det.
,
pron.
, &
adj.
-
(a few)
a small number of.
- not many.
n.
[
as pl. n. the few]
a select minority.
▸
(the Few)
Brit. the RAF pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain.
Phrase
- few and far between
scarce. - a good few
Brit. a fairly large number of. - no fewer than
a surprisingly large number of. - not a few
a considerable number. - quite a few
a fairly large number. - some few
some but not many.
Usage
Fewer, the comparative form of few, is correctly used with words denoting people or countable things, while less is used with mass nouns, denoting things which cannot be counted. In addition, less is normally used with numbers and expressions of measurement or time. The use of less with a count noun (less people) is incorrect in standard English.
Etymology
OE fēawe, fēawa, of Gmc origin.
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