---
title: least — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «least» in the school dictionary: Least means the smallest amount. The one with the least has less than all the others. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# least

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** one, least, one good thing, It, we, box · **What happens:** mean, have, be, rain, not mean, hold · **To what, where:** smallest amount, less, number, least, umbrellas, least money · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«least» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [least in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/least.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Least means the smallest amount. The one with the least has less than all the others.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Least means the smallest amount.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:m1:1
# text = Least means the smallest amount.
1	Least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | the smallest amount |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent amount=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* The one with the least has less than all the others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:m1:2
# text = The one with the least has less than all the others.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	nmod	_	_
6	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	obj	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	11	det:predet	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the one with the least | less |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent less=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«At least» means that number or more, not fewer: «at least 3 coins».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:m2:1
# text = «At least» means that number or more, not fewer: «at least 3 coins».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	17	nmod	_	_
17	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | least | that number  more |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«At least» also means «anyway, there is one good thing»: «It rained, but at least we had umbrellas».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:m3:1
# text = «At least» also means «anyway, there is one good thing»: «It rained, but at least we had umbrellas».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	anyway	anyway	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	11	expl	_	_
11	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
13	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	rained	rain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
22	at	at	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	25	obl	_	_
24	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	parataxis	_	_
26	umbrellas	umbrella	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | least |  | anyway *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* | present | one good thing |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **rain** *in a quote* | past | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | past | we | umbrellas |  | least |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent umbrella=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Not in the least» means not at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:m4:1
# text = «Not in the least» means not at all.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present | the least |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who has the least money?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x1:1
# text = Who has the least money?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present |  | the least money |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which box holds the least water?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x2:1
# text = Which box holds the least water?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | which box | the least water |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You need at least 3 coins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x3:1
# text = You need at least 3 coins.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	nmod	_	_
5	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | You | 3 coins |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot coin=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At least how many cars are needed for 20 people?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x4:1
# text = At least how many cars are needed for 20 people?
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present · passive |  | least many cars |  |  |  | for 20 people | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x5:1
# text = The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	least	least	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	3	advmod	_	_
3	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	multiple	multiple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the common multiple of 4 | 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was cold, but at least it didn't rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x6:1
# text = It was cold, but at least it didn't rain.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	obl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | cold *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | past | it | rain |  | least |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rain=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Last but not least, thank you to our helpers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x7:1
# text = Last but not least, thank you to our helpers.
1	Last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	least	least	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	helpers	helper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  | Last | you |  |  | to our helpers | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brush your teeth at least twice a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x8:1
# text = Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
1	Brush	brush	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	obl	_	_
6	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	1	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brush** | imperative | you *not said here* | your teeth |  |  | day | twice *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No one has the least idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:least:x9:1
# text = No one has the least idea.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | no one | the least idea |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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