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. 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.
MANY Ma"ny, n. Etym: [AS. menigeo, menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge, OHG. managi, menigi, Goth. managei. See Many, a.]
1. The populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a community. After him the rascal many ran. Spenser.
2. A large or considerable number.
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.
Note: 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.
MANY-MINDED
Ma"ny-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having many faculties; versatile; many-sided.
MANYPLIES
Ma"ny*plies, n. Etym: [Many, adj. + plies, pl. of ply a fold.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The third division, or that between the reticulum, or honeycomb stomach, and the abomasum, or rennet stomach, in the stomach of ruminants; the omasum; the psalterium. So called from the numerous folds in its mucous membrane. See Illust of Ruminant.