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Webster 1913 Edition

Abundance

A-bun′dance

(ȧ-bŭn′dans)
,
Noun.
[OE.
(h)abundaunce
,
abundance
, F.
abondance
, L.
abundantia
, fr.
abundare
. See
Abound
.]
An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: – strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number.
It is lamentable to remember what
abundance
of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state.
Raleigh.
Syn. – Exuberance; plenteousness; plenty; copiousness; overflow; riches; affluence; wealth.
–
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Abundance

ABUND'ANCE

,
Noun.
Great plenty; an overflowing quantity; ample sufficiency; in strictness applicable to quantity only; but customarily used of number, as an abundance of peasants.
In scripture, the abundance of the rich is great wealth. Eccl. 5. Mark, 7. Luke 21.
The abundance of the seas is great plenty of fish.
Deut. 33.
It denotes also fullness, overflowing, as the abundance of the heart. Mat. 22. Luke, 6.

Definition 2024

abundance

abundance

English

Alternative forms

Noun

abundance ‎(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

Related terms

Translations

References

  1. 1 2 Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 [1909], ISBN 0-87779-101-5), page 8
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 10
  • abundance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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

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