many

[men-ee] /ˈmɛn i/

adjective, more, most.

constituting or forming a large number; numerous:

many people.

noting each one of a large number (usually followed by a or an):

For many a day it rained.

noun

a large or considerable number of persons or things:

A good many of the beggars were blind.

the many, the greater part of humankind.

pronoun

many persons or things:

Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.

Origin

before 900; Middle English mani, meni, Old English manig, menig; akin to Old Saxon, Old High German manag, menig, Danish mange, Gothic manags

Related forms

overmany, adjective

Synonyms

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.

Antonyms

1. few, single.

British Dictionary definitions for many a

many

/ˈmɛnɪ/

determiner

sometimes preceded by a great or a good

a large number of: many coaches, many times
(as pronoun; functioning as plural): many are seated already

foll by a, an, or another, and a singular noun. each of a considerable number of: many a man

preceded by as, too, that, etc

a great number of: as many apples as you like, too many clouds to see
(as pronoun; functioning as plural): I have as many as you

noun

the many, the majority of mankind, esp the common people: the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper Compare few (sense 7)

many

adj.

Old English monig, manig "many, many a, much," from Proto-Germanic *managaz (cf. Old Saxon manag, Swedish mången, Old Frisian manich, Dutch menig, Old High German manag, German manch, Gothic manags), from PIE *menegh- "copious" (cf. Old Church Slavonic munogu "much, many," Old Irish menicc, Welsh mynych "frequent," Old Irish magham "gift"). Pronunciation altered by influence of any (see manifold).

Old English menigu, from many (adj.). The many "the multitude" attested from 1520s. Cf. also Gothic managei "multitude, crowd," Old High German managi "large number, plurality," German Menge "multitude."

Slang definitions & phrases for many a

many

Related Terms

one too many

Idioms and Phrases with many a

many a

Numerous ones, as in Many a little boy has wanted to become a fireman . This adjective is always used with a singular noun, a usage dating from about 1200. Also see many is the

many

also see: