# many

Pronunciation: say "ME-nee" /ˈmɛni/

## Determiner

1. A large but unspecified number of countable people or things; also used after as, so, too, how, or this to state or compare a number.
   - Simple: A lot of people or things, as in 'many friends', also used to ask about or compare numbers, as in 'how many?'
   - _Many residents complained about the new parking rules._
   - _He owns many books on military history._
6. Used before 'a' or 'an' plus a singular noun to speak of numerous separate people, things, or occasions. *(literary)*
   - Simple: Used before 'a' or 'an' and one noun to mean a lot of people, things, or times, as in 'many a time'.
   - _Many a sailor has gone down in these cold northern waters._
   - _She had spent many an evening by that window, waiting for his letters._

## Pronoun

2. A large, indefinite group of people or things, referred to without a following noun.
   - Simple: A large number of people or things, used without naming them.
   - _Many believe the policy will fail within a year._
   - _She invited a hundred people, but many declined._

## Adjective

3. Existing or occurring in large number; numerous.
   - Simple: Found or happening in large numbers, so there are lots of them.
   - _Her many achievements were celebrated at the ceremony._
   - _The region's many rivers make it ideal for farming._

## Noun

4. A large number of people or things, used in the phrases 'a good many' and 'a great many'.
   - Simple: A large number of people or things, used in 'a good many' or 'a great many'.
   - _A good many of the original members have since retired._
   - _He has read a great many of the classic novels._
5. The general mass of people regarded collectively; the multitude, often contrasted with a privileged few.
   - Simple: The large group of ordinary people, not the few in power.
   - _Reforms were promised for the many who had long been ignored._
   - _Throughout history, the many have rarely held real power._

## Origin

The determiner comes from Middle English many, from Old English maniġ, going back to Proto-West Germanic *manag and Proto-Germanic *managaz ("many, much"). It is related to Dutch menig and German manch, and possibly to Icelandic margur. The noun comes from Old English manigeo, menigu ("company, multitude, host"), built on the same root.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/many (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).