plenteous

English

Etymology

From Middle English plentewos, plentevous, et al., circa 1300, from Old French plentiveus (“fertile, rich”) (early 13th century), from plentif (“abundant”), from plenté (“abundance”) (Modern French pleinté, English plenty), from Latin plenitatem, accusative of plenitas (“fullness”), from plenus (“complete, full”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós (“full”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplɛn.ti.əs/

Adjective

plenteous (comparative more plenteous, superlative most plenteous)

1. In plenty; abundant.

   His farm, though small, nevertheless allowed him a plenteous supply of healthy food.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     Reaping plenteous crop.

2. (obsolete) Having plenty; abounding; rich.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 28:11:

     The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods.

Related terms

• plenteously
• plenteousness
• plentiful
• plenty