What is "upon the whole"

Whole \Whole\, n.

1. The entire thing; the entire assemblage of parts; totality; all of a thing, without defect or exception; a thing complete in itself.

   ``This not the whole of life to live, Nor all of death to die.
   --J. Montgomery.

2. A regular combination of parts; a system.

   Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.
   --Pope.

   Committee of the whole. See under Committee.

   Upon the whole, considering all things; taking everything into account; in view of all the circumstances or conditions.

   Syn: Totality; total; amount; aggregate; gross.

adv. (alternative form of on the whole English)