lessen
verb
- make less
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛsən/ / /lɛsˈsɛn/
conj
Etymology: From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).
- unless.
“Ober closed his encomium with the serious statement that “Lessen he could marry Miss Jennie he would be a bachelor the balance of his life," to which the drayman replied that " If Oi were Miss Janie Oi'd black yer oi the minute ye thought of such a thing. The oidee."”
“She was fine-looking; he couldn't find a fault with her 'lessen he made it up.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).
- To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
“a. 1686, Benjamin Calamy, a sermon Charity […] shall lessen his punishment.”
“December 6, 1709, Francis Atterbury, a sermon preach'd before the sons of the clergy at their anniversary-meeting in the Church of St. Paul St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.”
- To become less.