger) · pa ਛੋਟਾ (small in size) · ky кичинекей (small in size) · sco peedie (small in size) · cs mladý ((of a sibling) younger) · tt кечек (small in size) · gug michĩ (small in size) · de klein (very young) · sh ма̑л (small in size) · ru ма́ленький (very young) · bn ছোট (small in size) · rup njic (small in size) · tr az (small in number, few) · scn nica ((of a sibling) younger) · it piccolo (small in size) · ba кесе (small in size) · cs malý (very young) · ar صغير (small in size) · qu ichik (small in size) · mn жижиг (small in size) · fa که (small in size) · ja 小さい (small in size) · gml luttink (small in size) · kmr piçûk (small in size) · sms uˊcc (small in size) · ota آز (small in number, few) · qu aslla (small in number, few) · ig ntakiri (small in size) · scn tanticchia (small in number, few) · bg ма́лък (very young) · quc ko’lik (small in size) · eu txiki (small in size) · fy lyts (small in size) · es menor (insignificant, trivial) · sv ringa (insignificant, trivial) · ps کوچنی (small in size) · io mikra (small in size) · ur چھوٹا (small in size) · gd beag (very young) · he קטן (small in size) · ru мла́дший ((of a sibling) younger) · quc ch’in (small in size) · scn muḍḍica (insignificant, trivial) · qu aslla (small in size) · ml കുറച്ച് (small in number, few) · et väike (small in size) · de jung ((of a sibling) younger) · qu wallka (small in number, few) · is lítill (small in size) · gml luttik (small in size) · jam likl (small in size) · ru ма́ленький (small in size) · scn stizza (insignificant, trivial) · kmr qicik (small in size) · cs malý (small in size) · otk 𐰀𐰕 (small in number, few) · vi nhỏ (small in size) · hu húg ((of a sibling) younger) · fa خرد (small in size) · it poco (insignificant, trivial) · an chicote (small in size) · ml ചെറിയ (small in size) · sk malý (small in size)

wikipedia: little

little en · ADV

Pronunciation

/ˈlɘ.tl̩/ (New-Zealand)
/lɪʈl̩/ (South-Asia)
(UK) audio
[ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩] (Australia)
(US) audio
[lɪʈ.(ʈ)ɨɭ] (India, South)
(General-American) audio
(New-Zealand) audio
[lɪʈ.ɐl] (India, North)
/ˈlɪ.tl̩/

Etymology

From Middle English litel, litell, luitel, lutel, lutil, luytel, from Old English lȳtel, lyttel, from Proto-West Germanic *lūtil (“little”), from *lūtan (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to bend, crouch, duck”), equivalent to lout + -le. Cognates Cognate with Yola lethel, litha, lithel, lythea (“little”), North Frisian letj (“little, small”), Saterland Frisian litje (“little, small”), West Frisian lyts (“little, small”), Dutch luttel (“few, little, mere”), German lütt, lützel (“little, small”), Low German lütt, lüttje (“little, small”), Danish liden, lille (“little, small”), Elfdalian litn (“small”), Faroese lítil (“little, small”), Icelandic lítill (“little, small”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish liten (“little, small”), Crimean Gothic lista (“insufficient, very little”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (leitils, “little, small”); also Albanian lus, lut (“to beg, plead, request”), Lithuanian liūdnas (“sad, sorrowful”), Bulgarian and Macedonian луд (lud, “crazy, insane, mad”), Serbo-Croatian лу̑д, lȗd (“crazy”). Related also to Old English lūtan (“to bow, bend low”); and perhaps to Old English lytiġ (“deceitful”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍄𐍃 (liuts, “deceitful”). More at lout.

Meanings

Not much.
- Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to “Chat of the Social World,” gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl’s intelligence. She devoured with more avidity than she had her food those pretentiously phrased chronicles of the snobocracy—[…]—distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its flavor. 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 373, column 2:
- She spoke little and listened less.
- We slept very little last night.
- Little polluted by the wastes that plague much of the Mediterranean, hundreds of miles of island-studded coast make Yugoslavia a prime destination for tourists. 1990 August, Kenneth C. Danforth, “Yugoslavia: A House Much Divided”, in National Geographic, volume 178, number 2, page 106:
- This is a little-known fact: the new model is little faster than the old one.
Not at all.
- But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶[…]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…], and a ‘bead’ could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
- Little did he know that the burglar was creeping upstairs at that very moment.
- She little knew what awaited her.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
lytel		alternative	lexicographic
less	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
lickle		alternative	lexicographic
li'l		alternative	lexicographic
lil		alternative	lexicographic
litel		alternative	lexicographic
lytyll		alternative	lexicographic
lesser	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
liddle		alternative	lexicographic
litell		alternative	lexicographic
li'l'		alternative	lexicographic
lytell		alternative	lexicographic
lit'l		alternative	lexicographic
lettel		alternative	lexicographic
litle		alternative	lexicographic
lytle		alternative	lexicographic
leetle		alternative	lexicographic
least	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
littel		alternative	lexicographic
lyttel		alternative	lexicographic

