most
[ mohst ]
/ moʊst /
adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.
noun
adverb, superl. of much with more as compar.
Idioms for most
Origin of most
before 900; Middle English
most(e), Old English
māst; replacing Middle English
mest(e), Old English
mǣst; cognate with German
meist, Gothic
maists. See
more
synonym study for most
11. See
almost.
usage note for most
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.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH most
almost mostWords nearby most
British Dictionary definitions for at most
most
/ (məʊst) /
determiner
adverb
Word Origin for most
Old English
māst or
mǣst, whence Middle English
moste, mēst; compare Old Frisian
maest, Old High German
meist, Old Norse
mestr
usage for most
More and
most should be distinguished when used in comparisons.
More applies to cases involving two persons, objects, etc,
most to cases involving three or more
Idioms and Phrases with at most (1 of 2)
at most
Also, at the most or at the outside. At the largest amount, the furthest limit; also, in the most extreme case. For example, She'll be finished in two weeks at the most, or It'll take two weeks at the outside, or At most the chef uses a tiny bit of pepper. The terms with most date from the 1300s; at the outside from the mid-1800s. Also see at best.
Idioms and Phrases with at most (2 of 2)
most
see at most; for the most part; make the most of.