Least vs Slight - What's the difference?
least | slight |
(little);The smallest amount of [something .
* 1857 , (Edmund March Blunt), The American Coast Pilot: Containing Directions for the Principal Harbors , E. & G.W. Blunt, page 135:
* John Duncan, Duncan's Travels
* , chapter=5
, title= *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
, passage=Charles had not been employed above six months at Darracott Place, but he was not such a whopstraw as to make the least noise in the performance of his duties when his lordship was out of humour.}}
* 2004 , Jim Baggott, Beyond Measure: Modern Physics, Philosophy, and the Meaning of Quantum Theory , Oxford University Press, page 48:
Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est .
In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others.
Small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.
* (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
* (John Locke) (1632-1705)
* {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
, chapter=2 Not stout or heavy; slender.
* Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
(obsolete) Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.
To treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.
* Cowper
To treat with disdain or neglect.
To act negligently or carelessly.
(military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
To make even or level.
To throw heedlessly.
* Shakespeare
The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.
* (Benjamin Franklin)
Sleight.
As a determiner least
is superlative of little;The smallest amount of [something uncountable].As an adverb least
is used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.As an adjective slight is
small, weak, or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.As a verb slight is
to treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.As a noun slight is
the act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.least
English
Determiner
(en-det) (comparative less)- The least water we could find there was 4 fathoms, which bears from the point S.E., and is distant 1½ mile.
- To have demolished and rebuilt the walls, would have been a very costly expedient, and as the least of two evils, the painter's brush was resorted to; here and there however, above some of the windows, the black wreathings of the smoke are still discernible through the white covering.
Mr. Pratt's Patients, passage=“Well,” I says, “I cal'late a body could get used to Tophet if he stayed there long enough.” ¶ She flared up; the least mite of a slam at Doctor Wool was enough to set her going.}}
- Light does not need to know in advance which is the path of least time because it takes all paths from its source to its destination.
Usage notes
Some grammarians recommend to use least'' only with uncountable nouns, as in the examples above with the ''smallest amount of sense: * 1965 , H. W. Fowler, Fowler’s Modern English Usage: Second Edition : *: [W]hen the context—unemotional statement of everyday facts—is taken into account, at a less price'' ought to be ''at a lower price'', and ''a lesser prize'' ought to be ''a smaller prize . To such grammarians least'' is the superlative of ''a little'', not that of ''little'', so it does not mean ''smallest'', but ''the smallest amount of''. With plural nouns, they recommend ''fewest .Adverb
- It was the least surprising thing.
- to reward those who least deserve it
Antonyms
* mostDerived terms
(terms derived from "least") * at least * last but not least * least bittern * least common denominator * least flycatcher * least of all * least resistance * least sandpiper * least shrew * least upper bound * least weasel * log-linear least-squares method * method of least squares * not the least bit * path of least resistance * to say the leastStatistics
*Anagrams
* English degree adverbsslight
English
Adjective
(er)- Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.
- Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.
citation, passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
- his own figure, which was formerly so slight
- (Hudibras)
Synonyms
* See alsoDerived terms
* slightish * slightly * slightnessVerb
(en verb)- the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies
- (Clarendon)
- (Hexham)
- The rogue slighted me into the river.
Synonyms
* See alsoDerived terms
* slightinglyNoun
(wikipedia slight) (en noun)- Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.
- (Spenser)
