small

v. t. To make little or less. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Smaller 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

To compare
Great things with small. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean. [ 1913 Webster ]

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. “A still, small voice.” 1 Kings xix. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [ Obs. ] “I wept but small.” Chaucer. “It small avails my mood.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [ Obs. or Humorous ] [ 1913 Webster ]

You may speak as small as you will. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Small + F. ache smallage. See Ach parsley. ] (Bot.) A biennial umbelliferous plant (Apium graveolens) native of the seacoats of Europe and Asia. When deprived of its acrid and even poisonous properties by cultivation, it becomes celery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. A man's garment for the hips and thighs; breeches. See Breeches. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat small. G. W. Cable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being small. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Small + pox, pocks. ] (Med.) A contagious, constitutional, febrile disease characterized by a peculiar eruption; variola. The cutaneous eruption is at first a collection of papules which become vesicles (first flat, subsequently umbilicated) and then pustules, and finally thick crusts which slough after a certain time, often leaving a pit, or scar. [ 1913 Webster ]