numberyadj.
/ˈnʌmb(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈnəmb(ə)ri/ rare.† 1. Poetical, metrical. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > metre > [adjective]
metrical?a1475
measureda1586
numbery1605
metric1637
metred1711
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 375 The tunes that his sweet numb'ry soule..learn'd of the warbling Pole.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 493 Sacred Harmonie, And numbrie [Fr. nombreuse] Law, which did accompanie Th' Almighty-most.
2. Numerous; rich in numbers, containing large amounts of numbers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adjective] > abundant, numerous
so manyc888
thickc893
muchc1225
rifec1275
stourc1275
unridec1300
copiousc1384
plentya1400
rivedc1400
numerable?a1425
numerous?a1475
many a several1543
rank1545
numberous1566
huge1570
multuous1586
multeous1589
numberful1594
numberable1596
numbery1606
numbersomea1617
multitudinousa1631
sand-like1630
voluminous1650
several1712
smart1750
powerful1800
multitudinarious1810
multitudinary1838
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iii. 99 Thy numbrie Flocks in part shall barren bee.
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. Battail of Yvry in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 1093 So many, and so numbery Armies scatterd.
1996 Angry Corrie (Electronic ed.) 29 Nov. Most articles are wordy rather than numbery, and only Michael Götz's ‘Estimating time in mountain navigation’ attempts much theorising.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1605