What part of speech is 'least' in the following sentence?

Hi teachers,
Is it an adverb because it is after 'the' and before an adjective?

TS

If it was an adverb, it would modify "physical", which is not what is meant; natural English would not permit that sequence. He does not do the work that is the least physical, he does the least work that is physical. It's not really "least" by itself, it's "the least", acting adjectivally.

Hi ennon,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I really though 'physical' was an adjective. So, if I'm not mistaken, 'the least' is functioning as an adjective.
If that is so, does it modify, 'physical' or 'physical work'?

TS

"Physical" is an adjective modifying "work". You can say that "the least" modifies "physical work".

enoonHe does not do the work that is the least physical, he does the least work that is physical.

Hmm, I don't see it that way. You could say, for example

Chess is the least physical sport/game.

I think you'll agree that "least" modifies "physical", which makes it an adverb. Interpreting it as "the least work that is physical" seems stretched

You are wrong about the original sentence, but you are right that I was wrong when I wrote that English does not permit that sequence. Isn't it funny how there is almost always a context you didn't think of that will make a monkey out of you? Me, in this case.

He makes the most money, but he does the least work. That is the imbalance that is being attacked. What kind of work? Well, since

Enoon, I suppose you could make a case for "the least" modifying "physical work". But I would still call it a determiner in that case and not an adjective. "the least" simply doesn't work as a reply to "what kind of physical work he does". Since "the least" is not attributive, it's not an adjective. Anyway, that's my opinion.

enoonIsn't it funny how there is almost always a context you didn't think of that will make a monkey out of you? Me, in this case.

It can happen to the best of us (and I don't think that I'm there with you guys).

IvanhrEnoon, I suppose you could make a case for "the least" modifying "physical work". But I would still call it a determiner in that case and not an adjective. "the least" simply doesn't work as a reply to "what kind of physical work he does".

Not "make a case"—that is what it means, or does if the writer has any ability and ear for idiom at all. If he meant

enoonNot "make a case"—that is what it means, or does if the writer has any ability and ear for idiom at all. If he meant the other thing, he would have written "easiest" or "least strenuous".

Yes, but my interpretation is just as correct.
Computer work is the least physical work in geology. (we all know that geology involves a lot of field work)