LESSEN
decrease, diminish, lessen, fall
(verb) decrease in size, extent, or range; “The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester”; “The cabin pressure fell dramatically”; “her weight fell to under a hundred pounds”; “his voice fell to a whisper”
subside, lessen
(verb) wear off or die down; “The pain subsided”
decrease, lessen, minify
(verb) make smaller; “He decreased his staff”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
lessen (third-person singular simple present lessens, present participle lessening, simple past and past participle lessened)
(transitive) To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
(intransitive) To become less.
Anagrams
• Elsens, elsens, lenses, sensel
Source: Wiktionary
Less"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening.]
Etym: [From Less, a. ]
Definition: To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to
diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a
population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.
Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. Calamy.
St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen
it. Atterbury.
Syn.
– To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken;
degrade.
Less"en, v. i.
Definition: To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be
diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we
recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened.
The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was
one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition