lesser

English - Turkish

Definition of lesser in English Turkish dictionary

ikinci derecedeki

daha az önemli

kiralayan

daha az/küçük

iki kimse veya şeyin küçüğü

{s} daha küçük

Kendini diğerleriyle karşılaştırırsan, kendini beğenmiş ya da umudu kırık olabilirsin; her zaman için kendinden daha büyük ya da daha küçük insanlar olacaktır. - If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

{s} küçük olanı

{s} daha az

İki kötülükten daha az olanını seç. - Of two evils, choose the lesser.

less

daha az

Bir kelime kullandığımda,Humpty Dumpty ifade etmek için tam benim seçtiğimi o ifade ediyor-ne daha fazla ne daha az dedi. - When I use a word, Humpty Dumpty said, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.

Yükseklerden eskisinden daha az korkuyorum. - I am less afraid of heights than I was.

little

küçük

O suda küçük bir bot ile denize açılıyor. - He is sailing a little boat on the water.

Sana küçük bir şey getirdim. - I brought you a little something.

little

{s} ufak

O yumuşak kilden ufak bir heykel yaptı. - He made a little statue out of soft clay.

Onun başarılı olacağına dair ufak bir umut var. - There is little hope that he will succeed.

{s} az

(Konuşma Dili) kötünün iyisi

lesser evil

(Konuşma Dili) ehvenişer

lesser kestrel

küçük kerkenez

lesser spotted eagle

küçük orman kartalı

lesser spotted woodpecker

küçük ağaçkakan

lesser weever

(Denizbilim) varsam balığı

lesser whitethroat

(Hayvan Bilim, Zooloji) çalı bülbülü

(Hayvan Bilim, Zooloji) Küçük flamingo

küçük köpek burcu [astr.]

lesser bear

küçükayı [astr.]

lesser crested tern

tepeli sumru

lesser golden plover

amerikan altın yağmurcunu

lesser gray shrike

(Hayvan Bilim, Zooloji) karaalınlı örümekkuşu

lesser grey shrike

(Hayvan Bilim, Zooloji) kara alınlı boğan

lesser grey shrike

kara alınlı örümekkuşu

lesser mole

(Hayvan Bilim, Zooloji) kör fare

{i} eksik miktar

{e} çıkarılmak üzere

little

{i} az miktar

Sahip olduğum az miktarda parayı ona verdim. - I gave him what little money I had.

O, fakir olmasına rağmen, sahip olduğu az miktarda parayı ona verdi. - Poor as she was, she gave him what little money she had.

{s} içermeyen

{i} daha az şey

Onun daha az şeyi kabulleneceğinden emin değildim. - I wasn't sure that he would settle for anything less.

Şimdi hakkında endişelenecek daha az şeyimiz var. - Now we have one less thing to worry about.

less

z. daha az: less attractive daha az çekici. Eat less! Daha az ye! s. daha az: Eat less cake! Daha az kek ye! i. daha az: He gave me less

Kanepede azıcık kestir. - Take a little nap on the couch.

Sahip olduğum azıcık bilgiyi ona verdim. - I gave her what little information I had.

less

{s} eksik

little

{s} az: There's little time left. Az zaman kaldı

(Kanun) özürlü

Tom kesinlikle bir saat için 300 dolardan daha aşağısına çalışmaz. - Tom definitely won't work for less than $300 an hour.

Onlar aşağı yukarı aynı boyuttalar. - They are more or less the same size.

little

birazcık

Tom birazcık hız limitinin üzerinde sürerse vaktinde havaalanına yetişebileceğini düşündü. - Tom thought he could reach the airport on time if he drove a little over the speed limit.

Birazcık öğrenme tehlikeli bir şeydir. - A little learning is a dangerous thing.

little

genç

Tom benden biraz daha genç. - Tom is just a little younger than I am.

Bu genç adam ülkesi hakkında çok az şey biliyor. - This young man knows little about his country.

