overmanyadj.n.

?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford Chron. Lear 282 in G. Haselbach & G. Hartmann Festschrift (1957) 223 (MED) Gonoryll..Oftsithes in her hert scho kest, Þat her fadyr held folke to fele, Ouermany in curt for to wythdele.

c1475 (a1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 299 (MED) Þer ben ouer-many cowordis & foolis stondyng in þis fredom.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. iii Kepe thy self fro ouer many wordes.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 127 Of them are over many.

1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 433 We knowe by ouer-many experiences.

c1625 J. Smith Hist. Bermudaes (1882) 182 We haue had ouer many ill chosen and ill prouided newe people huddled vpon us this yeare.

1822 W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel I. ii. 43 Ye are ower mony for me to mell with.

1894 ‘I. Maclaren’ Beside Bonnie Brier Bush vii. i. 243 He's been eatin' ower mony berries.

1979 G. Abraham Conc. Oxf. Hist. Music 313 Landi's recitative is sometimes perfunctory, with over-many repeated notes, but sometimes reaches fine expressiveness.

2006 Kolbrin Bible (rev. ed.) 241/1 She is attired with neatness and her adornments are not overmany.

1580 G. Harvey in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 28 Petrarch, and Boccace in euery man's mouth: Galateo and Guazzo neuer so happy: ouer many acquainted with Vnico Aretino.

a1667 G. Wither Perpetuall Parl. in Misc. Wks. (1872–7) 53 For though the body of it being made Of many members, hath among them had (And hath yet) overmany so corrupted That they have not alone much interrupted.

1796 Scots Musical Museum V. 452 (song) Tibbie Fowler o' the Glen, There's o'er mony woo-in at her.

1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song iv. 219 There's over-many of your kind in Kinraddie.