From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
most
adj 1: (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" [syn: {most(a)}] [ant:
{fewest(a)}]
2: 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" [syn: {most(a)}] [ant:
{least(a)}]
adv 1: used to form the superlative; "the king cobra is the most
dangerous snake" [syn: to the highest degree] [ant:
least]
2: very; "a most welcome relief"
3: (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite
accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for
`nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for
`almost'; "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" [syn: about, just about, almost,
all but, nearly, near, nigh, virtually,
well-nigh]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Much \Much\ (m[u^]ch), a. [Compar. & superl. wanting, but
supplied by More (m[=o]r), and Most (m[=o]st), from
another root.] [OE. moche, muche, miche, prob. the same as
mochel, muchel, michel, mikel, fr. AS. micel, mycel; cf. Gr.
me`gas, fem. mega`lh, great, and Icel. mj["o]k, adv., much.
[root]103. See Mickle.]
1. Great in quantity; long in duration; as, much rain has
fallen; much time.
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Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and
shalt gather but little in. --Deut.
xxviii. 38.
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2. Many in number. [Archaic]
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Edom came out against him with much people. --Num.
xx. 20.
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3. High in rank or position. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Most \Most\, adv. [AS. m[=ae]st. See Most, a.]
In the greatest or highest degree.
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Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites,
were courtiers and prelates. --Milton.
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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.
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The most unkindest cut of all. --Shak.
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The most straitest sect of our religion. --Acts
xxvi. 5.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Most \Most\ (m[=o]st), a., superl. of More. [OE. most, mast,
mest, AS. m[=ae]st; akin to D. meest, OS. m[=e]st, G. meist,
Icel. mestr, Goth. maists; a superl. corresponding to E.
more. [root]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.
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The cities wherein most of his mighty works were
done. --Matt. xi.
20.
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2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. "In
the moste pride." --Chaucer.
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3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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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.
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A quarter of a year or some months at the most.
--Bacon.
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A covetous man makes the most of what he has.
--L'Estrange.
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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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
More \More\, a., compar. [Positive wanting; superl. Most
(m[=o]st).] [OE. more, mare, and (orig. neut. and adv.) mo,
ma, AS. m[=a]ra, and (as neut. and adv.) m[=a]; akin to D.
meer, OS. m[=e]r, G. mehr, OHG. m[=e]ro, m[=e]r, Icel. meiri,
meirr, Dan. meere, meer, Sw. mera, mer, Goth. maiza, a.,
mais, adv., and perh. to L. major greater, compar. of magnus
great, and magis, adv., more. [root]103. Cf. Most, uch,
Major.]
1. Greater; superior; increased; as:
(a) Greater in quality, amount, degree, quality, and the
like; with the singular.
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He gat more money. --Chaucer.
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If we procure not to ourselves more woe.
--Milton.
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Note: More, in this sense, was formerly used in connection
with some other qualifying word, -- a, the, this,
their, etc., -- which now requires the substitution of
greater, further, or the like, for more.
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Whilst sisters nine, which dwell on Parnasse
height,
Do make them music for their more delight.
--Spenser.
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The more part knew not wherefore they were come
together. --Acts xix.
32.
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Wrong not that wrong with a more contempt.
--Shak.
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(b) Greater in number; exceeding in numbers; -- with the
plural.
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The people of the children of Israel are more
and mightier than we. --Ex. i. 9.
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2. Additional; other; as, he wept because there were no more
worlds to conquer.
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With open arms received one poet more. --Pope.
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