'For the most part' definitions:
Definition of 'for the most part'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'For the most part'
From: GCIDE
- Most \Most\ (m[=o]st), a., superl. of More. [OE. most, mast, mest, AS. m[=ae]st; akin to D. meest, OS. m[=e]st, G. meist, Icel. mestr, Goth. maists; a superl. corresponding to E. more. [root]103. See More, a.]
- 1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." --Prov. xx. 6. [1913 Webster]
- The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done. --Matt. xi. 20. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. "In the moste pride." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Most is used as a noun, the words part, portion, quantity, etc., being omitted, and has the following meanings: 1. The greatest value, number, or part; preponderating portion; highest or chief part. 2. The utmost; greatest possible amount, degree, or result; especially in the phrases to make the most of, at the most, at most. [1913 Webster]
- A quarter of a year or some months at the most. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- A covetous man makes the most of what he has. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]
- For the most part, in reference to the larger part of a thing, or to the majority of the persons, instances, or things referred to; as, human beings, for the most part, are superstitious; the view, for the most part, was pleasing.
- Most an end, generally. See An end, under End, n. [Obs.] "She sleeps most an end." --Massinger. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'For the most part'
From: GCIDE
- Part \Part\ (p[aum]rt), n. [F. part, L. pars, gen. partis; cf. parere to bring forth, produce. Cf. Parent, Depart, Parcel, Partner, Party, Portion.]
- 1. One of the portions, equal or unequal, into which anything is divided, or regarded as divided; something less than a whole; a number, quantity, mass, or the like, regarded as going to make up, with others, a larger number, quantity, mass, etc., whether actually separate or not; a piece; a fragment; a fraction; a division; a member; a constituent. [1913 Webster]
- And kept back part of the price, . . . and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles'feet. --Acts v. 2. [1913 Webster]
- Our ideas of extension and number -- do they not contain a secret relation of the parts ? --Locke. [1913 Webster]
- I am a part of all that I have met. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Hence, specifically: (a) An equal constituent portion; one of several or many like quantities, numbers, etc., into which anything is divided, or of which it is composed; proportional division or ingredient. [1913 Webster]
- An homer is the tenth part of an ephah. --Ex. xvi. 36. [1913 Webster]
- A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom, And ever three parts coward. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (b) A constituent portion of a living or spiritual whole; a member; an organ; an essential element. [1913 Webster]
- All the parts were formed . . . into one harmonious body. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
- The pulse, the glow of every part. --Keble. [1913 Webster] (c) A constituent of character or capacity; quality; faculty; talent; -- usually in the plural with a collective sense. "Men of considerable parts." --Burke. "Great quickness of parts." --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- Which maintained so politic a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them. --Shak. [1913 Webster] (d) Quarter; region; district; -- usually in the plural. "The uttermost part of the heaven." --Neh. i. 9. [1913 Webster]
- All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] (e) (Math.) Such portion of any quantity, as when taken a certain number of times, will exactly make that quantity; as, 3 is a part of 12; -- the opposite of multiple. Also, a line or other element of a geometrical figure. [1913 Webster]
- 3. That which belongs to one, or which is assumed by one, or which falls to one, in a division or apportionment; share; portion; lot; interest; concern; duty; office. [1913 Webster]
- We have no part in David. --2 Sam. xx. 1. [1913 Webster]
- Accuse not Nature! she hath done her part; Do thou but thine. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Let me bear My part of danger with an equal share. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Hence, specifically: (a) One of the opposing parties or sides in a conflict or a controversy; a faction. [1913 Webster]
- For he that is not against us is on our part. --Mark ix. 40. [1913 Webster]
- Make whole kingdoms take her brother's part. --Waller. [1913 Webster] (b) A particular character in a drama or a play; an assumed personification; also, the language, actions, and influence of a character or an actor in a play; or, figuratively, in real life; as, to play the part of Macbeth. See To act a part, under Act. [1913 Webster]
- That part Was aptly fitted and naturally performed. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies. --Pope. [1913 Webster] (c) (Mus.) One of the different melodies of a concerted composition, which heard in union compose its harmony; also, the music for each voice or instrument; as, the treble, tenor, or bass part; the violin part, etc. [1913 Webster]
- For my part, so far as concerns me; for my share.
