most

The definition of most is the majority or the greatest amount, degree or size.

(adjective)

  1. An example of most is a student who receives an "A" grade 98 percent of the time.
  2. An example of most is the heaviest cat out of the litter.

Most is defined as to the highest or greatest level.

(adverb)

An example of most is when the racing is more challenging than any others which have been run in the past.

Most means the greatest number of something.

(noun)

An example of most is the ten people who decided to go to a party versus the four people who decided to stay home.

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See most in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. more
  2. greatest in amount, quantity, or degree
  3. greatest in number
  4. in the greatest number of instances: most fame is fleeting

Origin: ME < OE mast, used as superl. of micel, big (var. of mycel: see much): akin to Goth maists: for IE base see more

noun

  1. the greatest amount, quantity or degree: to take most of the credit
    1. the greatest number (of persons or things): most of us are going
    2. the greatest number of persons or things

adverb

  1. more in or to the greatest degree or extent: used with many adjectives and adverbs (regularly with those of three or more syllables) to form the superlative degree: most horrible, most quickly
  2. very (often preceded by a): a most beautiful morning
  3. Origin: for almost

    Informal almost; nearly

forming superlatives: hindmost

Origin: ME, altered (after most) < -mest < OE < older superl. suffixes, -ma + -est

See most in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective Superlative of many, much.
  1. a. Greatest in number: won the most votes.
    b. Greatest in amount, extent, or degree: has the most compassion.
  2. In the greatest number of instances: Most fish have fins.
noun
  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.
adverb 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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English mǣst, māst; see mē-3 in Indo-European roots

Origin: . Adv., sense 3, short for almost

.

suffix
  1. Most: innermost.
  2. Nearest to: aftmost.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , alteration (influenced by most)

Origin: of -mest

Origin: , from Old English

Origin: : -mo, -ma, superlative suff.

Origin: + -est, superlative suff

.

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