least

Forms

Plural: leasts

Definitions

Adjective
A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

1.Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.
- Of two ils chose the least, while choise lyeth in lot.

Determiner
A word placed before a noun to show which person or thing is meant, or how much or how many.

1.Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.
- He earns the least money in his family.
- Of all the sisters, she has the least patience.
- "Any chance of our being taken off and rescued?" / "Not the least," said Bevis.

Adverb
A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

1.In a degree below all others; in the lowest or smallest degree.
- That decision rewards those who least deserve it.
- My best routine was the one I had practised the least.
- I don’t much like housework, and doing the dishes least of all.
2.Used to form superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.
- It was the least surprising thing.

Noun
A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1.Preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the lowest-ranking or most insignificant person or (sometimes) group of people.
- Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.
- The pastor preached that even the least of God’s creatures deserves freedom from needless or idle cruelty.
2.Something of the smallest possible extent; an indivisible unit; a minimum.

Pronoun
A word that replaces or refers to a noun or noun phrase.

1.Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the smallest amount or extent of something.
- I’m giving least of all towards her present.

Phrasal preposition
A multi-word expression that functions as a single preposition.

1.At least.(informal)
- What a stupid white privileged POS I am! Least I call myself out.
- “Why he took and dipped his hand in a rotten stump where the rain water was.” “In the day time?” “Certainly.” “With his face to the stump?” “Yes. Least I reckon so.”

Frequency

Overall

Very common· #323

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Common
General reading & writing: Very common
Academic: Uncommon
Literature: Uncommon

Etymology

The adjective, determiner, and noun are derived from Middle English leste, lest, last (“(adjective) smallest, least; (noun) smallest thing, etc.; person or thing least in importance; etc.”), from Old English lǣst, a contraction of læsast, læsest (“least”) (also lærest in only one source), from Proto-Germanic *laisistaz (“smallest, least”), from *laisiz (“less”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-; whence modern English less) + *-istaz (“suffix forming superlative forms of some adjectives”).

AdjectiveAdjective×A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

DetDeterminer×A word placed before a noun to show which person or thing is meant, or how much or how many.

AdverbAdverb×A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

NounNoun×A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

PronPronoun×A word that replaces or refers to a noun or noun phrase.

Prep phrPhrasal preposition×A multi-word expression that functions as a single preposition.