Less

From Middle English, from Old English lÃ¦s, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz.

Full definition of less

2013, Katrina G. Claw, Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm, In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.

1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 8, I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing.
2012, November 7, Matt Bai, Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obamaâ€™s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.

(now archaic except with numbers)
less
(comparative of little)
; smaller. from 11th c.

1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, in Kupperman 1988, p. 141:Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse ....

2013, William E. Conner, An Acoustic Arms Race, Earless ghost swift moths become â€œinvisibleâ€ to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.

1952, Thomas M Pryor, New York Times, 7 Sep 1952:This is not a happy situation as far as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes is concerned because it means less jobs for the union's members here at home.
1999, George RR Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam 2011, p. 555:No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion.
2003, Timandra Harkness, The Guardian, 16 Dec 2003:Although my hosts, G S Aviation, can teach you to fly in Wiltshire, an intensive week at their French airfield means less problems with the weather, cheap but good living, and complete removal from any distractions.

Minus; not includingIt should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.