multus

quamvis multos nominatim proferre possum
I can mention by name any number of men

multus , a, um: (adj.), much, freq.; abundant, abounding, great, 3.151; powerful, 3.372; many a, 1.334; dense, thick, 1.412; pl., many, freq.; (compar.) plūs, plūris, n., more, freq.; pl., plūrēs, plūra, more, freq.; several, many; (superl.) plūrimus, a, um, the most; most abundant, greatest, 11.312; very much, abundant, great, 6.299; very large, high, 1.419; very many a, many a, 2.369; countless, 2.364.

multus (old form moltus), a, um; comp. plus; sup. plurimus (v. at the end of this art.), adj. [etym. dub.], much, great, many, of things corporeal and incorporeal.

• I Posit.
• • A In gen.: multi mortales, Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17: multi suam rem bene gessere: multi qui, etc., Enn. ap. Cic. Fam. 7, 6, 1 (Trag. v. 295 sq. Vahl.): multi fortissimi viri, Cic. Fam. 5, 17, 3: rationes, id. de Or. 1, 51, 222. tam multis verbis scribere, at such length, id. Fam. 3, 8, 1: beneficia. Cato ap. Fest. s. v. ratissima, p. 286 Müll.: multi alii, Ter. And. 931.—When used with another adjective it is usually connected with it by a conjunction: multae et magnae contentiones, many great contests, Cic. Phil. 2, 3, 7; 3, 10, 26: O multas et graves offensiones, id. Att. 11, 7, 3: multi et graves dolores, id. Verr. 2, 5, 45, § 119: multi et varii timores, Liv. 3, 16, 3: multae bonaeque artes animi, Sall. J. 28, 5: multa et clara facinora, Tac. A. 12, 31.—But when the second adjective is used substantively the conjunction is omitted: multi improbi, Cic. Off. 2, 8, 28; 2, 19, 65: multi boni, docti, prudentes, id. Fl. 4, 8: multi nobiles, id. Planc. 20, 50: multa acerba habuit ille annus, id. Sest. 27, 58; 66, 139: multa infanda, Liv. 28, 12, 5: multa falsa, id. 35, 23, 2.—Also, when the second adjective forms with its substantive a single conception: multa secunda proelia, victories, Liv. 9, 42, 5; 35, 1, 3; 41, 17, 1: multa libera capita, freemen, id. 42, 41, 11: multae liberae civitates, republics, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 30, § 68: multos fortes viros, id. Cat. 3, 2, 7; id. Mur. 8, 17: multi clari viri, noblemen, id. Leg. 1, 5, 17: multi primarii viri, id. Verr. 2, 2, 61, § 149.—Similarly, et is omitted between multi and adjectives which form with their substantives familiar phrases: multi clarissimi viri, Cic. Phil. 11, 10, 24: multi amplissimi viri, id. Fin. 2, 17, 55; id. Deiot. 14, 39; id. Fam. 10, 25, 2; id. Att. 10, 8, 7; 16, 16, 11; id. Verr. 1, 7, 19: multi honestissimi homines, id. Fam. 15, 15, 3: multi peritissimi homines, id. Caecin. 24, 69: multi summi homines, id. Arch. 12, 30; id. Har. Resp. 26, 56: multi clarissimi et sapientissimi viri, id. Planc. 4, 11; id. Cael. 18, 43.—Et is also omitted when the substantive stands between the two adjectives: in veteribus patronis multis, Cic. Div. in Caecil. 1, 2: multa praeterea bella gravia, id. Agr. 2, 33, 90: multis suppliciis justis, id. Cat. 1, 8, 20: multa majores nostri magna et gravia bella gesserunt, id. Imp. Pomp. 2, 6: plurima signa pulcherrima, id. Verr. 2, 1, 23, § 61.—When both adjectives follow the substantive, et is sometimes inserted: virtutes animi multae et magnae, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 22, 64: causas ille multas et graves habuit, id. Clu. 30, 82; and is sometimes omitted, the emphasis then falling on the second adjective: utebatur hominibus improbis, multis, id. Cael. 5, 12: prodigia multa, foeda, Liv. 40, 29, 1.—With a partitive gen.: multi hominum, Plin. 16, 25, 40, § 96: multae silvestrium arborum, id. 16, 31, 56, § 128.—In neutr. plur.: multa, ōrum, many things, much: nimium multa, Cic. Fam. 4, 14, 3: nimis multa, id. Fin. 2, 18, 57: insulae non ita multae, not so many, not so very many, Plin. 5, 7, 7, § 41: parum multa scire, too few, Auct. Her. 1, 1, 1: bene multi, a good many, Asin. