Lessen
/ˈlɛsən/ conj, verb
conj, verb ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To make less; to diminish; to reduce. transitive
"a. 1686, Benjamin Calamy, a sermon Charity […] shall lessen his punishment."
- 2 decrease in size, extent, or range wordnet
- 3 To become less. intransitive
- 4 wear off or die down wordnet
- 5 make become smaller wordnet
Conjunction
- 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.""
Example
More examples"Even your faults do not lessen my respect for you, and in friendship this is what counts."
Etymology
From Middle English lessenen, lasnen, equivalent to less + -en (verbal suffix).