Lessen /(lĕs"'n)/

imp. & p. p. Lessened; p. pr. & vb. n. Lessening

1. To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.

   Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment.

   St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.

1. To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened.

   The objection lessens much, and comes to no more than this: there was one witness of no good reputation.