Less Definition

lĕs
adjective
Webster's New World
Not so much; smaller in size or amount.
To drink less milk, take less time.
Webster's New World
Lower in importance, esteem, or rank.
No less a person than the ambassador.
American Heritage
Fewer.
In less than 25 words.
Webster's New World
Consisting of a smaller number.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
preposition
With the deduction of; minus.
Earned about $5,000, less taxes; thirty less ten is twenty.
Webster's New World
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.
Wiktionary
adverb
Webster's New World
To a smaller extent.
Less likely to succeed.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun
A smaller amount.
Webster's New World
Something not as important as something else.
People have been punished for less.
American Heritage
suffix
Without; lacking.
Blameless.
American Heritage
Unable to act or be acted on in a specified way.
Dauntless.
American Heritage
affix
Without, lacking.
Pitiless, valueless.
Webster's New World
Not able or apt to.
Relentless, tireless, reckless.
Webster's New World
Not able or apt to be ____ed.
Dauntless.
Webster's New World
verb

(obsolete) To make less; to lessen.

Wiktionary
conjuntion

(obsolete) Unless.

Wiktionary

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Less

Origin of Less

  • From Old English -lÄ“as, from lÄ“as (“devoid of"), from Proto-Germanic *lausaz. (Not related to less, which derives from *laisiz, *laisizô.) Cognate to German los, -los.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English lesse from Old English lǣssa (adj.) lǣs (adv.) leis-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English -lesse from Old English -lēas from lēas without leu- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • ME -les, -leas < OE -leas < leas, free, loose, akin to losian, lose

    From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English, from Old English læs, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz.

    From Wiktionary

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