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lessen |
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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