MOSTEST

Etymology

Adjective

mostest

(nonstandard, humorous) most.

Anagrams

• smotest, tomsets

Source: Wiktionary

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MOST

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

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