The word "lessen" is commonly misspelled as "lesson" due to their similar pronunciation. However, the pronunciation of "lessen" can be differentiated by the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈlɛsən/, where the stress is on the first syllable and the final sound is "en" rather than "on". The correct spelling of "lessen" means to make something smaller or reduce its amount, while "lesson" refers to something learned or taught. By paying attention to the phonetic transcription, we can avoid confusion between these two words.
The term "lessen" is a verb that signifies the act of reducing something in quantity, intensity, severity, or degree. It refers to diminishing or decreasing the magnitude, importance, or effect of something. When applying this action, there is a deliberate intention to make something smaller, shorter, or weaker. "Lessen" can be used to describe the process of making something smaller in size, such as reducing the amount of clutter in a room or diminishing the size of a pile of documents.
Additionally, "lessen" can indicate the act of reducing the importance, impact, or weight of something, especially when discussing issues, problems, or concerns. For instance, a company might implement strategies to lessen the impact of the current economic crisis. In this context, "lessen" means to mitigate or diminish the negative effects or consequences of a particular situation.
The term can also indicate reducing something abstract, such as reducing stress, anxiety, or discomfort. It involves alleviating the intensity or degree of a certain emotional or physical state. For example, engaging in relaxation techniques can help lessen the effects of anxiety.
Overall, "lessen" conveys the idea of reducing, diminishing, or mitigating the quantity, intensity, importance, or impact of something, whether it be physical, abstract, or conceptual in nature.
To diminish; to reduce; to become less.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "lessen" has been derived from the Middle English "lesen", which itself originated from the Old English word "lǣssian". The Old English term "lǣssian" meant "to make less" or "to make smaller". It is believed to be connected to the Proto-Germanic word "laisizjan", which means "to make small" or "reduce". The word "lessen" has retained its core meaning throughout its linguistic evolution, referring to the act of reducing or decreasing the amount, size, or intensity of something.