Antonyms

much

Translations (85)

bn কম (not much) · ja 少ない (not much) · uk ма́ло (not much) · my နည်း (not much) · ml അല്പം (not much) · la non multus (not much) · de wenig (not much) · bqi کم (not much) · tr az (not much) · be няшма́т (not much) · nl weinig (not much) · he מעט (not much) · nn lite (not much) · da lidt (not much) · pt pouco (not much) · uk небага́то (not much) · ur کم (not much) · es poquito (not much) · nb lite (not much) · lv maz (not much) · gl pouco (not much) · sv lite (not much) · io poka (not much) · hu keveset (not much) · lo ນ້ອຍ (not much) · sw kidogo (not much) · be ма́ла (not much) · ar قَلِيلاً (not much) · sl malo (not much) · eo iomete (not much) · zh 少 (not much) · la paulo (not much) · mk малку (not much) · ru ма́ло (not much) · ast pocu (not much) · hy սակավ (not much) · se unˈnán (not much) · rup putsãn (not much) · hy քիչ (not much) · ar قَليل (not much) · es poco (not much) · bg ма́лко (not much) · hu kevéssé (not much) · ko 적다 (not much) · li min (not much) · ru немно́го (not much) · et vähe (not much) · ccc naspejka (not much) · it poco (not much) · hi कम (not much) · su sakedik (not much) · vro veidüq (not much) · fa کم (not much) · fi vähän (not much) · rue ма́ло (not much) · lmy mahha (not much) · lt mažai (not much) · km តិច (not much) · la paucus (not much) · th น้อย (not much) · ar قَلِيل (not much) · id sedikit (not much) · izh vähä (not much) · sk málo (not much) · is lítið (not much) · he קצת (not much) · rup ptsãn (not much) · ps لږ (not much) · ga beag (not much) · sh mȁlo (not much) · sh ма̏ло (not much) · ro puțin (not much) · gd beagan (not much) · vi ít (not much) · ang lyt (not much) · cs málo (not much) · de kaum (not much) · fr peu (not much) · gu થોડું (not much) · vot vähäize (not much) · ckb کەم (not much) · eu gutxi (not much) · el λίγο (not much) · pl mało (not much) · ca poc (not much)

wikipedia: little

little en · DET

Pronunciation

/ˈlɘ.tl̩/ (New-Zealand)
/lɪʈl̩/ (South-Asia)
(UK) audio
[ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩] (Australia)
(US) audio
[lɪʈ.(ʈ)ɨɭ] (India, South)
(General-American) audio
(New-Zealand) audio
[lɪʈ.ɐl] (India, North)
/ˈlɪ.tl̩/

Etymology

From Middle English litel, litell, luitel, lutel, lutil, luytel, from Old English lȳtel, lyttel, from Proto-West Germanic *lūtil (“little”), from *lūtan (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to bend, crouch, duck”), equivalent to lout + -le. Cognates Cognate with Yola lethel, litha, lithel, lythea (“little”), North Frisian letj (“little, small”), Saterland Frisian litje (“little, small”), West Frisian lyts (“little, small”), Dutch luttel (“few, little, mere”), German lütt, lützel (“little, small”), Low German lütt, lüttje (“little, small”), Danish liden, lille (“little, small”), Elfdalian litn (“small”), Faroese lítil (“little, small”), Icelandic lítill (“little, small”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish liten (“little, small”), Crimean Gothic lista (“insufficient, very little”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (leitils, “little, small”); also Albanian lus, lut (“to beg, plead, request”), Lithuanian liūdnas (“sad, sorrowful”), Bulgarian and Macedonian луд (lud, “crazy, insane, mad”), Serbo-Croatian лу̑д, lȗd (“crazy”). Related also to Old English lūtan (“to bow, bend low”); and perhaps to Old English lytiġ (“deceitful”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍄𐍃 (liuts, “deceitful”). More at lout.

