Lessened

Examples

• On this principle nurserymen always prefer saving seed from a large body of plants, as the chance of intercrossing is thus lessened. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
• The dancers all lessened their speed. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
• The bumping against the door, the laughter, the stamping, were all as vigorous as ever, and the pleasure in being outside lessened considerably. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
• I found my terror gradually lessened, but my hatred and contempt seemed to increase. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
• I have hinted once or twice before, that they were very bright eyes, and, though they were tearful now, their influence was by no means lessened. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
• And then, having yourselves thus lessened our encouragement for raising sheep, you curse us for the scarcity of mutton! Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
• He had tested and weighed his convictions again and again, and saw no reason to alter them, though he had considerably lessened his plan. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
• She sobbed on desperately; then the outpour lessened, and she became quieter. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
• Some halls are so large that the reflected sounds cause a confusion of echoes, but this difficulty can be lessened by hanging draperies, which break the reflection. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• The evil results of an accident with acid can be lessened if we know just what to do and do it quickly, but for this we must have a knowledge of bases, the second group of chemicals. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• As the moments lessened, a restlessness and fear almost beyond the average assailed me. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
• Her strength was lessened; she could account for it. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• Motion is thus hindered, and the effective value of the acting force is lessened. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• Several changes of day and night passed, and the orb of night had greatly lessened when I began to distinguish my sensations from each other. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
• But Emma's wonder lessened soon afterwards, on seeing Mr. Elton sauntering about. Jane Austen. Emma.
• As nearly as he could determine the swings of the lamp as they lessened were keeping the same times. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
• The labor can be greatly lessened by moistening the scrubbing cloth with turpentine and applying it to the greasy film, which immediately dissolves and thus can be easily removed. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• But, nevertheless, gas is saved, because when the mantle is adjusted to the gas jet, the pressure of the gas is lessened by a mechanical device and hence less gas escapes and burns. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• Yes, they will be greatly lessened. Plato. The Republic.
• The mass of the soap does not come in contact with the skin, and hence the spread of contagious skin diseases is lessened. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• The sum total of matter has not been changed, but the amount of matter which man can use has been greatly lessened. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
• The pain of his continued residence in Highbury, however, must certainly be lessened by his marriage. Jane Austen. Emma.

Editor: Paula