less elss lses sles esls sels less elss lses sles esls sels lsse slse lsse slse ssle ssle essl sesl essl sesl ssel ssel
Note: these 'words' (valid or invalid) are all the permutations of the word less. These words are obtained by scrambling the letters in less.
Definitions and meaning of less
Adverb From Middle Englishles, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old Englishlǣs(“less, lest”), from Proto-Germanic*laisiz(“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”), from Proto-Indo-European*leys-(“to shrink, grow thin, become small, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisianlēs(“less”), Old Saxonlēs(“less”).
Determiner and preposition from Middle Englishlees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old Englishlǣssa(“less”), from Proto-Germanic*laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic*laisiz(“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisianlessa(“less”).
Verb from Middle Englishlessen, from the determiner.
Noun from Middle Englishlesse, from the determiner.
less (not comparable)
To a smaller extent or degree.
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
I like him less each time I see him.
1957, Lester Del Rey, Rockets Through Space: The Story of Man's Preparations to Explore the Universe:
This section of space is much less empty than that between the stars, […]
(Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions)comparative form of little: more little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser. [from 11th c.]
1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, in Kupperman 1988, page 141:
Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse, which they take from the taile of a snake.
1711,The Spectator, no. 126:
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 […].
A smaller amount of; not as much. [from 12th c.]
(sometimes proscribed) Fewer; a smaller number of. [from 14th c.]
1952, Thomas M Pryor, New York Times, 7 Sep 1952:
This is not a happy situation as far as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes is concerned because it means less jobs for the union's members here at home.
1999, George RR Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam 2011, page 555:
No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion.
2003, Timandra Harkness, The Guardian, 16 Dec 2003:
Although my hosts, G S Aviation, can teach you to fly in Wiltshire, an intensive week at their French airfield means less problems with the weather, cheap but good living, and complete removal from any distractions.
Some[*] regard the use of the determiner less with countable quantities to be incorrect, stating that less should indicate only a reduction in uncountable quantity, or in size or significance, leaving fewer to indicate a smaller numerical quantity. For example, they suggest saying less sugar, but fewer people, not less people. Such a rule can allow distinctions such as:
Their troubles are fewer than ours, meaning "Their troubles are not so numerous as ours."
Their troubles are less than ours, meaning "Their troubles are not so great as ours."
Nevertheless, less has been widely understood and commonly used as a synonym for fewer since it first appeared in Old English as læs.
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.
less (third-person singular simple presentlesses, present participlelessing, simple past and past participlelessed)
(archaic) To make less; to lessen.
1386-90, Gower, Confessio Amantis
What he will make lesse, he lesseth.
c.1650, Patrick Gordon of Ruthven, A short Abridgement of Britane's Distemper, from the yeares of God 1639 to 1649, printed 1844 for the Spalding Club
Som of the wiser sort, divining upon this vission, attrebute to the pen-knyves the lenth of tym before this should com to pass, and it hath been observed by sindrie that the earles of that hous befor wer the richest in the kingdom, having treasure and store besyde them, but ever since the addittion of this so great a revenue, they have lessed the stock by heavie burdens of debt and ingagment.
1816, "Joseph Wharton" [obituary notice], Poulson's Advertiser, quoted in Genealogy of the Wharton Family of Philadelphia: 1664 to 1880, Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1880)
The protracted term of life, and the lingering illness through which this gentleman had passed, had neither impaired the original vigour of his mind, nor lessed the uncommon warmth of his affections.
A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
From Middle Englishlesse, les, from Old Englishlǣs, as in þȳ lǣs þe.
(Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)
less at OneLook Dictionary Search
“less” in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary.
“less” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2020.
les + -j
IPA(key): [ ˈlɛʃː]
second-person singular subjunctive present indefinite of les
From Latinelixus. Compare Italianlesso(“boiled meat”).
less in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
less in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Clipping of lessen, pronunciation spelling of ledsen(“sad”), alternatively interpreted as a pronunciation spelling of a clipping of ledsen.
less (comparativemer less, superlativemest less)
fed up, done
Only used with the common gender singular, comparated periphrastically, only used predicatively.