least: [OE] In origin, least is simply the superlative form of less. The prehistoric Germanic ancestor of less was *laisiz (itself a comparative form). Addition of the superlative suffix produced *laisistaz, which passed into Old English as l?sest. Unchanged, this would have become in modern English *lessest, but it was contracted in the Old English period to l?st, and so modern English has least. => less
least (adj.)
Old English l?st, earlier l?sest "smallest" (superlative of lytel "small"), from Proto-Germanic superlative *laisistaz (see less). Qualifying phrase at least is Middle English ?t l?stan. As a noun, from early 12c.; as an adverb, c. 1200.
雙語例句
1. Try to eat at least four slices of bread a day.
每天盡量至少吃4片面包。
來自柯林斯例句
2. He is the least appealing character, to me at any rate.
他是其中最沒有吸引力的角色，至少對我來說是這樣。
來自柯林斯例句
3. At least three British golf courses are now owned by the Japanese.
現在英國至少有3家高爾夫球場為日本人所有。
來自柯林斯例句
4. At least this second meeting had helped to thaw the atmosphere.
這第二次會議至少起到了緩和氣氛的作用。
來自柯林斯例句
5. I don't have the least idea of what you're talking about.