Least \Least\, a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l?sast, l?sest, superl.
of l?ssa less. See Less, a.]
[Used as the superlative of
little.]
Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most
unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least
space.
Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun.
I am the least of the apostles. --1 Cor. xv.
9.
At least, or At the least, at the least estimate,
consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all
events; even. See However.
He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The
tempted with dishonor. --Milton.
Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he
were a man, who sat as on horseback. --Sir P.
Sidney.
In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner,
etc. ``He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much.'' --Luke xvi. 10.
Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number
of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of
a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown
quantities.
Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most
probable values are those which make the sum of the
squares of the residual errors of the observation a
minimum.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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