• Lessen

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: lěʹsÉ™n, IPA: /ˈlÉ›sÉ™n/
    • Rhymes: -É›sÉ™n

    Full definition of lessen

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
      • CalamyCharity ... shall lessen his punishment.
      • AtterburySt. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.
      • 2011, December 16, Denis Campbell, Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients', Many hospitals have not taken simple steps to lessen the distress and confusion which dementia sufferers' often feel on being somewhere so unfamiliar – such as making signs large and easy to read, using colour schemes to help patients find their way around unfamiliar wards and not putting family mementoes such as photographs nearby.
    2. (intransitive) To become less.

    Anagrams

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