| 释义 |
multitudinous, a.|mʌltɪˈtjuːdɪnəs|
[f. L. multitūdin-, multitūdo multitude + -ous.]
1. a. with pl. n.: Existing in multitudes or great numbers; very numerous.
1629Donne Serm. (1649) II. xxviii. 242 The foundation of all, the Trinity, undermined by those numerous, those multitudinous Anthills of Socinians. 1644Heylin Stumblingblock Tracts (1681) 723 The more multitudinous and united the Petitioners are, the more like to speed. 1650Descr. Fut. Hist. Europe 23 Confounding..the multitudinous Pagans and Idolaters fighting against Christians. 1800Coleridge Talleyrand to Ld. Granville 46 It argues, my Lord! of fine thoughts such a brood in us To split and divide into heads multitudinous. 1805Southey Madoc ii. xxv. Poems V. 367 The lesser fowls Flock multitudinous in heaven. 1846Trench Mirac. Prelim. Ess. iv. 45 The multitudinous races of animals which people this world.
b. with collective n.: Consisting of a multitude or great number of individuals.
1606Dekker Sev. Sins ii. (Arb.) 20 In a State so multitudinous, where so many flocks of people must be fed. a1662Heylin Laud (1668) 70 The Puritan faction, which was grown multitudinous and strong. 1837Hallam Hist. Lit. I. vi. §35 A more multitudinous brood of sectaries. 1840H. Ainsworth Tower of London (1862) 212 When this multitudinous and confused assemblage had nearly filled the inclosure. 1882A. W. Ward Dickens v. 112 Never before had his versatility..filled his canvas with so multitudinous and so various a host of personages.
c. with sing. n.: Existing in or exhibiting a multitude of forms; having many elements or features; arising from or involving a multitude.
Often applied to bodies of sound which are varied in volume and tone.
1656Blount Glossogr., Multitudinous, pertaining to a multitude; that hath a great..number, or great store of. a1734North Lives (1826) III. 155 The abuses in the management of the royal navy, and the multitudinous fraud that corroded there. 1820L. Hunt Indicator No. 20 (1882) I. 155 It was the rocks of an isle beyond Inistore, which made that multitudinous roaring of the wind. 1850Hawthorne Scarlet L. Introd. (1879) 12 The pavement..has not..been worn by any multitudinous resort of business. 1858Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 21 The multitudinous moan and wail of the lost spirits. 1874R. Tyrwhitt Sketch Club p. vii, Multitudinous murder of tame pheasants. 1891Hardy Tess xxxii, From the whole extent of the invisible vale came a multitudinous intonation.
d. Said of the ocean or any mass of water with reference to its great bulk or (after the ἀνήριθµον γέλασµα of æschylus) to its innumerable ripples.
1605Shakes. Macb. ii. ii. 62 This my Hand will rather The multitudinous Seas incarnardine. a1794Sir W. Jones Hymn to Narayena Wks. 1799 VI. 370 The waters flow'd,..Diffusive, multitudinous, profound. 1817Moore Lalla Rookh, Veiled Prophet (1854) 79 The multitudinous torrent. 1850Blackie æschylus II. 21 And of ocean waves The multitudinous laughter. 1860W. Collins Woman in White I. 185 The multitudinous glory of the leaping waves.
e. Thronged or crowded (with). poet.
1820Shelley Prometh. Unb. i. 5 Regard this Earth Made multitudinous with thy slaves. 1871Browning Balaust. 1328 To live In a home multitudinous with herds.
f. nonce-use. Immensely productive or prolific.
1816T. L. Peacock Headlong Hall iii, Two very multitudinous versifiers, Mr. Nightshade and Mr. Mac Laurel.
2. Of or pertaining to ‘the multitude’. rare—1.
1607Shakes. Cor. iii. i. 156 At once plucke out The Multitudinous Tongue, let them not licke The sweet which is their poyson. |