Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Many
Ma′ny
,Adj.
& pron.
[It has no variation to express degrees of comparison; more and most, which are used for the comparative and superlative degrees, are from a different root.]
[OE.
mani
, moni
, AS. manig
, mænig
, monig
; akin to D. menig
, OS. & OHG. manag
, G. manch
, Dan. mange
, Sw. månge
, Goth. manags
, OSlav. mnog’
, Russ. mnogii
; cf. Icel. margr
, Prov. E. mort
. √103.] Consisting of a great number; numerous; not few.
Thou shalt be a father of
many
nations. Gen. xvii. 4.
Not
many
wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many
noble, are called. 1 Cor. i. 26.
☞ Many is freely prefixed to participles, forming compounds which need no special explanation; as, many-angled, many-celled, many-eyed, many-footed, many-handed, many-leaved, many-lettered, many-named, many-peopled, many-petaled, many-seeded, many-syllabled (polysyllabic), many-tongued, many-voiced, many-wived, and the like. In such usage it is equivalent to
multi
. Comparison is often expressed by many with as or so. “As many as were willing hearted . . . brought bracelets.” Exod. xxxv. 22.
“So many laws argue so many sins.” Milton.
Many stands with a singular substantive with a or an. Many a
, a large number taken distributively; each one of many.
“For thy sake have I shed many a tear.” Shak.
“Full many a gem of purest ray serene.” Gray.
– Many one
, many a one; many persons.
Bk. of Com. Prayer.
– The many
, – Too many
, too numerous; hence, too powerful;
as, they are
. too many
for usL'Estrange.
Syn. – Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry.
Ma′ny
,Noun.
[AS. ]
menigeo
, menigo
, menio
, multitude; akin to G. menge
, OHG. managī
, menigī
, Goth. managei
. See Many
, Adj.
1.
The populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a community.
After him the rascal
many
ran. Spenser.
2.
A large or considerable number.
A
Find native graves.
many
of our bodies shall no doubtFind native graves.
Shakespeare
Seeing a great
many
in rich gowns. Addison.
It will be concluded by
many
that he lived like an honest man. Fielding.
☞ In this sense, many is connected immediately with another substantive (without of) to show of what the many consists; as, a good many [of] people think so.
He is liable to a great
many
inconveniences. Tillotson.
Webster 1828 Edition
Many
MANY
,Adj.
1.
Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals. Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen.17.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Cor.1.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Ps.34.
It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.
As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.
So many laws argue so many sins.
It is followed by as.
As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Ex.34.
It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene.
2.
In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.MANY
,Noun.
O thou fond many.
The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.
MANY
,Noun.