What is "the more -- the more"

More \More\, adv.

1. In a greater quantity; in or to a greater extent or degree.

   1. With a verb or participle.

      Admiring more The riches of Heaven's pavement.
      --Milton.

   2. With an adjective or adverb (instead of the suffix -er) to form the comparative degree; as, more durable; more active; more sweetly.

      Happy here, and more happy hereafter.
      --Bacon.

      Note: Double comparatives were common among writers of the Elizabeth period, and for some time later; as, more brighter; more dearer.

      The duke of Milan And his more braver daughter.
      --Shak.

2. In addition; further; besides; again.

   Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more, Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere, I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude.
   --Milton.

   More and more, with continual increase. ``Amon trespassed more and more.''
   --2 Chron. xxxiii. 2

3. The more, to a greater degree; by an added quantity; for a reason already specified.

   The more -- the more, by how much more -- by so much more. ``The more he praised it in himself, the more he seems to suspect that in very deed it was not in him.''
   --Milton.

   To be no more, to have ceased to be; as, Cassius is no more; Troy is no more.

   Those oracles which set the world in flames, Nor ceased to burn till kingdoms were no more.
   --Byron.