LESS (2)

less (2)|lesser. Less, or Lesser, ad. in a smaller or lower degree

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Less, a. [[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, n. Thus in less than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.