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 33, 4: quam minime multa vestigia servitutis, as few as possible, Nep. Tim. 3, 3: minime multi remiges, exceedingly few, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 34, § 88: in multas pecunias alienissimorum hominum invasit, id. Phil. 2, 16, 41; id. Verr. 2, 5, 19, § 48: multae pecuniae variis ex causis a privatis detinentur, Plin. Ep. 10, 17, 3.—Sometimes multi stands for multi alii, many others: nam certe Pompeio, et a Curionibus patre et filio, et a multis exprobratum est, Suet. Caes. 50.—The sing. also is used poet. for the plur., many a: aut trudit acres hinc et hinc multā cane Apros in obstantes plagas, with many dogs, Hor. Epod. 2, 31: multa prece prosequi, id. C. 4, 5, 33: multā victima, Verg. E. 1, 34: agna. Ov. F. 4, 772: avis, id. Am. 3, 5, 4: tabella, Tib. 1, 3, 28; so of persons: multus sua vulnera puppi Affixit moriens, many a one, for multi affixerunt, Luc. 3, 707.—In sing., to denote quantity, much, great, abundant: multum aurum et argentum. Plaut. Rud. 5, 2, 8 (1295); 22 (1309): exstructa mensa multā carne rancidā, Cic. Pis. 27, 67: multo labore quaerere aliquid, with much labor, great exertion, Cic. Sull. 26, 73: cura, Sall. J. 7, 4: sol, much sun, Plin. 31, 7, 39, § 81: sermo, much conversalion, Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 20, 1: stilus tuus multi sudoris est. Cic. de Or. 1, 60, 257: multo cibo et potione completi, id. Tusc. 5, 35, 100: multo sanguine ea Poenis victoria stetit, Liv. 23, 30, 2: multum sanguinem haurire, Curt. 4, 14, 17; 8, 14, 32: multam harenam mare evomit, id. 4, 6, 8: arbor, id. 7, 4, 26: silva, id. 8, 10, 14: multae vestis injectu opprimi, Tac. A. 6, 50: multa et lauta supellex, Cic. Phil. 2, 27, 66: aurum, Sall. J. 13, 6; Tac. A. 6, 33; Liv. 26, 11, 9; Curt. 3, 3, 12: libertas, Hor. S. 1, 4, 5: multam salutem dicere alicui, to greet heartily, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 194 (403): cum auro et argento multo, Sall. J. 13, 6.—Of time: Itaque multum diei processerat, a great part of the day, Sall. J. 51, 2: ad multum diem, till far in the day, Cic. Att. 13, 9, 1: multo adhuc die, when much of the day was still remaining, when it was still high day, Tac. H. 2, 44: multo denique die, when the day was far spent, Caes. B. G. 1, 22: multā nocte, late at night, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 9, 2: multo mane, very early, id. Att. 5, 4, 1: multa opinio, for multorum, the general opinion, Gell. 3, 16, 1: velut multā pace, as in a general peace, as if there were peace everywhere, Tac. H. 4, 35: multus homo, one who gives himself up to the lusts of many, Cat. 112, 1.
• —multi, ōrum, m., the many, the common mass, the multitude: probis probatus potius, quam multis forem, Att. ap. Non. 519, 9: video ego te, mulier, more multarum utier, id. ib.—Esp.: unus e (or de) multis, one of the multitude, a man of no distinction: tenuis L. Virginius unusque e multis, Cic. Fin. 2, 20, 62: unus de multis esse, id. Off. 1, 30, 109: M. Calidius non fuit orator unus e multis; potius inter multos prope singularis fuit, id. Brut. 79, 274: numerarer in multis, among the herd of orators, id. ib. 97, 333: e multis una sit tibi, no better than others, Ov. R. Am. 682: multum est, it is of importance, Verg. G. 2, 272.—In neutr. absol.: ne multa, or ne multis, not to be prolix, in short: ne multa: perquiritur a coactoribus, Cic. Clu. 64, 181: ne multis: Diogenes emitur, id. ib. 16, 47: quid multis moror? Ter. And. 114.—Sometimes multa is used (particularly by the poets) adverbially, much, greatly, very: multa reluctari, Verg. G. 4, 301: gemens, id. ib. 3, 226; id. A. 5, 869: deos testatus, id. ib. 7, 593: invehi, Nep. Ep. 6, 1 (cf. nonnulla invehi, id. Tim. 5, 3): haud multa moratus, Verg. A. 3, 610.—Rarely in multum: in multum velociores, by far, Plin. 10, 36, 52, § 108.—
• • B In partic.
