multitudinous

adj

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.

1. Existing in multitudes or great numbers; very numerous; innumerable.

   “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.”

2. Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple, myriad; also, having a large number of forms.

   “[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.”

3. Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple, myriad; also, having a large number of forms.

   “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.”

4. Of a body of water, the sea, etc.: huge, vast; also, having innumerable ripples.

   “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.”

5. Followed by with: crowded with many people or things.

   “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.”

6. Of or relating to the multitude (“common people; masses”).

   “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.”

7. Very fruitful or productive; prolific.

   “[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.”