multitudinous
Part of speech: adj
Morphological type: derivation
Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin multitūdin- (the oblique stem of multitūdō (“great number (of people), multitude”)) + English -ous (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, denoting the presence of a quality in any degree (typically an abundance)). Multitūdō is derived from multus (“many; much”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mel- (“to be late; to worry”)) + -tūdō (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a condition or state). By surface analysis, multitude + -in- (interfix used before Latinate suffixes appended to nouns ending with -itude or -tude) + -ous.
Affixes: -ous
Inflected forms:
form: more multitudinous
pos: adj
tags: comparative
form: most multitudinous
pos: adj
tags: superlative
Senses:
gloss: Existing in multitudes or great numbers; very numerous; innumerable.
pos: adj
examples: The great impoſtume of the realme vvas dravvne / Euen to a head: the multitudinous ſpavvne / VVas the corruption, vvhich did make it ſvvell / VVith hop'd ſedition (the burnt ſeed of hell.)
There vvas alſo another parting ſpeach, vvhich vvas to haue been preſented in the perſon of a youth, and accompanied vvith diuerſe Gentlemens yonger ſonnes of the Countrey, but by reaſon of the Multitudinous preſſe, vvas alſo hindred.
[T]he foundation of all, the Trinity, undermined by thoſe numerous, thoſe multitudinous Anthills of Socinians, that overflovv ſome parts of the Chriſtian vvorld, and multiply every vvhere.
For certainly it is as true in making our approaches and petitions to our Lord the king, as in the pouring out of our prayers and ſupplications to the Lord our God: the more multitudinous and united the Petitioners are, the more like to ſpeed.
The City [was] at that time much peſtered vvith the Puritan Faction, vvhich vvas grovvn multitudinous and ſtrong by reaſon of the ſmall abode vvhich the Dean and Prebendaries made amongſt them, the dull connivance of their Biſhop, and the remiſs Government of their Metropolitan, […]
Inv[oice]. […] [I]s your family pretty large and extenſive? / Devil. Multitudinous as the ſands on the beach, or the moats in a ſun-beam: Hovv the deuce elſe do you think vve could do all the buſineſs belovv?
The lesser fowls / Flock multitudinous in heaven, and fly / Before the Eagle's coming.
In the multitudinous whimseys of a disabled mind and body, the thick-coming fancies often occur to me that the events which affect my life and adventures are specially shaped to disappoint my purposes.
The schism of the Lutheran and Helvetic protestants did injury enough to their cause; a more multitudinous brood of sectaries would, in the temper of those times, have been such a disgrace as it could not have overcome.
Whichever way one looked one's view was shut in by the multitudinous ranks of trees, and the tangled bushes and creepers that struggled round their bases like the sea round the piles of a pier.
gloss: Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple, myriad; also, having a large number of forms.
pos: adj
examples: [I]n a State ſo multitudinous, where ſo many flocks of people muſt be fed, it is impoſſible to haue ſome Trades to ſtand, if they ſhould not Lye.
VVhen all the Perſians ſoothed the King in the vnconquerableneſſe of his forces, Artabanus told him, that he feared no enemies but the Sea and the Earth; the one yeelding no ſafe harbour for ſuch a Navie; the other not yeelding ſufficient ſuſtenance for ſo multitudinous an Armie.
It was the rocks of an isle beyond Inistore, which made that multitudinous roaring of the wind.
Ethel knew that further remonstrance was useless; and, therefore, quietly offered her services to arrange the multitudinous wardrobe which was being unpacked.
The pavement […] has grass enough growing in its chinks to show that it has not, of late days, been worn by any multitudinous resort of business.
[T]o getting off aside, resting in an arm-chair and looking up a long while at the grand high roof with its graceful and multitudinous work of iron rods, angles, gray colors, plays of light and shade, receding into dim outlines— […] —I abandon'd myself for over an hour.
The monotone of the rain is beautiful, / And the sudden rise and slow relapse / Of the long multitudinous rain.
gloss: Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple, myriad; also, having a large number of forms.
pos: adj
examples: From the whole extent of the invisible vale came a multitudinous intonation; it forced upon their fancy that a great city lay below them, and that the murmur was the vociferation of its populace.
The multitudinous shouting confused his ears.
When Irma returned to her guests she paused before she opened the doors of the salon, for a loud and confused noise came from within. It was of a kind that she had never heard before, so happy it was, so multitudinous, so abandoned—the sound of voices at play.
gloss: Of a body of water, the sea, etc.: huge, vast; also, having innumerable ripples.
pos: adj
tags: literary
poetic
examples: VVill all great Neptunes ocean vvaſh this blood / Cleane from my Hand? no: this my Hand vvill rather / The multitudinous Seas incarnardine, / Making the Greene one, Red.
gloss: Followed by with: crowded with many people or things.
pos: adj
tags: obsolete
poetic
examples: The transport of a fierce and monstrous gladness / Spread thro' the multitudinous streets, fast flying / Upon the winds of fear; […]
[R]egard this Earth / Made multitudinous with thy slaves, whom thou / Requitest for knee-worship, prayer, and praise, / And toil, and hecatombs of broken hearts, / With fear and self-contempt and barren hope.
Therefore the lot o' the master is, to live / In a home multitudinous with herds, […]
In multitudinous London the memory of A. V. Laider and his trouble had soon passed from my mind.
gloss: Of or relating to the multitude (“common people; masses”).
pos: adj
tags: obsolete
rare
examples: You […] That preferre / A Noble life, before a Long, and VViſh / To iumpe a Body vvith a dangerous Phyſicke, / That's ſure of death vvithout it: at once plucke out / The Multitudinous Tongue, let them not licke / The ſvveet vvhich is their poyſon.
gloss: Very fruitful or productive; prolific.
pos: adj
tags: figuratively
obsolete
rare
examples: [T]wo very multitudinous versifiers, Mr. Nightshade and Mr. Mac Laurel, who followed the trade of poetry, but occasionally indulged themselves in the composition of bad criticism.
Related words: multiplicity
multitude
Derived words: multitudinosity
multitudinously
multitudinousness
Translations:
lang: Bulgarian
word: многообразен
roman: mnogoobrazen
lang: Bulgarian
word: многолик
roman: mnogolik
lang: Bulgarian
word: разнообразен
roman: raznoobrazen
lang: Finnish
word: moninainen