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[syn: least, to the lowest degree]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Least \Least\ (l[=e]st), a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l[=ae]sast,
l[=ae]sest, superl. of l[=ae]ssa less. See Less, a.] [Used
as the superlative of little.]
Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most
unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least
space.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun.
[1913 Webster]
I am the least of the apostles. --1 Cor. xv.
9.
[1913 Webster]
At least, or At the least, at the least estimate,
consideration, chance, etc.; being no less than; hence, at
any rate; at all events; even. See However.
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He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonor. --Milton.
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Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he
were a man, who sat as on horseback. --Sir P.
Sidney.
In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner,
etc. "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much." --Luke xvi. 10.
Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number
of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of
a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown
quantities.
Note: 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Least \Least\, conj.
See Lest, conj. [Obs.] --Spenser.
[1913 Webster] Leastways
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Least \Least\, adv.
In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all
others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
least
adv 1: used to form the superlative; "The garter snake is the
least dangerous snake" [syn: least, to the lowest
degree] [ant: most, to the highest degree]
adj 1: the superlative of `little' that can be used with mass
nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier
meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree; "didn't
care the least bit"; "he has the least talent of anyone"
[ant: most(a)]
n 1: something that is of no importance; "it is the least I can
do"; "that is the least of my concerns"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
43 Moby Thesaurus words for "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 few