A greater number; more individuals of the kind specified or implied. Const. than. In early use, with partitive genitive plural; later, with of. Obs…

With the and plural agreement. The many, the majority; = many, pron. n.7. rare.

Usually with plural agreement. The greatest number. The greatest number of people or things; the majority. †Occasionally with the.

(Without article prefixed): A large quantity or number, plenty; const. of, which is omitted in quot. 1400 (cf. French force gens and the like). most…

The greater number or part, the majority, mass, or bulk of (people, things, etc.). See also sum and substance at phrases 3. Now rare.

Superiority in strength or numbers; an instance of this; a contest in which one side is superior to the other. Now rare.

A sudden plentiful increase or abundance of anything. Also, rarely, †the mass, great majority.

the (great, vast) mass of: the greater part or majority of.

Elliptical uses. the millions (also the million): the bulk of the population; the multitude, the masses.

figurative. The prevailing direction of opinion or fashion. †Also, the majority, main body (of a class of persons).

In plural. Numerical preponderance; the fact of being numerous. Frequently in force (also weight) of numbers.

the multiplicity of: the majority of. Obsolete. rare.

The greater number or part; a number which is more than half the total number, esp. of votes; spec. (in a deliberative assembly or electoral…