uttermost

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English

Etymology

From Middle English, alteration of uttermest. More at utmost for the etymology of the latter element. Compare in(ner)most.

Pronunciation

Adjective

uttermost (not comparable)

  1. Outermost.
    Synonym: (obsolete, rare) extimate
    Antonym: innermost
  2. Extreme; utmost; of the farthest, greatest, or highest degree.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Psalms 65:8:
      They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
    • 1611, Iohn Speed , “Flavius Domitian”, in The History of Great Britaine under the Conquests of yͤ Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. , London: William Hall and John Beale, for John Sudbury and George Humble, , →OCLC, book VI ( ), paragraph 8, page 214, column 1:
      s hitherto this Corner and ſecret receſſe hath defended, novv the Vttermoſt point of our Land is laid open: and things the leſſe they haue beene vvithin knovvledge, the greater the glorie is to atchieue them.

Noun

uttermost (usually uncountable, plural uttermosts)

  1. The utmost; the highest or greatest degree; the farthest extent.
    • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
      Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea;
      Neither have I money, nor commodity
      To raise a present sum: therefore, go forth;
      Try what my credit can in Venice do:
      That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,
      To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.
      Go, presently inquire, and so will I,
      Where money is; and I no question make,
      To have it of my trust or for my sake.
    • 1885–1888, Richard F Burton, transl. and editor, “Night 563”, in A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now Entituled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night , Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), : Burton Club , →OCLC:
      So we cried to him, "O Rais, what is the matter?"; and he replied saying, "Seek ye deliverance of the Most High from the strait into which we have fallen and bemoan yourselves and take leave of one another; for know that the wind hath gotten the mastery of us and hath driven us into the uttermost of the seas of the world."
    • 1943, John Temple Graves, The Fighting South, page 274:
      The free way will call for uttermosts in civilization, self-discipline and human excellence.