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Webster 1913 Edition


Utmost

Ut′mostˊ

,
Adj.
[OE.
utmeste
,
utemest
, AS.
[GREEK]temest
, a superlative fr.
[GREEK]te
out. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK]. See
Out
, and cf.
Aftermost
,
Outmost
,
Uttermost
.]
1.
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.
We coasted within two leagues of Antibes, which is the
utmost
town in France.
Evelyn.
Betwixt two thieves I spend my
utmost
breath.
Herbert.
2.
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
.
He shall answer . . . to his
utmost
peril.
Shakespeare
Six or seven thousand is their
utmost
power.
Shakespeare

Ut′mostˊ

,
Noun.
The most that can be; the farthest limit; the greatest power, degree, or effort;
as, he has done his
utmost
; try your
utmost
.
We have tried the
utmost
of our friends.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Utmost

UT'MOST

, a.
1.
Extreme; being at the furthest point or extremity; as the utmost limit of North America; the utmost limits of the land; the utmost extent of human knowledge.
2.
Being in the greatest or highest degree; as the utmost assiduity; the utmost harmony; the utmost misery or happiness; the utmost peril.

UT'MOST

,
Noun.
The most that can be; the greatest power, degree or effort. He has done his utmost. Try your utmost.
I will be free even to the utmost as I please in words.

Definition 2024


utmost

utmost

English

Adjective

utmost (not comparable)

  1. Situated at the most distant limit; farthest.
    • Evelyn
      We coasted within two leagues of Antibes, which is the utmost town in France.
    • Herbert
      Betwixt two thieves I spend my utmost breath.
    the utmost limits of the land;  the utmost extent of human knowledge
  2. The most extreme; ultimate; greatest.
    • William Shakespeare
      He shall answer [] to his utmost peril.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess:
      Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.
    • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 236d.
      Indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate.
    the utmost assiduity;  the utmost harmony;  the utmost misery or happiness

Related terms

Translations

Noun

utmost (countable and uncountable, plural utmosts)

  1. Maximum; greatest possible amount or quantity.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess:
      Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.

Translations