  • • 1 Too much, overmuch, excessive: supellex modica, non multa, Nep. Att. 13, 5.—
    • 2 In speech, much-speaking, diffuse, prolix: qui in aliquo genere aut inconcinnus aut multus est, Cic. de Or. 2, 4, 17: ne in re notā et pervulgatā multus et insolens sim, id. ib. 2, 87, 358: nolo in stellarum ratione multus vobis videri, id. N. D. 2, 46, 119.—
    • 3 Frequent, frequently present: in operibus, in agmine, atque ad vigilias multus adesse, Sall. J. 96, 3: multus in eo proelio Caesar fuit, was in many places, Flor. 4, 2, 50: hen hercle hominem multum et odiosum mihi! troublesome, tedious, Plaut. Men. 2, 2, 41 (313): instare, Sall. J. 84, 1.—Hence, adv., in two forms.
  • A multum, much, very much, greatly, very, often, frequently, far, etc. (class.): salve multum, gnate mi, Plaut. Trin. 5, 2, 56 (1180): multum vale, farewell, id. Stich. 3, 2, 40 (493): hominem ineptum multum et odiosum mihi, id. Men. 2, 2, 42 (314): opinor, Cassium uti non ita multum sorore, not very much, Cic. Fam. 7, 23, 3: multum mecum municipales homines loquuntur, often, id. Att. 8, 13, 2: non multum ille quidem nec saepe dicebat, id. Brut. 34, 128: non multum confidere, not very much, not particularly, Caes. B. G. 3, 25: sunt in venationibus, often, frequently, id. ib. 4, 1: in eodem genere causarum multum erat T. Juventius, Cic. Brut. 48, 178: multum fuisse cum aliquo, to have had much intercourse with, id. Rep. 1, 10, 16: sum multum equidem cum Phaedro in Epicuri hortis, id. Fin. 5, 1, 3: gratiā valere, to be in great favor, Nep. Con. 2, 1: res multum et saepe quaesita, Cic. Leg. 3, 15, 33: longe omnes multumque superabit, id. Verr. 2, 5, 44, § 115: multum et diu cogitans, id. Div. 2, 1, 1: diu multumque scriptitare, id. de Or. 1, 33, 152.—With an adj.: multum loquaces, very talkative, Plaut. Aul. 2, 1, 5 (124): inepti labores, very, Plin. Ep. 1, 9.—Poet. also with comp.: multum improbiores sunt quam a primo credidi, much, far, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 139 (828): multum robustior illo, Juv. 19, 197: majora, Sil. 13, 708.— So with infra, post: haud multum infra viam, Liv. 5, 37, 7; Plin. 9, 8, 7, § 20: haud multum post mortem ejus, Tac. A. 5, 3: ut multum, at most, Mart. 10, 11, 6; Vop. Aur. 46.—
  • B multō by much, much, a great deal, far, by far (class.).
  • • 1 With comparatives and verbs which imply comparison: multo tanto carior, Plaut. Bacch. 2, 3, 76 (310): pauciores oratores, Cic. de Or. 1, 3, 11: facilius atque expeditius iter, Caes. B. G. 1, 6.—With verbs: virtutem omnibus rebus multo anteponentes, Cic. Fin. 4, 18, 49: multo ceteros anteibant, Tac. H. 4, 13: multo praestat beneficii, quam maleficii immemorem esse, Sall. J. 31, 28.—With malle: multo mavolo, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 88 (297); id. Ps. 2, 4, 38 (731): meo judicio multo stare malo, quam, etc., Cic. Att. 12, 21, 1.—
    • 2 With sup. (rare but class.), by far, by much: quae tibi mulier videtur multo sapientissuma, Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 66 (123); id. Am. 2, 2, 150 (782): multo optimus hostis, by far, Lucil. ap. Non. 4, 413: simulacrum multo antiquissimum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 49, § 109; 2, 4, 23, § 50; id. Cat. 4, 8, 17: maxima pars, id. Imp. Pomp. 18, 54; cf. Hor. S. 2, 3, 82: multo id bellum maximum fuit, Liv. 1, 11, 5: pars multo maxima, id. 30, 18, 14: multo molestissima, Cic. Div. in. Caecil. 11, 36: multo gratissima lux, Hor. S. 1, 5, 39: foedissimum, Quint. 9, 4, 72: optimum, id. ib. 26: pulcherrimum, id. 1, 2, 24: utilissima, id. 2, 10, 1: maxime, Auct. Her. 4, 44, 58: multo maxime miserabile, Sall. C. 36, 4: multo maxime ingenio validus, id. J. 6, 1.—
    • 3 With particles denoting a difference, far, greatly, very: multo aliter, Ter. And. 4: multo aliter ac sperabat, far otherwise than, Nep. Ham. 2: quod non multo secus fieret, si, not far otherwise, not very different, Cic. Fam. 4, 9, 1: multo infra Cyrenaicum. Plin. 19, 3, 15, § 40. —
    • 4 In specifications of time, before ante and post, long, much: non multo ante urbem captam, Cic. Div. 1, 45, 101: non multo ante, not long before, Nep. Eum. 3, 3: multo ante, Cic. Fam. 4, 1, 1: non multo post, quam, etc., not long after, id. Att. 12, 49, 9: haud multo ante solis occasum, Liv. 5, 39, 2: multo ante noctem, id. 27, 42, 13.—
    • 5 Very rarely with the positive for multum: maligna multo, very, Ter. Hec. 158 Umpf.—
    • 6 Doubled, multo multoque, with comparatives: multo multoque longior, far, very much, Front. ad M. Caes. 2, 5: multo multoque operosius est, Val. Max. 4, 1, 2: multo multoque magis, Front. Laud. Negl. § 3.
