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Lessen

//ˈlɛsən// conj, verb

Definitions

Conjunction
  1. 1
    unless. dialectal, nonstandard

    "Ober closed his encomium with the serious statement that “Lessen he could marry Miss Jennie he would be a bachelor the balance of his life," to which the drayman replied that " If Oi were Miss Janie Oi'd black yer oi the minute ye thought of such a thing. The oidee.""

Verb
  1. 1
    To make less; to diminish; to reduce. transitive

    "a. 1686, Benjamin Calamy, a sermon Charity […] shall lessen his punishment."

  2. 2
    decrease in size, extent, or range wordnet
  3. 3
    To become less. intransitive
  4. 4
    wear off or die down wordnet
  5. 5
    make become smaller wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).

Etymology 2

From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).

See also for "lessen"

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