greatest

Everyday

1. Greatest means the biggest or the most of all. tree →
2. Greatest also means the best or most important: the greatest player of all time. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: asks for the largest number or amount; compare all; part of «greatest common divisor» (also called greatest common factor); «greatest number of equal groups» uses it; «greatest 3-digit number» is 999. In history and stories: the greatest inventors, the greatest adventure. Phrases: the greatest, greatest common factor, greatest common divisor, greatest of all.

Examples

• Which number is the greatest? tree →
• Find the greatest number of equal groups. tree →
• The greatest score was 95. tree →
• What is the greatest 3-digit number? tree →
• Order the numbers from greatest to least. tree →
• The blue whale is the greatest animal that ever lived. tree →
• Some say she is the greatest tennis player ever. tree →
• The greatest common factor of 12 and 18 is 6. tree →
• It is one of my greatest pleasures. tree →

Note

Superlative of «great»: great, greater, greatest. In maths «greater than» is the sign >. Asks for the largest; compare all. In «greatest number of groups» look for the greatest common divisor. Trap: «greatest» is not «total».

In Jewish tradition

In maths: asks for the largest number or amount; compare all; part of «greatest common divisor» (also called greatest common factor); «greatest number of equal groups» uses it; «greatest 3-digit number» is 999. In history and stories: the greatest inventors, the greatest adventure. Phrases: the greatest, greatest common factor, greatest common divisor, greatest of all.

Examples

• Although there is an exuberance of weeds, we will find, nevertheless, many germs of truisms, which are of the greatest importance. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• The Pythagorean philosophy is the greatest enigma of all philosophical systems of antiquity. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• Now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. (Prophets JOS.14.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host; he that was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand. (Writings 1CH.12.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. (Prophets JON.3.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Superlative of «great»: great, greater, greatest. In maths «greater than» is the sign >. Asks for the largest; compare all. In «greatest number of groups» look for the greatest common divisor. Trap: «greatest» is not «total».