many

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many

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• manie (obsolete)

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”).

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), Serbo-Croatian mnogo.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛni/

  • Audio (UK, female voice):

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  • Audio (UK, male voice):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛni/

  • Audio (US):

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  • Rhymes: -ɛni
  • (pin–pen merger) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪni/
    • Homophone: mini (pin–pen merger)
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): /ˈmæni/
  • Rhymes: -æni
• Hyphenation: ma‧ny
• (Ireland) Homophones: mannie, Mannie, manny, Manny

many (comparative more, superlative most)

1. An indefinite large number of.

   Synonym: numerous

   Antonyms: a couple of, a few, a handful of, several; one; no, zero

   Hypernyms: multiple, various

   Hyponym: countless

   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.

2. (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.

• 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."

• a lot of

• few

many

1. 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...

   • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

     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.

• few

• many-to-many
• one-to-many

• how many
• many a
• so many

many (plural (rare) manies)

1. 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.

2. 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.

many (comparative more, superlative most)

1. Existing in large number; numerous.
   • 2008 January/February, James Fallows, “The $1.4 Trillion Question”, in The Atlantic Monthly‎:

     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.

• multiple, several; see also Thesaurus:manifold

• Thesaurus:quantifier

• “many”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• MYAN, Myan., myna

many

1. (personal) you

Borrowed from Arabic مَعْنَى (maʕnā).

many (definite accusative manyny, plural manylar)

1. meaning, sense

From Middle English mani, from Old English maniġ, from Proto-West Germanic *manag.

• IPA^(key): /maˈniː/

many

1. many
   • 1867, “A YOLA ZONG”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 6, page 86:

     Many a bra draught by Tommeen was ee-maate;

     Many a brave stroke by Tommy was made;

• Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) 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, published 1867, page 86