most

most

1. For more and most used in the comparison of adjectives, see adjective 3–4. With adverbs, more and most are normally used when the adverb is formed with -ly from an adjective, e.g. most richly, most happily: see -er and -est forms. The use of most with an already superlative form of adjective, e.g. She is the most cleverest, though once a feature of English style (occurring in Shakespeare and elsewhere), is considered illiterate in current usage. When the comparison is between two people or things, more, not most, should be used: This is certainly the more interesting of your two proposals.

2. As a noun, most + of is treated as singular or plural according to the number of the following noun or pronoun: Most of his story is true / Most of them had nothing to say.

3. The combination most + adjective often has an intensifying rather than superlative role: She is a most remarkable woman. When preceded by the, ambiguity can arise, which is normally clarified by intonation in speech but may call for rewording in writing: This was the most wicked crime [= utterly wicked in itself].

4. For most important and most importantly, see important, importantly.

5.

• Dewey knew no fear, would just roar on into most any species of difficulty —T. R. Pearson, 1991.

In this meaning, in use since the 16c first in Scotland and now chiefly in British dialects and in AmE, most is a shortening of almost and therefore a distinct word, though often treated together with the main meanings of most in dictionaries.