abundance

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English abundaunce, habaundance,[1] from Old French habundance[2], abondance, from Latin abundantia (“fullness, plenty”), from abundō (“to overflow”). See abound.

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈbʌn.dn̩s/
  • (US) IPA(key): /əˈbʌn.dn̩s/, /əˈbʌn.dn̩ts/, /əˈbn̩.dn̩s/[1]
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

abundance (countable and uncountable, plural abundances)

  1. A large quantity; many. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][2]
  2. An overflowing fullness or ample sufficiency; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; plentifulness. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][2]
    • (Can we date this quote?) Sir Walter Raleigh
      It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state.
  3. Wealth; affluence; plentiful amount of resources. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][2]
  4. Frequency, amount, ratio of something within a given environment or sample. [First attested in the late 19th century.][2]
  5. (card games) A bid to take nine or more tricks in solo whist. [First attested in the late 19th century.][2]

Usage notes
  • Synonym notes: Abundance, Plenty, Exuberance. These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness.
    • Plenty denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc.
    • Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree.
    • Exuberance rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an exuberance of animal spirits, etc.

Synonyms

Translations

References
  1. Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 [1909], →ISBN), page 8
  2. “abundance” in Lesley Brown, editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 10.
  • abundance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Scots

Etymology

From Middle English abundaunce, from Old French habundance, from Latin abundantia. Equivalent to abund +‎ -ance.

Noun

abundance (plural abundances)

  1. An abundance; enough.

References
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