Lexic.us

Definition of Least

1. Adverb. Used to form the superlative. "The garter snake is the least dangerous snake"

2. Adjective. The superlative of 'little' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by 'the'; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree. "He has the least talent of anyone"

3. Noun. Something that is of no importance. "That is the least of my concerns"

Definition of Least

1. a. Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space.

2. adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.

3. conj. See Lest, conj.

Definition of Least

1. Determiner. (superlative of little);The smallest amount of [something uncountable]. ¹

2. Adverb. Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding ''-est''. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Least

1. something that is smallest in size or degree [n -S]

Medical Definition of Least

1. Origin: OE. Last, lest, AS. Lsast, lsest, superl. Of lssa less. See Less] Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Least is often used with the, as if a noun. "I am the least of the apostles." (1 Cor. Xv. 9) at least, or At the least, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See However. "He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor." (Milton) "Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback." (Sir P. Sidney) In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner, etc. "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." . Least squares, a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities. It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Least

leash leash up leashed leashes leashing leashless leashlike leasing leasings leasow

leasowe leasowed leasowes leasowing leasows least (current term) least(a) least-squares analysis least-weasel least bittern

least common multiple least common multiples least cost planning least diffusion circle least effort least of all least resistance least sandpiper least shrew least significant bit

Literary usage of Least

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

1. Around the world in eighty days by Jules Verne (1874)
"IN WHICH FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IN THE least WHAT IS SAID TO HIM. ... The phlegmatic gentleman listened to her, apparently at least, ..."

2. The Novels of Jane Austen by Jane Austen (1892)
"For their own comfort, they would much rather have remained, at least all the morning, in Mrs Jennings's house ; but it was not a thing to be urged against ..."

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