至少

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.


At \At\, prep. [AS. [ae]t; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel.
at, Sw. [*a]t, Dan. & L. ad.]
Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence,
nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the
ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less
definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the
house. From this original import are derived all the various
uses of at. It expresses:

1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on,
something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at
school; at hand; at sea and on land.

2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at
peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at
risk; at disadvantage.

3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with;
as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat
(eating); except at puns.

4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of
degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at
80[deg]; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated
at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.

5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock;
at twenty-one; at once; at first.

6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or
effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything;
at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require,
receive, deserve, endure at your hands.

7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at
it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike,
shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.

{At all}, {At home}, {At large}, {At last}, {At length}, {At
once}, etc. See under {All}, {Home}, {Large}, {Last} (phrase
and syn.), {Length}, {Once}, etc.

{At it}, busily or actively engaged.

{At least}. See {Least} and {However}.

{At one}. See {At one}, in the Vocabulary.

Syn: {In}, {At}.

Usage: When reference to the interior of any place is made
prominent in is used. It is used before the names of
countries and cities (esp. large cities); as, we live
in America, in New York, in the South. At is commonly
employed before names of houses, institutions,
villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at
Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I
saw him at the jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At
may be used before the name of a city when it is
regarded as a mere point of locality. ``An English
king was crowned at Paris.'' --Macaulay. ``Jean
Jacques Rousseau was born at Geneva, June, 28, 1712.''
--J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at the hour, on
the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning
of July 5th, in the year 1775.