Word Study
least
CIDE DICTIONARY
least, a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l, l, superl. of l less. See Less, a. ].
Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. [1913 Webster]
" Least is often used with the, as if a noun." [1913 Webster]
"It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum." [1913 Webster]
"I am the least of the apostles." [1913 Webster]
"He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonor." [1913 Webster]
The tempted with dishonor." [1913 Webster]
"Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback."
least, adv.
In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it. [1913 Webster]
least, conj.
See Lest, conj. Spenser. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
least, adj., n., & adv.
--adj.
1 smallest, slightest, most insignificant.
2 (prec. by the; esp. with neg.) any at all (it does not make the least difference).
3 (of a species or variety) very small (least tern).
--n. the least amount.
--adv. in the least degree.
--adj.
1 smallest, slightest, most insignificant.
2 (prec. by the; esp. with neg.) any at all (it does not make the least difference).
3 (of a species or variety) very small (least tern).
--n. the least amount.
--adv. in the least degree.
Idiom
at least
1 at all events; anyway; even if there is doubt about a more extended statement.
2 (also at the least) not less than. in the least (or the least) (usu. with neg.) in the smallest degree; at all (not in the least offended). least common denominator, multiple see DENOMINATOR, MULTIPLE. to say the least (or the least of it) used to imply the moderation of a statement (that is doubtful to say the least).
1 at all events; anyway; even if there is doubt about a more extended statement.
2 (also at the least) not less than. in the least (or the least) (usu. with neg.) in the smallest degree; at all (not in the least offended). least common denominator, multiple see DENOMINATOR, MULTIPLE. to say the least (or the least of it) used to imply the moderation of a statement (that is doubtful to say the least).
Etymology
OE l{aelig}st, l{aelig}sest f. Gmc
THESAURUS
least
at a disadvantage, at the nadir, below, below the mark, few, homely, humble, humble-looking, humble-visaged, humblest, in the gutter, inglorious, innocuous, least of all, less, littlest, low, lowest, lowliest, lowly, mean, minim, minimum, minority, minority group, modest, plain, poor, short of, shortest, simple, slightest, small, smallest, teachable, the few, the minority, under, under par, undistinguished, unimportant, unpretentious, we happy fewROGET THESAURUS
least
Inferiority
N inferiority, minority, subordinacy, shortcoming, deficiency, minimum, smallness, imperfection, lower quality, lower worth, commonalty, inferior, smaller, small, minor, less, lesser, deficient, minus, lower, subordinate, secondary, secondrate, sub, subaltern, thrown into the shade, weighed in the balance and found wanting, not fit to hold a candle to, can't hold a candle to, least, smallest &c (little) (small), lowest, diminished, reduced, unimportant, less, under the mark, below the mark, below par, at the bottom of the scale, at a low ebb, at a disadvantage, short of, under.For further exploring for "least" in Webster Dictionary Online
