This comparative adjective means 'less sorrowful' or 'more free from grief.' In Philippians 2:28, Paul explains he's eager to send Epaphroditus so the Philippians may rejoice and Paul himself be 'less anxious' or less grieved. Classical Greek used it for freedom from pain and sorrow. The multilingual evidence (Spanish 'menos-triste', German 'weniger-betruebt') captures this comparative reduction of distress. Paul's pastoral concern links the church's joy with his own emotional relief, showing relational interdependence.