lesser English · revision 7515

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=early 13th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɛsə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlɛsɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English lasser, lesser, a double comparative, from [[less]] and the comparative suffix [[-er]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Smaller, less: the early 13th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 13th century in MWU;^(MWU 2024) 1459 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Johnson called it ''a barbarous corruption of less, formed by the vulgar from the habit of terminating comparatives in -er''.^(Etymonline) It is now used only before a noun,^(OED 1989) and followed by ''than'' it is obsolete (1579).^(OED 1989) As an adverb it is from the 1590s and now generally poetic or obsolete, except in expressions such as ''lesser-known'' (1813) and ''the lesser of two evils''.^(Etymonline) It is used for smaller kinds of plants and animals.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 13th century – the adjective.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – the adverb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1813 – lesser-known.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Smaller in amount, [[value]] or importance, especially when comparing two things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a smaller size than other similar kinds, as of plants or animals.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lesser celandine]]

+ * [[lesser rorqual]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[less]]

+ * [[fewer]]

+ * [[least]]

+ * [[lessen]]

+ * [[little]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Shetland dialect lesser was also a noun, less, a smaller amount.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}