many
English Edit
Alternative forms Edit
- manie (obsolete)
Etymology Edit
From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“some, much, many”).
Cognate with Scots mony (“many”), North Frisian manag, manig, mäning (“many”), Saterland Frisian monig, moonich (“many”), West Frisian mannich, mennich (“some, many”), Dutch menig (“many”), Low German männig (“many”), German manch, mannig- (“many, some”), French maint (“many”), Russian мно́гий (mnógij), Scottish Gaelic minig
The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-West Germanic *managu, *managī, from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje (“multitude”), Russian много (mnogo).
Pronunciation Edit
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈmɛni/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈmɛni/
- (Ireland) IPA(key): /ˈmæni/
- Rhymes: -æni
- Hyphenation: ma‧ny
- (Ireland) Homophones: mannie, Mannie, manny, Manny
Determiner Edit
many (comparative more, superlative most)
- An indefinite large number of.
- Not many such people enjoyed playing chess.
- There are very many different ways to cook a meal.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 17:4:
- Thou shalt be a father of many nations.
- 1864–65, Charles Dickens, chapter 15, in Our Mutual Friend:
- I did it in a moment of conceit and folly—one of my many such moments—one of my many such hours—years.
- 1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter III, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC:
- The big houses, and there are a good many of them, lie for the most part in what may be called by courtesy the valleys. You catch a glimpse of them sometimes at a little distance from the [railway] line, which seems to have shown some ingenuity in avoiding them, […].
- 2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, page 68:
- Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.
- (in combinations such as 'as many', 'so many', 'this many') Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the number of people or things.
- We don't need this many bananas. Put some back.
- There may be as many as ten million species of insect.
- I don't have as many friends as my sister does.
Usage notes Edit
- Many is used only with the plural of countable nouns (except in the combination many a). Its counterpart used with uncountable nouns is much. Many and much merge in the comparative and superlative forms, which are more and most for both determiners.
- It was once common to use the indefinite article with many (very a many years ago), as it still is with few (a few good men). However, this has fallen out of favor except in formations such as "a great/good many."
Synonyms Edit
Antonyms Edit
Derived terms Edit
- a good many
- a great many
- have a few too many
- have one's fingers in many pies
- how many languages do you speak
- how many siblings do you have
- infinitely many
- in so many words
- know how many beans make five
- longways for as many as will
- manifold
- many a mickle makes a muckle
- many an
- many and varied
- many and various
- many another
- many a time and oft
- many a times
- many-banded krait
- many-bodied
- many-coloured
- many-handed
- many-handedly
- many-handedness
- many hands make light work
- many happies
- many happy returns
- manyhood
- many-kinded
- many moons ago
- manyness
- many-partedness
- many-sided
- many-sidedness
- many-sorted logic
- many-splendored
- many thanks
- many-to-one
- many-valued logic
- many-worlds interpretation
- one too many
- there are many ways to skin a cat
- there's many a good tune played on an old fiddle
- there's many a slip between the cup and the lip
- there's many a slip twixt cup and lip
- there's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip
- too many
- too many balls in the air
- too many chefs spoil the broth
- too many chiefs and not enough indians
- too many chiefs and not enough Indians
- too many cooks spoil the broth
- too many cooks spoil the soup
- too many cooks spoil the stew
- wear too many hats
- wrong on so many levels
Translations Edit
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Pronoun Edit
many
- An indefinite large number of people or things.
- Many are called, but few are chosen.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:1:
- Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us...
- 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
- By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.
Antonyms Edit
Derived terms Edit
Related terms Edit
Translations Edit
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Noun Edit
many (plural (rare) manies)
- A multitude; a great aggregate; a mass of people; the generality; the common herd.
- Synonyms: crowd, mob; see also Thesaurus:commonalty
- Democracy must balance the rights of the few against the will of the many.
- A considerable number.
- Synonyms: abundance, buttload, deal; see also Thesaurus:lot
- 2005, Florence Dyer, A Mother's Cry!: Touches the Very Heart of God, page 22:
- I know that my mother cried a many of times from decisions I made.
Translations Edit
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Adjective Edit
many (comparative more, superlative most)
- Existing in large number; numerous.
- 2008 January/February, James Fallows, “The $1.4 Trillion Question”, in The Atlantic Monthly[1]:
- Let’s take these fears about a rich, strong China to their logical extreme. The U.S. and Chinese governments are always disagreeing—about trade, foreign policy, the environment. Someday the disagreement could be severe. Taiwan, Tibet, North Korea, Iran—the possibilities are many, though Taiwan always heads the list.
Synonyms Edit
- multiple, several; see also Thesaurus:manifold
See also Edit
References Edit
- many at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams Edit
Maricopa Edit
Pronoun Edit
many
- (personal) you
Yola Edit
Etymology Edit
From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag.
Adjective Edit
many
- many
- 1867, “A YOLA ZONG”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 6:
- Many a bra draught by Tommeen was ee-maate;
- Many a brave stroke by Tommy was made;
References Edit
- Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 86