for the most part : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: for the most part	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for for the most part
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
for the most part adv in large part; mainly or chiefly; "These accounts are largely inactive" Synonym(s): largely, mostly, for the most part
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Most \Most\, a., superl. of {More}. [OE. most, mast, mest, AS. m[?]st; akin to D. meest, OS. m[c7]st, G. meist, Icel. mestr, Goth. maists; a superl. corresponding to E. more. [fb]103. See {More}, a.] 1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all. [bd]Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness.[b8] --Prov. xx. 6. The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done. --Matt. xi. 20. 2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. [bd]In the moste pride.[b8] --Chaucer. 3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] --Chaucer. 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. A quarter of a year or some months at the most. --Bacon. A covetous man makes the most of what he has. --L'Estrange. {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.] [bd]She sleeps most an end.[b8] --Massinger.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Part \Part\, 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. And kept back part of the price, . . . and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles'feet. --Acts v. 2. Our ideas of extension and number -- do they not contain a secret relation of the parts ? --Locke. I am a part of all that I have met. --Tennyson. 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. An homer is the tenth part of an ephah. --Ex. xvi. 36. A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom, And ever three parts coward. --Shak. (b) A constituent portion of a living or spiritual whole; a member; an organ; an essential element. All the parts were formed . . . into one harmonious body. --Locke. The pulse, the glow of every part. --Keble. (c) A constituent of character or capacity; quality; faculty; talent; -- usually in the plural with a collective sense. [bd]Men of considerable parts.[b8] --Burke. [bd]Great quickness of parts.[b8] --Macaulay. Which maintained so politic a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them. --Shak. (d) Quarter; region; district; -- usually in the plural. [bd]The uttermost part of the heaven.[b8] --Neh. i. 9. All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears. --Dryden. (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. 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. We have no part in David. --2 Sam. xx. 1. Accuse not Nature! she hath done her part; Do thou but thine. --Milton. Let me bear My part of danger with an equal share. --Dryden. 4. Hence, specifically: (a) One of the opposing parties or sides in a conflict or a controversy; a faction. For he that is not against us is on our part. --Mark ix. 40. Make whole kingdoms take her brother's part. --Waller. (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. See {To act a part}, under {Act}. That part Was aptly fitted and naturally performed. --Shak. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf. --Shak. Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies. --Pope. (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. {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. --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. [bd]She was . . . part and parcel of the race and place.[b8] --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. [bd]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.[b8] --Stainer & Barrett. Syn: Portion; section; division; fraction; fragment; piece; share; constituent. See {Portion}, and {Section}.