GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Many, a. & pron. [It has no variation to express degrees of comparison; more and most, which are used for the comparative and superlative degrees, are from a different root.] [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. √103.] Consisting of a great number; numerous; not few.
   
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   Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen. xvii. 4.
   
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   Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Cor. i. 26.
   
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   ☞ 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 it is 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.
   
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   Many a, a large number taken distributively; each one of many. “For thy sake have I shed many a tear.” Shak. “Full many a gem of purest ray serene.” Gray. -- Many one, many a one; many persons. Bk. of Com. Prayer. -- The many, the majority; -- opposed to the few. See Many, n. -- Too many, too numerous; hence, too powerful; as, “they are too many for us”.  L'Estrange.
   
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   Syn. -- Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry.
   
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