many

/men"ee/, adj., more, most, n., pron.

adj.

1. constituting or forming a large number; numerous: many people.

2. noting each one of a large number (usually fol. by a or an): For many a day it rained.

n.

3. a large or considerable number of persons or things: A good many of the beggars were blind.

4. the many, the greater part of humankind.

pron.

5. many persons or things: Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.

[bef. 900; ME mani, meni, OE manig, menig; akin to OS, OHG manag, menig, Dan mange, Goth manags]

Syn. 1. multifarious, multitudinous, myriad; divers, sundry, various. MANY, INNUMERABLE, MANIFOLD, NUMEROUS imply the presence or succession of a large number of units. MANY is a popular and common word for this idea: many times. NUMEROUS, a more formal word, refers to a great number or to very many units: letters too numerous to mention. INNUMERABLE denotes a number that is beyond count or, more loosely, that is extremely difficult to count: the innumerable stars in the sky. MANIFOLD implies not only that the number is large but also that there is variety or complexity.

Ant. 1. few, single.

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