喜樂美語

Think of all the amounts lined up from big to small, and 'least' is the very smallest one in the row — the bottom end. It's the superlative of 'little': not just small, but smaller than every other amount being compared. From that 'rock-bottom point' grows everything else — 'at least' (the lowest the number can go), 'not in the least' (all the way down to zero), and 'least of all' (lowest on a list of likelihood).

可以想成把一排數量從大到小排好，least 就是這一排裡「最小、最底下」的那一個——它是 little（少）的最高級：不只是少，而是比拿來比較的每一個都更少。從這個「最底端」的點，長出其他所有用法：at least（數字往下能掉到的最低處）、not in the least（一路掉到零）、least of all（在「最不可能」的名單上排最底）。

Four branches

最小的量、最低的程度（核心）

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smallest amount · determiner · B1

The least means the smallest amount of something, less than any other amount.

最少（的量）

at least：往下踩到的最低底線

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at least (a minimum number) · determiner · B1

If something is at least a number, that number is the smallest it can be, and the real amount may be more.

至少（不少於）

一路掉到零：完全不、最不

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not in the least / not the least bit · determiner · B1

Not in the least and not the least bit both mean not at all, not even a tiny amount.

一點也不

說話的緩衝與強調

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to say the least · determiner · B1

You add to say the least to show that what you said is much milder than the real situation.

說得保守一點

意思相近

the smallest amountthe minimumto the smallest degreethe slightestanythe smallestat minimumno fewer thanno less thanif nothing elseto put it mildlyat any rate+21

意思相反

the mostthe maximummostat mostat worstveryextremelyespeciallymost of allthe biggest problem

原始詞典資料13 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

leastadj詞源 1/liːst/

  • 1

    Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

    • least common multiple
    • Of two ils chose the least, while choise lyeth in lot.
  • 2

    Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

    • least weasel
    • The firſt is a very ſlender plant hauing a fevve ſmall leaues like the leaſt Chickvveede, grovving in little tufts, from the midſt vvhereof riſeth vp a ſmall ſtalke, nine inches long; […]
  • 3

    archaicChiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

    • [M]ans reaſon is ſo farre off from being the meaſurer of faith, vvhich very far exceedeth nature, that it is not ſo much as the meaſurer of nature, & of the leaſt creatures vvhich lie farre vnderneath man; becauſe of the ignorance and vntovvardnes vvhich is in vs and raigneth in vs.
    • But if I thriue, the gaine of my attempt, / The leaſt of you, ſhall ſhare his part thereof.
  • 4

    obsoleteChiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

leastdet詞源 1/liːst/

  • 1

    Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

    • He earns the least money in his family.
    • Of all the sisters, she has the least patience.
  • 2

    Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

    • Whichever queue contains the least items by the time this logic branch is reached will be executed first.
  • 3

    Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

    • not even the least amount
    • It is indicative of his true character that he could not manage to show even the least bit of courtesy in such a situation.

leastadv詞源 1/liːst/

  • 1

    In a degree below all others; in the lowest or smallest degree.

    • My best routine was the one I had practised the least.
    • I don’t much like housework, and doing the dishes least of all.
  • 2

    Used to form superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.

    • It was the least surprising thing.

leastnoun詞源 1/liːst/

  • 1

    Preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the lowest-ranking or most insignificant person or (sometimes) group of people.

    • even the least of
    • The pastor preached that even the least of God’s creatures deserves freedom from needless or idle cruelty.
  • 2

    human-sciencesphilosophysciencesSomething of the smallest possible extent; an indivisible unit; a minimum.

leastpron詞源 1/liːst/

  • 1

    Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the smallest amount or extent of something.

    • I’m giving least of all towards her present.
    • To have demolished and rebuilt the walls, would have been a very costly expedient, and as the least of two evils, the painter's brush was resorted to; here and there however, above some of the windows, the black wreathings of the smoke are still discernible through the white covering.

leastprep_phrase詞源 2/liːst/

  • 1

    informalAt least.

    • “Why he took and dipped his hand in a rotten stump where the rain water was.” “In the day time?” “Certainly.” “With his face to the stump?” “Yes. Least I reckon so.”
    • What a stupid white privileged POS I am! Least I call myself out.

摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。