- For the most part. See under Most, a.
- In good part, as well done; favorably; acceptably; in a friendly manner; as, to take an act in good part. --Hooker.
- In ill part, unfavorably; with displeasure.
- In part, in some degree; partly.
- Part and parcel, an essential or constituent portion; -- a reduplicative phrase. Cf. might and main, {kith and kin}, etc. "She was . . . part and parcel of the race and place." --Howitt.
- Part of speech (Gram.), a sort or class of words of a particular character; thus, the noun is a part of speech denoting the name of a thing; the verb is a part of speech which asserts something of the subject of a sentence.
- Part owner (Law), one of several owners or tenants in common. See Joint tenant, under Joint.
- Part singing, singing in which two or more of the harmonic parts are taken.
- Part song, a song in two or more (commonly four) distinct vocal parts. "A part song differs from a madrigal in its exclusion of contrapuntual devices; from a glee, in its being sung by many voices, instead of by one only, to each part." --Stainer & Barrett. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Portion; section; division; fraction; fragment; piece; share; constituent. See Portion, and Section. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'for the most part'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- a fortiori,
- above all,
- all in all,
- all the more,
- all things considered,
- almost entirely,
- altogether,
- approximately,
- as a rule,
- as a whole,
- as an approximation,
- as per usual,
- as things go,
- as usual,
- at large,
- broadly,
- broadly speaking,
- by and large,
- chiefly,
- commonly,
- customarily,
- dominantly,
- effectually,
- especially,
- essentially,
- even,
- ever so,
- first of all,
- generally,
- generally speaking,
- habitually,
- in chief,
- in general,
- in the main,
- indeed,
- mainly,
- more than ever,
- most often,
- mostly,
- naturally,
- never so,
- no end,
- normally,
- normatively,
- on balance,
- on the whole,
- ordinarily,
- overall,
- particularly,
- peculiarly,
- predominantly,
- prescriptively,
- prevailingly,
- primarily,
- principally,
- regularly,
- roughly,
- roughly speaking,
- routinely,
- speaking generally,
- still more,
- substantially,
- to be expected,
- usually,
- virtually,
- yea
Words containing 'For the most part'
- For my part,
- In part,
- Part,
- Parted,
- Parting,
- Partly,
- after part,
- part with,
- parts,
- Ex parte,
- Fore part,
- In good part,
- In ill part,
- Integrant parts,
- Meridional parts,
- Part and parcel,
- Part of speech,
- Part owner,
- Part singing,
- Part song,
- Parting fellow,
- Parting pulley,
- Parting sand,
- Parting strip,
- Parting tool,
- Pierre Part,
- Standing part,
- To part a cable,
- To part company,
- Water parting,
- aliquant part,
- aliquot part,
- auto part,
- bass part,
- bit part,
- body part,
- car part,
- component part,
- fifth part,
- fourth part,
- good part,
- imaginary part,
- name part,
- part company,
- part music,
- part name,
- part time,
- parted leaf,
- parting shot,
- parts bin,
- parts catalog,
- parts catalogue,
- parts department,
- parts inventory,
- plant part,
- private parts,
- radar parts,
- sixteenth part,
- spare part,
- take part,
- tenth part,
- twelfth part,
- voice part,
- weak part,
- Ex parte application,
- Ex parte council,
- Ex parte evidence,
- Ex parte hearing,
- Pierre Part, LA,
- Three-parted,
- Two-parted,
- complex body part,
- electrical parts and devices,
- external body part,
- part to whole relation,
- part-owner,
- part-singing,
- part-time,
- part-timer,
- two-part,
- whole to part relation,
- Three-parted leaf,
- fixed-point part,
- four-part harmony,
- imaginary part of a complex number,
- part-of-speech tagger,
- thirty-second part