{e} eksi

{i} daha küçük şey

adl.daha az şey/kimse

Karıncaların yaşamını önemsiz sayma. - Don't think little of the ants' lives.

Sesi biraz kısar mısın? - Could you lower the volume a little?

Steroyu biraz kısar mısın? - Would you turn down the stereo a little?

less

lessi

the lesser of two evils

ehvenişer

to a lesser extent

daha az bir ölçüde

twelve lesser prophets of the bible

İncil oniki az peygamberlerin

although to a lesser extent

o kadar olmasa da

less

daha az bir

Bir haftadan daha az bir sürede, teslim oldular. - In less than one week, they surrendered.

Tom yirmi dakikadan daha az bir sürede oraya varmayı başardı. - Tom was able to get there in less than twenty minutes.

less

edat eksi

less

(Askeri) THAN-CARLOAD LOT: PARÇA NAKLİYAT PARTİSİ; PERAKENDE NAKLİYAT PARTİSİ

Little Dipper Küçükayı takımyıldız

little

{s} cici

little

{s} dar görüşlü

Ne yazık ki o bu değişiklikleri kabul etmek için biraz fazla dar görüşlüdür. - Unfortunately he's a little too narrow-minded to accept these changes.

Anne oğullarına hemen hemen hiç bir şey söylemedi. - The mother said little to the sons.

Anne kızlarına hemen hemen hiç bir şey söylemedi. - The mother said little to the daughters.

little

{i} az zaman

Tom'un çocuklarına bu kadar az zaman harcaması şaşırtıcı. - It's amazing how little time Tom spends with his children.

Bir sonraki trenden önce az zamanımız var. - We have a little time before the next train.

{s} bayağı

{s} adi

{i} ufak şey

Onun az miktarda kazanma şansı vardır. - There is little chance of his winning.

Sahip olduğum az miktarda parayı ona ödünç verdim. - I lent him what little money I had.

little

naçiz

little

{i} 1. az miktar, az: He's

the lesser evil

kötünün iyisi

the lesser evil

diğerine göre daha az kötü olan şey

the lesser of two evils

(deyim) iki kotu ihtimalden nisbeten az kotu olani,iki kotunun iyisi ,ehvel-i ser

Turkish - Turkish

Definition of lesser in Turkish Turkish dictionary
LESS: (Osmanlı Dönemi) Dâim olan. Devamlı olan

English - English

Definition of lesser in English English dictionary

of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc

Comparative form of little: more little

a thing that is of smaller size, value, importance etc

The greater sand hills increasingly do not migrate, but almost all lessers do.

{a} in a smaller or lower degree

of less size or importance; "the lesser anteater"; "the lesser of two evils

the comparative of little

You use lesser in order to indicate that something is smaller in extent, degree, or amount than another thing that has been mentioned. No medication works in isolation but is affected to a greater or lesser extent by many other factors The more obvious potential allies are Ireland, Denmark and, to a lesser degree, the Netherlands. Lesser is also an adverb. lesser known works by famous artists

the lesser of two evils: see evil. adj. Antilles Greater and Lesser Lesser Slave Lake Lesser Armenia panda lesser

of less size or importance; "the lesser anteater"; "the lesser of two evils"

smaller in size or amount or value; "the lesser powers of Europe"; "the lesser anteater"

You can use lesser to refer to something or someone that is less important than other things or people of the same type. They pleaded guilty to lesser charges of criminal damage He was feared by other, lesser, men

Less

{s} smaller; inferior; fewer, less

smaller in size or amount or value; "the lesser powers of Europe"; "the lesser anteater" of less size or importance; "the lesser anteater"; "the lesser of two evils

Less; smaller; inferior

Lesser Antilles

The smaller islands of the West Indies, to the south and east of Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean Sea

