資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Lessen \Less"en\ (l[e^]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.
資料來源 : WordNet®
lessening
n : a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature
as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in
sales" [syn: {decrease}, {drop-off}] [ant: {increase}]