He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Luke xix. 3.

Best him enough: after a little time,
I'll beat him too. Shak.

Conceited of their little wisdoms, and doting upon their own fancies. Barrow.

When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes? I Sam. xv. 17.

By sad experiment I know
How little weight my words with thee can find. Milton.

The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise,
Because their natures are little. Tennyson.

Little chief. (Zoöl.) See Chief hare. -- Little finger, the fourth and smallest finger of the hand. -- Little go (Eng. Universities), a public examination about the middle of the course, which is less strict and important than the final one; -- called also smalls. Cf. Great go, under Great. Thackeray. -- Little hours (R. C. Ch.), the offices of prime, tierce, sext, and nones. Vespers and compline are sometimes included. -- Little ones, young children.

The men, and the women, and the little ones. Deut. ii. 34.

Much was in little writ. Dryden.

There are many expressions, which carrying with them no clear ideas, are like to remove but little of my ignorance. Locke.

A little, to or in a small degree; to a limited extent; somewhat; for a short time. " Stay a little." Shak.

The painter flattered her a little. Shak.

-- By little and little, or Little by little, by slow degrees; piecemeal; gradually.