less

adj

Etymology: 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.

1. Lesser; smaller.

   “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.”

   “This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that.”

adv

Etymology: 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.

1. comparative degree of little

   “I slept even less last night than I did the night before.”

   “I like him less each time I see him.”

2. Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.

   “Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.”

   “This gadget is less useful than I expected.”

3. 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.”

conj

Etymology: From Middle English lesse, les, from Old English lǣs, as in þȳ lǣs þe.

1. unless

   “To tell you true, 'tis too good for you, 'less you had grace to follow it”

det

Etymology: 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.

1. comparative form of little: more little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.

   “Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse, which they take from the taile of a snake.”

   “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 […].”

2. A smaller amount of; not as much.

   “No less than eight pints of beer.”

   “I have less tea than coffee.”

3. Fewer; a smaller number of.

   “There are less people here now.”

   “Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.”

noun

Etymology: 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.

1. A smaller amount or quantity.

   “Less is better.”

   “I have less to do today than yesterday.”

prep

Etymology: 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.

1. Minus; not including

   “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.”

verb

1. Alternative form of let's.