Lesser Armenia

A region in the of upper reaches of Euphrates, northwest of Greater Armenia

Lesser Armenia

Sometimes erroneously used to refer to the medieval Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia to the south

lesser celandine

A European perennial herb, Ranunculus ficaria, having heart-shaped leaves and solitary yellow flowers

lesser celandines

plural form of lesser celandine

lesser evil

Given two bad choices the one that is less objectionable

lesser evilism

The strategy or policy of choosing the lesser evil

lesser flamingo

The smaller of the two old world species of flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor, it is found principally in the Great Rift Valley of Africa

lesser included offense

a crime the elements of which coincide with the elements of a more serious crime, from which the prosecutor is therefore precluded from separately charging a criminal defendant

Example: A robbery is an assault combined with a theft; a person can not be criminally charged with both the robbery and the assault that occurred during the robbery; the assault is a lesser included offense.

lesser included offenses

plural form of lesser included offense

lesser nothura

A tinamou, Nothura minor

lesser nothuras

plural form of lesser nothura

lesser panda

A red panda, Ailurus fulgens

lesser pandas

plural form of lesser panda

lesser saphenous vein

Another term for the small saphenous vein

lesser saphenous veins

plural form of lesser saphenous vein

lesser spotted woodpecker

A species of woodpecker, scientific name Picoides minor

lesser spotted woodpeckers

plural form of lesser spotted woodpecker

lesser yellowlegs

A shorebird of North America characterized by its yellow legs, scientific name Tringa flavipes

lesser kestrel

(Kuşbilim) The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small falcon. This species breeds from the Mediterranean across southern central Asia to China. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan. It is rare north of its breeding range, and declining in its European range. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the German naturalist Johann Andreas Naumann

Lesser Dog

Canis Minor, star constellation near the celestial equator

Lesser Slave Lake

A lake of central Alberta, Canada, drained by the Lesser Slave River, a tributary of the Athabasca River. Lake, central Alberta, Canada. Located northwest of Edmonton and south of Great Slave Lake, it occupies an area of 451 sq mi (1,168 sq km) and drains into the Athabasca River via the Lesser Slave River. Its name refers to the Slave (Dogrib) Indians, who once inhabited its shores

lesser antilles

a group of islands in the southeastern West Indies

lesser ape

gibbons and siamangs

lesser bullrush

reed maces of America, Europe, North Africa, Asia

lesser butterfly orchid

south European orchid having fragrant greenish-white flowers; sometimes placed in genus Habenaria

lesser calamint

low-growing strongly aromatic perennial herb of southern Europe to GB naturalized in United States

lesser celandine

A Eurasian plant (Ranunculus ficaria) having heart-shaped leaves, solitary yellow flowers, and tuberous roots

lesser celandine

perennial herb native to Europe but naturalized elsewhere having heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers resembling buttercups; its tuberous roots have been used as a poultice to relieve piles

lesser centaury

common European glabrous annual centaury with flowers in dense cymes

lesser evil

something that is the best of a group of bad options

lesser galangal

Chinese perennial with pyramidal racemes of rose-veined white flowers and pungent aromatic roots used medicinally and as flavoring

lesser knapweed

a weedy perennial with tough wiry stems and purple flowers; native to Europe but widely naturalized

lesser kudu

a smaller variety of kudu

lesser of the two evils

the choice that is less worse, at least that much

lesser of two evils

slightly less unpleasant of two poor options of choices neither of which are good

lesser omentum

A fold of the peritoneum joining parts of the stomach and duodenum to the liver

lesser omentum

a part of the peritoneum attached to the stomach and liver and supporting the hepatic vessels

lesser panda

reddish-brown Old World raccoon-like carnivore; in some classifications considered unrelated to the giant pandas

