utmost
UK /ˈʌtməʊ̯st/ · US /ˈʌtmoʊ̯st/ adjective, noun
Also a form of utter uttermost
Forms utmosts uttermost
- adjective The most extreme; greatest, ultimate. “the utmost assiduity”
- noun The greatest possible capability, extent, or quantity; maximum. “at the utmost to the utmost”
Synonyms
intense maximal uttermost extreme ferocious exquisite almighty greatest highest maximum passing raging ultimate yondermost outmost level best last farthermost farthest furthermost furthest
Etymology
From Middle English utmost, utemest [and other forms], from Old English ūtmest, ūtemest [and other forms], from ūt, ūte (“out; outdoors, outside”) + -mest (suffix meaning ‘furthest’, used to form superlatives of some adjectives) (and conflated with most). Ūt is derived from Proto-Germanic *ūt (“out, outward”), from Proto-Indo-European *úd (“out, outward”). Equivalent to out + -most.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Situated at the farthest point or extremity; farthest out; most distant; extreme; as, the utmost limits of the land; the utmost extent of human knowledge. Spenser.
- adjective Being in the greatest or highest degree, quantity, number, or the like; greatest; as, the utmost assiduity; the utmost harmony; the utmost misery or happiness.
- noun The most that can be; the farthest limit; the greatest power, degree, or effort; as, he has done his utmost; try your utmost.
Etymology [OE. utmeste, utemest, AS. , a superlative fr. out. Out, and cf. Aftermost, Outmost, Uttermost.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “utmost”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details