many

many, several, sundry, various, divers, numerous, multifarious mean consisting of a large number or comprising a large group.

Many implies a likeness between the individuals or units in class, category, kind, or sort; except that it vaguely implies more than a few, the term gives no explicit suggestion as to how large the number is

{

of the eleven poets who accepted (representing, in many cases, a second choice on the part of the committee . . .)— Mary McCarthy

}

{

many inventions which we now see to be precursors of the second industrial revolution— Wiener

}

Several (see also DISTINCT 1) is almost as vague as many in its implication of number. In law the term is construed as meaning more than one; thus, the several counts of an indictment may be two or more counts. In more general use it is usually construed as meaning at least three

{

the journey will take several days

}

{

they saw several strangers on the road

}

{

there are several reasons why you should not go

}

Sometimes the term means both more than a few and different each from the other; in such use, several is often preceded by a possessive adjective

{

a review of our denominational theologians .... There have been many of them; they have served their several causes well— Sperry

}

{

her several thoughts . . . as signaled by the changes on her face— Hardy

}

{

chosen every second year by the people of the several States— U. S. Constitution

}

Sundry also implies an indefinite number, but it carries regularly a stronger implication of the difference of each from the others than does several; thus, there are several, rather than sundry, eggs left; there are sundry, more explicit than several, aspects of the problem that have not been considered

{

she differed ... in sundry important features— Quiller-Couch

}

{

all their sundry emotions of a moment ago were one now in a sense of submissive, unquestioning reverence— Tasaki

}

Various (see also DIFFERENT) is often used to mean an indefinite number, with a more or less attenuated impli-cation of difference in identity of each from each

{

various persons spoke to me about it

}

{

the various social layers of the American population— Packard

}

Divers (compare diverse under DIFFERENT) also has come to imply a vague number, often meaning little more than many or several, but often retaining some of its originally strong implication of difference among the individuals

{

he told his story to divers persons

}

{

divers styles of musical expression— Virgil Thomson

}

Numerous may qualify plural nouns or singular nouns that designate a collection or assembly of units or individuals. In each case the term implies the existence of a noticeably large number of units or individuals; sometimes, in fact, it connotes a crowding or thronging

{

every president has numerous letters from numerous persons

}

{

I have contracted a numerous acquaintance among the best sort of people— Steele

}

{

the commoners who had been summoned . . . formed a numerous assembly— Macaula

}

Multifarious adds to the implications of many that of great diversity and often incongruity in the units, individuals, or elements involved

{

in many of the multifarious activities he undertook— Ellis

}

{

the multifarious Italian dialects— Heiser

}

{

the large desk on which multifarious files and papers were ranged— Bennett

}

{

the multifarious sufferings of the refugees

}

Antonyms: few