8 dictionary results for: lesser
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
less·er
[les-er] Pronunciation Key
[les-er] Pronunciation Key –adjective, a compar. of little with least as superl.
–adverb, a compar. of little with least as superl.
| 1. | smaller, as in size or importance; inferior: a lesser evil. |
| 2. | less. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
lit·tle
[lit-l] Pronunciation Key adjective, lit·tler or less or less·er, lit·tlest or least, adverb, less, least, noun
—Related forms
[lit-l] Pronunciation Key adjective, lit·tler or less or less·er, lit·tlest or least, adverb, less, least, noun –adjective
–adverb
–noun
—Idioms
| 1. | small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room. |
| 2. | short in duration; not extensive; short; brief: a little while. |
| 3. | small in number: a little group of scientists. |
| 4. | small in amount or degree; not much: little hope. |
| 5. | of a certain amount; appreciable (usually prec. by a): We're having a little difficulty. |
| 6. | being such on a small scale: little farmers. |
| 7. | younger or youngest: He's my little brother. |
| 8. | not strong, forceful, or loud; weak: a little voice. |
| 9. | small in consideration, importance, position, affluence, etc.: little discomforts; tax reductions to help the little fellow. |
| 10. | mean, narrow, or illiberal: a little mind. |
| 11. | endearingly small or considered as such: Bless your little heart! |
| 12. | amusingly small or so considered: a funny little way of laughing. |
| 13. | contemptibly small, petty, mean, etc., or so considered: filthy little political tricks. |
| 14. | not at all (used before a verb): He little knows what awaits him. |
| 15. | in only a small amount or degree; not much; slightly: a little known work of art; little better than a previous effort. |
| 16. | seldom; rarely; infrequently: We see each other very little. |
| 17. | a small amount, quantity, or degree: They did little to make him comfortable. If you want some ice cream, there's a little in the refrigerator. |
| 18. | a short distance: It's down the road a little. |
| 19. | a short time: Stay here for a little. |
| 20. | in little, on a small scale; in miniature: a replica in little of Independence Hall. |
| 21. | little by little, by small degrees; gradually: The water level rose little by little. |
| 22. | make little of,
|
| 23. | not a little, to a great extent; very much; considerably: It tired me not a little to stand for three hours. |
| 24. | think little of, to treat casually; regard as trivial: They think little of driving 50 miles to see a movie. |
[Origin: bef. 900; ME, OE lȳtel (lȳt few, small + -el dim. suffix), c. D luttel, OHG luzzil, ON lītill
]
] —Related forms
lit·tle·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1–4. tiny, teeny, wee. Little, diminutive, minute, small refer to that which is not large or significant. Little (the opposite of big) is very general, covering size, extent, number, quantity, amount, duration, or degree: a little boy; a little time. Small (the opposite of large and of great) can many times be used interchangeably with little, but is especially applied to what is limited or below the average in size: small oranges. Diminutive denotes (usually physical) size that is much less than the average or ordinary; it may suggest delicacy: the baby's diminutive fingers; diminutive in size but autocratic in manner. Minute suggests that which is so tiny it is difficult to discern, or that which implies attentiveness to the smallest details: a minute quantity; a minute exam.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| less·er
(lěs'ər) Pronunciation Key
adj. A comparative of little.
adv. A comparative of little. Less. Used before a participle: a lesser-known writer. n. One that is lower in importance, rank, magnitude, or degree: the lesser of two evils. [Middle English, from lesse, less; see less.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| lit·tle
(lĭt'l) Pronunciation Key
adj. lit·tler or less (lěs) also less·er (lěs'ər), lit·tlest or least (lēst)
adv. less or lesser, least
n.
[Middle English, from Old English lȳtel.] lit'tle·ness n. |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| lesser | |
adjective | |
| 1. | of less size or importance; "the lesser anteater"; "the lesser of two evils" [ant: greater] |
| 2. | smaller in size or amount or value; "the lesser powers of Europe"; "the lesser anteater" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: less·er
Pronunciation: 'le-s&r
Function: adjective
: of less size, quality, degree, or significance; specifically : of lower criminal liabilitylesser crimes as robbery, burglary and malicious mischief —W. Railroad LaFave and A. W. Scott, Junior>
Main Entry: less·er
Pronunciation: 'le-s&r
Function: adjective
: of less size, quality, degree, or significance; specifically : of lower criminal liability
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Lesser
Less"er\ (-[~e]r), a. [This word is formed by adding anew the compar. suffix -er (in which r is from an original s) to less. See Less, a.] Less; smaller; inferior. God made . . . the lesser light to rule the night. --Gen. i. 15. Note: Lesser is used for less, now the compar. of little, in certain special instances in which its employment has become established by custom; as, Lesser Asia (i. e., Asia Minor), the lesser light, and some others; also in poetry, for the sake of the meter, and in prose where its use renders the passage more euphonious. The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. --Shak. The larger here, and there the lesser lambs. --Pope. By the same reason may a man, in the state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of the law. --Locke.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Lesser
Less"er\, adv. Less. [Obs.] --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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