Use of "most"

Question

Only the most wonderful courage and perseverance could have carried him through.

Considering the definite article, I should think that most above means 'to the greatest degree'. Is it impossible to interpret that most above means 'very; extremely'? I was told that depending on how you interpret it, most as in Isn't she the most beautiful woman can mean 'very'.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymousConsidering the definite article, I should think that most above means 'to the greatest degree'.

That's how I read it.

anonymousIs it impossible to interpret that most above means 'very; extremely'?

It's hyperbole. Ask yourself how you can measure the wonderfulness of courage.

anonymousI was told that depending on how you interpret it, most as in Isn't she the most beautiful woman can mean 'very'.

No. That would be "Isn't she a most beautiful woman?" But that is terribly old-fashioned. I suppose some people would say "the most", meaning "a most", but I urge you to forget the whole business in your own modern English.

If you go on to say more, it starts to work, but again you have hyperbole: "Isn't she the most beautiful woman in the world?" Here, "the most beautiful" means she stands alone on the pinnacle of pulchritude.

Use of "most"

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