Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Les, v.¹ Also: lesse, (leis, leassie). [ME. and e.m.E. lesse (a 1225), lasse, f. Les a.]

1. tr. To make less (in estimation, amount, scope etc.), to diminish, lower. 1375 Barb. xii. 124 (E).
Swa suld thai … Los a part off thair lowing And it war syn to les [C. leis] thair prys a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 233.
Into main lessit are we, To God that we ma grewande be c1420 Ratis R. 1022.
Fore tyll hyme fallis mekle thinge That may nocht les his stat to gyfe And may his seruand weil raleif 1456 Hay I 274/5.
To schort all causis, and to lesse all expens and travailis of parties [at law] Ib. II. 96/19.
Lechery … engenderis in a man wommanly condiciounis … and feblis the strenthis and lessis the beauteis Ib. 134/10.
Evill humouris … quhen thai ar lessit be vomytis softly

b. To represent as less, extenuate. c1500 Rowll Cursing 247 (M).
Bot seik the caus and les [B. leif] the deid And blame the scheiris that schair the skreid 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 169.
Varrestone and Hombie spoke muche to leassie the bussines, Hombie for the maner, Warrestone for bothe maner and matter

2. intr. To become smaller, to decrease. 1456 Hay II. 130/32.
And the tyme changis and wateris wanis, and wellis stryndis lessis