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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Lessen

Lēss'en, v. t.

verbtransitive

(lēs'n), v. t. [From less.]

  1. To make less; to reduce in bulk, size, quantity, number, or amount; to make smaller; to diminish; as, to lessen a kingdom or its population.
  2. To diminish in quality, state, or degree.

Charity ... shall lessen his punishment. Calamy. 3. To reduce in dignity; to degrade. 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.

Lĕss'en, v. i.

verbintransitive

(lĕs'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. LESSENED; p. pr. & vb. n. LESSENING.]

Sense 1. To become less; to shrink; to contract in bulk, quantity, number, or amount; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them.

Sense 2. To become less in degree, quality, or intensity; to decrease.

The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation. Atterbury.