• II Comp.: plūs, plūris; in the plur., plūres, plūra (in sing. anciently written plous; three times in the S. C. de Bacch. Here perh. belongs, in the plur., pleores and pleoris, for plures, in the Song of the Arval Brothers.—For the class. neuter of the plur., plura, the form pluria was used in ante-class. Latinity. Gellius cites M. Cato, Q. Claudius, Valerius Antias, L. Aelius, P. Nigidius, and M. Varro as authorities for this form, Gell. 5, 21, 6; yet Plautus and Terence have only plura; and the earlier reading pluria, in Lucr. 1, 877; 2, 1135; 4, 1085, is now supplanted by the critically certain plura and plurima.—The gen. plur. plurium, however, has remained the predominant form, e. g. Quint. 7, 1, 1; 8, 4, 27; 9, 4, 66 et saep.) [from the root ple; Gr. πλέον, πίμπλημι; cf. plenus, plera, compleo, etc.; also locu-ples, plebes, populus, etc.], more.
• • A In the sing. (used both substantively and adverbially): LIBRAS FARRIS ENDO DIES DATO. SI VOLET PLVS DATO, Fragm. XII. Tab. in Gell. 20, 1, 45: SI PLVS MINVSVE SECVERVNT, SE FRAVDE ESTO, ib.; so (perh. in imitation of this legal phrase): eheu, cur ego plus minusve feci quam aequom fuit! Plaut. Capt. 5, 3, 18 (995); Ter. Phorm. 554: ne plus minusve loqueretur, Suet. Aug. 84; cf. Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 27 (597); and in the signif. of circiter, about: septingenti sunt paulo plus aut minus anni ... postquam, etc., Enn. ap. Varr. R. R. 3, 1, 2 (Ann. v. 493 Vahl.); so, non longius abesse plus minus octo milibus, Hirt. B. G. 8, 20, 1 Oud.; cf.: speranti plures ... venerunt plusve minusve duae, Mart. 8, 71, 4: aut ne quid faciam plus, quod post me minus fecisse satius sit, too much ... too little, Ter. Hec. 730: tantum et plus etiam ipse mihi deberet, Cic. Att. 7, 3, 7: vos et decem numero, et, quod plus est, Romani estis, and what is more, Liv. 9, 24, 8: verbane plus an sententia valere debeat, Cic. Top. 25, 96: cf.: apud me argumenta plus quam testes valent, id. Rep. 1, 38, 59: valet enim salus plus quam libido, id. ib. 1, 40, 63.—
  • • • • β With a partitive gen.: vultis pecuniae plus habere, Cic. Inv. 1, 47, 88; cf.: nostri casus plus honoris habuerunt quam laboris, id. Rep. 1, 4, 7; so, plus virium, id. Leg. 1, 2, 6: plus hostium, Liv. 2, 42: plus dapis et rixae multo minus invidiaeque, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 51: in hac causā eo plus auctoritatis habent, quia, etc., Cic. Rep. 3, 16, 26; cf.: plus ingenii, id. ib. 1, 14, 22: Albano non plus animi erat quam fidei, as little courage as fidelity, Liv. 1, 27, 5.—
        • γ With quam (some examples of which have already been given above): non plus quam semel, Cic. Off. 3, 15, 61: confiteor eos ... plus quam sicarios esse, id. Phil. 2, 13, 31: ne plus reddat quam acceperit, id. Lael. 16, 58 et saep.: non plus quam in tres partis posse distribui putaverunt, into not more than, id. Inv. 1, 34, 57: plus quam decem dies abesse, id. Phil. 2, 13, 31: nulla (navis) plus quam triginta remis agatur, with more than, Liv. 38, 38, 8.—
        • δ Without quam: HOMINES PLOVS V. OINVORSEI VIREI ATQVE MVLIERES, S. C. de Bacch. 19 (Wordsw. Fragm. and Spec. p. 173): plus mille capti, Liv. 24, 44: plus milies audivi, Ter. Eun. 422: plus semel, Varr. ap. Plin. 14, 14, 17, § 96: plus quingentos colaphos infregit mihi, Ter. Ad. 200: ferre plus dimidiati mensis cibaria, Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 37: non plus mille quingentos aeris, id. Rep. 2, 22, 40: paulo plus ducentos passus a castris, Liv. 31, 34: cum plus annum aeger fuisset, id. 40, 2: parte plus dimidiā rem auctam, id. 29, 25.—
