Less vs Able - What's the difference?
less | able |
To smaller extent.
* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author=
, title= In lower degree.
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8
, passage=I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing.}}
* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times
, passage=That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past. }}
* 1624 , John Smith, Generall Historie , in Kupperman 1988, p. 141:
A smaller amount (of); not as much.
* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author=
, title= (proscribed) A smaller number of; fewer.
* 1952 , Thomas M Pryor, New York Times , 7 Sep 1952:
* 1999 , (George RR Martin), A Clash of Kings , Bantam 2011, p. 555:
* 2003 , Timandra Harkness, The Guardian , 16 Dec 2003:
Minus; not including
(obsolete) To make less; to lessen.
(obsolete, passive) Easy to use.
* 1710 , Thomas Betterton, The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian. :
(obsolete, passive) Suitable; competent.
* 2006 , Jon L. Wakelyn, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance, Volume 1 , Greenwood Publishing Group, pages 212:
(obsolete, dialectal, passive) Liable to.
Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
(obsolete, dialectal) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
(obsolete) Rich; well-to-do.
Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
(legal) Legally]] [[qualify, qualified or competent.
(nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
(obsolete) To make ready.
(obsolete) To make capable; to enable.
(obsolete) To dress.
(obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
(obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee.
* vi
A word that is used in place of the letter "A" during communication.
In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between less and able
is that less is (obsolete) unless while able is (obsolete) to vouch for; to guarantee .As adjectives the difference between less and able
is that less is while able is (obsolete|passive) easy to use .As verbs the difference between less and able
is that less is (obsolete) to make less; to lessen while able is (obsolete) to make ready .As an adverb less
is to smaller extent.As a preposition less
is minus; not including.As a conjunction less
is (obsolete) unless.As a noun able is
a word that is used in place of the letter "a" during communication.less
English
Adverb
(-)Katrina G. Claw
Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm, volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.}}
citation
Antonyms
* moreAdjective
- Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse [...].
William E. Conner
An Acoustic Arms Race, volume=101, issue=3, page=206-7, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.}}
- This is not a happy situation as far as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes is concerned because it means less jobs for the union's members here at home.
- No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion.
- Although my hosts, G S Aviation, can teach you to fly in Wiltshire, an intensive week at their French airfield means less problems with the weather, cheap but good living, and complete removal from any distractions.
Usage notes
Antonyms
* moreSee also
* fewerPreposition
(English prepositions)- It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
Antonyms
* plusVerb
- (Gower)
Derived terms
* less is more * more or less * neverthelessable
English
Alternative forms
* (obsolete) hableEtymology 1
From (etyl), from .Adjective
(er)- As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
- ...and for every able man servant that he or she shall carry or send armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land of like measure.
- I’ll see you as soon as I’m able .
- With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
- I’m only able to visit you when I have other work here.
- That cliff is able to be climbed.
- After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able .
- He was born to an able family.
- The chairman was also an able sailor.
- He is able to practice law in six states.
Synonyms
* See alsoDerived terms
* ability * -able * able-bodied * able seaman * ableism * be able, be able to * capable * disable * disabled * disablism * disability * enableVerb
(abl)- None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
