in the least 丝毫
in the least[ adv ]- to any extent at all
<adv.all>
are you in the least interested?
- in the slightest degree or in any respect
<adv.all>
Are you at all interested? No, not at all
was not in the least unfriendly
Least \Least\ (l[=e]st), a. [OE. last, lest, AS. l[=ae]sast,
l[=ae]sest, superl. of l[=ae]ssa less. See {Less}, a.] [Used
as the superlative of little.]
Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most
unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least
space.
Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun.
I am the least of the apostles. --1 Cor. xv.
9.
{At least}, or {At the least}, at the least estimate,
consideration, chance, etc.; being no less than; hence, at
any rate; at all events; even. See {However}.
He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The tempted with dishonor. --Milton.
Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he
were a man, who sat as on horseback. --Sir P.
Sidney.
{In least}, or {In the least}, in the least degree, manner,
etc. ``He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much.'' --Luke xvi. 10.
{Least squares} (Math.), a method of deducing from a number
of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of
a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown
quantities.
Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most
probable values are those which make the sum of the
squares of the residual errors of the observation a
minimum.