little

English

/ˈlɪtəl/, /ˈlɪtl̩/, /ˈlɘtl̩/, /ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩/

adj
Definitions
  • Small in size.
  • Insignificant, trivial.
  • Very young.
  • (of a sibling) Younger.
  • (also Little)
  • Small in amount or number, having few members.
  • Short in duration; brief.
  • Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English litel inherited from Old English lȳtel (little) derived from Proto-Germanic *lūtilaz (little, tending to stoop, small, crouched) derived from Proto-Indo-European *lewd- (feign, hunch over, duck, bend, cower, bent, small) suffix from English lout.

Origin

English

lout

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms