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most

 - 13 dictionary results
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most

  [mohst]
Use most in a Sentence
–adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.
1. in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number: to win the most votes.
2. in the majority of instances: Most operations are successful.
3. greatest, as in size or extent: the most talent.
–noun
4. the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost: The most I can hope for is a passing grade.
5. the greatest number or the majority of a class specified: Most of his writing is rubbish.
6. the greatest number: The most this room will seat is 150.
7. the majority of persons: to be more sensitive than most.
8. the most, Slang. the ultimate in something: He's the most. That movie was the most.
–adverb, superl. of much with more as compar.
9. in or to the greatest extent or degree (in this sense often used before adjectives and adverbs, and regularly before those of more than two syllables, to form superlative phrases having the same force and effect as the superlative degree formed by the termination -est): most rapid; most wisely.
10. very: a most puzzling case.
11. Informal. almost or nearly.
—Idioms
12. at the most, at the maximum. Also, at most.
13. for the most part. part (def. 34).
14. make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully: to make the most of an opportunity.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME most(e), OE māst; r. ME mest(e), OE mǣst; c. G meist, Goth maists. See more

Synonyms:
11. See almost.

Usage note:
11. The adverb most, a shortened form of almost, is far from being either a recent development or an Americanism. It goes back to the 16th century in England, where it is now principally a dialect form. In American English it occurs before such pronouns as all, anyone, anybody, everyone, and everybody; the adjectives all, any, and every; and adverbs like anywhere and everywhere: Most everyone around here is related to everyone else. You can find that plant most anywhere. This use of most is often objected to, but it is common in the informal speech of educated persons. It is less common in edited writing except in representations of speech.
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-most

 
a combining form of most occurring in a series of superlatives: foremost; utmost.
Origin:
ME -most; r. ME, OE -mest, double superl. suffix, equiv. to -ma superl. suffix (as in OE forma first; cf. L prīmus) + -est 1 ; later identified with most

man⋅y

  [men-ee] adjective, more, most, noun, pronoun
–adjective
1. constituting or forming a large number; numerous: many people.
2. noting each one of a large number (usually fol. by a or an): For many a day it rained.
–noun
3. a large or considerable number of persons or things: A good many of the beggars were blind.
4. the many, the greater part of humankind.
–pronoun
5. many persons or things: Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME mani, meni, OE manig, menig; akin to OS, OHG manag, menig, Dan mange, Goth manags

Synonyms:
1. multifarious, multitudinous, myriad; divers, sundry, various. Many, innumerable, manifold, numerous imply the presence or succession of a large number of units. Many is a popular and common word for this idea: many times. Numerous, a more formal word, refers to a great number or to very many units: letters too numerous to mention. Innumerable denotes a number that is beyond count or, more loosely, that is extremely difficult to count: the innumerable stars in the sky. Manifold implies not only that the number is large but also that there is variety or complexity.

Antonyms:
1. few, single.

much

  [muhch] adjective, more, most, noun, adverb, more, most.
–adjective
1. great in quantity, measure, or degree: too much cake.
–noun
2. a great quantity, measure, or degree: Much of his research was unreliable.
3. a great, important, or notable thing or matter: The house is not much to look at.
–adverb
4. to a great extent or degree; greatly; far: to talk too much; much heavier.
5. nearly, approximately, or about: This is much like the others.
—Idioms
6. make much of,
a. to treat, represent, or consider as of great importance: to make much of trivial matters.
b. to treat with great consideration; show fondness for; flatter.
7. much as,
a. almost the same as: We need exercise, much as we need nourishment.
b. however much: Much as she wanted to stay at the party, she had to leave.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME muche, moche, apocopated var. of muchel, mochel, OE mycel; r. ME miche(l), OE micel great, much (cf. mickle ), c. ON mikill, Goth mikils, Gk mégal-, suppletive s. of mégas great
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To most
man·y   (měn'ē)   
adj.   more (môr, mōr), most (mōst)

  1. Being one of a large indefinite number; numerous: many a child; many another day.

  2. Amounting to or consisting of a large indefinite number: many friends.

n.   (used with a pl. verb)

  1. A large indefinite number: A good many of the workers had the flu.

  2. The majority of the people; the masses: "The many fail, the one succeeds" (Tennyson).

pron.   (used with a pl. verb)
A large number of persons or things: "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).

[Middle English, from Old English manig; see menegh- in Indo-European roots.]
most   (mōst)   
adj.   Superlative of many, much.

    1. Greatest in number: won the most votes.

    2. Greatest in amount, extent, or degree: has the most compassion.

  2. In the greatest number of instances: Most fish have fins.

n.  

  1. The greatest amount or degree: She has the most to gain.

  2. Slang The greatest, best, or most exciting. Used with the: That party was the most!

pron.  (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The greatest part or number: Most of the town was destroyed. Most of the books were missing.
adv.   Superlative of much.

  1. In or to the highest degree or extent. Used with many adjectives and adverbs to form the superlative degree: most honest; most impatiently.

  2. Very: a most impressive piece of writing.

  3. Informal Almost: Most everyone agrees.


[Middle English, from Old English mǣst, māst; see mē-3 in Indo-European roots. Adv., sense 3, short for almost.]
much   (mŭch)   
adj.   more (môr, mōr), most (mōst)
Great in quantity, degree, or extent: not much rain; much affection.
n.  

  1. A large quantity or amount: Much has been written.

  2. Something great or remarkable: The campus wasn't much to look at.

adv.   more, most

  1. To a great degree or extent: much smarter.

  2. Just about; almost: much the same.

  3. Frequently; often: doesn't get out much.


[Middle English muche, short for muchel, from Old English mycel; see meg- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

many 
O.E. monig, manig, from P.Gmc. *managaz (cf. O.S. manag, Swed. mången, O.Fris. manich, Du. menig, Ger. manch, Goth. manags), from PIE *monogho- (cf. O.C.S. munogu "much, many," O.Ir. menicc, Welsh mynych "frequent"). Pronunciation altered by influence of any (see manifold)

most 
O.E. mast "greatest number, amount, extent," earlier mæst, from P.Gmc. *maistaz (cf. O.S. mest, O.N. mestr, Ger. meist, Goth. maists "most"), superlative form of P.Gmc. *maiz, root of O.E. ma, mara (see more). Used in O.E. as superl. of micel "great, large" (see mickle). Vowel influenced by more. Original sense of "greatest" survives in phrase for the most part (c.1400). Slang meaning "the best, extremely good" is attested from 1953. Double superlative mostest is 1885, from U.S. Southern and Black English.

much 
c.1205, worn down by loss of unaccented last syllable from M.E. muchel, from O.E. micel "great in amount or extent," from P.Gmc. *mekilaz, from PIE *meg- "great." For vowel evolution, see bury.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

most

see at most; for the most part; make the most of.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Abbreviations & Acronyms
MOST
magneto-optical storage technology
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

Most

city, northwestern Czech Republic. It lies along the Bilina River, southwest of Utsi nad Labem. It was mentioned in early 11th-century German documents as Brux, which means "bridge," as does its Czech name. This probably refers to an ancient structure spanning marshy ground near the old town.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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