MOST

most

(adjective) the superlative of ‘much’ that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by ‘the’; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree; “made the most money he could”; “what attracts the most attention?”; “made the most of a bad deal”

most

(adjective) (superlative of ‘many’ used with count nouns and often preceded by ‘the’) quantifier meaning the greatest in number; “who has the most apples?”; “most people like eggs”; “most fishes have fins”

about, almost, most, nearly, near, nigh, virtually, well-nigh

(adverb) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; “the job is (just) about done”; “the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded”; “we’re almost finished”; “the car all but ran her down”; “he nearly fainted”; “talked for nigh onto 2 hours”; “the recording is well-nigh perfect”; “virtually all the parties signed the contract”; “I was near exhausted by the run”; “most everyone agrees”

most, to the highest degree

(adverb) used to form the superlative; “the king cobra is the most dangerous snake”

most

(adverb) very; “a most welcome relief”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Determiner

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)

Synonyms

• (superlative of much): more than half of (in meaning, not grammar), almost all

• (superlative of many): the majority of (in meaning, not grammar)

Adverb

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

Pronoun

most

The greater part of a group, especially a group of people.

Synonyms

• (greater part): the majority

Noun

most (usually uncountable, plural mosts)

(uncountable) The greatest amount.

(countable, uncountable) The greater part.

(countable) A record-setting amount.

Usage notes

• In the sense of record, used when the positive denotation of best does not apply.

Etymology 2

Adverb

most (not comparable)

(informal, chiefly, US) Almost.

Anagrams

• 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. mæst. 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.

MANY

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, mænig, monig; akin to D. menig, OS. & OHG. manag, G. manch, Dan. mange, Sw. månge, 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

MOST

Etymology 1

Determiner

Synonyms

Adverb

Pronoun

Synonyms

Noun

Usage notes

Etymology 2

Adverb

Anagrams

MANY

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