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Webster 1913 Edition

Less

Less

(lĕs)
,
c
onj.
Unless.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.

Less

,
Adj.
[OE.
lesse
, AS.
lǣssa
; akin to OFries.
lēssa
; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf.
Lesser
,
Lest
,
Least
.
Less
has the sense of the comparative degree of
little
.]
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.
☞ The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See
Less
,
Noun.
Thus in
less
[time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian.
E. A. Freeman.

Less

,
adv.
[AS.
lǣs
. See
Less
,
Adj.
, and cf.
Lest
.]
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree;
as,
less
bright or loud;
less
beautiful.

Less

,
Noun.
1.
A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some
less
.
Ex. xvi. 17.
2.
The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The
less
is blessed of the better.
Heb. vii. 7.

Less

,
Verb.
T.
To make less; to lessen.
[Obs.]
Gower.

Webster 1828 Edition

Less

LESS

, for unless. [Not in use.]

LESS

, A terminating syllable of many nouns and some adjectives. Hence it is a privative word, denoting destitution; as a witless man, a man destitute of wit; childless, without children; fatherless; faithless; penniless; lawless, &c.

LESS

,
Adj.
Smaller; not so large or great; as a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value. We are all destined to suffer affliction in a greater or less degree.

LESS

,
adv.
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as less bright or loud; less beautiful; less obliging; less careful. The less a man praises himself, the more disposed are others to praise him.

LESS

,
Noun.
1.
Not so much.
They gathered some more, some less. Ex. 16.
2.
An inferior.
The less is blessed by the better. Heb. 7.

LESS

,
Verb.
T.
To make less. [Not in use.]

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