LESSES
Etymology
Noun
lesses pl (plural only)
animal dung
Source: Wiktionary
Les"ses, n. pl. Etym: [F. laissées, from laisser to leave. See Lease,
v. t.]
Definition: The leavings or dung of beasts.
LESS
-less. Etym: [AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS. l loose, false, D.
los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant,
Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. sq. root127. See
Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.]
Definition: A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of,
not having; as witless, childless, fatherless.
Less (lês), conj.
Definition: Unless. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Less, a. Etym: [OE. lesse, AS. læssa; akin to OFries. lessa; a
compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has
the sense of the comparative degree of little.]
Definition: 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.
Note: The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the
purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n.
Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of
Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.
Less, adv. Etym: [AS. l. See Less, adj., and cf. Lest.]
Definition: Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or
loud; less beautiful.
Less, n.
1. A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Ex. xvi. 17.
2. The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The less is blessed of the better. Heb. vii. 7.
Less, v. t.
Definition: To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] Gower.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition