I need to understand this phrasing

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Hi,I know it's very basic English but I came across 'still less a function' and wanted to know the meaning of it. I've decided I've had enough of ignoring stuff like this as I come across many of them. But I never do anything about it to understand them. Anyway, I would like to know your understanding of the phrasing please.Thank you,Lee.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Lee;

Welcome to English Forums!

Could you post more context? It is difficult to decipher a phrase without having the surrounding sentences.
Who knows; it might have been written by someone who was not a fluent writer of English.

LeeMills771 · Answer

Hi Aphecca,

Thank you very much for responding. I will give you the full sentence:

'In Richard's case his title of duke or marquis or even 'prince' of Burgundy was a title which he took to mark off his predominant position; it was no a rank or honour - still less a function - created and conferred by the crown.

From my understanding I think what the guy is trying to say is that the title was no rank or honour, but that it still served a function. What do you think?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

It is speaking about titles bestowed by the reigning monarch in medieval history.

One of the powers of the king was to create positions for others who served him. These positions could represent a functional role (Louis XIV was a master at this, creating a position for someone who woke him up "the first Valet de Chambre") or a position of honor (awarded for fighting for the king in war. This might involve land grants.)

In your sentence, the title was neither a function nor a rank of honor.

CalifJim · Answer

LeeMills771it was no a rank or honour - still less a function - created and conferred by the crown.

Here function means, roughly, job.
still less ~ even less
still less a function ~ it was a job to an even lesser degree

Richard had titles (Duke, Prince, etc.), but these were not ranks or honors. Not only that, but the titles didn't even have any jobs associated with them, as you might expect. The titles had no corresponding functions, that is, no duties to perform.

CJ

I need to understand this phrasing

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