Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LESS'ER, a. [Sax. læssa, læsse, from læs. This word is a corruption; but too well established to be discarded.]

Less; smaller. Authors always write the Lesser Asia. By the same reason, may a man in a state of nature, punish the lesser breaches of that law. – Locke. God made the lesser light to rule the night. – Gen. i.