lessen Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb decrease in size, extent, or range
    diminish; fall; decrease.
    • 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
  2. verb make smaller
    minify; decrease.
    • He decreased his staff
  3. verb wear off or die down
    subside.
    • The pain subsided

WordNet

Less"en transitive verb
Etymology
From Less, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lessened ; present participle & verbal noun Lessening
Definitions
  1. 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.
Less"en intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. 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.

Webster 1913