utmost

alternative uttermost

1. superlativesuperlative form of utter: most utter; situated at the most distant limit; farthest, outermost.

   the utmost limits of the land

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   the utmost extent of human knowledge

   Betwixt two thieves I [Jesus] ſpend my utmoſt breath, / As he that for ſome robberie ſuffereth.

   [1633], George Herbert, “The Sacrifice”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple. Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […], →OCLC, page 26

   [W]e coaſted within 2 leagues of Antibes, which is the utmoſt towne in France.

   1644 October 20 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 11 October 1644]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 72

   [T]he maſters, wardens, ſearchers, aſſiſtants and commonalty of the company of cutlers in Hallamſhire in the county of York, their ſucceſſors and aſſigns, are nominated and appointed undertakers of the ſaid navigation, with power to make the ſaid river navigable, at their own expence, from Holmſtile aforeſaid, up the ſaid river above Holmſtile to the utmoſt extent of Tinſley westward, [...]

   1733, Danby Pickering, “Cap. IX. An Act to Explain and Amend Two Acts of Parliament, […], for Making Navigable the River Dun in the County of York, […]”, in The Statutes at Large, from the Second to the 9th Year of King George II. […], volume XVI, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Joseph Bentham, […]; for Charles Bathurst, […], published 1765, →OCLC, page 370

   As yet we are far from having explored the utmost depths of space. Our telescopes have only reached a limited distance into the regions of the heavens.

   1852 March, Professor Larrabee, “The Heavens”, in W. C. Larrabee, editor, The Ladies’ Repository: A Monthly Periodical, Devoted to Literature and Religion, volume XII, Cincinnati, Oh.: L. Swormstedt and A. Poe; […], →OCLC, page 109, column 1

   Synonyms: outmost, uttermost, yondermost

alternative uttermost

1. not comparableThe most extreme; greatest, ultimate.

   the utmost harmony

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   the utmost assiduity

   the utmost misery or happiness

   Ile go to him, and vndertake to bring him in peace, / Where he ſhall anſwer by a lawfull Forme, / (In peace) to his vtmoſt perill.

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 17, column 1

   She was a lady adorned with many noble virtues: the utmoſt ſtrictneſs in her life and morals, eaſy and affable in her behaviour, and agreeably modeſt in her converſation.

   1752, Jerome Osorio [i.e., Jerónimo Osório], “Book XI”, in James Gibbs, transl., The History of the Portuguese, during the Reign of Emmanuel: […], volume II, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 239

   The migrations of the Economic Rats, are not less extraordinary than those of the Lemmings. In the spring of the year they collect together in amazing numbers, and proceed in a course directly westward; swimming with the utmost intrepidity over rivers, lakes, and even arms of the sea.

   1824, W[illiam] Bingley, Animal Biography, or, Popular Zoology; […], 6th edition, volumes II (Mammiferous Animals—Birds), London: […] C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington; …, →OCLC, pages 26–27

   Synonyms: intense, maximal, uttermost, extreme, ferocious, exquisite, intense, pluperfect

plural utmosts · alternative uttermost

1. countableuncountableThe greatest possible capability, extent, or quantity; maximum.

   at the utmost    to the utmost

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   [...] I am reſolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and to try my utmoſt to get from under his hand.

   1680, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], 5th edition, Edinburgh: […] Iohn Cairns, […], →OCLC, page 116

   [T]he utmoſt they could do, was to perſuade Him to lay aſide all Rancor and Diſcontent againſt thoſe Confederate Lords, and to hearken to their deſires.

   1704, James Tyrrell, “Book XII. Containing the Reign of King Richard II.”, in The General History of England, both Ecclesiastical and Civil: […], volume III, 2nd part, London: […] W. Rogers, […]; J. Taylor, […]; J. Sprint, […]; and A[ndrew] Bell, […], →OCLC, page 912

   But Scrooge was all the worse for this. It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, pages 122–123

   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.

   1963, Margery Allingham, “Meeting Point”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 232

   We drank martinis, while she gazed into my eyes and talked of Dolores – in tones of the utmost loathing – and of you, in tones of the utmost self-importance.

   2011, Simone de Beauvoir, “January 1947 – October 1951: America”, in Quintin Hoare, transl., Letters to Sartre, New York, N.Y.: Arcade Publishing, →ISBN, page 415

   Synonyms: yondermost