lessened

The word 'lessened' is built upon the Old English comparative adjective 'lǣssa', meaning 'smaller'. The addition of the verb-forming suffix '-en', originating from the Old English '-nian', transformed the adjective into the verb 'lessen', meaning 'to make or become less'. The final '-ed' suffix, a common Germanic inflection, marks the verb for past tense or past participle. Thus, the literal morphemic construction "make small in the past" directly and logically conveys the modern meaning of having reduced in degree or intensity.

Structure: less (small) + en (verb suffix) + ed (past tense suffix) - less: From Old English 'lǣssa', comparative of 'lǣt' meaning 'small, little'. Functions as the core adjective/adverb root. - en: From Old English '-nian', a verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make or become'. Functions as a derivational suffix. - ed: From Old English '-ode', '-ade', a suffix marking the past tense and past participle. Functions as an inflectional suffix.