SMALL

small. Small, a. little, short, slender, weak, mean, petty

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Small (sma̤l), a. [Compar. Smaller (?); superl. Smallest.] [[OE. small, AS. smæl; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. μη̑λον a sheep or goat.]] 1. 1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
To compare Great things with small. Milton. 2. 2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.
3. 3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; — sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. Carlyle. 4. 4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.
5. 5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. “A still, small voice.” 1 Kings xix. 12.
Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; — used especially of persons. “His quests, great and small.” Chaucer. — Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. — Small beer. See under Beer. — Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. — Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. — Small fruits. See under Fruit. — Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper. — Small hours. See under Hour. — Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. — Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 2¼d. sterling, or about 4½cents. — Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. — Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. — Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. — Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M‘Culloch.