less /les/ adjective- (used as compar of little) smaller (not now used of material things)
- In smaller quantity (not number)
- Minor
- Fewer (archaic and informal)
- Inferior, lower in estimation
- Younger
- More (Shakespeare, with an expressed or implied negative)
adverb- Not so much
- In a lower degree
noun A smaller portion or quantity conjunction (Milton)Unless (often written 'less) preposition- Without
- With diminution of, minus
ORIGIN: OE lǣssa less, lǣs (adv); apparently not connected with little much less Not to mention no less (usu ironically) A phrase used to express admiration nothing less than - Quite as much as
- Tantamount to
- Formerly, anything rather than
nothing /nuthˈing/ noun- No thing
- The non-existent
- Absence of anything
- Zero number or quantity
- The figure representing it, a nought
- A thing or person of no significance or value
- An empty or trivial utterance
- A low condition
- A trifle
- No difficulty or trouble
adverb- In no degree
- Not at all
adjective (informal)Worthless ORIGIN: no2 and thing nothingāˈrian noun A person who has no particular belief, esp in religion nothingāˈrianism noun nothˈingism noun - Nothingness
- Triviality
nothˈingness noun - Non-existence
- The state of being nothing
- Worthlessness
- Insignificance
- Vacuity
- A thing of no value
nothˈing-gift noun (Shakespeare) A gift of no value be nothing to - Not to be important to or concern (someone)
- Not to be nearly as good as
be nothing to do with - To be unconnected with
- To be no concern of
come to nothing - To have little or no result
- To turn out a failure
for nothing - For no good reason, in vain
- Free of charge
have nothing on (informal) - To have no claim to superiority over
- To have no information about (used esp by police of criminals)
- To have no engagement
- To have no clothes on
have nothing to do with - To avoid
- To be unconnected with
- To be no concern of
like nothing on earth (informal) Grotesque, frightful make nothing of see under make1 next to nothing Almost nothing nothing but Only nothing doing (informal) - An emphatic refusal
- An expression of failure
nothing for it but No alternative but nothing if not - Primarily, above all
- At the very least
nothing less than or nothing short of - At least
- Downright
nothing to it or nothing in it - Having nothing in it worth while
- Easy
stop or stick at nothing To be ruthless or unscrupulous sweet nothings (esp whispered) words of affection and endearment think nothing of - To regard as easy or unremarkable
- Not to balk or scruple at
- To have a low opinion of
to say nothing of Not to mention (see under mention) |