les te

Middle English

Etymology

Inherited from Old English þȳ lǣs þe (“whereby less that”), from þȳ (instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt “that”) + lǣs (“less”) + þe (“that,” relative particle). The þȳ was dropped and the remaining two words contracted into leste.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈlɛs tɛ/, /ˈlɛːs tɛ/, /-tə/

Conjunction

les te

  1. less that

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “les te”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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