        • ε With a compar. or adverbial abl., or with an abl. of measure: VIREI PLOVS DVOBVS, S. C. de Bacch. 20 (Wordsw. Fragm. and Spec. p. 173): de paupertate tacentes Plus poscente ferent, more than the importunate, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 44: ex his alius alio plus habet virium, Cic. Leg. 1, 2, 6: cave putes hoc tempore plus me quemquam cruciari, Balb. ap. Cic. Att. 8, 15, A, 2: alterum certe non potest, ut plus una vera sit, Cic. N. D. 1, 2, 5; cf.: in columbā plures videri colores, nec esse plus uno, id. Ac. 2 (Luc.), 25, 79: HOC PLVS NE FACITO, more than this, Fragm. XII. Tab. ap. Cic. Leg. 2, 23, 59: annos sexaginta natus es Aut plus eo, or more than that, Ter. Heaut. 63: plus aequo, Cic. Lael. 16, 58: plus paulo, Ter. Heaut. 220: paulo plus, Liv. 31, 34: multo plus, Anton. ap. Cic. Att. 10, 8, A, 1: plus nimio, overmuch, Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 30: quam molestum est uno digito plus habere, too much by a finger, i. e. a finger too much, Cic. N. D. 1, 35, 99: uno plus Etruscorum cecidisse in acie, one man more, Liv. 2, 7, 2.—
    • 2 In the gen. pretii, pluris, of more value, of a higher price, for more, higher, dearer: ut plus reddant musti et olei, et pretii pluris, of greater value, Varr. R. R. 1, 7, 4: ager multo pluris est, is worth much more, Cic. Rosc. Com. 12, 33; cf.: quo pluris sint nostra oliveta, id. Rep. 3, 9, 16: pluris emere, dearer, id. Fam. 7, 2, 1; so, vendere, id. Off. 3, 12, 51; id. Verr. 2, 3, 19, § 48; Hor. S. 2, 3, 300: aedificare, Col. 1, 4, 7: pluris est oculatus testis quam auriti decem, of more value, Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 8 (489): mea mihi conscientia pluris est, quam omnium sermo, Cic. Att. 12, 28, 2: facio pluris omnium hominem neminem, id. ib. 8, 2, 4: facere aliquem pluris, make more of one, esteem him more highly, id. Fam. 3, 4, 2: pluris habere, id. Phil. 6, 4, 10: aestimare, id. Par. 6, 2, 48: ducere, id. Att. 7, 3, 5: putare, id. Off. 3, 4, 18 et saep.—
    • 3 Rarely, instead of the genitive, in the abl. pretii: plure vendunt, Lucil. ap. Charis. 2, p. 189 P.: plure altero tanto, quanto ejus fundus est, velim, Plaut. ib.: plure venit, Cic. ib.—
    • 4 Plus plusque, more and more: quem mehercule plus plusque in dies diligo. Cic. Att. 6, 2, 10.—*
    • 5 Like magis, with an adj.: plus formosus, for formosior, Nemes. Ecl. 4, 72.—
  • B In the plur.
  • • 1 Comparatively, more in number: omnes qui aere alieno premantur, quos plures esse intellego quam putāram, Cic. Att. 7, 3, 5; id. Rep. 2, 22, 40: nemini ego plura acerba esse credo ex amore homini umquam oblata quam mihi, Ter. Hec. 281: ne plura insignia essent imperii in libero populo quam in regno fuissent, Cic. Rep. 2, 31, 55: multo plura, many more things, Quint. 3, 6, 28.—
    • 2 In gen., of a great number, many: qui plus fore dicant in pluribus consilii quam in uno. Cic. Rep. 1, 35, 55: cf.: quid quaeso interest inter unum et plures, si justitia est in pluribus? id. ib. 1, 39, 61; 1, 34, 52: non possunt unā in civitate multi rem ac fortunas amittere, ut non plures secum in eandem trahant calamitatem, id. Imp. Pomp. 7, 19: quod pluribus praesentibus eas res jactari nolebat, Caes. B. G. 1, 18: plura castella Pompeius tentaverat, id. B. C. 3, 52: summus dolor plures dies manere non potest, Cic. Fin. 2, 28, 93: pluribus diebus, Quint. prooem. § 7: illic plurium rerum est congeries, id. 8, 4, 27: quae consuetudo sit, pluribus verbis docere, Cic. Clu. 41, 115: eum pluribus verbis rogat, ut, etc., id. Verr. 2, 4, 28, § 64; without verba: quid ego plura dicam? id. de Or. 1, 5, 18: pluribus haec exsecutus sum, Phaedr. 3, 10, 59; also elliptically, quid plura? and, ne plura, like quid multa? and ne multa: hic sacra, hic genus, hic majorum multa vestigia. Quid plura? hanc vides villam, etc., what need of many words? in short, Cic. Leg. 2, 1, 3: sed—ne plura—dicendum enim aliquando est—Pomponium Atticum sic amo, ut alterum fratrem, id. Fam. 13, 1, 5.—
    • • b Esp.: plures.
