lessen
UK[ˈlesn]US[ˈlesn]
v
to become or make something become smaller, weaker, less important, etc.
v
to reduce the severity or impact of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
less
en
less
smaller
en
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'lessen' is a native English formation built from the comparative adjective 'less', which itself descends from the Old English lǣssa. This Old English term is related to the Proto-Germanic laisiz, meaning "smaller" or "less". The addition of the productive Old English verbal suffix -nian (modern -en) directly transforms the concept of "being less" into the action of "making or becoming less". This straightforward morphological process—applying a verb-creating suffix to an existing adjective—illustrates a common and logical pattern in English for generating new words that describe a change in state. The semantic journey is transparent: from the ancient comparative idea of reduced quantity or degree to the modern abstract action of reduction or diminishment.
Analysis
Structure: less (smaller) + en (verb-forming suffix)
- less: From Old English lǣs, lǣssa (smaller, lesser), of Germanic origin. Functions as the core adjective/adverb root conveying the concept of reduced degree or amount.
- en: A verb-forming suffix from Old English -nian, used to form verbs from adjectives or nouns, meaning "to become or make (adjective)".
Examples
The pain began to lessen after she took the medication.
We need to lessen the environmental impact of our manufacturing process.
His influence in the company lessened significantly after the merger.