little-known
/'litl'noun/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: - Not known or recognized by many people; having limited public awareness or fame: Describes something or someone that is not widely familiar, recognized, or publicized.
Usage and Examples
The adjective "little-known" is used directly before a noun to modify it. It describes the noun as being obscure or not well-known.
- Examples:
- The museum has a collection of little-known paintings from the early Renaissance.
- She is an expert on a little-known dialect spoken in a remote region.
- The book reveals little-known facts about the president's early life.
- He comes from a little-known village in the mountains.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Comparative and Superlative Forms: While "lesser-known" is a common comparative, "little-known" itself is often used in its base form. The superlative is typically "least-known."
- This is a lesser-known work by the famous author.
- He is perhaps the least-known member of the research team.
- Hyphenation: The hyphen is essential when the phrase is used as a compound adjective directly before a noun (e.g., a little-known fact). When it follows the noun, it is often not hyphenated (e.g., ), though hyphenation is sometimes retained for clarity.
Variants and Related Words
- Lesser-known (adj.): Similar in meaning, often used for comparison.
- Obscure (adj.): Not discovered or known about; uncertain. Can imply something is difficult to understand as well as unknown.
- Unfamiliar (adj.): Not known or recognized; can describe something new to a specific person, not necessarily to the general public.
- Little-known can be considered a compound adjective derived from the adverb "little" and the past participle "known."
Synonyms
- Obscure
- Unfamiliar
- Unheard-of
- Overlooked
- Esoteric (implies known only to a small group with specialized knowledge)
Antonyms
- Well-known
- Famous
- Renowned
- Celebrated
- Noted
Adjective
- unknown to most people