Many a

Many a
Many Ma"ny, a. & pron.

Note: [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, m[ae]nig, monig; akin to D. menig, OS. & OHG. manag, G. manch, Dan. mange, Sw. m[*a]nge, Goth. manags, OSlav. mnog', Russ. mnogii; cf. Icel. margr, Prov. E. mort. [root]103.] Consisting of a great number; numerous; not few. [1913 Webster]

Thou shalt be a father of many nations. --Gen. xvii. 4. [1913 Webster]

Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. --1 Cor. i. 26. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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. [1913 Webster]

{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}, the majority; -- opposed to {the few}. See {Many}, n.

{Too many}, too numerous; hence, too powerful; as, they are too many for us. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Many — Ma ny, a. & pron. Note: [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, m[ae]nig, monig; akin to D. menig,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • many — [men′ē] adj. more, most [ME < OE manig, akin to Ger manch (OHG manag) < IE base * menegh , many, richly > Sans maghā , gift, OIr menicc, abundant] 1. consisting of some large, indefinite number (of persons or things); numerous 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • many a/an — formal + literary used with a singular noun to refer to a large number of things or people It remained a mystery for many a year. [=for many years] I ve been there many a time. [=many times] Many a tale was told. [=many tales were told] Man …   Useful english dictionary

  • Many — Ma ny, n. [AS. menigeo, menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge, OHG. manag[=i], menig[=i], Goth. managei. See {Many}, a.] 1. The populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a community. [1913 Webster] After him the rascal many… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • many — many, several, sundry, various, divers, numerous, multifarious mean consisting of a large number or comprising a large group. Many implies a likeness between the individuals or units in class, category, kind, or sort; except that it vaguely… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Many — may refer to: plural A quantifier that can be used with count nouns often preceded by as or too or so or that ; amounting to a large but indefinite number; many temptations ; a good many ; many directions ; more than a few, more than several… …   Wikipedia

  • Many — Many …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mány — Administration …   Wikipédia en Français

  • many — 1. Many, like much, tends to sound more formal in positive contexts (They have many friends) than in negative ones (They do not have many friends). In conversation and less formal written English, a lot of (or, even more informally, lots of) is… …   Modern English usage

  • Mány — Mány …   Wikipedia

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