throng

n. [ OE. þrong, þrang, AS. geþrang, fr. þringan to crowd, to press; akin to OS. thringan, D. & G. dringen, OHG. dringan, Icel. þryngva, þröngva, Goth. þriehan, D. & G. drang a throng, press, Icel. þröng a throng, Lith. trenkti to jolt, tranksmas a tumult. Cf. Thring. ] 1. A multitude of persons or of living beings pressing or pressed into a close body or assemblage; a crowd. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A great multitude; as, the heavenly throng. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Throng, Multitude, Crowd. Any great number of persons form a multitude; a throng is a large number of persons who are gathered or are moving together in a collective body; a crowd is composed of a large or small number of persons who press together so as to bring their bodies into immediate or inconvenient contact. A dispersed multitude; the throngs in the streets of a city; the crowd at a fair or a street fight. But these distinctions are not carefully observed. [ 1913 Webster ]

So, with this bold opposer rushes on
This many-headed monster, multitude. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,
The lowest of your throng. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I come from empty noise, and tasteless pomp,
From crowds that hide a monarch from himself. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Thronged p. pr. & vb. n. Thronging. ] To crowd together; to press together into a close body, as a multitude of persons; to gather or move in multitudes. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have seen the dumb men throng to see him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To crowd, or press, as persons; to oppress or annoy with a crowd of living beings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Much people followed him, and thronged him. Mark v. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To crowd into; to fill closely by crowding or pressing into, as a hall or a street. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]