lessen
/ˈlɛsən/ verb, conjunction
Forms lessens lessening lessened
- verb (transitive) To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
- verb (intransitive) To become less.
- conjunction (nonstandard, dialect) unless.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).
Webster’s 1913
- verb 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.
- verb 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.
Etymology [From Less, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lessen”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details