lesser panda

or cat bear or bear cat Long-tailed nocturnal raccoonlike carnivore (Ailurus fulgens, family Procyonidae) that inhabits high mountain forests in the Himalayas and adjacent eastern Asia. It is 20-26 in. (50-65 cm) long, excluding the 12-20-in. (30-50-cm) bushy, faintly ringed tail. It weighs 6-10 lbs (3-4.5 kg) and has soft, thick, reddish brown fur. The face is white, with a red-brown stripe from the eyes to the mouth. It eats plants, especially bamboo, and fruits and insects. Though an agile climber, it mostly feeds while on the ground

lesser prairie chicken

a smaller prairie chicken of western Texas

lesser rorqual

small finback of coastal waters of Atlantic and Pacific

lesser scaup

common scaup of North America; males have purplish heads

lesser spearwort

semi-aquatic Eurasian perennial crowfoot with spear-shaped leaves; naturalized in New Zealand

lesser sunda islands

a chain of islands forming a province of Indonesia east of Java; includes Bali and Timor

lesser twayblade

orchid having two triangular leaves and a short lax raceme of green to rust-colored flowers with the lip flushed mauve; Europe and Asia and North America and Greenland

lesser whitethroat

Old World warbler similar to the greater whitethroat but smaller

lesser wintergreen

the common wintergreen having many-flowered racemes of pink-tinged white flowers; Europe and North America

lesser yellowlegs

a variety of yellowlegs

less

In lower degree

This is a less bad solution than I thought possible.

less

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

Comparative form of little: more little. Smaller

Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse .

less

A smaller number of; fewer

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.

less

A smaller amount (of); not as much

I have less tea than coffee.

little

Not much, only a little: only a small amount (of)

We had very little to do.

little

Not much

She spoke little and listened less.

little

Insignificant, trivial

It's of little importance.

little

Small in size

This is a little table.

little

Used with the name of place, especially of a country, to denote a neighborhood whose residents or storekeepers are from that place

In the forties, hurdy-gurdy men could still be heard in all those East Coast cities with strong Italian neighbourhoods: New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. A visit to Baltimore's Little Italy at that time was like a trip to Italy itself.

little

Very young

That's the biggest little kid I've ever seen.

less

{a} in a smaller or lower degree

less

{n} not quite so much

little

{n} a small space, share or part, mere trifle

little

{a} in a small degree or quantity

little

{a} small, diminutive, trifling, not much

less

When you are referring to amounts, you use less in front of a number or quantity to indicate that it is to be subtracted from another number or quantity already mentioned. Boyton Financial Services Fees: £750, less £400 Company car drivers will pay between ten and twenty five percent, less tax. = minus plus

Greater and Lesser Antilles

Two groups of islands in the West Indies, bounding the Caribbean Sea on the north and east, respectively. The Greater Antilles include the largest islands (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico), the Lesser Antilles all being much smaller. The name Antilia originally referred to semimythical lands located somewhere west of Europe across the Atlantic. After Christopher Columbus's discoveries, the Spanish name Antillas was commonly assigned to the new lands; "Sea of the Antilles" in various European languages is used as an alternative name for the Caribbean Sea

las

Little Armenia Little Bighorn Battle of the Little Entente Little League little magazine Little Missouri River Little Richard Little Rock Little St. Bernard Pass little theatre Little Turtle Malcolm Little Tsan Usdi Little John

choosing the lesser of two evils

between a rock and a hard place, having to make a decision between two terrible options

chose the lesser of two evils

made a decision between two terrible options

less

Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before

less

more with features

less

(use for mass, not quantity, as in There is less of her than there is of him Also see fewer) lifelong lifestyle longstanding long-time (adj )

less

Unless

less

A smaller portion or quantity

less

A command which is used to view the contents of a file one screen at a time Similar commands include cat, more and tail

less

negative comparative

less

{i} smaller portion, smaller amount

less

(nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer; "less than three weeks"; "no less than 50 people attended"; "in 25 words or less"

less

{e} subtract, minus

less

to a smaller degree or amount

less

The inferior, younger, or smaller

less

If you say that something is less one thing than another, you mean that it is like the second thing rather than the first. At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp

