early 13c., a double comparative, from less + -er (2). Johnson calls it "a barbarous corruption of less, formed by the vulgar from the habit of terminating comparatives in -er." As an adverb from 1590s; now generally poetic or obsolete except in expression lesser-known (1813).
雙語例句
1. People voted for him as the lesser of two evils.
人們投票支持他只不過是兩害相權(quán)取其輕罷了。
來自柯林斯例句
2. They pleaded guilty to lesser charges of criminal damage.
他們承認(rèn)了刑事毀壞的較輕罪名。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The two discs also contain two of Britten's lesser-known song-cycles.
這兩張唱片還包含了布里頓兩首不甚知名的聲樂套曲。
來自柯林斯例句
4. people of lesser importance
次要人物
來自《權(quán)威詞典》
5. The more obvious potential allies are Ireland, Denmark and, to a lesser degree, the Netherlands.