> as lemmas

1607 G. Markham Cavelarice iv. 44 Which fault onely proceedes from tramelling a horse somewhat too early vnder the knee, and making his tramels for want of true measure a little of the straitest.

1653 D. Osborne Lett. to Sir W. Temple (2002) 183 The ring..is very well only a little of the biggest.

1703 Athenian Oracle I. 305/2 The Ephesian Matron of t'other side was a little of the longest, though she..was very much in Haste when she once set about the Business.

1745 C. Coffey Devil upon Two Sticks i. vii. 35 Methinks your Hood is a little of the thinest,—I'll go and fetch you one that's somewhat thicker, the better to conceal you.

1805 W. Turton Goldsmith's Hist. Earth & Animated Nature II. xi. 184 The croup is a little of the longest, and the tail is generally set high.

1833 C. F. Adams Diary 7 June (1974) V. 102 My share..being a little of the smallest.

1848 W. T. Thompson Major Jones's Sketches Trav. 19 When I got to my horse, I felt like a feller jest out of a hornet's nest; and I reckon I went home a little of the quickest.