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

---