lesseningn.

Brit.

/ˈlɛsn̩ɪŋ/,

/ˈlɛsnɪŋ/, U.S.

/ˈlɛs(ə)nɪŋ/

Forms: see lessen v. and -ing suffix¹.; also late Middle English lesnyng, late Middle English lessynnyng, 1500s–1600s lessning.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: lessen v., -ing suffix¹.

Etymology: < lessen v. + -ing suffix¹. Compare lessing n.

The action of lessen v., in various senses.

a. The action of reducing the amount, quantity, extent, etc., of something; the action or fact of becoming smaller; reduction, diminution; cutting down, curtailment; an instance of this.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > [noun]

waningc900

littlingOE

lessingc1350

abating1370

diminutionc1374

minishinga1382

decrease1383

remissiona1398

shrinkinga1398

decreasing1398

adminishing?c1400

abbreviation?a1425

lessening?a1425

minoration?a1425

disincrease1430

abatement1433

restrictiona1450

batea1475

diminuation1477

limitation1483

abate1486

minute1495

minishment1533

mitigation1533

diminishinga1535

extenuation1542

slacking1542

reduce1549

diminishment1551

perditionc1555

debatementa1563

rebatement1573

obstriction1578

imminution1583

contracting1585

contraction1589

rabate1589

rebating1598

retrenchmentc1600

decession1606

ravalling1609

reducement1619

decrement1621

bating1629

shrivellinga1631

decretion1635

dejection1652

abater1653

rolling back1658

limiting1677

batement1679

reduction1695

depression1793

downdraw1813

descent1832

decess1854

lowering1868

shrinkage1873

dégringolade1883

minification1894

degrowth1920

downrating1950

?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Hunterian) f. 70 (MED) Of þe which ȝerde þe augmentacioun is good for engendure and þe lessenynge oþer diminucioun of him is good for oþer offices.

c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 92 (MED) Þe tithe of mylke of bestis..withoute all lessenyng to be payde.

a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 114 (MED) Many heres in þe brest or in þe wombe bytokyns horibilyte & singularyte of kynde, & lessenyng of þe resceyt.

1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 24 Diminution is a certaine lessening or decreasing of the essential value of the notes and rests.

a1640 P. Massinger Beleeue as you List (1976) v. ii. 212 I take it as a lesseninge of my torments.

1672 W. Allen Perswasive to Peace & Unity Postscript 149 It is a duty incombent upon Chrstians..to go as far as ever a good Conscience will carry them towards the lessening of our differences.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 255. ¶8 Such Indecencies as are a lessening to his Reputation.

1723 B. Mandeville Ess. Charity in Fable Bees (ed. 2) i. 292 We contribute to the Relief of him we have Compassion with, and are Instrumental to the lessening of his Sorrows.

1783 A. Kippis Considerations on Provisional Treaty with Amer. 141 The lessening of our revenue by civil contests, losses, and taxes.

1806 T. Gabb Finis Pyramidis xii. 198 The question is, in Vitruvius' reasoning, not about the hue of the columns, but of the reduction or lessening of the glare of the ambient light.

a1811 R. Cumberland Passive Husband iii, in Posthumous Dramatick Wks. (1813) I. 260 May it never be a lessening to your lordship's honour to call a poor private, fellow soldier.

1891 Athenæum 18 Apr. 503/3 There is no lessening of this defect, but rather increase.

1940 Kenyon Rev. 2 274 The reader-response has been altered through a lessening of the pleasure with which the utterance is received.

2005 Guardian 16 Sept. i. 16/5 People with each of these conditions reported a lessening of their symptoms compared to people taking a placebo.

†b. Decrease in apparent size by the effect of distance. Cf. lessen v. 1b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > [noun] > apparent

lessening1662

miniaturing1881

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. i. 413 If it be said, that by the observation of the lessening of objects according to the proportion of distance, the mind may come to understand how much bigger the Sun may be then he seems, I grant it.

1698 J. Collier Short View Immorality Eng. Stage ii. 73 A Flight of Madness like a Faulcons Lessening, makes them the more gaz'd at!

