Many a

Many Ma"ny, a. & pron.

Note: [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, m[ae]nig, monig; akin to D. menig, OS. & OHG. manag, G. manch, Dan. mange, Sw. m[*a]nge, Goth. manags, OSlav. mnog', Russ. mnogii; cf. Icel. margr, Prov. E. mort. [root]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]

Note: 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]