(les)
Comparative of LITTLE.
—adjective
1. Smaller; not as large or much.
2. Of slighter consequence; inferior in age, rank, etc.
3. Fewer: used with collective nouns. Less refers to quantity, measure, or degree; fewer refers to number.
—noun
1. A smaller part or quantity.
2. The smaller (of things compared); the younger (of persons).
—adverb In an inferior degree; not as much.
—prep. Minus; by the subtraction or omission of: a year less a month, nine less six. [OE læssa]

1. Deprived or destitute of; without: harmless.
2. Beyond the range of (the action of the main element): countless. [OE -leas <leas free from]