least

• adj.最小；最低（littleのトップレベル）
• adv. 最小の; 最も少ない
• n. 最も小さい; 最も少ない

古英語のlaesest（最も小さい）から。

least

least: [OE] In origin, least is simply the superlative form of less. The prehistoric Germanic ancestor of less was *laisiz (itself a comparative form). Addition of the superlative suffix produced *laisistaz, which passed into Old English as l?sest. Unchanged, this would have become in modern English *lessest, but it was contracted in the Old English period to l?st, and so modern English has least.
=> less

least (adj.)

Old English l?st, earlier l?sest "smallest" (superlative of lytel "small"), from Proto-Germanic superlative *laisistaz (see less). Qualifying phrase at least is Middle English ?t l?stan. As a noun, from early 12c.; as an adverb, c. 1200.

1. Try to eat at least four slices of bread a day.

毎日少なくとも4枚のパンを食べるようにしてください。

2.He is the least appealing character，to me at any rate.

彼はその中で最も魅力的ではないキャラクターで、少なくとも私にとってはそうです。

3.At least three British golf courses are now owned by the Japanese.現在、英国には少なくとも3つのゴルフ場が日本人の所有している。

4.At least this second meeting had helped to thaw the atmosphere.

この2回目の会議は、少なくとも雰囲気を和らげる役割を果たしている。

5.I don 't have the least idea of what you 're talking about.

あなたが何を言っているのかさっぱり分かりません。