Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Gen. xvii. 4.

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

* 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. 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.

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.

Syn. -- Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various; divers; sundry.

After him the rascal many ran. Spenser.

A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find native graves. Shak.

Seeing a great many in rich gowns. Addison.

It will be concluded by manythat he lived like an honest man. Fielding.

* 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.

He is liable to a great many inconveniences. Tillotson.