lessen : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: lessen	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for lessen
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
lessen v decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper" Synonym(s): decrease, diminish, lessen, fall Antonym(s): increase make smaller; "He decreased his staff" Synonym(s): decrease, lessen, minify Antonym(s): increase wear off or die down; "The pain subsided" Synonym(s): subside, lessen
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lessen \Less"en\, v. i. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened. The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. --Atterbury.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lessen \Less"en\ (l[ecr]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lessened} (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lessening}.] [From {Less}, a.] To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune. Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. --Calamy. St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. --Atterbury. Syn: To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade.