numerousnessn.
/ˈnjuːm(ə)rəsnəs/, U.S. /ˈn(j)um(ə)rəsnəs/ 1. The state or condition of being numerous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun]
multitudec1350
numberc1390
pluralitya1398
manynessc1500
multitudine1547
umberment1550
infiniteness1579
numbers1591
populacy1597
plurity1600
numerosity1611
populosity1614
numerousness1631
populousness1651
multitudinousness1653
multitudinosity1840
1631 T. Powell Tom of All Trades 142 Numerousnes spoiles all.
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (lxxxvii. 1 Paraphr.) 430 In respect of the numerousness of eminent persons.
1675 N. Grew Compar. Anat. Trunks ii. vii. 75 Its softness, depending on the numerousness..of the Air-vessels.
1741 G. Berkeley Wks. (1871) IV. 274 You seem to think the numerousness of her sons an argument of her truth.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. ii. iv. 222 The numerousness of splendid engagements, of which..every one was proud to boast.
1841 L. Hunt Seer (1864) ii. 42 There are times when the numerousness may scatter the individual gusto.
1887 T. A. Trollope What I Remember I. xv. 311 English wanderers at that time earned the privilege since accorded to their numerousness.
1916 Science 25 Aug. 284/1 Another condition bearing on the ‘spectral distribution’ of energy in this case would seem to be the relative numerousness of the different-sized particles composing the sand.
1957 Social Forces 35 381/1 The very numerousness of siblings limits the range of role choice for the later comers.
1994 Jrnl. Brit. Stud. 33 51 Whether or not women's numerousness in this particular trade made it likely that female-run businesses were able to hire proportionately more women than previously is indeterminable.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > rhythm > [noun] > rhythmic quality
numerosityc1570
march1656
numerousness1685
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > proportion of notes or rhythm > [noun] > action of putting into rhythm > rhythmic quality
time1531
numerosityc1570
numerousness1685
rhythmicity1888
1685 J. Dryden Pref. to Sylvæ in Wks. (1969) Pref. sig. a6v The Elegance of his Words, and the numerousness of his Verse.
1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe I. iii. 290 That Strength and Perspicuity of Stile, the Numerousness of your Verse, that easie flow of Numbers, that enchanting happy Art of yours, in Metaphors and Similes.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 357. ¶4 He has rather chosen to neglect the numerousness of his Verse.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Numbers It contributes greatly to the numerousness of a Period, to have it closed by magnificent and well sounding Words.
1839 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 45 135 The richness and numerousness of the harmony.
1893 National Observer 17 June 115/2 His own gorgeous appreciation of quality and numerousness in instrumentation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1631