What is "at the least"

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.

adv. not less than; "at least two hours studying the manual"; "a tumor at least as big as an orange" [syn: at least] [ant: at most, at most]