Talk:least
Add topic- Note: the below discussion was moved from the Wiktionary:Tea room.
It states this is a comparative of little. Surely a superlative? --Jackofclubs 10:42, 29 September 2008 (UTC)
- superlative, yes. The whole bunch of little, littler, lesser, less, littlest, and least could do with an overhaul, to say the least ;-) -- ALGRIF talk 13:15, 29 September 2008 (UTC)
Our ety 2 says "(informal, nonstandard) at least", with a hidden comment saying "according to CGEL". But see this blog post discussing lest [1], which quotes Ralph Austen's Treatise of Fruit Trees (1653): "All the danger is least we take too much liberty herein." They call it a variant spelling of lest. (Obsolete by now of course!) Equinox ◑ 23:59, 30 May 2020 (UTC)
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/least+little+thing --Backinstadiums (talk) 16:22, 16 August 2020 (UTC)
at least 2. at any rate; in any case: You didn't get a good grade, but at least you passed the course.
Also, at the least. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/least
--Backinstadiums (talk) 11:19, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
The less/least said, the better --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:30, 5 June 2021 (UTC)
Usage note: plural abstract nouns
[edit]The least of before plural abstract nouns means ‘the smallest of': What will your dad think? ~ That’s the least of my worries right now. JMGN (talk) 20:35, 23 March 2025 (UTC)