lessen

Verb
Synonyms: decreasediminishfallminifysubside

WordNet 3.0

Verb (3)

  1. decrease in size, extent, or range“The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester”“The cabin pressure fell dramatically”“her weight fell to under a hundred pounds”“his voice fell to a whisper”Synonyms: decreasediminishfall
  2. make smaller“He decreased his staff”Synonyms: decreaseminify
  3. wear off or die down“The pain subsided”Synonyms: subside
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Lessen \Less"en\ (l[e^]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lessened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening.] [From Less, a.] To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune. [1913 Webster]

Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. --Calamy. [1913 Webster]

St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. --Atterbury.

Syn: To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade. [1913 Webster]

Lessen \Less"en\, v. i. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened. [1913 Webster]

The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]

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