See Also: lesser(dictionary)
lesser cul-de-sac(medicine)
lesser(dictionary)
Lesser's triangle(medicine)
lesser pancreas(medicine)
lesser pelvis(medicine)
lesser circulation(medicine)
lesser peritoneal sac(medicine)
Lesser (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
panda, lesser(encyclopedia)

SAILORS (law) and lesser (iou)


SAILORS (law)


SAILORS. Seamen, mariners. Vide Mariners; Seamen; Shipping Articles.

lesser (iou)



lesser adjective, noun, & adverb. ME.
[from LESS adjective + -ER3: a double compar.]
A. adjective.
Not so great or much (as something mentioned or implied); inferior, of lower status or worth; smaller. Chiefly, & now only, attrib. ME.
A. Desai The lesser functionaries of the camp to whom the commandant left the daily routine. F. Weldon Lesser men do that, who don't have the same sensitivities. Dennis Potter He did not call out, nor make any lesser sign of distress.
spec.
a. Designating the smaller of two similar or related plants, animals, anatomical parts, or places. Opp. greater (see GREAT adjective 7e). Cf. LEAST adjective 4. E17.
Lesser Antilles, lesser celandine, lesser noctule, lesser omentum, lesser spotted woodpecker, etc.
b. Music. Designating a minor interval. Now rare. L17.
Special collocations: Lesser Asia arch. Asia Minor. Lesser Bear: see BEAR noun1 2. lesser breed people of inferior status. lesser diesis: see DIESIS 1. Lesser Dog: see DOG noun 5. lesser doxology: see DOXOLOGY 2. Lesser Entrance: see ENTRANCE noun. lesser evil: see EVIL noun1. lesser fry: see FRY noun1. lesser light [Genesis 1:16] a person of less eminence or importance. Lesser Wain: see WAIN noun1 2.
b. absol. as noun. The lesser person or thing. L15.
lesser of two evils: see EVIL noun1.
C. adverb. = LESS adverb. Long obsolete exc. in lesser-known adjective L16.
lesserness noun (rare) M16.