1845 N. P. Willis Dashes at Life with Free Pencil ii. 86 It is strange how the lessening in the distance of a ship in which one has cruised in these southern seas, pulls on the heartstrings!

†2. An action or instance of representing something as less in some respect; detraction, disparagement, degradation. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > disparagement or depreciation > [noun]

detraction1340

misspeaking?a1425

lightlying1451

obtrectationa1500

derogation1520

disparaging1528

vilipending1566

detractation1570

detracting1572

disprize1575

downcrying1575

lessening1579

diminution1586

disparagement1591

disvalue1605

undervalue1615

disvaluation1617

decrying1633

undervaluation1635

disvaluinga1639

vilipendency1653

undervaluing1656

decry1686

depreciating1705

decrial1711

depreciation1790

subtraction1812

belittling1837

to give one a back-cap1883

marginalizing1977

trash talk1981

negging1996

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [noun]

debatec1460

disparagement1486

embasement1575

digraduation1577

lessening1579

degraduation1581

disparagea1592

bastardizing1598

debasement1602

deplumation1611

depression1628

vilificationa1631

degradement1641

degrading1646

prostration1647

deprisure1648

embasure1656

embasing1659

debasure1683

degradationc1752

derogation1785

demotion1872

objectification1973

1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin i. 21 Bringing forth in publike many bragges touching his owne power and greatnes, and to the contempt and lessening of the forces [Fr. amoindrissant..les forces] and meanes of his aduersaries.

1661 S. Pepys Diary 12 Nov. (1970) II. 212 Though I love the play as much as ever I did, yet I do not like the puppets at all, but think it to be a lessening to it.

1692 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §214 Their Thoughts run after Play and Pleasure, wherein they take it as a Lessening to be controll'd.

1732 C. Wogan Let. 27 Feb. in J. Swift Wks. (1841) II. 669/1 The very distinction [of English and Irish] carries in the face of it a lessening, and strikes the fancy with the ungrateful idea of misery.

1778 H. Brooke Marriage Contract ii. ii, in Coll. Pieces IV. 332 Ah, had the kindred of my lord been noble, like himself, I should then have brought a shade, and a lessening upon it.

1910 V. de Cleyre in Mother Earth May 86 Everywhere the greatening of God, and the lessening of Man.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

lesseningadj.

Brit.

/ˈlɛsn̩ɪŋ/,

/ˈlɛsnɪŋ/, U.S.

/ˈlɛs(ə)nɪŋ/

Forms: 1500s– lessening, 1600s lessning.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: lessen v., -ing suffix².

Etymology: < lessen v. + -ing suffix².

1. That lessens or diminishes something; (now) esp. disparaging, degrading, lowering.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [adjective]

vile1297

derogative1477

derogatory1502

vild1568

derogatoriousa1575

lessening1592

dishonoured1608

indignous1611

derogant1616

unmanning1625

infimatinga1641

prostituting1646

embasing1652

menial1673

degrading1684

debasing1775

vilifying1781

degradatory1783

dishonouring1843

relegating1872

demeaning1880

1592 N. Gyer Eng. Phlebotomy iv. 29 Others contrarily affirme that alwaies some extenuating or lessening receit called barbarously Medicamentum minoratiuum must be first receiued, and them Phlebotomie succeede.

1618 J. Dyke D. Dyke's Two Treat.: Repentance & Christs Temptations (new ed.) i. xi. 197 He mollifies the Obiection with a lessening kind of speech, when he sayth only, that he was vnprofitable.

1644 S. Bolton Tossed Ship 272 Such a spirit looks through a lessening glass, and sees great dangers to be small.

1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 138 This kind of leaping not being successive, but all together, 'tis but even a lessening and underly way of speaking to call it Motion.

1704 J. Trapp Abra-Mule iv. ii. 55 I'll strip off this vile less'ning Habit, And deck my self with all the Pomp of War.

1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful iii. §13. 96 These diminutives were commonly added..to the names of persons with whom they conversed on terms of friendship and familiarity...The Romans..naturally slid into the lessening termination upon the same occasions.

1805 A. A. Opie Adeline Mowbray III. i. 166 The wish of saying lessening things of those of whom one hears extravagant commendations, is, I fear, common to almost every one.

