Lessened

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lessen \Less"en\ (l[e^]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lessened}
     (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lessening}.] [From {Less}, 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.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. --Calamy.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men
           conspired to lessen it.                  --Atterbury.
  
     Syn: To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair;
          weaken; degrade.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  lessened
       adj 1: impaired by diminution [syn: {diminished}, {vitiated}, {weakened}]
       2: decreased in severity; made less harsh