80. The opposites (67) of "pli" and "plej" are "malpli", less, and
"malplej", least. Their use is similar to that of "pli" and "plej".
(These adverbs may also modify verbs):

Li estas malpli kuragxa, he is less courageous.
Tiuj estis malplej akraj, those were least sharp.
La vento blovis malpli forte, the wind blew less strongly.
Li skribis malplej zorge, he wrote least carefully.
Mi malpli timas ilin, I fear them less.
Vi malplej bezonos helpon, you will need help least.


COMPARISON OF WORDS EXPRESSING QUANTITY.

81. Since in their precise sense the words "pli", "malpli", "plej",
"malplej", express degree, a quantitative meaning is given by "multe",
"much", in the desired degree of comparison:

multe, much pli multe, more (in amount) plej multe, most

malpli multe, less " malplej multe, least

malmulte, little pli malmulte, less " plej malmulte, least


COMPARISONS CONTAINING "OL".

82. In a comparison made by the use of "pli" or "malpli", the case used
after "ol", than, must indicate clearly the sense intended: