Definition of Lessen

1. Verb. Decrease in size, extent, or range. "His voice fell to a whisper"


2. Verb. Make smaller. "He decreased his staff"

3. Verb. Wear off or die down. "The water lessens "; "The pain subsided"
Exact synonyms: Subside
Generic synonyms: Weaken
Derivative terms: Subsidence

Definition of Lessen

1. v. t. 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.

2. v. i. 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.

Definition of Lessen

1. Verb. (transitive) To make less; to diminish; to reduce. ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To become less. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Lessen

1. to make or become less [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Lessen

lespedezas
lesquerolic acid
less
less'n
less(a)
less-traveled
less and less
less is more
less than
less than three
less than threed
less than threeing
less than threes
lessee
lessees
lessen (current term)
lessened
lessener
lesseners
lessenest
lesseneth
lessening
lessenings
lessens
lesser
lesser alar cartilages
lesser anteater
lesser ape
lesser arterial circle of iris
lesser bilby

Literary usage of Lessen

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"... commonly means the lessening of the royal power, and acts which lessen the ... need was rather to strengthen the royal power than to lessen it. ..."

2. The Confessions of Jean Jacques Rousseau by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1901)
"... and quitted it before I was irrevocably lost. took in them, their company became so troublesome that I was obliged to lessen the familiarity. ..."

3. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1885)
"... member of the Company, he has such a right, but this docs not, necessarily, increase with aa increase of stock, 22 WALL. or lessen with its diminution. ..."

4. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1922)
"However, this rule (as to buying in the nearest available market; is based solely upon the ground that the buyer must lessen the seller's loss as much as ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Lessen on Dictionary.com!Search for Lessen on Thesaurus.com!Search for Lessen on Google!Search for Lessen on Wikipedia!

Search