Definition of "less"

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.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

This section of space is much less empty than that between the stars, […]

1957, Lester Del Rey, Rockets Through Space: The Story of Man's Preparations to Explore the Universe

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.

2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times‎

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.

2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3

Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse, which they take from the taile of a snake.

1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 141

We are likewise ready to maintain with the hazard of all that is near and dear to us, that six is less than seven in all times and all places […] .

1711, The Spectator, number 126

It is also easy to see that the straight line, representing the locus of centres of buoyancy for a rectangular section, must lie at a less inclination to the base (i.e., to the horizontal) than a line representing the locus of such centres for a parabolic section […]

1885, Edward James Reed, A Treatise on the Stability of Ships

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.

2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7

... on his land he will have less manure, less corn, and less people; ...

1681, John Houghton, A Collection For the Improvement of Husbandry and Trade, page 263

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.

1952 September 7, Thomas M Pryor, New York Times

No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion.

1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 555

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.

2003 December 16, Timandra Harkness, The Guardian

What he will make lesse, he lesseth.

1386-90, Gower, Confessio Amantis

Som of the wiser sort, divining upon this vission, attrebute to the pen-knyves the lenth of tym before this should com to pass, and it hath been observed by sindrie that the earles of that hous befor wer the richest in the kingdom, having treasure and store besyde them, but ever since the addittion of this so great a revenue, they have lessed the stock by heavie burdens of debt and ingagment.

c. 1650, Patrick Gordon of Ruthven, A short Abridgement of Britane's Distemper, from the yeares of God 1639 to 1649, printed 1844 for the Spalding Club

The protracted term of life, and the lingering illness through which this gentleman had passed, had neither impaired the original vigour of his mind, nor lessed the uncommon warmth of his affections.

1816, "Joseph Wharton" [obituary notice], Poulson's Advertiser, quoted in Genealogy of the Wharton Family of Philadelphia: 1664 to 1880, Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1880)

Soon as I lessed the tree of this, it waned — Less cause, gave less effect

1852, Charles Heavysege, The revolt of Tartarus, a poem, page 116

The scattered beauties thro' the air, Have lessed the woe, the dread, the care;

1886, Horace Eaton Walker, The Lady of Dardale and Other Poems, page 74

Such too, to a greater or less extent, is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England, which is the great workhouse of the world.

1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields

This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that.

1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped

To tell you true, 'tis too good for you, 'less you had grace to follow it

1614 November 10 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Beniamin Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson], Bartholmew Fayre: A Comedie, […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1631, (please specify the page)