English
lessen
Lessen comes from Middle English lessenen.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lessenen
- Englishearliest quotation 1895lessen
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lessenen
- Englishearliest quotation 1895lessen
Earliest quotation: 1895, Book-keeper, Mich. : 1888). - Volume 8: “Ober closed his encomium with the serious statement that…”
Formed from less + -en
Proto-Germanic *laisiz ‘smaller, lesser’
Old English lǣs ‘smaller, less’
Middle English les
English less
Every English word from Middle English lessenen
Today it means
verb To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English lessenen / lessen