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.
Ma"ny, n. [AS. menigeo, menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge,
OHG. manag, menig, 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.