Meanings

Not much, only a little: only a small amount (of).
- Across Japan, technology companies and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up as part of a rapid build-up that one developer likened to an “explosion.” 2013 June 21, Chico Harlan, “Japan pockets the subsidy …”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 30:
- There is (very) little water left.
- We had very little to do.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
liddle		alternative	lexicographic
leetle		alternative	lexicographic
litle		alternative	lexicographic
lil		alternative	lexicographic
lettel		alternative	lexicographic
li'l		alternative	lexicographic
littel		alternative	lexicographic
lit'l		alternative	lexicographic
lytell		alternative	lexicographic
litel		alternative	lexicographic
less	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
least	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
lyttel		alternative	lexicographic
li'l'		alternative	lexicographic
lytyll		alternative	lexicographic
lytle		alternative	lexicographic
lytel		alternative	lexicographic
lickle		alternative	lexicographic
litell		alternative	lexicographic

Antonyms

much (antonym(s) of “not much”)

Relateds

a little

Translations (68)

be ма́ла (small amount) · lt mažai (small amount) · hy սակավ (small amount) · sw kidogo (small amount) · ja 少し (small amount) · pt pouco (small amount) · de wenig (small amount) · ps لږ (small amount) · uk ма́ло (small amount) · sh ма̏ло (small amount) · nl weinig (small amount) · su sakedik (small amount) · fr peu (small amount) · mt ftit (small amount) · it poco (small amount) · sq pak (small amount) · lo ນ້ອຍ (small amount) · lv maz (small amount) · izh vähä (small amount) · fr peu de (small amount) · sh mȁlo (small amount) · fi vähän (small amount) · ko 적은 (small amount) · th น้อย (small amount) · chr ᎦᏲᏟ (small amount) · ru ма́ло (small amount) · vot vähäize (small amount) · pl mało (small amount) · is lítið (small amount) · grc ὀλίγος (small amount) · et pisut (small amount) · es poco (small amount) · ur تھوڑا (small amount) · fi hieman (small amount) · ckb نەختێ (small amount) · se veaháš (small amount) · el λίγο (small amount) · nb litt (small amount) · te కొంచెం (small amount) · ig obere (small amount) · ca una mica de (small amount) · ckb کەم (small amount) · id sedikit (small amount) · gd beagan (small amount) · my နည်း (small amount) · hu kevés (small amount) · cs málo (small amount) · sl malo (small amount) · ga beagán (small amount) · ro puţin (small amount) · da lidt (small amount) · la paulo (small amount) · te కొంత (small amount) · jam likkle (small amount) · hi थोड़ा (small amount) · vi ít (small amount) · ca poc (small amount) · nl een beetje (small amount) · ar قَلِيل (small amount) · rue ма́ло (small amount) · ja ちょっと (small amount) · sk málo (small amount) · sv lite (small amount) · zh 少 (small amount) · hy քիչ (small amount) · mk малку (small amount) · km តិច (small amount) · bg ма́лко (small amount)

wikipedia: little

little en · NOUN

Pronunciation

/ˈlɘ.tl̩/ (New-Zealand)
/lɪʈl̩/ (South-Asia)
(UK) audio
[ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩] (Australia)
(US) audio
[lɪʈ.(ʈ)ɨɭ] (India, South)
(General-American) audio
(New-Zealand) audio
[lɪʈ.ɐl] (India, North)
/ˈlɪ.tl̩/

Etymology

From Middle English litel, litell, luitel, lutel, lutil, luytel, from Old English lȳtel, lyttel, from Proto-West Germanic *lūtil (“little”), from *lūtan (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to bend, crouch, duck”), equivalent to lout + -le. Cognates Cognate with Yola lethel, litha, lithel, lythea (“little”), North Frisian letj (“little, small”), Saterland Frisian litje (“little, small”), West Frisian lyts (“little, small”), Dutch luttel (“few, little, mere”), German lütt, lützel (“little, small”), Low German lütt, lüttje (“little, small”), Danish liden, lille (“little, small”), Elfdalian litn (“small”), Faroese lítil (“little, small”), Icelandic lítill (“little, small”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish liten (“little, small”), Crimean Gothic lista (“insufficient, very little”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (leitils, “little, small”); also Albanian lus, lut (“to beg, plead, request”), Lithuanian liūdnas (“sad, sorrowful”), Bulgarian and Macedonian луд (lud, “crazy, insane, mad”), Serbo-Croatian лу̑д, lȗd (“crazy”). Related also to Old English lūtan (“to bow, bend low”); and perhaps to Old English lytiġ (“deceitful”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍄𐍃 (liuts, “deceitful”). More at lout.