      • • α The mass, the multitude, opp. pauciores, = οἱ ὀλίγοι, Plaut. Trin. 1, 1, 13 (35).—
        • β Euphemistically, acc. to the Gr. οἱ πλείονες, the dead: quin prius Me ad plures penetravi? Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 14 (289).—
        • γ The greater number, the majority: plures nesciebant quā ex causā convenissent, Vulg. Act. 19, 32.
• III Sup.: plūrĭmus (archaic form, plisima plurima, Paul. ex Fest. p. 204 and 205 Müll.: PLIOIRVME (I), Epit. of Scipio), a, um [from root ple; whence also plus, q. v., ploirumus for ploisumus; and thence the predominant form plurimus], most, very much, or many (as an adj. in good prose mostly in the plur., except the standing formula of greeting: salutem plurimam dicere alicui; v. infra): hujus sunt plurima simulacra, Caes. B. G. 6, 17: nos plurimis ignotissimi gentibus, Cic. Rep. 1, 17, 26: plurimae et maximae partes, id. ib. 1, 4, 8: plurimorum seculorum memoria, id. ib. 3, 9, 14: haec plurimis a me verbis dicta sunt, id. ib. 1, 7, 12 et saep.—In sing.: me plurimā praedā onustum, Plaut. Rud. 4, 2, 4 (909): sermo, Quint. 2, 2, 5: risus, id. 6, 3, 85: res, id. 6, 1, 51: exercitatio, id. 8 prooem. § 28: mons, very large, Verg. A. 1, 419: cervix, id. G. 3, 52: Aetna, Ov. Ib. 600.—Of a greeting: impertit salutem plurimam, Lucil. ap. Non. 472. 16; and esp. freq.: salutem plurimam dicit (commonly abbrev. S. P. D.) at the beginning of letters; v. salus.— Poet.: medio cum plurimus orbe Sol erat, very powerful, oppressive, Ov. M. 14, 53: plurima quā silva est. thickest, id. ib. 14, 361: coma plurima, very thick, id. ib. 13, 844: sed plurima nantis in ore Alcyone conjux, mostly, chiefly, id. ib. 11, 562.—And collect.: plurimus in Junonis honorem Aptum dicet equis Argos, many a one, very many, Hor. C. 1, 7, 8; so, oleaster plurimus, Verg. G. 2, 183: quā plurima mittitur ales, Mart. 9, 56, 1: plurima lecta rosa est, Ov. F. 4, 441.— In neutr. absol. (substant. or adverb.): ut haberet quam plurimum, as much as possible, Cic. Rab. Post. 14, 39: caput autem est, quam plurimum scribere, id. de Or. 1, 33, 150: ut in quoque oratore plurimum esset, id. Rep. 1, 27, 123.—Adv.: plūrĭmum: et is valebat in suffragio plurimum, cujus plurimum intererat, esse in optimo statu civitatem, Cic. Rep. 2, 22, 40: auspiciis plurimum obsecutus est Romulus, id. ib. 2, 9, 16: si vero populus plurimum potest, id. ib. 3, 14, 23; cf.: qui apud me dignitate plurimum possunt, id. Rosc. Am. 1, 4: plurimum aliis praestare, id. Inv. 2, 1, 1: ut te plurimum diligam, id. Fam. 1, 7, 1; id. Tusc. 5, 27, 78: hoc ego utor uno omnium plurimum, id. Fam. 11, 16, 2: quantum (al. quanto) plurimum possunt, Quint. 11, 3, 120: plurimum quantum also signifies very much indeed, exceedingly (post-class.): plurimum quantum veritati nocuere, Min. Fel. Oct. 22: gratulor, id. ib. 40: (elleborum) ex aquā datur plurimum drachma, at the most, Plin. 25, 5, 22, § 54; 9, 36, 60, § 125; 30, 6, 16, § 48; so, cum plurimum, id. 2, 17, 15, § 78 (opp. to cum minimum); 18, 7, 10, § 60: nec tam numerosa differentia; tribus ut plurimum bonitatibus distat, for the most part, commonly, usually, = plerumque, Plin. 15, 3, 4, § 18.—
• • • • • β In neutr. with a partit. gen.: sententiarum et gravitatis plurimum, Cic. Inv. 1, 18, 25: artis, Quint. 10, 5, 3: auctoritatis et ponderis, id. 9, 4, 91: ut laboris sic utilitatis etiam longe plurimum, id. 10, 3, 1: virtutum, id. 12, 1, 20 plurimum quantum favoris partibus dabat fratermtas ducum, Flor. 4, 2, 74.—
        • γ In the gen. pretii: plurimi: immo unice unum plurimi pendit, values very highly, esteems very much, Plaut. Bacch. 2, 2, 29 (207): quem unum Alexander plurimi fecerat, Nep. Eum. 2, 2: ut quisque quod plurimi est possidet, Cic. Par. 6, 2, 48.

