still less

still less
much more, much less, still more, still less
The principles, much more the practice, need a good deal of scrutiny. I didn't even see him, still less talk to him. Much more (or still more) is used when the grammatical form of the sentence is positive, and much less (or still less) when it is negative. Uncertainty arises when the form is positive but the sense is negative, as with adjectives in un- and words like difficult. In the sentence It is difficult to establish all the facts, much less to reach a conclusion, much more is strictly needed, not much less, but the result is awkward and an alternative such as let alone is often preferred.

Modern English usage. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • still less — still/much/even/less phrase used after a negative statement in order to emphasize that it applies even more to what you say next They are not interested in reading poetry, still less in writing it. I am no one’s spokesman, much less his.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • still less — conjunction Date: 1721 much less, let alone < no living person…seemed to notice him, still less to expect him Thomas Hardy > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • less — [ les ] function word *** Less is the comparative form of the function word little and can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (before a noun): Eat less fat. Schools put less emphasis on being creative. as a pronoun: Connie did less… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • less — [les] adj. [ME les < OE læs, adv. læssa, adj. (used as compar. of lytel, LITTLE), akin to OFris les < IE * leis < base * lei , to diminish, meager, > LITTLE] 1. alt. compar. of LITTLE 2. not so much; smaller in size or amount [to… …   English World dictionary

  • still more — much more, much less, still more, still less The principles, much more the practice, need a good deal of scrutiny. I didn t even see him, still less talk to him. Much more (or still more) is used when the grammatical form of the sentence is… …   Modern English usage

  • less — less1 W1S1 [les] adv 1.) not so much or to a smaller degree ≠ ↑more ▪ Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation. ▪ In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently. less (...) than ▪ Tickets were less expensive than I had …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • less — [[t]le̱s[/t]] ♦ (Less is often considered to be the comparative form of little.) 1) DET: DET n uncount You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use a little , a lot , a bit , far ,… …   English dictionary

  • less */*/*/ — UK [les] / US adverb, determiner, preposition, pronoun Summary: Less is the comparative form of the function word little and can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (before a noun): Eat less fat. ♦ Schools put less emphasis on being… …   English dictionary

  • less — 1 /les/ adverb 1 not so much; to a smaller degree: I found the second half of the play less interesting than the first. | We go to Paris less frequently now. | You ought to smoke less. opposite more 1 (1) 2 less and less gradually becoming… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • less — adj., adv., n., & prep. adj. 1 smaller in extent, degree, duration, number, etc. (of less importance; in a less degree). 2 of smaller quantity, not so much (opp. MORE) (find less difficulty; eat less meat). 3 disp. fewer (eat less biscuits). 4 of …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”