Small \Small\ (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. Smaller
(sm[add]l"[~e]r); superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. smael;
akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal
narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small
cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.]
1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same
kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large
or extended in dimension; not great; not much;
inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
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To compare
Great things with small. --Milton.
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2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or
importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a
small fault; a small business.
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3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; --
sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
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A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of
interesting the greatest man. --Carlyle.
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4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short;
as, after a small space. --Shak.
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5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still,
small voice." --1 Kings xix. 12.
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Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially
of persons. "His quests, great and small." --Chaucer.
Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction
from cannon.
Small beer. See under Beer.
Small coal.
(a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires.
--Gay.
(b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the
coarser parts by screening.
Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a
small size.
Small fruits. See under Fruit.
Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper.
Small hours. See under Hour.
Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See
Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a.
Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or
about 41/2cents.
Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7.
Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest
kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.
Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as
tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
small letter
n : the characters that were once kept in bottom half of a
compositor's type case [syn: lower case, lower-case
letter, minuscule] [ant: capital]
WordNet (r) 2.0
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