Approximately, or to some extent but not completely or exactly.
This phrase dates to the 14th century, originating from mathematical and commercial contexts where precise quantities were difficult to determine. It evolved from Latin legal terminology and reflects the practical need for approximate measurements in trade and daily life. The phrase embodies acceptance of imprecision as normal and useful.
What's remarkable about 'more or less' is how it embraces uncertainty as a feature, not a bug, of human communication. It acknowledges that most of our descriptions of reality are approximations, making it one of the most honest phrases in the English language about the limits of precision.
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