less
English
/lɛs/
adv
Definitions
- To a smaller extent or degree.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English les inherited from Old English lǣs (pasture, less, meadow, lest) inherited from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (smaller, lesser, fewer, lower) derived from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (be gentle, become small, shrink, track, grow thin, trace, furrow) inherited from Middle English lees inherited from Old English lǣssa (less) inherited from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, *laisiz (smaller, lesser, fewer, lower) inherited from Middle English lessen, lesse.
Origin
Middle English
lesse
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- Lesser Britain English
- dairy English
- dairyless English
- dowry English
- dowryless English
- kind English
- kindless English
- lessen English
- lessenable English
- lessener English
- lessenest English
- lesseneth English
- lesser English
- lesser roadrunner English
- lesserness English
- lessness English
- na English
- natheless English
- ne'er English
- ne'ertheless English
- never English
- nevertheless English
- none English
- nonetheless English
- office English
- officeless English
- the English
- wow English
- wowless English
- *leys- Proto-Indo-European
- *loyséyeti Proto-Indo-European
- *lóyseh₂ Proto-Indo-European
- *lóystos Proto-Indo-European
- *laisiz Proto-Germanic
- *laisizan- Proto-Germanic
- *laistiz Proto-Germanic
- *laskijaną Proto-Germanic
- *lēswō Proto-Germanic
- *līstǭ Proto-Germanic
- lēas Old English
- lǣs Old English
- lǣssa Old English
- utlæs Old English
- wudulæs Old English
- *non-the-les Middle English
- lees Middle English
- leesewe Middle English
- leesshe Middle English
- les Middle English
- lesse Middle English
- lessen Middle English
- lessenen Middle English
- nerthelesse Middle English
- nevertheles Middle English
- lesse Old French