Definition of "less" []

• Not as great in amount or quantity: had less time to spend with the family. (adjective)
• Lower in importance, esteem, or rank: no less a person than the ambassador. (adjective)
• Consisting of a smaller number. See Usage Note at few. (adjective)
• With the deduction of; minus: Five less two is three. (preposition)
• To a smaller extent, degree, or frequency: less happy; less expensive. (adverb)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• ""I do not doubt that, at least so far as _I_ am concerned, I have been friends with more -- with less -- I mean with more -- no, with _less_ intereresting people.""
• "_The more ... the more_, _the less ... the less_, are translated by means of the particles _ju_ and _des_."
• "Hatred, which an immoderate Zeal swells some bigotted Sectaries with, nor the unlucky Spoils of these poor People, render criminal or miserable the _most faithful_ of your Subjects; to whom their lawful King, as you are, is not _the less dear_, nor _less respected_, because of a _different Belief_ from _theirs_."