Overnumerousness

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: ō'vÉ™rnyoÍžoʹmÉ™rÉ™snÉ™s, IPA: /ˌəʊvəˈnjuːməɹəsnÉ™s/
• US enPR: ō'vÉ™rnoÍžoʹmÉ™rÉ™snÉ™s, IPA: /ËŒoÊŠvɚˈnuməɹəsnÉ™s/

Origin

First attested in 1890; formed as overnumerous + -ness.

Full definition of overnumerousness

Noun

1. (rare) The quality or condition of being too numerous.
• 1890, Ellery Sedgwick (editor), ’s Popular Monthly XXIX, page 347The city has now only three small newspapers, which are not abreast with its general progress or that of the State, chiefly because they do not receive sufficient patronage, owing to the overnumerousness of the negro population.
• 2007, Michael C. Finke and Julie W. De Sherbinin (editors), Chekhov the Immigrant, page 46His family name is as long as the word overnumerousness and derives from a songless Latin word referring to one of the countless human virtues.
• 2010 July 2nd, Graham Linehan, IV:ii: “The Final Countdown”, 20:55–21:06Richard Ayoade as “Word”: What do you call Negative One, sitting alone, in an empty room? ... Overnumerousness!