multus, a, um, Compar. plūs, plūris (subst.), Plur. plūrēs, n. plūra, selten plūria (adi. u. subst.), Superl. plürimus, a, um, viel, I) eig.: A) von der Menge, viel, zahlreich (Ggstz. paucus), 1) einzelner Gegenstände, verba, Cic.: viri, Cic.: multae pecuniae alienae, Cic.: multorum annorum tyrannis, Nep., laetitia, Cic., doctrina, Auct. b. Afr.: multorum angulorum forma, Boëth.: multi, viele, viele Menschen (Ggstz. pauci), Cic.: multi alii, Ter., auch bl. multi, viele andere, Suet.: saepe multi, viele andere zu einer anderen Zeit, Cic. u.a. (s. Kühner u. Meißner Cic. Tusc. 1, 74): insulae non ita multae, nicht gar sehr viele, Plin.: parum multi, allzu wenige, Cornif. rhet.: bene multi, ziemlich viele, Asin. Poll. (in Cic. ep.), Auct. b. Hisp. u. Ov.: minime multi, äußerst wenige, Cic.: quam minime multa vestigia, möglichst wenige, Nep.: multis verbis, weitläufig, Cic.: quid multa verba? was braucht's vieler Worte? kurz, Ter.: so auch quid multis moror? Ter.: ne multa od. ne multis, kurz, Cic.: m. partitivem Genet., multi hominum, Plin.: multae arborum, Plin. – multi (wie οἱ πολλοί), der große Haufe, die Menge, die gewöhnlichen Menschen, unus de multis, Cic.: qui non fuit orator unus e multis, Cic.: numerarer in multis, unter die gemeinen Redner, Cic.: auch vom Weibe, una e multis sit tibi, nicht besser als andere, Ov.: more multarum, Acc. tr. fr.: multa, viele Dinge, vieles, Cic. u.a.: nimis multa, Cic.: multa bene agere, viele glückliche Taten vollbringen, Eutr.: multis vastatis, nachdem viele Gegenden verwüstet worden waren, Eutr. – Compar., plures, Genet. plurium, mehrere, mehr als einer (Ggstz. pauci, aliqui, singuli, unus), Cic. u.a. – m. partit. Genet., plures vestrûm, Curt. – plura, Cic. u. (Ggstz. pauciora) Plin. ep.: plurium dierum hiems (Sturm), Plin.: plurium annorum indutiae, Liv.: plurium annorum officium, Plin.: plurium angulorum forma, Boëth.: pluribus verbis, Nep., od. bl. pluribus, Phaedr., weitläufiger: ne plura, Plin., od. quid plura? kurz, Cic.: nicht selten = complures, mehrere, verschiedene, viele, plures enixa partus, Liv.: pluribus verbis rogare, Cic. – insbes., plures, der große Haufe (Ggstz. pauciores, οἱ δλίγοι, die Vornehmen, Hochgestellten), Plaut. trin. 34: u. (wie οἱ πλείονες) euphem. v. den Toten, ad plures penetrare, zu seinen Vätern versammelt werden, Plaut. trin. 291 Sch.³: u. so ad plures abire, Petron. 42, 5. – Superl., plurimi, sehr viele, die meisten, Cic.: plurima simulacra, Caes.: saecula, Cic.: plurimi anni, Iustin.: plurimis verbis, sehr ausführlich, Cic. – auch kollekt., plurimus dicent, Hor. – m. partit. Genet., longe plurimos hostium occīdit, Liv.: plurimum quantum favoris partibus dabat fraternitas ducum, überaus am meisten begünstigte die P. usw., Flor. 4, 2, 74. – 2) eines Stoffes, caro, Cic.: sudor, Cic.: sanguis, Liv.: cruor, Val. Max.: aurum argentumque, Sall., aurum et argentum, Tac.: supellex, viel Hausrat, Nep.: victima, viele O., Ov., Verg.: avis, Ov. – Comparat., plus, so nur in der Volksspr., wie argentum in ostiarii illius cella plus iacet, Petron. 37, 8. – Superl., plurima praeda, Plaut.: vestis, stragula, Cic.: rosa, Ov.: Aetna, der größte Teil des A., Ov.

