early 13c., a double comparative, from less + -er (2). Johnson calls it "a barbarous corruption of less, formed by the vulgar from the habit of terminating comparatives in -er." As an adverb from 1590s; now generally poetic or obsolete except in expression lesser-known (1813).
权威例句
1. People voted for him as the lesser of two evils.
人们投票支持他只不过是两害相权取其轻罢了。
2. They pleaded guilty to lesser charges of criminal damage.
他们承认了刑事毁坏的较轻罪名。
3. The two discs also contain two of Britten's lesser-known song-cycles.
这两张唱片还包含了布里顿两首不甚知名的声乐套曲。
4. people of lesser importance
次要人物
5. The more obvious potential allies are Ireland, Denmark and, to a lesser degree, the Netherlands.