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especially adapted to structural purposes, esp. in giving the greatest strength with the least material. Hence, Colloq.,

n adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most pleasant, least bright. -- Su`per*la"tive*ly, adv. -- Su`per*la"tive*ness, n.

d; supposition; opinion. Shak. Interest, with a Jew, never proceeds but upon supposal, at least, of a firm and sufficient bottom. South.

urface film of all liquids and tends to bring the contained volume into a form having the least superficial area. The thickness of this film, amounting to less than a thousandth of a millimeter, is considered to equal the radius of the sphere of molecular action, that is, the greatest distance at which there is cohesio…

ke. -- Unequal temperament (Mus.), that in which the variations are thrown into the keys least used.

m. Tonic sol-fa (Mus.), the name of the most popular among letter systems of notation (at least in England), based on key relationship, and hence called "tonic." Instead of the five lines, clefs, signature, etc., of the usual notation, it employs letters and the syllables do, re, mi, etc., variously modified, with othe…

Stern; grim. See Torvous. [Obs.] But yesterday his breath Awed Rome, and his least torved frown was death. J. Webster (1654).

A single stroke on a drawing or a picture. Never give the least touch with your pencil till you have well examined your design. Dryden.

ted at two points, and arranged to transmit pressure vertically to those points, with the least possible strain across the length of any member. Architectural trusses when left visible, as in open timber roofs, often contain members not needed for construction, or are built with greater massiveness than is requisite, o…

The act of twisting; a contortion; a flexure; a convolution; a bending. Not the least turn or twist in the fibers of any one animal which does not render them more proper for that particular animal's way of life than any other cast or texture. Addison.

Having or bearing two names; as, two-name paper, that is, negotiable paper on which at least two persons are severally liable as separate makers, or, usually, one as maker and one as indorser. [Colloq.]

a sore discharging pus. It is distinguished from an abscess, which has its beginning, at least, in the depth of the tissues.

dinate action; a minor action incidental or subsidiary to the main story; an episode. The least episodes or underactions . . . are parts necessary or convenient to carry on the main design. Dryden.

arison of it I undervalued all ensigns of authority. Atterbury. I write not this with the least intention to undervalue the other parts of poetry. Dryden.

employment, as those engaged for short periods, those whose trade is decaying, and those least competent.

ains, ruin my mind South. His sufferings, nay the revolutions of his fate, had not in the least unhinged his mind. Walpole.

The least whole number; one. Units are the integral parts of any large number. I. Watts.

d and of the United States which is not derived from express legislative enactment, or at least from any enactment now extant and in force as such. This law is now generally contained in the reports of judicial decisions. See Common law, under Common. -- Unwritten laws, such laws as have been handed down by tradition…

or office; a period of intermission; rest; leisure. It was not in his nature, however, at least till years had chastened it, to take any vacation from controversy. Palfrey. Hence, specifically: -(a) (Law)

nce, the king, Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me. Shak. All the elements At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn With the violence of this conflict. Milton.