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Webster 1913 Edition

Little

Lit′tle

(lĭt′t’l)
,
Adj.
[The regular comparative and superlative of this word, littler and littlest, are often used as comparatives of the sense small; but in the sense few, less, or, rarely, lesser is the proper comparative and least is the superlative. See
Lesser
. The regular form, littlest, occurs also in some of the English provinces, and occasionally in colloquial language. “ Where love is great, the
littlest
doubts are fear.”
Shak.
]
[OE.
litel
,
lutel
, AS.
lȳtel
,
lītel
,
lȳt
; akin to OS.
littil
, D.
luttel
, LG.
lütt
, OHG.
luzzil
, MHG.
lützel
; and perh. to AS.
lytig
deceitful,
lot
deceit, Goth.
liuts
deceitful,
lutōn
to deceive; cf. also Icel.
lītill
little, Sw.
liten
, Dan.
liden
,
lille
, Goth.
leitils
, which appear to have a different root vowel.]
1.
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.
He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was
little
of stature.
Luke xix. 3.
2.
Short in duration; brief;
as, a
little
sleep
.
Best him enough: after a
little
time,
I’ll beat him too.
Shakespeare
3.
Small in quantity or amount; not much;
as, a
little
food; a
little
air or water.
Conceited of their
little
wisdoms, and doting upon their own fancies.
Barrow.
4.
Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible.
When thou wast
little
in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes?
I Sam. xv. 17.
5.
Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable;
as,
little
attention or exertion;
little
effort;
little
care or diligence.
By sad experiment I know
How
little
weight my words with thee can find.
Milton.
6.
Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.
The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise,
Because their natures are
little
.
Tennyson.
Little chief
.
(Zool.)
See
Chief hare
.
–
Little Englander
,
an Englishman opposed to territorial expansion of the British Empire. See
Antiimperialism
, above.
Hence:
Little Englandism
. –
Little finger
,
the fourth and smallest finger of the hand.
–
Little go
(Eng. Universities)
,
a public examination about the middle of the course, which is less strict and important than the final one; – called also
smalls
. Cf.
Great go
, under
Great
.
Thackeray.
–
Little hours
(R. C. Ch.)
,
the offices of prime, tierce, sext, and nones. Vespers and compline are sometimes included.
–
Little-neck clam
, or
Little neck
(Zool.)
,
the quahog, or round clam.
–
Little ones
,
young children.
The men, and the women, and the
little ones
.
Deut. ii. 34.

Lit′tle

,
Noun.
1.
That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or the like.
Much was in
little
writ.
Dryden.
There are many expressions, which carrying with them no clear ideas, are like to remove but
little
of my ignorance.
Locke.
2.
A small degree or scale; miniature.
“ His picture in little.”
Shak.
A little, to or in a small degree; to a limited extent; somewhat; for a short time. “ Stay a
little
.”
Shak.
–
By little and little
, or
Little by little
,
by slow degrees; piecemeal; gradually.

Lit′tle

,
adv.
In a small quantity or degree; not much; slightly; somewhat; – often with a preceding it.
“ The poor sleep little.”
Otway.

Webster 1828 Edition

Little

LIT'TLE

,
Adj.
1.
Small in size or extent; not great or large; as a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little table; a little book; a little hill; a little distance; a little child.
2.
Short in duration; as a little time or season; a little sleep.
3.
Small in quantity or amount; as a little hay or grass; a little food; a little sum; a little light; a little air or water.
4.
Of small dignity, power or importance.
When thou wast little in thy own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes? 1Sam. 15.
5.
Of small force or effect; slight; inconsiderable; as little attention or exertions; little effort; little care or diligence, little weight.

LIT'TLE

, n.
1.
A small quantity or amount. He demanded much and obtained little. He had little of his father's liberality.
2.
A small space.
Much was in little writ -
3.
Any thing small, slight or of inconsiderable importance.
I view with anger and disdain.
How little gives thee joy and pain.
4.
Not much.
These they are fitted for, and little else.

LIT'TLE

, adv.
1.
In a small degree; slightly; as, he is little changed. It is a little discolored.
2.
Not much; in a small quantity or space of time. He sleeps little.
3.
In some degree; slightly; sometimes preceded by a. The liquor is a little sour or astringent.

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