Little

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Μικρός (Strong'S #3398 — Adjective — mikros — mik-ros', mik-rot'-er-os )

"little, small" (the opposite of megas, "great"), is used (a) of persons, with regard to (1) station, or age, in the singular,  Mark 15:40 , of James "the less" (RV marg., "little"), possibly referring to age;  Luke 19:3; in the plural, "little" ones,  Matthew 18:6,10,14;  Mark 9:42; (2) rank or influence, e.g.,  Matthew 10:42 (see context);   Acts 8:10;  26:22 , "small," as in  Revelation 11:18;  13:16;  19:5,18;  20:12; (b) of things, with regard to (1) size, e.g.,  James 3:5 (some mss. have No. 2 here); (2) quantity,   Luke 12:32;  1—Corinthians 5:6;  Galatians 5:9;  Revelation 3:8; (3) time,  John 7:33;  12:35;  Revelation 6:11;  20:3 . See B, No. 1. See Least , Small.

A — 2: Ὀλίγος (Strong'S #3641 — Adjective — oligos — ol-ee'-gos )

"little, few" (the opposite of polus, "much"), is translated "short" in  Revelation 12:12; in the neut. sing., e.g.,  2—Corinthians 8:15 . For  James 3:5 , see No. 1. See Few , Short , Small.

A — 3: Βραχύς (Strong'S #1024 — Adjective — brachus — brakh-ooce' )

"short," is used to some extent adverbially of (a) time, with the preposition meta, "after,"  Luke 22:58 , "(after) a little while;" in  Acts 5:34 , without a preposition, RV, "a little while" (AV, "a little space"); in  Hebrews 2:7,9 , "a little" (AV marg. in ver. 7, and RV marg., in both, "a little while"), where the writer transfers to time what the Sept. in  Psalm 8:5 says of rank; (b) of quantity,   John 6:7; in  Hebrews 13:22 , preceded by the preposition dia, "by means of," and with logon, "words" (genitive plural) understood, "(in) few words;" (c) of distance,  Acts 27:28 , RV, "a little space" (AV, "a little further"). See Few , Further , Space.

A — 4: Ἐλάχιστος (Strong'S #1646 — — elachistos — el-akh'-is-tos )

which serves as the superlative of No. 1, is translated "a very little" in  Luke 19:17 . See Least.

Least

B — 1: Μικρόν (Strong'S #3397 — Adjective — mikron — mik-ron' )

the neuter of A, No. 1, is used adverbially (a) of distance,  Matthew 26:39;  Mark 14:35; (b) of quantity,  2—Corinthians 11:1,16; (c) of time,  Matthew 26:73 , "a while;"  Mark 14:70;  John 13:33 , "a little while;"  John 14:19;  16:16-19;  Hebrews 10:37 , with the repeated hoson, "how very," lit., "a little while, how little, how little!" See While.

B — 2: Ὀλίγος (Strong'S #3641 — Adjective — oligon — ol-ee'-gos )

the neuter of A, No. 2, is used adverbially of (a) time,  Mark 6:31 , "a while;"  1—Peter 1:6 , RV, "a little while" (AV, "a season");  1—Peter 5:10 , RV, "a little while" (AV, "a while");  Revelation 17:10 , RV, "a little while" (AV, "a short space"); (b) space,  Mark 1:19;  Luke 5:3; (c) extent, with the preposition pros, "for," in  1—Timothy 4:8 , RV, "(for) a little" (AV, and RV marg., "little"), where, while the phrase might refer to duration (as AV marg.), yet the antithesis "for all things" clearly indicates extent, i.e., "physical training is profitable towards few objects in life." See Briefly , Few , Season , C, Note.

B — 3: Μετρίως (Strong'S #3357 — Adverb — metrios — met-ree'-oce )

moderately, occurs in  Acts 20:12 , "a little."

King James Dictionary

LIT'TLE, a.

1. Small in size or extent not great or large as a little body a little animal a little piece of ground a little table a little book a little hill a little distance a little child. 2. Short in duration as a little time or season a little sleep. 3. Small in quantity or amount as a little hay or grass a little food a little sum a little light a little air or water. 4. Of small dignity, power or importance.

When thou wast little in thy own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes?  1 Samuel 15 .

5. Of small force or effect slight inconsiderable as little attention or exertions little effort little care or diligence, little weight.

LIT'TLE, n.

1. A small quantity or amount. He demanded much and obtained little. He had little of his father's liberality. 2. A small space.

Much was in little writ -

3. Any thing small, slight or of inconsiderable importance.

I view with anger and disdain.

How little gives thee joy and pain.

4. Not much.

These they are fitted for, and little else.

LIT'TLE, adv.

1. In a small degree slightly as, he is little changed. It is a little discolored. 2. Not much in a small quantity or space of time. He sleeps little. 3. In some degree slightly sometimes preceded by a. The liquor is a little sour or astringent.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( a.) Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible.

(2): ( a.) Small in quantity or amount; not much; as, a little food; a little air or water.

(3): ( a.) Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; - opposed to big or large; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill; a little distance; a little child.

(4): ( a.) Short in duration; brief; as, a little sleep.

(5): ( a.) Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.

(6): ( a.) Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, little attention or exertion;little effort; little care or diligence.

(7): ( adv.) In a small quantity or degree; not much; slightly; somewhat; - often with a preceding it.

(8): ( n.) A small degree or scale; miniature.

(9): ( n.) That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or the like.