1869 M. Oliphant Minister's Wife III. x. 176 When a woman..knows his weakness, his doubtful character, a hundred lessening things—and yet loves with a foolish, disinterested passion.

1974 Financial Times 24 Dec. 3/4 Some rather snooty reservations on an initial disappointment with the ‘lessening’ effect of the dramatisation on the original.

2005 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 30 May r3 Hearing Canadian actors perform English period accents and slang with various degrees of success can have a lessening effect on the play's credibility.

2. Growing smaller, diminishing; decreasing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > [adjective]

lessening1611

smalling1665

diminishing1793

minifying1850

the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]

shrinking?a1400

welkinga1400

moderativec1487

thinning1551

wanzing1571

decreasing1591

restricting1606

lessening1611

waning1632

assuaging1651

limiting1656

mitigating1749

diminishing1793

decrescent1811

shrivelling1849

dropping1894

scanting1916

1611 R. Peake tr. S. Serlio 2nd Bk. Archit. iii. f. 20^v The lessening [Du. minderende] corner of the second step, the which is round about shut vp with Paralel and Horisentall lines.

1680 A. Behn tr. Ovid in J. Dryden et al. tr. Ovid Epist. 108 Whilst I cou'd the lessening Vessel see, I gaz'd, and sent a thousand Sighs to thee!

1735 J. Swift Misc. Prose & Verse V. 46 If Mountains sink to Vales, if Cities die, And less'ning Rivers mourn their Fountains dry.

1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 45 From Guinea's coast pursue the lessening sail.

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 8 And of the trackers of the deer Scarce half the lessening pack was near.

1895 P. White King's Diary 8 Amongst the lessening throng of dancers.

1951 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 25 Dec. 14/2 The pressure of commercial and sports diving for abalone has been blamed for the lessening population of the much-sought mollusc.

