Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Least?

\Least\, a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l?sast, l?sest, superl. of l?ssa less. See {Less}, a.] [Used as the superlative of little.] Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun. I am the least of the apostles. --1 Cor. xv. 9. {At least}, or {At the least}, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See {However}. He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor. --Milton. Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback. --Sir P. Sidney. {In least}, or {In the least}, in the least degree, manner, etc. ``He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.'' --Luke xvi. 10. {Least squares} (Math.), a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities. Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum.
\Least\, adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
\Least\, conj. See {Lest}, conj. [Obs.] --Spenser.