I. ˈmōst adjective
Etymology: Middle English mest, mast, most, from Old English mǣst, māst; akin to Old High German meist most, Old Norse mestr, Gothic maists; superlative from the root of Old English mā more — more at more
1. : the greatest number of : the majority of
most men
most problems
most eligible voters went to the polls
— used with the noun in the plural
2.
a. : greatest in quantity, extent, or degree
owning the most land
the car with the most speed
he has the most ability
she has the most need of it
— used with the noun in the sing.
b. obsolete : in the highest degree : greatest
these politicians … are our most fools — George Chapman
3. chiefly dialect : chief , main
the most place where you will be safe — Augusta Gregory
•
- for the most part
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English mest, mast, most, from Old English mǣst, māst; akin to Old High German meist most, Old Norse mest, Gothic maist, adverb, maists, adjective — more at most I
1.
a. : to the greatest or highest degree : to the greatest extent
the book that pleased him most
— often used with adjectives or adverbs to form the superlative
the most beautiful woman there
writes most beautifully of all
b. : to a very great degree
the argument was most persuasive
a most careful workman
2. obsolete : for the most part : mostly
states are most collected into monarchies — Francis Bacon
•
- most an end
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English mest, mast, most, from Old English mǣst, māst, from mǣst, māst, adjective — more at most I
: the greatest amount or quantity
the most I can give you
the most we can say for him
•
- at most
IV. pronoun, singular or plural in construction
Etymology: most (I)
: the greatest number or part : majority
some of the people stayed behind but most went
most who were present
most of it is out of sight
V. adverb
Etymology: by shortening
: almost
most anywhere in Europe — New York Herald Tribune
you feel the way most everybody else has felt — Gwethalyn Graham