2000 S. Heighton Shadow Boxer i. iv. 42 She would turn from him and light a cigarette and squint with lessening patience at the door.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	lessening
释义	lesseningn. Brit. /ˈlɛsn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlɛsnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlɛs(ə)nɪŋ/ Forms: see lessen v. and -ing suffix¹.; also late Middle English lesnyng, late Middle English lessynnyng, 1500s–1600s lessning. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: lessen v., -ing suffix¹. Etymology: < lessen v. + -ing suffix¹. Compare lessing n. The action of lessen v., in various senses. 1. a. The action of reducing the amount, quantity, extent, etc., of something; the action or fact of becoming smaller; reduction, diminution; cutting down, curtailment; an instance of this. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] waningc900 littlingOE lessingc1350 abating1370 diminutionc1374 minishinga1382 decrease1383 remissiona1398 shrinkinga1398 decreasing1398 adminishing?c1400 abbreviation?a1425 lessening?a1425 minoration?a1425 disincrease1430 abatement1433 restrictiona1450 batea1475 diminuation1477 limitation1483 abate1486 minute1495 minishment1533 mitigation1533 diminishinga1535 extenuation1542 slacking1542 reduce1549 diminishment1551 perditionc1555 debatementa1563 rebatement1573 obstriction1578 imminution1583 contracting1585 contraction1589 rabate1589 rebating1598 retrenchmentc1600 decession1606 ravalling1609 reducement1619 decrement1621 bating1629 shrivellinga1631 decretion1635 dejection1652 abater1653 rolling back1658 limiting1677 batement1679 reduction1695 depression1793 downdraw1813 descent1832 decess1854 lowering1868 shrinkage1873 dégringolade1883 minification1894 degrowth1920 downrating1950 ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Hunterian) f. 70 (MED) Of þe which ȝerde þe augmentacioun is good for engendure and þe lessenynge oþer diminucioun of him is good for oþer offices. c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 92 (MED) Þe tithe of mylke of bestis..withoute all lessenyng to be payde. a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 114 (MED) Many heres in þe brest or in þe wombe bytokyns horibilyte & singularyte of kynde, & lessenyng of þe resceyt. 1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 24 Diminution is a certaine lessening or decreasing of the essential value of the notes and rests. a1640 P. Massinger Beleeue as you List (1976) v. ii. 212 I take it as a lesseninge of my torments. 1672 W. Allen Perswasive to Peace & Unity Postscript 149 It is a duty incombent upon Chrstians..to go as far as ever a good Conscience will carry them towards the lessening of our differences. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 255. ¶8 Such Indecencies as are a lessening to his Reputation. 1723 B. Mandeville Ess. Charity in Fable Bees (ed. 2) i. 292 We contribute to the Relief of him we have Compassion with, and are Instrumental to the lessening of his Sorrows. 1783 A. Kippis Considerations on Provisional Treaty with Amer. 141 The lessening of our revenue by civil contests, losses, and taxes. 1806 T. Gabb Finis Pyramidis xii. 198 The question is, in Vitruvius' reasoning, not about the hue of the columns, but of the reduction or lessening of the glare of the ambient light. a1811 R. Cumberland Passive Husband iii, in Posthumous Dramatick Wks. (1813) I. 260 May it never be a lessening to your lordship's honour to call a poor private, fellow soldier. 1891 Athenæum 18 Apr. 503/3 There is no lessening of this defect, but rather increase. 1940 Kenyon Rev. 2 274 The reader-response has been altered through a lessening of the pleasure with which the utterance is received. 2005 Guardian 16 Sept. i. 16/5 People with each of these conditions reported a lessening of their symptoms compared to people taking a placebo. †b. Decrease in apparent size by the effect of distance. Cf. lessen v. 1b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > [noun] > apparent lessening1662 miniaturing1881 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. i. 413 If it be said, that by the observation of the lessening of objects according to the proportion of distance, the mind may come to understand how much bigger the Sun may be then he seems, I grant it. 1698 J. Collier Short View Immorality Eng. Stage ii. 73 A Flight of Madness like a Faulcons Lessening, makes them the more gaz'd at! 1845 N. P. Willis Dashes at Life with Free Pencil ii. 86 It is strange how the lessening in the distance of a ship in which one has cruised in these southern seas, pulls on the heartstrings! †2. An action or instance of representing something as less in some respect; detraction, disparagement, degradation. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > disparagement or depreciation > [noun] detraction1340 misspeaking?a1425 lightlying1451 obtrectationa1500 derogation1520 disparaging1528 vilipending1566 detractation1570 detracting1572 disprize1575 downcrying1575 lessening1579 diminution1586 disparagement1591 disvalue1605 undervalue1615 disvaluation1617 decrying1633 undervaluation1635 disvaluinga1639 vilipendency1653 undervaluing1656 decry1686 depreciating1705 decrial1711 depreciation1790 subtraction1812 belittling1837 to give one a back-cap1883 marginalizing1977 trash talk1981 negging1996 the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [noun] debatec1460 disparagement1486 embasement1575 digraduation1577 lessening1579 degraduation1581 disparagea1592 bastardizing1598 debasement1602 deplumation1611 depression1628 vilificationa1631 degradement1641 degrading1646 prostration1647 deprisure1648 embasure1656 embasing1659 debasure1683 degradationc1752 derogation1785 demotion1872 objectification1973 1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin i. 21 Bringing forth in publike many bragges touching his owne power and greatnes, and to the contempt and lessening of the forces [Fr. amoindrissant..les forces] and meanes of his aduersaries. 