| English > English |
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| last but not least |
| 1. adv. An expression to start the last item of a list, emphasising that while it is listed last, it is just as important as the rest of the items. |
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| Analysis |
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| last |
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| 1. adj. Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind. |
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| “Eyes Wide Shut” was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick. |
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| 2. adj. Most recent, latest, last so far. |
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| The last time I saw him, he was married. |
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| I have received your note dated the 17th last, and am responding to say that.... (archaic usage) |
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| but |
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| 1. prep. (obsolete, outside, Scotland) Outside of. |
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| Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there. |
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| 2. prep. Apart from, except (for), excluding. |
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| Everyone but Father left early. |
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| I like everything but that. |
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| not |
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| 1. adv. Negates the meaning of the modified verb. |
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| Did you take out the trash? No, I did not. |
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| Not knowing any better, I went ahead. |
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| 2. adv. To no degree. |
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| That is not red; it's orange. |
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| least |
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| 1. det. superlative form of little: most little; the smallest amount of something. |
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| He earns the least money in his family. Of all the sisters, she has the least patience. I can only afford to pay the least of the bills. |
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| 2. adv. Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est. |
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| It was the least surprising thing. |
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| 3. adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others. |
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