Talk:less
Words ending in -less
editWhat about words ending in less:
Wireless ... a radio. Fireless engine ... a steam engine with no firebox, but loaded with steam to do its work. Batteryless radio ... a clockwork radio.
Synonym of fewer?
editThe definition very cleverly side-stepped the argument over the use of less to mean fewer. I hope that my clarification is sufficiently neutral in PoV. I have held both views. Can you determine which view I currently hold? Dbfirs 23:15, 12 January 2008 (UTC)
- Strictly, less used in this sense is a determiner, but that's just a fussy grammarian's word for a special sort of adjective isn't it? Are the other adjectival senses of less also determiners? (I'm not proposing that we change the header!) Dbfirs 20:06, 19 January 2008 (UTC)
Less as determiner
editI don't see English less listed as a determiner, which is how I would classify it, but then in the adjective section it says something like "less as a determiner..."
Etymology
editThe etymology of LESS is unattestable beyond the Old English form; but various kinships including Cornish LÊ[5] and Ancient Greek ΈΛΑΣΣΩΝ (ELASSŌN)[6], point to a Proto-Indo-European root *L2Gh2S[4], partly due to the lemma ἘΛΑΧΥΣ (ELAKHUS) (small, light) and Sanskrit LAGHUS (light in weight). Andrew H. Gray 11:23, 8 October 2016 (UTC) Andrew (talk)
[0] means 'Absolutely not; [1] means 'Exceedingly unlikely'; [2] means 'Very dubious'; [3] means 'Questionable'; [4] means 'Possible'; [5] means 'Probable'; [6] means 'Likely'; [7] means 'Most Likely' or *Unattested; [8] means 'Attested'; [9] means 'Obvious' - only used for close matches within the same language or dialect, at linkable periods. '2' inserted in root words stands for a laryngeal to represent an 'a' that does not exist. √ means original or earliest root. Andrew H. Gray 18:56, 18 January 2020 (UTC)Andrew
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Verb. to lessen Sole cite is from John Gower, a contemporary of Chaucer's. DCDuring (talk) 19:04, 8 November 2019 (UTC)
- cited. I even added a few quite recent quotes to the citations page, but I think they are by non-native speakers. The three on the page itself, however, I think are convincing. Kiwima (talk) 00:27, 9 November 2019 (UTC)
- Indeed. I've adjusted the dates of 2 of the cites to show the dates the words were originally written, in one case ("1650") very approximately. DCDuring (talk) 20:03, 9 November 2019 (UTC)
RFV-passed Kiwima (talk) 20:33, 16 November 2019 (UTC)
pay less taxes vs pay less in taxes ; Less for singular nouns or units of measure
editGarner's fourth edition reads
As a noun, less means “a smaller amount” or “something not as important.” Occasionally, writers make it an adjective when it should be a noun—e.g.: “He wants business to make money and everyone to pay less taxes [read less in taxes].”
Less for singular nouns or units of measure: less tonic water, one less golfer, less than six ounces of epoxy
[with a negative word or phrase] in any way different; other:
editAdverb: [with a negative word or phrase] in any way different; other: He's nothing less than a thief. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/less
Compare the current no less --Backinstadiums (talk) 08:47, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
St James the Less
editWhat part of speech is used in St James the Less ? --Backinstadiums (talk) 11:56, 28 January 2020 (UTC)
- Adjective, same as lesser. Equinox ◑ 11:58, 28 January 2020 (UTC)
fewer vs less than
editWhen followed by than, LESS occurs at least as often as FEWER in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/less
noun: 2. something not as important
editPeople have been imprisoned for less --Backinstadiums (talk) 09:57, 13 August 2020 (UTC)
less than Not at all: He had a less than favorable view of the matter. https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=less
adjective
editleast reads "(Adjective) superlative form of less: most less". Which entry is wrong? --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:29, 16 August 2020 (UTC)
- I'm adding an adjective sense here now (citing "a less matter" from Stevenson). Dated synonym of lesser. Equinox ◑ 01:46, 27 September 2021 (UTC)
LESS adverb (a comparative of little with least as superlative) 2. [much/still + ~] To say nothing of: I could barely pay for my own meal, much less hers. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/less
less of
editWhat PoS is it in sentences such as we see less of John these days or less of a success than I'd hoped ? --Backinstadiums (talk) 09:31, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
- What about We should eat less of some fats ?. --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:32, 23 November 2020 (UTC)
- (noun) a smaller amount or quantity: Hundreds of soldiers arrived, but less of them remained. --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:51, 23 March 2021 (UTC)
in less than no time
editHow should in less than no time be parsed? --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:43, 23 November 2020 (UTC)