utmost

adj

1. (form-of, superlative)superlative form of utter: most utter; situated at the most distant limit; farthest, outermost.

   “the utmost limits of the land”

   “the utmost extent of human knowledge”

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

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

   “[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, [...]”

2. (not-comparable)The most extreme; greatest, ultimate.

   “the utmost assiduity”

   “the utmost harmony”

   “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.”

   “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.”

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The greatest possible capability, extent, or quantity; maximum.

   “at the utmost    to the utmost”

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

   “[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.”

   “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.”

   “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.”