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fewest

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms 0.02 sec.
few  (fy)
adj. few·er, few·est
1. Amounting to or consisting of a small number: one of my few bad habits.
2. Being more than one but indefinitely small in number: bowled a few strings.
n. (used with a pl. verb)
1. An indefinitely small number of persons or things: A few of the books have torn jackets.
2. An exclusive or limited number: the discerning few; the fortunate few.
pron. (used with a pl. verb)
A small number of persons or things: "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).

[Middle English fewe, from Old English fawe; see pau-1 in Indo-European roots.]

fewness n.
Usage Note: The traditional rule holds that fewer should be used for things that can be counted (fewer than four players), while less should be used with mass terms for things of measurable extent (less paper; less than a gallon of paint). However, less is used in some constructions where fewer would occur if the traditional rule were being followed. Less than can be used before a plural noun that denotes a measure of time, amount, or distance: less than three weeks; less than $400; less than 50 miles. Less is sometimes used with plural nouns in the expressions no less than (as in No less than 30 of his colleagues signed the letter) and or less (as in Give your reasons in 25 words or less).
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.fewest - (superlative of `few' used with count nouns and usually preceded by `the') quantifier meaning the smallest in number; "the fewest birds in recent memory"
superlative - an exaggerated expression (usually of praise); "the critics lavished superlatives on it"
most - (superlative of `many' used with count nouns and often preceded by `the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number; "who has the most apples?"; "most people like eggs"; "most fishes have fins"
Translations
fewest [ˈfjuːɪst] ADJ & PRON & SUPERL of fewlos/las menos
fewest [ˈfjuːɪst] adj superlativele moins de
fewest superl of few
adjdie wenigsten
prondie wenigsten, am wenigsten
fewest [ˈfjuːɪst] adj & pron & superl of fewil minor numero di
we were fewest in number → eravamo i meno numerosi
fewest [ˈfjuːɪst] adj & pron & superl of fewil minor numero di
we were fewest in number → eravamo i meno numerosi


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
If this remark be just, it becomes useful to inquire whether so many JUST causes of war are likely to be given by UNITED AMERICA as by DISUNITED America; for if it should turn out that United America will probably give the fewest, then it will follow that in this respect the Union tends most to preserve the people in a state of peace with other nations.
Look when the world hath fewest barbarous peoples, but such as commonly will not marry or generate, except they know means to live
I chose one out of all the possible directions because in it there were fewest obstacles.
 
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