Lessen — Defs

01 v. t. To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen …

imp. & p. p. Lessened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening

1.
To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.
“Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment.” — Calamy.

“St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.” — Atterbury.

Syn. To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade.

02 v. i. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them…

1.
To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened.
“The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation.” — Atterbury.