---
title: lesser — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lesser» in the school dictionary: Lesser means smaller in amount or size: the lesser of two numbers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lesser

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Lesser, you, lesser amount, Staying, He, cold · **What happens:** mean, be, spot, name, subtract, choose · **To what, where:** smaller kind, animals, lesser number, 12, lesser prize, science · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«lesser» 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: [lesser in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lesser.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lesser means smaller in amount or size: the lesser of two numbers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:m1:1
# text = Lesser means smaller in amount or size: the lesser of two numbers.
1	Lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	parataxis	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lesser means less important or not as good: a lesser prize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:m2:1
# text = Lesser means less important or not as good: a lesser prize.
1	Lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	amod	_	_
12	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The lesser of two evils» is the less bad of two bad choices.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:m3:1
# text = «The lesser of two evils» is the less bad of two bad choices.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	evils	evil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
14	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	choices	choice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the lesser |  |  |  |  | of two bad choices; bad *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In names of animals and plants, lesser means the smaller kind: the lesser spotted woodpecker.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:m4:1
# text = In names of animals and plants, lesser means the smaller kind: the lesser spotted woodpecker.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	amod	_	_
12	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	conj	_	_
16	spotted	spot	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	woodpecker	woodpecker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | the smaller kind |  |  |  | in names of animals and plants | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot kind=Theme in name=Attribute |
| 2 | **spot** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 3 | **name** |  |  | animals and plants |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which is the lesser number, 34 or 43?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x1:1
# text = Which is the lesser number, 34 or 43?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	34	34	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	appos	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	43	43	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Subtract the lesser number from the greater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x2:1
# text = Subtract the lesser number from the greater.
1	Subtract	subtract	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	greater	great	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subtract** | imperative | you *not said here* | the lesser number |  |  |  | from the greater | vn multiply-108-2 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent number=Theme from great=Co-Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lesser amount is 12.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x3:1
# text = The lesser amount is 12.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Choose the lesser of the two prices.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x4:1
# text = Choose the lesser of the two prices.
1	Choose	choose	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	xcomp	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | less *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Staying home was the lesser of two evils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x5:1
# text = Staying home was the lesser of two evils.
1	Staying	stay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	csubj	_	_
2	home	home	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	evils	evil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | Staying |  |  |  |  | of two evils; less *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He won a lesser prize at the science fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x6:1
# text = He won a lesser prize at the science fair.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | He | a lesser prize |  | the science |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent prize=Theme at science=Asset |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lesser panda is also called the red panda.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x7:1
# text = The lesser panda is also called the red panda.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	panda	panda	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	panda	panda	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the lesser panda |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To a lesser degree, the cold also hurt the crops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x8:1
# text = To a lesser degree, the cold also hurt the crops.
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	degree	degree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	also	also	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | past | the cold | the crops |  |  |  | to a lesser degree | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer crop=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were two festivals of this name, the Lesser and the Greater Panathenaea.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lesser:x9:1
# text = There were two festivals of this name, the Lesser and the Greater Panathenaea.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	festivals	festival	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	parataxis	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Greater	great	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	conj	_	_
14	Panathenaea	Panathenaea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | two festivals of this name |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

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