King James Bible Dictionary

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, etc.

LESS, adjective 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, adverb 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 Exodus 16:17.

2. An inferior.

The less is blessed by the better. Hebrews 7:7.

LESS, verb transitive To make less [Not in use.]

LESSEE', noun [from lease.] The person to whom a lease is given, or who takes an estate by lease.

LESS'EN, verb transitive les'n. [from less.]

1. To make less; to diminish; to reduce in bulk, size, quantity, number or amount; to make smaller; as, to lessen a kingdom or its population.

2. To diminish in degree, state of quality; as, awkward manners tend to lessen our respect for men of merit.

3. To degrade; to reduce in dignity.

St. Paul chose to magnify his office, when ill men conspired to lessen it.

LESS'EN, verb intransitive les'n.

1. To become less; to shrink; to contract in bulk, quantity, number or amount; to be diminished. The apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them.

2. To become less in degree, quality or intensity; to decrease. The strength of the body, and the vivacity of the temper usually lessen as we advance in age.

LESS'ENED, participle passive Made smaller; diminished.

LESS'ENING, participle present tense Reducing in bulk, amount or degree; degrading.

LESS'ER, adjective [This word is a corruption; but too well established to be discarded.]

Less; smaller. Authors always write the lesser Asia.

By the same reason, may a man in a state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of that law.

God made the lesser light to rule the night. Genesis 1:16.

LES'SON, noun les'n. [Latin lectio, from lego, to read.]

1. Any thing read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner for improvement; or such a portion of a book as a pupil learns and repeats at one time. The instructor is pleased when his pupils recite their lessons with accuracy and promptness.

2. A portion of Scripture read in divine service. Thus endeth the first lesson

3. A portion of a book or manuscript assigned by a preceptor to a pupil to be learnt, or for an exercise; something to be learnt. Give him his lesson

4. Precept; doctrine or notion inculcated.

Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.

5. Severe lecture; reproof; rebuke.

She would give her a lesson for walking so late.

6. Tune written for an instrument.

7. Instruction or truth, taught by experience. The lessons which sickness imparts, she leaves to be practiced when health is established.

LES'SON, verb transitive les'n. To teach; to instruct.

Children should be lessoned into a contempt and detestation of this vice.

LES'SONED, participle passive Taught; instructed.

LES'SONING, participle present tense Teaching.

LES'SOR, noun [from lease.] One who leases; the person who lets to farm, or gives a lease.