less

To make less; to lessen

less

A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless

less

emphasis You use no less than before an amount to indicate that the amount is larger than you expected. No less than 35 per cent of the country is protected in the form of parks and nature sanctuaries He is lined up for no less than four US television interviews

less

conj. without, lacking

less

comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days

less

{s} smaller in amount; not as important; smaller in size

less

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly"

less

Label word used to describe a food that has reduced a nutrient by at least 25 percent Example "less fat," "less cholesterol " Must be accompanied by information about the comparison food

less

A viewer, much easier to use and more flexible than more Less is the default viewer for man pages on buddy, holly, merlin and charlie

less

A term used to indicate relative scheduling Note: minus doesn't work Examples: sem_start less 2 workdays, midnight less 10 minutes

less

You use less to indicate that something or someone has a smaller amount of a quality than they used to or than is average or usual. Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room Poverty is less of a problem now than it used to be. more

less

emphasis You use less than to say that something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you describe something as less than perfect, you mean that it is not perfect at all. Her greeting was less than enthusiastic Her advice has frequently been less than wholly helpful

less

(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem; "no less a person than the king himself"

less

(usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; "no less than perfect"

less

If you do something less than before or less than someone else, you do it to a smaller extent or not as often. We are eating more and exercising less I see less of any of my friends than I used to. more

less

You use less than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than this. Motorways actually cover less than 0.1 percent of the countryside Less than a half hour later he returned upstairs

less

Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful

less

to smaller extent

less

You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use `a little', `a lot', `a bit', `far', and `much' in front of less. People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease. a dishwasher that uses less water and electricity than older machines more Less is also a pronoun. Borrowers are striving to ease their financial position by spending less and saving more. more Less is also a quantifier. Last year less of the money went into high-technology companies more

less

comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days"

less

couldn't care less: see care more or less: see more

emphasis You use the expressions still less, much less, and even less after a negative statement in order to introduce and emphasize a further statement, and to make it negative too. I never talked about it, still less about her The boy didn't have a girlfriend, much less a wife

less

less Less is often considered to be the comparative form of little

less

(comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old"

little

Below average in some dimension Negative or harmless connotation

little

(of a voice) faint; "a little voice"; "a still small voice"

little

Short in duration; brief; as, a little sleep

little

From a 3/4 Tag or other applicable formations Outsides 1/4 Right & Counter Rotate 1/4 as Centers Step & Fold A R-H 3/4 Tag ends in Parallel R-H Waves, a L-H 3/4 Tag ends in Parallel R-H Two-Faced Lines

little

In a small quantity or degree; not much; slightly; somewhat; often with a preceding it

little

Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, little attention or exertion;little effort; little care or diligence

little

not much; "he talked little about his family"

little

cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters" not fully grown; "what a big little boy you are"; "small children" not much; "he talked little about his family

little

(informal terms) small and of little importance; "a fiddling sum of money"; "a footling gesture"; "our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war"; "a little (or small) matter"; "Mickey Mouse regulations"; "a dispute over niggling details"; "limited to petty enterprises"; "piffling efforts"; "giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction"

little

not much; "he talked little about his family

little

of short duration or distance; "a brief stay in the country"; "in a little while"; "it's a little way away"

little

not fully grown; "what a big little boy you are"; "small children"

little

younger

little

From one-quarter tag or three-quarter tag: Outsides Quarter Right, or as directed They then Counter Rotate 1/4 while the centers Step and Fold Ends in parallel waves or lines The quartering direction for the outsides may be specified, as in "Left Little" or "Right Little" [outsides go left or right, respectively ]

little

That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or the like

little

younger brother or sister; "little brother"

little

adj [not much (give me a ~ soup)] sedikit 2 adj [small/not big] kecil 3 adv [not much (I see her ~ these days)] sedikit

