English Meaning & Definitions
An adjectival suffix meaning 'without', 'not having', or 'free from' the quality denoted by the root word.
- “She felt completely hopeless after hearing the devastating news.”
- “The old castle has remained roofless and exposed to the elements for centuries.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “less”.
Derived from Old English '-lēas', meaning 'devoid of' or 'free from', originating from the adjective 'lēas' (false, empty, or devoid of). It is cognate with Old High German '-lōs' and Old Norse '-lauss'.
Think of 'less' as meaning 'lacking'—when something is helpless, it is lacking help.
Frequently Asked Questions About “less”
1. What is the meaning of “less” in English?
In English, less (adjective) is defined as: “An adjectival suffix meaning 'without', 'not having', or 'free from' the quality denoted by the root word.”.
2. How do you use “less” in a sentence?
“She felt completely hopeless after hearing the devastating news.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “less”?
Derived from Old English '-lēas', meaning 'devoid of' or 'free from', originating from the adjective 'lēas' (false, empty, or devoid of). It is cognate with Old High German '-lōs' and Old Norse '-lauss'.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.