From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Least \Least\ (l[=e]st), adjective [OE. last, lest, AS. l[=ae]sast, l[=ae]sest, superl. of l[=ae]ssa less. See {Less}, adjective] [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.; being no less than; 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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Least \Least\, adverb In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Least \Least\, conj. See {Lest}, conj. [Obs.] --Spenser.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
adjective
1: the superlative of 'little' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by 'the'; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree; "didn't care the least bit"; "he has the least talent of anyone" [syn: {least(a)}] [ant: {most(a)}]
2: minimal in magnitude; "lowest wages"; "the least amount of fat allowed"; "the smallest amount" [syn: {lowest}, {smallest}]
3: having or being distinguished by diminutive size; "the least bittern" [syn: {littlest}, {smallest}]
adverb
1: used to form the superlative; "The garter snake is the least dangerous snake" [syn: {to the lowest degree}] [ant: {most}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
43 Moby Thesaurus words for "least": at a disadvantage, at the nadir, below, below the mark, few, homely, humble, humble-looking, humble-visaged, humblest, in the gutter, inglorious, innocuous, least of all, less, littlest, low, lowest, lowliest, lowly, mean, minim, minimum, minority, minority group, modest, plain, poor, short of, shortest, simple, slightest, small, smallest, teachable, the few, the minority, under, under par, undistinguished, unimportant, unpretentious, we happy few
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Let's see what we can do if we put our heads together.
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