most

adv. [ AS. m&aemacr_;st. See Most, a. ] In the greatest or highest degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites, were courtiers and prelates. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Placed before an adjective or adverb, most is used to form the superlative degree, being equivalent to the termination -est; as, most vile, most wicked; most illustrious; most rapidly. Formerly, and until after the Elizabethan period of our literature, the use of the double superlative was common. See More, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most unkindest cut of all. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most straitest sect of our religion. Acts xxvi. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Mustaiba. [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. imp. of Mote. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Diplomacy), A clause, often inserted in treaties, by which each of the contracting nations binds itself to grant to the other in certain stipulated matters the same terms as are then, or may be thereafter, granted to the nation which receives from it the most favorable terms in respect of those matters. It is used most frequently in treaties regarding the terms of trade between countries, as regarding tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

There was a “most-favored-nation” clause with provisions for the good treatment of strangers entering the Republic. James Bryce. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Steam navigation was secured by the Japanese as far as Chungking, and under the most-favored-nation clause the right accrued to us. A. R. Colquhoun. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } n. [ See Maul-stick. ] A painter's maul-stick. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. For the greatest part; for the most part; chiefly; in the main. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It. ] (Mus.) See Direct, n. [ 1913 Webster ]