1661 S. Pepys Diary 12 Nov. (1970) II. 212 Though I love the play as much as ever I did, yet I do not like the puppets at all, but think it to be a lessening to it. 1692 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §214 Their Thoughts run after Play and Pleasure, wherein they take it as a Lessening to be controll'd. 1732 C. Wogan Let. 27 Feb. in J. Swift Wks. (1841) II. 669/1 The very distinction [of English and Irish] carries in the face of it a lessening, and strikes the fancy with the ungrateful idea of misery. 1778 H. Brooke Marriage Contract ii. ii, in Coll. Pieces IV. 332 Ah, had the kindred of my lord been noble, like himself, I should then have brought a shade, and a lessening upon it. 1910 V. de Cleyre in Mother Earth May 86 Everywhere the greatening of God, and the lessening of Man. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). lesseningadj. Brit. /ˈlɛsn̩ɪŋ/, /ˈlɛsnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈlɛs(ə)nɪŋ/ Forms: 1500s– lessening, 1600s lessning. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: lessen v., -ing suffix². Etymology: < lessen v. + -ing suffix². 1. That lessens or diminishes something; (now) esp. disparaging, degrading, lowering. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [adjective] vile1297 derogative1477 derogatory1502 vild1568 derogatoriousa1575 lessening1592 dishonoured1608 indignous1611 derogant1616 unmanning1625 infimatinga1641 prostituting1646 embasing1652 menial1673 degrading1684 debasing1775 vilifying1781 degradatory1783 dishonouring1843 relegating1872 demeaning1880 1592 N. Gyer Eng. Phlebotomy iv. 29 Others contrarily affirme that alwaies some extenuating or lessening receit called barbarously Medicamentum minoratiuum must be first receiued, and them Phlebotomie succeede. 1618 J. Dyke D. Dyke's Two Treat.: Repentance & Christs Temptations (new ed.) i. xi. 197 He mollifies the Obiection with a lessening kind of speech, when he sayth only, that he was vnprofitable. 1644 S. Bolton Tossed Ship 272 Such a spirit looks through a lessening glass, and sees great dangers to be small. 1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 138 This kind of leaping not being successive, but all together, 'tis but even a lessening and underly way of speaking to call it Motion. 1704 J. Trapp Abra-Mule iv. ii. 55 I'll strip off this vile less'ning Habit, And deck my self with all the Pomp of War. 1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful iii. §13. 96 These diminutives were commonly added..to the names of persons with whom they conversed on terms of friendship and familiarity...The Romans..naturally slid into the lessening termination upon the same occasions. 1805 A. A. Opie Adeline Mowbray III. i. 166 The wish of saying lessening things of those of whom one hears extravagant commendations, is, I fear, common to almost every one. 1869 M. Oliphant Minister's Wife III. x. 176 When a woman..knows his weakness, his doubtful character, a hundred lessening things—and yet loves with a foolish, disinterested passion. 1974 Financial Times 24 Dec. 3/4 Some rather snooty reservations on an initial disappointment with the ‘lessening’ effect of the dramatisation on the original. 2005 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 30 May r3 Hearing Canadian actors perform English period accents and slang with various degrees of success can have a lessening effect on the play's credibility. 2. Growing smaller, diminishing; decreasing. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > [adjective] lessening1611 smalling1665 diminishing1793 minifying1850 the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] shrinking?a1400 welkinga1400 moderativec1487 thinning1551 wanzing1571 decreasing1591 restricting1606 lessening1611 waning1632 assuaging1651 limiting1656 mitigating1749 diminishing1793 decrescent1811 shrivelling1849 dropping1894 scanting1916 1611 R. Peake tr. S. Serlio 2nd Bk. Archit. iii. f. 20^v The lessening [Du. minderende] corner of the second step, the which is round about shut vp with Paralel and Horisentall lines. 1680 A. Behn tr. Ovid in J. Dryden et al. tr. Ovid Epist. 108 Whilst I cou'd the lessening Vessel see, I gaz'd, and sent a thousand Sighs to thee! 1735 J. Swift Misc. Prose & Verse V. 46 If Mountains sink to Vales, if Cities die, And less'ning Rivers mourn their Fountains dry. 1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 45 From Guinea's coast pursue the lessening sail. 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 8 And of the trackers of the deer Scarce half the lessening pack was near. 1895 P. White King's Diary 8 Amongst the lessening throng of dancers. 1951 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 25 Dec. 14/2 The pressure of commercial and sports diving for abalone has been blamed for the lessening population of the much-sought mollusc. 2000 S. Heighton Shadow Boxer i. iv. 42 She would turn from him and light a cigarette and squint with lessening patience at the door. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.?a1425adj.1592
随便看	sinophile sinophilia sinophobe sinophobia sinophobic sinopia sinopian sinopias sinopic sinopical sinopie sinopis sinopises sinopisses sinopite sinopites sinople sinorussian sinosiamese sinosoviet sinotai sinotibetan sinovietnamese sinoxenic sinproud