catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Least \Least\ (l[=e]st), a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l[=ae]sast,
     l[=ae]sest, superl. of l[=ae]ssa less. See Less, a.] [Used
     as the superlative of little.]
     Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most
     unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least
     space.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 I am the least of the apostles.    --1 Cor. xv.
                                                    9.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     At least, or At the least, at the least estimate,
        consideration, chance, etc.; being no less than; hence, at
        any rate; at all events; even. See However.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
              The tempted with dishonor.            --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he
              were a man, who sat as on horseback.  --Sir P.
                                                    Sidney.
        
  
     In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner,
        etc. ``He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
        much.'' --Luke xvi. 10.
  
     Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number
        of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of
        a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown
        quantities.
  
     Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most
           probable values are those which make the sum of the
           squares of the residual errors of the observation a
           minimum.
           [1913 Webster]

  Least \Least\, a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l?sast, l?sest, superl.
     of l?ssa less. See Less, a.] [Used as the superlative of
     little.]
     Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most
     unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least
     space.
  
     Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun.
  
                 I am the least of the apostles.    --1 Cor. xv.
                                                    9.
  
     At least, or At the least, at the least estimate,
        consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all
        events; even. See However.
  
              He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The
              tempted with dishonor.                --Milton.
  
              Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he
              were a man, who sat as on horseback.  --Sir P.
                                                    Sidney.
        
  
     In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner,
        etc. ``He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
        much.'' --Luke xvi. 10.
  
     Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number
        of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of
        a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown
        quantities.
  
     Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most
           probable values are those which make the sum of the
           squares of the residual errors of the observation a
           minimum.