Less , v. t. To make less; to
lessen. [Obs.]
Gower.
Less , n.
1. A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so,
and gathered, some more, some less.
Ex. xvi.
17. 2. The inferior, younger, or
smaller.
The less is blessed of the better.
Heb.
vii. 7.
Less , adv. [AS. l&aemacr;s. See
Less, adj., and cf. Lest.]
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Less , a. [OE.
lesse, AS. l&aemacr;ssa; akin to OFries. lēssa; a compar. from a
lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has the sense of
the comparative degree of little.]
Smaller; not
so large or
great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in
less time than before.
&fist; The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n.
Thus
in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of
Augustine, all England became Christian.
E. A. Freeman.
Less (l&ebreve;s),
conj. Unless.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.
-less (-l&ebreve;s).
[AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS.
lōs loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G.
los loose, Icel.
lauss loose, vacant,
Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. √127. See Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.]
A privative adjective suffix, denoting
without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
Hear it pronounced