01 a. Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; -- opposed to big or large; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a l…
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1.
Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; -- opposed to big or large; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill; a little distance; a little child.“He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.” — Luke xix. 3.
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2.
Short in duration; brief; as, a little sleep.“Best him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too.” — Shak.
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3.
Small in quantity or amount; not much; as, a little food; a little air or water.“Conceited of their little wisdoms, and doting upon their own fancies.” — Barrow.
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4.
Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible.“When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes?” — I Sam. xv. 17.
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5.
Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, little attention or exertion;little effort; little care or diligence.“By sad experiment I know How little weight my words with thee can find.” — Milton.
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6.
Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.“The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise, Because their natures are little.” — Tennyson.“The men, and the women, and the little ones.” — Deut. ii. 34.
Phrases & compounds
Little chief —
See Chief hare.
Little Englander —
an Englishman opposed to territorial expansion of the British Empire. See Antiimperialism, above.
Little Englandism —
the fourth and smallest finger of the hand.
Little go —
a public examination about the middle of the course, which is less strict and important than the final one; -- called also smalls. Cf. Great go, under Great.
Little hours —
the offices of prime, tierce, sext, and nones. Vespers and compline are sometimes included.
Little-neck clam —
the quahog, or round clam.
Little ones —
young children.