Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LESS'EN, v.t. [les'n. from less.]

1. To make less; to diminish; to reduce in bulk, size, quantity, number or amount; to make smaller; as, to lessen a kingdom or its population.
2. To diminish in degree, state or quality; as, awkward manners tend to lessen our respect for men of merit.
3. To degrade; to reduce in dignity. St. Paul chose to magnify his office, when ill men conspired to lessen it. – Atterbury.