small

Small , v. t. To make little or less. [Obs.]

Small , n. 1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.

2. pl. Smallclothes. [Colloq.]

Hood. Dickens.

3. pl. Same as Little go. See under Little, a.

Small , adv. 1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [Obs.]

"I wept but small." Chaucer. "It small avails my mood." Shak.

2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous]

You may speak as small as you will.

Small (sm&add;l), a. [Compar. Smaller (?); superl. Smallest.]

[OE. small, AS. smæl; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.] 1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.

To compare
Great things with small.

2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still, small voice." 1 Kings xix. 12.

Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. "His quests, great and small." Chaucer. -- Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. - - Small beer. See under Beer. -- Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. -- Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. -- Small fruits. See under Fruit. -- Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. -- Small hours. See under Hour. -- Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. -- Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 2¼d. sterling, or about 4½cents. -- Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. -- Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. -- Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M‘Culloch.