• Many

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ˈmÉ›nɪi/
    • US IPA: /ˈmÉ›ni/
      • pin-pen IPA: /ˈmɪni/
        • Homophones: mini pin-pen merger
      • Rhymes: -É›ni
      • Ireland IPA: /ˈmæni/
        • Rhymes: -æni
      • Hyphenation: many

    Origin

    From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English maniġ, moniġ, maneġ ("many"), from Proto-Germanic *managaz ("some, much, many"), from Proto-Indo-European *monogʰo- ("many").

    cognates

    Cognate with Scots mony ("many"), North Frisian manag, manig, mäning ("many"), Eastern Frisian manich ("some, many"), West Frisian mannich ("many"), Dutch menig ("many"), Low German männig ("Many"), German manch ("many, some") and mannig-, French maint ("many"), Russian многий, Scottish Gaelic minig

    The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu ("company, multitude, host"), from Proto-Germanic *managō, *managį̄ ("multitude"), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje ("multitude").

    Determiner

    1. An indefinite large number of.
      many people enjoy playing chess;  there are many different ways to cook a meal
      • Bible, Genesis xvii. 4Thou shalt be a father of many nations.
      • 2013-07-06, The rise of smart beta, 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.

    Usage notes

    Many is used with plural nouns only (except in the combination many a). Its singular counterpart is much, which is used with uncountable nouns. Many and much merge in the comparison forms, which are more and most for both determiners.

    Antonyms

    Full definition of many

    Pronoun

    many

    1. A collective mass of people.
      Democracy must balance the rights of the few against the will of the many
      A great many do not understand this.
    2. An indefinite large number of people or things.
      Many are called, but few are chosen.
      • 1922, Ben Travers, A Cuckoo in the Nest Chapter 4, 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.

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

    Noun

    many

    (plural manies)
    1. A multitude; a great aggregate; a mass of people; the generality; the common herd.
    2. A considerable number.

    Anagrams

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