Least

来自Big Physics
Safin讨论 | 贡献2022年4月26日 (二) 21:37的版本 (建立内容为“Category:etymology == google == [https://www.google.com.hk/search?q=least+etymology&newwindow=1&hl=en ref] Old English lǣst, lǣsest, of Germanic origin; re…”的新页面)
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google

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Old English lǣst, lǣsest, of Germanic origin; related to less.


Ety img least.png

wiktionary

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From Middle English leste, lest, last, from Old English lǣst, a contraction of læsast, læsest, lærest(“least”), from Proto-Germanic *laisistaz(“smallest; least”), related to Old English læs(“less”). Cognate with Old Frisian leist, Old Saxon lēs. More at less.

Contraction of at least.


etymonline

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least (adj.)

Old English læst, earlier læsest "smallest, lowest in power or position" (superlative of little (adj.)), from Proto-Germanic superlative *laisista-, from PIE root *leis- (2) "small" (see less). Qualifying phrase at least "not to say more than is certainly true" is Middle English æt læstan, from the notion of "at the lowest degree." As a noun, "smallest admissible quantity or degree," from early 12c.; as an adverb, Old English læst "in the least degree."