3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lessen \Less"en\ (l[e^]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lessened}
(-'nd); p. pr & vb n. {Lessening}.] [From {Less}, a.]
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.
Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. --Calamy.
St Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men
conspired to lessen it --Atterbury.
Syn: To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair;
weaken; degrade.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lessen \Less"en\, 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.
The objection lessens much and comes to no more than
this: there was one witness of no good reputation.
--Atterbury.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
lessen
v 1: decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework
decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin
pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fall to under a
hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper" [syn: {decrease},
{diminish}, {fall}] [ant: {increase}]
2: make smaller; "He decreased his staff" [syn: {decrease}, {minify}]
[ant: {increase}]
3: sink or fall to a lower level; "The pain subsided" [syn: {subside}]
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