littleness Hear it!

Variant of little

little Definition

lit·tle (lit′'l)

adjective littler lit′·tler or less or lesser less′er, littlest lit′·tlest or least

  1. small in size; not big, large, or great
  2. small in amount, number, or degree; not much
  3. short in duration or distance; brief; not long
  4. small in importance or power the rights of the little man
  5. small in force, intensity, etc.; weak
  6. trivial; trifling
  7. lacking in breadth of vision; narrow-minded; illiberal a little mind
  8. young: said of children or animals
  9. younger her little brother

Etymology: ME littel < OE lytel (akin to Ger dial. lützel) < base of lyt, small (< IE base *leud-, to stoop > Welsh lludded, fatigue), infl. by ON litill, small (akin to Goth leitils) < IE base *lei-, to decline, be lean > less

adverb less, least

  1. in a small degree; to a slight extent; only slightly; not much
  2. not in the least he little suspects the plot

noun

    1. small amount, degree, etc.: often used with a and having adverbial force a little crazy
    2. not much little will be done about it
  2. a short time or distance

Related Forms:

little Idioms

in little

on a small scale; in miniature

little by little

by slow degrees or small amounts; gradually

make little of

to treat as not very important; depreciate

not a little

very much; very

some little

rather extensive; fairly full
littleness Synonyms

littleness

n.

small size, petiteness, insignificance; see smallness.

littleness Quotes

For greatness is only the drayhorse that coaxes The built cart out; and where we go is reason. But genius is an enormous littleness, a trickling Of heart that covers alike the hare and the hunter.

—Patchen, Kenneth