English Online Dictionary. What means least? What does least mean?
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English leste, lest, last, from Old English lǣst, a contraction of læsast, læsest, lærest (“least”), from Proto-Germanic *laisistaz (“smallest; least”), related to Old English læs (“less”). Cognate with Old Frisian leist, Old Saxon lēs. More at less.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /liːst/
- (General American) IPA(key): /list/
- Rhymes: -iːst
- Homophone: leased
Determiner
least (comparative less)
- The most little; the smallest amount or quantity of something.
Usage notes
Some grammarians recommend to use least only with uncountable nouns, as in the examples above with the smallest amount of sense:
To such grammarians least is the superlative of a little, not that of little, so it does not mean smallest, but the smallest amount of. With plural nouns, they recommend fewest. However, other authors disagree; the OED lists least as a synonym of fewest without any usage notes discussing this meaning.
Translations
Adverb
least (negative superlative)
- Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.
- In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others.
- to reward those who least deserve it
Antonyms
- most
Translations
Noun
least (plural leasts)
- (philosophy) Something of the smallest possible extent; an indivisible unit.
Adjective
least
- (archaic, outside of fixed terms) superlative degree of little; smallest
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Contraction of at least.
Alternative forms
- 'least
Prepositional phrase
least
- (informal, nonstandard) At least.
References
- “least”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
Anagrams
- setal, steal, ETLAs, tesla, telas, Astle, tales, Tesla, salet, slate, Teals, stela, Slate, Sleat, lates, leats, laste, teals, stale, taels
Norwegian Nynorsk
Alternative forms
- leas (non-standard since 2012)
Verb
least
- passive infinitive of le
- passive infinitive of lea
Anagrams
- elast, laset, laste, lesta, letas, létas, salet, salte, selta, stela, tasle, telas, tesla