Was (wer) ist least - definition
FEATURE OF GRAMMAR
Superlative; Grammatical superlative; Grammatical comparative; Degree of comparison; Positive (linguistics); Comparative adjective; Least; Superlatives; Three degrees of comparison; Absolute superlative; Degrees of comparison; Superlative suffix; Superlative degree; Comparison in English; Comparative and superlative; Comparison (linguistics)
least
n. at the least
least
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: 'Least' is often considered to be the superlative form of 'little'.
1.
You use at least to say that a number or amount is the smallest that is possible or likely and that the actual number or amount may be greater. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
Aim to have at least half a pint of milk each day...
Normally it has only had eleven or twelve members in all. Now it will have seventeen at the very least.
PHRASE: PHR amount, amount PHR
2.
You use at least to say that something is the minimum that is true or possible. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
She could take a nice holiday at least...
At the least, I needed some sleep...
His possession of classified documents in his home was, at the very least, a violation of Navy security regulations.
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
3.
You use at least to indicate an advantage that exists in spite of the disadvantage or bad situation that has just been mentioned.
We've no idea what his state of health is but at least we know he is still alive...
If something awful happens to you at least you can write about it.
PHRASE: PHR with cl
4.
You use at least to indicate that you are correcting or changing something that you have just said.
It's not difficult to get money for research or at least it's not always difficult...
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
5.
You use the least to mean a smaller amount than anyone or anything else, or the smallest amount possible.
I try to offend the least amount of people possible...
If you like cheese, go for the ones with the least fat.
? most
ADJ: the ADJ n
•
Least is also a pronoun.
On education funding, Japan performs best but spends the least per student.
? most
PRON: the PRON
•
Least is also an adverb.
Damming the river may end up benefitting those who need it the least.
ADV: the ADV after v
6.
You use least to indicate that someone or something has less of a particular quality than most other things of its kind.
The least experienced athletes had caused a great many false-starts through the day's proceedings...
? most
ADV: ADV adj/adv
7.
You use the least to emphasize the smallness of something, especially when it hardly exists at all.
I don't have the least idea of what you're talking about...
They neglect their duty at the least hint of fun elsewhere...
ADJ: the ADJ n [emphasis]
8.
You use least to indicate that something is true or happens to a smaller degree or extent than anything else or at any other time.
He had a way of throwing her off guard with his charm when she least expected it.
? most
ADV: ADV with v
9.
You use least in structures where you are emphasizing that a particular situation or event is much less important or serious than other possible or actual ones.
Having to get up at three o'clock every morning was the least of her worries...
At that moment, they were among the least of the concerns of the government.
ADJ: ADJ of def-n [emphasis]
10.
You use the least in structures where you are stating the minimum that should be done in a situation, and suggesting that more should really be done.
Well, the least you can do, if you won't help me yourself, is to tell me where to go instead...
The least his hotel could do is provide a little privacy.
PRON: the PRON cl
11.
You can use in the least and the least bit to emphasize a negative.
I'm not like that at all. Not in the least...
I'm not in the least bit touched by the Marilyn Monroe kind of beauty...
Alice wasn't the least bit frightened.
PHRASE: with brd-neg, PHR with cl, PHR adj [emphasis]
12.
You use last but not least to say that the last person or thing to be mentioned is as important as all the others.
...her four sons, Christopher, twins Daniel and Nicholas, and last but not least 2-year-old Jack.
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group
13.
You can use least of all after a negative statement to emphasize that it applies especially to the person or thing mentioned.
No one ever reads these articles, least of all me...
Such a speech should never have been made, least of all by a so called responsible politician.
PHRASE: with brd-neg, PHR cl/group [emphasis]
14.
You can use not least to emphasize a particularly important example or reason.
Dieting can be bad for you, not least because it is a cause of stress...
Everyone is more reluctant to travel these days, not least the Americans.
PHRASE: PHR cl/group [emphasis]
15.
You can use to say the least to suggest that a situation is actually much more extreme or serious than you say it is.
Accommodation was basic to say the least...
Some members of the public can be a bit abusive to say the least.
PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis]
least
I. a.
Smallest, minutest.
II. ad.
In the smallest degree.
Wikipedia
Comparison (grammar)
Comparison is a feature in the morphology or syntax of some languages whereby adjectives and adverbs are rendered in an inflected or periphrastic way to indicate a comparative degree, property, quality, or quantity of a corresponding word, phrase, or clause. A superlative construction expresses the greatest quality, quantity, or degree relative to all other comparators.
The associated grammatical category is degree of comparison. The usual degrees of comparison are the positive, which simply denotes a property (as with the English words big and fully); the comparative, which indicates greater degree (as bigger and more fully); and the superlative, which indicates greatest degree (as biggest and most fully). Some languages have forms indicating a very large degree of a particular quality (called elative in Semitic linguistics). Other languages (e.g. English) can express lesser degree, e.g. beautiful, less beautiful, least beautiful.
The comparative degrees are frequently associated with adjectives and adverbs because these words take the -er suffix or modifying word more or less. (e.g., faster, more intelligent, less wasteful). Comparison can also, however, appear when no adjective or adverb is present, for instance with nouns (e.g., more men than women). However, the usage of the word than between nouns simply denotes a comparison made and not degree of comparison comparing the intensity or the extent of the subjects. One preposition, near, also has comparative and superlative forms, as in Find the restaurant nearest your house.
Aussprachebeispiele für least
1. are least risk well, whose least
Melonie Parker _ Equity and Belonging _ Equity Talks
2. that you used least recently is least
Algorithms to Live By _ Brian Christian & Tom Griffiths _ Talks at Google
3. at least a website, at least.
Kati Morton _ Are U Okay _ Talks at Google
4. least visually offensive and least gimmicky-looking
The Lens is the Brush _ Vincent Versace _ Talks at Google
5. at least theoretically, and at least,
You're More Powerful Than You Think _ Eric Liu _ Talks at Google
Beispiele aus Textkorpus für least
1. Greenwich Capital gave at least $47,000; Tempus Resorts International, at least $36,800; Ernst & Young LLP, at least $2',550.
2. According to an AP count, from April 26 through June 16, at least 136 vehicle bombings have killed at least 4'2 people and wounded at least 1,40'. In addition, at least 10 suicide bombers, wearing explosives, have killed at least 188 people and wounded at least 4'3.
3. Employees of The Villages, a Florida retirement community, gave at least $58,100; Huron Consulting Group, at least $53,300; Credit Suisse Group, at least $23,650.
4. That storm killed at least two people, injured at least six others and heavily damaged at least 1' homes, authorities said.
5. The blast killed at least 28 people, including at least 1' children, according to Brig.