little

a small amount or duration; "he accepted the little they gave him" small in a way that arouses feelings (of tenderness or its opposite depending on the context); "a nice little job"; "bless your little heart"; "my dear little mother"; "a sweet little deal"; "I'm tired of your petty little schemes"; "filthy little tricks"; "what a nasty little situation" (of a voice) faint; "a little voice"; "a still small voice" lowercase; "little a"; "small a"; "e

little

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent; "a little dining room"; "a little house"; "a small car"; "a little (or small) group"; "a small voice"

little

(quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with `a') at least some; "little rain fell in May"; "gave it little thought"; "little hope remained"; "little time is left"; "we still have little money"; "a little hope remained"; "a little time is left"

little

a small amount or duration; "he accepted the little they gave him"

little

cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters"

little

Code that removes all steps except for quarter steps from a song Often used to allow a less skilled player to play with a more advanced player on mixes that don't allow players to choose different difficulties

little

Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous

little

{s} small, tiny; young; few, not many; not much, sparse; some; short, brief; petty; unimportant, minor

little

not at all; slightly

little

Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible

little

Thomas Moore published a volume of amatory poems in 1808, under the name of Thomas Little “When first I came my proper name was Little– now I'm Moore ” Hood: The Wee Man Little Little by little Gradually; a little at a time Many a little makes a mickle The real Scotch (Atasözü) is: “A wheen o' mickles mak's a muckle,” where mickle means little, and muckle much; but the Anglo-Saxon micel or mycel means “much,” so that, if the Scotch (Atasözü) is accepted, we must give a forced meaning to the word “mickle ”

little

Thomas Moore published a volume of amatory poems in 1808, under the name of Thomas Little “When first I came my proper name was Little- now I'm Moore ” Hood: The Wee Man Little Little by little Gradually; a little at a time Many a little makes a mickle The real Scotch (Atasözü) is: “A wheen o' mickles mak's a muckle,” where mickle means little, ad muckle much; but the Anglo-Saxon micel or mycel means “much,” so that, if the Scotch (Atasözü) is accepted, we must give a forced meaning to the word “mickle ”

little

Small in quantity or amount; not much; as, a little food; a little air or water

little

lowercase; "little a"; "small a"; "e

little

{i} few; small amount; short distance; short period of time

little

Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; opposed to big or large; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill; a little distance; a little child

little

A small degree or scale; miniature

little

small in a way that arouses feelings (of tenderness or its opposite depending on the context); "a nice little job"; "bless your little heart"; "my dear little mother"; "a sweet little deal"; "I'm tired of your petty little schemes"; "filthy little tricks"; "what a nasty little situation"

little

lowercase; "little a"; "small a"; "e e cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters"

little

small

He's just a small-time thug, but if he had just a little more moxie, he could be a big-time boss. - He's just a petty hooligan, but if he had just a little more initiative, he could be a major criminal leader.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: likewise a small act of folly unto him that is esteemed for wisdom and honour. - As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

little

ickle

to a lesser extent

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly"

Turkish - English

Definition of lesser in Turkish English dictionary
lesser judgement day: (Tarih) The 1509 Constantinople earthquake: an earthquake that occurred in the Sea of Marmara on September 10, 1509 at about 10 p.m
şeker Bayramı the Lesser Bairam: (the feast which marks the breaking of the Ramazan fast)

lesser

Hyphenation

less·er

Turkish pronunciation

lesır

Synonyms

a notch under, bottom, bush, bush-league, dinky, insignificant, less important, low, lower, minor, minor-league, nether, second-fiddle, second-string, slighter

Antonyms

greater, higher, major, superior

Pronunciation

/ˈlesər/ /ˈlɛsɜr/

Etymology

[ 'les ] (adjective, comparative of .) before 12th century. Middle English, partly from Old English l[AE]s, adverb and n.; partly from l[AE]ssa, adjective; akin to Old Frisian lEs less.