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least |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Least \Least\, adv In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others as to reward those who least deserve it From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Least \Least\, conj. See {Lest}, conj. [Obs.] --Spenser. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Least \Least\, a. [OE. last lest, AS l?sast, l?sest, superl. of l?ssa less See {Less}, a.] [Used as the superlative of little.] Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Note: 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.'' --Luke xvi. 10. {Least squares} (Math.), 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. Note: 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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: least adj 1: (superlative of `little' used with mass nouns; usually preceded by `the') quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree; "didn't care the least bit"; "he has the least talent of anyone" [syn: {least(a)}] [ant: {most(a)}] 2: minimal in magnitude; "lowest wages"; "the least amount of fat allowed"; "the smallest amount" [syn: {lowest}, {smallest}] 3: having or being distinguished by diminutive size; "the least bittern" [syn: {littlest}, {smallest}] n : lowest or smallest in size or degree or importance: "least said soonest mended" adv : used to form the superlative; "The garter snake is the least dangerous snake" [syn: {to the lowest degree}] [ant: {most}]
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