Lessen

(a.) 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.

(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; his care, or his wealth, lessened.

整理:罗莎

• He must be gone within a few hours, though without feeling any real alarm for his aunt, to lessen his repugnance. 简·奥斯汀. 爱玛.
• And it may lessen his guilt if I say that it was done in self-defence, and that John Straker was a man who was entirely unworthy of your confidence. 阿瑟·柯南·道尔. 福尔摩斯回忆录.
• Is there anything you want that would lessen the hardship of this confinement? 查尔斯·狄更斯. 荒凉山庄.
• She lay awake very long this night, planning how to lessen the evil influence of their Milton life on her mother. 伊丽莎白·盖斯凯尔. 南方与北方.
• Neither had anything occurred in the intelligence of their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. 简·奥斯汀. 傲慢与偏见.
• His evils seemed to lessen, her own advantages to increase, their mutual good to outweigh every drawback. 简·奥斯汀. 爱玛.
• There will be some risk no doubt; but we will lessen it as much as ever we can. 伊丽莎白·盖斯凯尔. 南方与北方.
• On this principle nurserymen always prefer saving seed from a large body of plants, as the chance of intercrossing is thus lessened. 查尔斯·达尔文. 物种起源.
• The dancers all lessened their speed. 托马斯·哈代. 还乡.
• The bumping against the door, the laughter, the stamping, were all as vigorous as ever, and the pleasure in being outside lessened considerably. 托马斯·哈代. 还乡.
• I found my terror gradually lessened, but my hatred and contempt seemed to increase. 乔纳森·斯威夫特. 格列佛游记.
• I have hinted once or twice before, that they were very bright eyes, and, though they were tearful now, their influence was by no means lessened. 查尔斯·狄更斯. 匹克威克外传.
• And then, having yourselves thus lessened our encouragement for raising sheep, you curse us for the scarcity of mutton! 本杰明·富兰克林. 富兰克林自传.
• He had tested and weighed his convictions again and again, and saw no reason to alter them, though he had considerably lessened his plan. 托马斯·哈代. 还乡.
• Thus they obtained air and proper ventilation without fear of lessening the safety of their cabin. 埃德加·赖斯·巴勒斯. 人猿泰山.
• While thus lessening the cost of time-keepers their value has been enhanced by increasing their accuracy and durability. 威廉·亨利·杜利特. 世纪发明.
• There will be more and better light in homes; there will be more and better light in offices and factories, thus greatly lessening the chances for injury or eye-strain. 佚名. 神奇的知识之书.
• But, by lessening the competition of capitals in that branch of trade, it necessarily raised the rate of profit in that branch. 亚当·斯密. 国富论.
• Lessening of the atmospheric pressure upon water causes its evaporation, and as the vapour is quietly absorbed by the sulphuric acid the water is quickly congealed. 威廉·亨利·杜利特. 世纪发明.
• Their use on many other vehicles has accomplished his objects, of lessening the power required to draw carriages, rendering the motion easier, and diminishing the noise. 威廉·亨利·杜利特. 世纪发明.
• I never thought of lessening the distance betwixt us, I am sure. 查尔斯·狄更斯. 小杜丽.
• Diagram showing how supplying a city with good water lessens sickness and death. 伯莎M.克拉克. 科学通论.
• The tendency of iron to rust lessens its efficiency and value, and many devices have been introduced to prevent rusting. 伯莎M.克拉克. 科学通论.
• The tax made upon the nervous system by the defective eye lessens the supply of energy available for other bodily use, and the general health suffers. 伯莎M.克拉克. 科学通论.

校对:伦道夫