less

Etymology 1

Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”). Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner. Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.

adv

1. comparative degree of little
   I slept even less last night than I did the night before.
   I like him less each time I see him.
2. Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.
   Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.
   This gadget is less useful than I expected.
   I'm not any less happy for being on my own.
   This section of space is much less empty than that between the stars, […] 1957, Lester Del Rey, Rockets Through Space: The Story of Man's Preparations to Explore the Universe
   That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past. November 7, 2012, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times
   In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual. 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3
3. To a smaller extent or degree.
   The grammar book was less than (that is, not at all) helpful.
   That this is a positive one makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.

det

1. (Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) comparative form of little: more little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
   Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse, which they take from the taile of a snake. 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 141
   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 […]. 1711, The Spectator, number 126
   It is also easy to see that the straight line, representing the locus of centres of buoyancy for a rectangular section, must lie at a less inclination to the base (i.e., to the horizontal) than a line representing the locus of such centres for a parabolic section […] 1885, Edward James Reed, A Treatise on the Stability of Ships
2. A smaller amount of; not as much.
   No less than eight pints of beer.
   I have less tea than coffee.
   You have even less sense than an inanimate object.
   Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7
3. (proscribed) Fewer; a smaller number of.
   There are less people here now.
   Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
   ... on his land he will have less manure, less corn, and less people; ... 1681, John Houghton, A Collection For the Improvement of Husbandry and Trade, page 263
   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. 7 Sep 1952, Thomas M Pryor, New York Times
   No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion. 1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 555
   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. 16 Dec 2003, Timandra Harkness, The Guardian

prep

1. 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.

verb

1. (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.
   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. 1816, "Joseph Wharton" [obituary notice], Poulson's Advertiser, quoted in Genealogy of the Wharton Family of Philadelphia: 1664 to 1880, Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1880)
   Soon as I lessed the tree of this, it waned — Less cause, gave less effect 1852, Charles Heavysege, The revolt of Tartarus, a poem, page 116
   The scattered beauties thro' the air, Have lessed the woe, the dread, the care; 1886, Horace Eaton Walker, The Lady of Dardale and Other Poems, page 74

adj

1. (archaic) Lesser; smaller.
   This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that. 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped

noun

1. A smaller amount or quantity.
   Less is better.
   I have less to do today than yesterday.

Etymology 2

From Middle English lesse, les, from Old English lǣs, as in þȳ lǣs þe.

conj

1. (dialectal, nonstandard) unless