Most almost is a common phrase that is used to denote a high likelihood or probability of something happening. The word ‘most’ is generally pronounced with a short ‘o’ sound (/məʊst/) while ‘almost’ is pronounced with a long ‘o’ sound (/ɔːlməʊst/). The spelling of the word ‘most almost’ highlights the difference between the two sounds with the short ‘o’ following the ‘m’ in ‘most’ and the long ‘o’ following the ‘al’ in ‘almost’. This small distinction can have a big impact on how the phrase is perceived and understood.
Most almost is an expression that combines the superlative degree of "most" with the adverbial form of "almost." The term "most" refers to the highest degree or extent possible, while "almost" implies very close or nearly. When used together, "most almost" suggests an extreme level of proximity or nearness to a particular condition or outcome.
In its essence, "most almost" conveys an intensified state of being on the verge of, but not quite reaching, a particular quality or outcome. It implies that something or someone is remarkably close to achieving the desired condition, but falls just short of fully attaining it. It emphasizes the significant relevance of the subject in question to a specific attribute, idea, or outcome, while acknowledging its slight deviation from the expected or desired outcome.
Furthermore, "most almost" is often employed to convey a sense of frustration or disappointment, as it highlights the proximity to success without fully achieving it. It can be used in a wide variety of contexts, such as describing an almost-perfect score, a nearly successful attempt, or a person who is on the brink of realizing their potential. The inclusion of "most" intensifies the sentiment of "almost," highlighting the high degree of closeness to the desired outcome.
"Most almost" is not a common phrase or word combination in English, so there is no specific etymology for it. However, as individual words, "most" and "almost" have separate etymologies:
1. Most: The word "most" originates from the Old English word "mǣst", which ultimately comes from the Proto-Germanic "maistaz". It has a common root with other Germanic languages such as German "meist" and Dutch "meest".
2. Almost: "Almost" comes from the Old English word "almǣst", which is a combination of "eall" (entire, all) and "mǣst" (most). Over time, the "lm" combination changed to "l" through a process known as metathesis.