most
(adjective) the superlative of âmuchâ that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by âtheâ; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree; âmade the most money he couldâ; âwhat attracts the most attention?â; âmade the most of a bad dealâ
most
(adjective) (superlative of âmanyâ used with count nouns and often preceded by âtheâ) quantifier meaning the greatest in number; âwho has the most apples?â; âmost people like eggsâ; âmost fishes have finsâ
about, almost, most, nearly, near, nigh, virtually, well-nigh
(adverb) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; âthe job is (just) about doneâ; âthe baby was almost asleep when the alarm soundedâ; âweâre almost finishedâ; âthe car all but ran her downâ; âhe nearly faintedâ; âtalked for nigh onto 2 hoursâ; âthe recording is well-nigh perfectâ; âvirtually all the parties signed the contractâ; âI was near exhausted by the runâ; âmost everyone agreesâ
most, to the highest degree
(adverb) used to form the superlative; âthe king cobra is the most dangerous snakeâ
most
(adverb) very; âa most welcome reliefâ
Source: WordNet® 3.1
most
superlative degree of much.
superlative degree of many: the comparatively largest number of (construed with the definite article)
superlative degree of many: the majority of; more than half of (construed without the definite article)
• (superlative of much): more than half of (in meaning, not grammar), almost all
• (superlative of many): the majority of (in meaning, not grammar)
most (not comparable)
Forms the superlative of many adjectives.
Antonym: least
To a great extent or degree; highly; very.
superlative form of many: most many
superlative form of much: most much
Antonym: least
most
The greater part of a group, especially a group of people.
• (greater part): the majority
most (usually uncountable, plural mosts)
(uncountable) The greatest amount.
(countable, uncountable) The greater part.
(countable) A record-setting amount.
• In the sense of record, used when the positive denotation of best does not apply.
most (not comparable)
(informal, chiefly, US) Almost.
• MOTs, MTSO, TMOs, Toms, mots, smot, toms
Source: Wiktionary
Most, a., superl. of More. Etym: [OE. most, mast, mest, AS. m; akin to D. meest, OS. mest, G. meist, Icel. mestr, Goth. maists; a superl. corresponding to E. more. *103. See More, a.]
1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." Prov. xx. 6. The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done. Matt. xi. 20.
2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. "In the moste pride." Chaucer.
3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Note: Most is used as a noun, the words part, portion, quantity, etc., being omitted, and has the following meanings: 1. The greatest value, number, or part; preponderating portion; highest or chief part. 2. The utmost; greatest possible amount, degree, or result; especially in the phrases to make the most of, at the most, at most. A quarter of a year or some months at the most. Bacon. A covetous man makes the most of what he has. L'Estrange. For the most part, in reference to the larger part of a thing, or to the majority of the persons, instances, or things referred to; as, human beings, for the most part, are superstitious; the view, for the most part, was pleasing.
– Most an end, generally. See An end, under End, n. [Obs.] "She sleeps most an end." Massinger.
Most, adv. Etym: [AS. mĂŠst. See Most, a.]
Definition: In the greatest or highest degree. Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites, were courtiers and prelates. Milton.
Note: Placed before an adjective or adverb, most is used to form the superlative degree, being equivalent to the termination -est; as, most vile, most wicked; most illustrious; most rapidly. Formerly, and until after the Elizabethan period of our literature, the use of the double superlative was common. See More, adv. The most unkindest cut of all. Shak. The most straitest sect of our religion. Acts xxvi. 5.
Ma"ny, n. Etym: [See Meine, Mansion.]
Definition: A retinue of servants; a household. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ma"ny, a. or pron.
Note: [It has no variation to express degrees of comparison; more and most, which are used for the comparative and superlative degrees, are from a different root.] Etym: [OE. mani, moni, AS. manig, mÊnig, monig; akin to D. menig, OS. & OHG. manag, G. manch, Dan. mange, Sw. mÄnge, Goth. manags, OSlav. mnog', Russ. mnogii; cf. Icel. margr, Prov. E. mort. sq. root103.]
Definition: Consisting of a great number; numerous; not few. Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen. xvii. 4. Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Cor. i. 26.
Note: Many is freely prefixed to participles, forming compounds which need no special explanation; as, many-angled, many-celled, many-eyed, many-footed, many-handed, many-leaved, many-lettered, many-named, many-peopled, many-petaled, many-seeded, many-syllabled (polysyllabic), many-tongued, many-voiced, many-wived, and the like. Comparison is often expressed by many with as or so. "As many as were willing hearted . . . brought bracelets." Exod. xxxv. 22. "So many laws argue so many sins." Milton. Many stands with a singular substantive with a or an. Many a, a large number taken distributively; each one of many. "For thy sake have I shed many a tear." Shak. "Full many a gem of purest ray serene." Gray.
– Many one, many a one; many persons. BK. of Com. Prayer.
– The many, the majority; -- opposed to the few. See Many, n.
– Too many, too numerous; hence, too powerful; as, they are too many for us. L'Estrange.
Syn.
– Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry.
Ma"ny, n. Etym: [AS. menigeo, menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge, OHG. managi, menigi, Goth. managei. See Many, a.]
1. The populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a community. After him the rascal many ran. Spenser.
2. A large or considerable number. A many of our bodies shall no doubt Find native graves. Shak. Seeing a great many in rich gowns. Addison. It will be concluded by manythat he lived like an honest man. Fielding.
Note: In this sense, many is connected immediately with another substantive (without of) to show of what the many consists; as, a good many [of] people think so. He is liable to a great many inconveniences. Tillotson.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
24 December 2024
(adverb) in an intuitive manner; âinventors seem to have chosen intuitively a combination of explosive and aggressive sounds as warning signals to be used on automobilesâ
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