Little

a. [The regular comparative of this word is wanting, its place being supplied by less, or, rarely, lesser. See LESSER. For the superlative, least is used, the regular form, littlest, occurring very rarely, except in some of the English provinces, and occasionally in colloquial language. “Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear.” Shak.] [O. Eng. litelle, lytylle, lite, Scot. lite, lyte, lute, A-S. lytel, litel, lyt, O. Sax. littil, D. luttel, Icel. litill, Goth. leitils, Sw. liten, Dan. liden, lille, O. Fries. litic, littic, lytk, L. Ger. lüttik, lütk, lütke, lütje, lütj, lütt, O. H. Ger. luzil, luzzil, liuzil, M. H. Ger. lützel.]

1Sense 1. Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little table; a little hill; a little distance; a little child.

2Sense 2. Short in duration; not long; brief; as, a little time or season; a little sleep.

3Sense 3. Small in quantity or amount; not much; as, a little hay or grass; a little food; a little sum; a little light; a little air or water.

4Sense 4. Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible.

When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes? I Sam. xv. 17.

5Sense 5. Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, little attention or exertions; little effort; little care or diligence; little weight.

6Sense 6. Small in generosity; not liberal; narrow; mean.

n. 1. That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, and the like. “Much was in little writ.” Dryden.

I view with anger and disdain How little gives thee joy and pain. Prior.

2Sense 2. Small degree or scale; miniature. “His picture in little.” Shak.

He is in little all the sphere. Herbert.

A little, by a small degree; to a limited extent; somewhat; for a short time;—contracted from by a little, or but a little. “Stay a little.” Shak. “The painter flattered her a little.” Shak. “Sub-acid substances are proper, though they are a little astringent.” Arbuthnot.

[A-S. lytle, Icel. litt, Sw. litet, Dan. lidet. See supra.] In a small quantity or degree; not much; slightly;—often with a preceding it. “The poor sleep little.” Otway.