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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen. xvii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Cor. i. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. menigeo, menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge, OHG. managī, menigī, Goth. managei. See Many, a. ] 1. The populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a community. [ 1913 Webster ]

After him the rascal many ran. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A large or considerable number. [ 1913 Webster ]

A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find native graves. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seeing a great many in rich gowns. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

It will be concluded by many that he lived like an honest man. Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is liable to a great many inconveniences. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having many faculties; versatile; many-sided. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Many, adj. + plies, pl. of ply a fold. ] (Anat.) The third division, or that between the reticulum, or honeycomb stomach, and the abomasum, or rennet stomach, in the stomach of ruminants; the omasum; the psalterium. So called from the numerous folds in its mucous membrane. See Illust of Ruminant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having many sides; -- said of figures. Hence, presenting many questions or subjects for consideration; as, a many-sided topic. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Interested in, and having an aptitude for, many unlike pursuits or objects of attention; versatile. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ma"ny-sid`ed*ness, n. [1913 Webster]