Less, a. [OE. lesse, AS. lǣssa; akin to OFries. lēssa; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has the sense of the comparative degree of little.] Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
☞ The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n.
Thus in less than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. E. A. Freeman.