Meanings

(singular, uncountable) A small amount.
- Many littles make a mickle.
- I hope the little we've done will be useful.
- If you want some cake, there’s a little in the refrigerator.
- Little did he do to make me comfortable.
(countable, informal) A child, particularly an infant.
(countable, qualifier:university slang) An adult in a child-like role, or in the more junior of two paired roles. ▸ A newly initiated member of a sorority or fraternity, who is mentored by a big.
- Some traditions of the chapter include lineages with bigs and littles, receiving of paddles from a big, and a national stroll, Wolsch-Gallia said. 2022 September 27, Shreya Varrier, “Gamma Rho Lambda provides LGBTQIA+ community in greek life”, in Iowa State Daily, archived from the original on 08 Feb 2023:
- She added that the relationship between bigs and littles is "what each pair makes of it," and that a lot of the pairs often get dinner together and become close friends. 2019 April 1, Audrey Steinkamp, “Sororities pair new members with "bigs"”, in Yale Daily News, archived from the original on 20 Feb 2026:
- He was there the night of Cristoph's party. All the littles were assigned to their bigs. Ian and Christoph had rushed the same fraternity. When they became upperclassmen, they both ended up on the board. 2018, Kelly Ann Gonzales, Through an Opaque Window:
(countable) An adult in a child-like role, or in the more junior of two paired roles. ▸ The participant who acts out the younger role.
(countable, qualifier:age regression) An adult in a child-like role, or in the more junior of two paired roles. ▸ One who has mentally age regressed to a childlike state.
- People with [dissociative identity] disorder frequently have a younger personality among their distinctive personalities. However, it’s believed that the "little" may not be a separate personality. Instead, it may be a regressed version of the original personality. 2019 August 30, Kimberly Holland, Healthline, archived from the original on 21 Apr 2024:
(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of little go (“type of examination”).
alt of little go
- I go up for my Little tomorrow.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
litell		alternative	lexicographic
littles	Number=Plur		lexicographic
lit'l		alternative	lexicographic
lytyll		alternative	lexicographic
litel		alternative	lexicographic
lytel		alternative	lexicographic
lil		alternative	lexicographic
lytell		alternative	lexicographic
littel		alternative	lexicographic
lickle		alternative	lexicographic
lyttel		alternative	lexicographic
leetle		alternative	lexicographic
litle		alternative	lexicographic
lettel		alternative	lexicographic
lytle		alternative	lexicographic
li'l		alternative	lexicographic
li'l'		alternative	lexicographic
liddle		alternative	lexicographic

little en · PRON

Pronunciation

/ˈlɘ.tl̩/ (New-Zealand)
/lɪʈl̩/ (South-Asia)
(UK) audio
[ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩] (Australia)
(US) audio
[lɪʈ.(ʈ)ɨɭ] (India, South)
(General-American) audio
(New-Zealand) audio
[lɪʈ.ɐl] (India, North)
/ˈlɪ.tl̩/

Etymology

From Middle English litel, litell, luitel, lutel, lutil, luytel, from Old English lȳtel, lyttel, from Proto-West Germanic *lūtil (“little”), from *lūtan (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bow down, lout”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (“to bend, crouch, duck”), equivalent to lout + -le. Cognates Cognate with Yola lethel, litha, lithel, lythea (“little”), North Frisian letj (“little, small”), Saterland Frisian litje (“little, small”), West Frisian lyts (“little, small”), Dutch luttel (“few, little, mere”), German lütt, lützel (“little, small”), Low German lütt, lüttje (“little, small”), Danish liden, lille (“little, small”), Elfdalian litn (“small”), Faroese lítil (“little, small”), Icelandic lítill (“little, small”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish liten (“little, small”), Crimean Gothic lista (“insufficient, very little”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌻𐍃 (leitils, “little, small”); also Albanian lus, lut (“to beg, plead, request”), Lithuanian liūdnas (“sad, sorrowful”), Bulgarian and Macedonian луд (lud, “crazy, insane, mad”), Serbo-Croatian лу̑д, lȗd (“crazy”). Related also to Old English lūtan (“to bow, bend low”); and perhaps to Old English lytiġ (“deceitful”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍄𐍃 (liuts, “deceitful”). More at lout.

Meanings

Not much; not a large amount.
- Little is known about his early life.

Forms

Spelling	Labels	Source
li'l	alternative	lexicographic
litell	alternative	lexicographic
lettel	alternative	lexicographic
lytell	alternative	lexicographic
litel	alternative	lexicographic
lit'l	alternative	lexicographic
lil	alternative	lexicographic
lytle	alternative	lexicographic
leetle	alternative	lexicographic
lickle	alternative	lexicographic
li'l'	alternative	lexicographic
liddle	alternative	lexicographic
lytyll	alternative	lexicographic
litle	alternative	lexicographic
littel	alternative	lexicographic
lyttel	alternative	lexicographic
lytel	alternative	lexicographic

wikipedia: little