many Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `as' or `too' or `so' or `that'; amounting to a large but indefinite number
    • many temptations
    • the temptations are many
    • a good many
    • a great many
    • many directions
    • take as many apples as you like
    • too many clouds to see
    • never saw so many people

WordNet

Ma"ny noun
Etymology
See Meine, Mansion.
Definitions
  1. A retinue of servants; a household. Obs. Chaucer.
Ma"ny adjective ∨ pronoun
Etymology
OE. mani, moni, AS. manig, mænig, monig; akin to D. menig, OS. & OHG. manag, G. manch, Dan. mange, Sw. månge, Goth. manags, OSlav. mnog', Russ. mnogii; cf. Icel. margr, Prov. E. mort.
Definitions
  1. Consisting of a great number; numerous; not few.
    Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen. xvii. 4.
    Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Cor. i. 26.
    ✍ 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 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. L'Estrange. Syn. -- Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry.
Ma"ny noun
Etymology
AS. menigeo, menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge, OHG. managi, menigi, Goth. managei. See Many, a.
Definitions
  1. The populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a community.
    After him the rascal many ran. Spenser.
  2. A large or considerable number.
    A many of our bodies shall no doubt Find native graves. Shak.
    Seeing a great many in rich gowns. Addison.
    It will be concluded by manythat he lived like an honest man. Fielding.
    ✍ In this sense, many is connected immediately with another substantive (without of) to show of what the many consists; as, a good many [of] people think so.
    He is liable to a great many inconveniences. Tillotson.

Webster 1913