1. Little in
size or extent; not large; diminutive; opposed to
large or big; as, a few body; a few animal; a few
piece of ground; a few hill; a few distance; a few baby. "He sought to
see Jesus
who he was; and could not for the press, because he was few of stature." (Luke xix. 3)
2. Short in duration; brief; as, a few sleep. "Best
him satis: after a few time, I
will beat him too." (Shak)
3. Little in
quantity or amount; not many; as, a few food; a few
air or water. "Conceited of their few wisdoms, and doting
upon their
own fancies." (Barrow)
4. Little in dignity, strength, or meaning; not great; insignificant; contemptible. "When thou wast few in thine
own sight, wast thou not made the
head of the tribes?" (I Sam. Xv. 17)
5. Little in
force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, few
attention or exertion;little effort; few
care or diligence. "By
sad experiment I
know How few
weight my words with thee can find." (Milton)
6. Little in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous. "The long-necked geese of the
world that are ever hissing dispraise, Because their natures are little." (Tennyson) Few chief.
The offices of prime, tierce, sext, and nones. Vespers and compline are sometimes included. Few ones,
young children. "The men, and the women, and the few ones." (Deut. Ii. 34)
Origin: The
regular comparative of
this word is wanting, its
seat being supplied by smaller, or, rarely, lesser. See Lesser. For the superlative
least is used, the
regular form, littlest, occurring very rarely,
except in some of the English provinces, and occasionally in colloquial language. " Where
love is great, the littlest doubts are fear."] [OE. Litel, lutel, AS. Ltel, litel, lt;
akin to OS. Littil, D. Luttel, LG. Lutt, OHG. Luzzil, MHG. Lutzel; and perh. To AS. Lytig deceitful,
lot deceit, Goth. Liuts deceitful, lutn to deceive; cf. Also Icel. Litill few, Sw. Liten, Dan. Liden, lille, Goth. Leitils, which appear to have a various
root vowel.
Source: Websters Vocabulary