B) v. intensiver Fülle u. Stärke, viel, groß, stark, bedeutend, 1) im allg.: sol, heiße Sonne, Plin. u. Suet.: multo labore, Cic.: multā cum clade suorum, Liv.: cura, Sall.: libertas, Hor.: sermo, viel Gerede, Cic. (vgl. unten no. II, B): opinio, verbreitete, allgemeine Ansicht, Gell.: velut multā pace, wie im tiefen Frieden, Tac.: operam suam multam existimare, Cic.: multum est, es ist bedeutend, wichtig, es tut viel, es nützt sehr, Verg. – Superl., plurimus sol, Ov. u. Plin. ep.: plurima quā silva est, wo der Wald am dichtesten ist, Ov.: coma, Ov.: canities, Verg.: fons, Ov.: luna, der volle Mond, Mart.: labor, Hor.: risus, Quint.: sermo, Quint.: exercitatio, Quint.: salutem plurimam dicere, Plaut., od. plurimā salute impertire, Ter., seinen herzlichsten Gruß sagen. – 2) insbes., von den Tageszeiten, ad multum diem, bis weit in den Tag, Cic.: vides iam diem multum esse, daß der Tag schon weit vorgerückt ists, Plaut.: postquam multa iam dies erat, als es schon stark Tag war, Liv.: multo die, Caes.: multā luce, Sall. hist. fr.: multā nocte, spät in der Nacht, Cic.: multo adhuc die, da noch viel vom Tage übrig war, noch hoch am Tage, Tac.: multo mane, sehr früh, Cic.

C) von der Ausdehnung im Raume, groß, multa pars Europae, Liv.: et potes in toto multa iacēre toro, einen großen Raum einnehmend, Ov. – Superl., plurimus collis, Verg.

II) übtr.: A) in bezug auf die Rede, weitschweifig, weitläufig, breit, homo multus et odiosus, ein Schwätzer, Plaut.: ne in re nota et pervulgata multus et insolens sim, Cic.: est multus in laudanda magnificentia, Cic.: de quibus multa ab illis habetur oratio, worüber sie sich in weitläufiger Rede verbreiten, Cic.

B) in bezug auf eine Tätigkeit, viel beschäftigt, viel verkehrend, eifrig, emsig, unablässig, häufig, in eodem genere causarum multus erat T. Iuventius, Cic.: multus et ferox instare, Sall.: ad vigilias multus adesse, Sall.: multus in eo proelio fuit Caesar, Flor.: eum cum Timaeo Locro multum fuisse, habe viel verkehrt mit usw., Cic. de rep. 1, 16: multa viri virtus multusque recursat honos, Verg.: dah. multum est, es ist häufig, man hört es oft, Cic. – Superl., legor plurimus in orbe, Ov.: plurima nantis in ore Alcyone coniunx, Ov.: cum libellis mihi plurimis sermo est, mit meinen Büchern unterhalte ich mich oft, Sen. ep. 67, 2.

C) in bezug auf das Verhalten, aufdringlich, lästig, qui in aliquo genere (Beziehung) aut inconcinnus aut multus est, Cic.: nimius est, multus est, er geht zu weit, er ist übertrieben in seiner Strenge, Val. imp. b. Vopisc.: dah. multus es et pathicus, du gibst dich vielen preis, Catull. – Davon:

multus [CL; v. et. plus, plurimus] 1 (w. sb. in pl.) numerous, many; b (w. partitive gen.). c (as sb. m. pl.) many persons. d (as sb. n. pl.) many things. tu ‥ ~orum tyrannorum depulsor Gildas EB 33; qui ~a mola fecerit, id est, homicidium, adulterium cum muliere et cum pecude Theod. Pen. I 7. 1; post ~os annos Bede HE III 7 p. 140; hominum mores nosse ~orum Gir. TH intr. p. 7.  b ~i nobilium simul et mediocrium de gente Anglorum Bede HE III 27 p. 192.  c propter quod ~i volunt hoc genus compositionis bucolico carmini magis convenire Aldh. Met. 10 p. 94; cum multa venalia ‥ fuissent anlata, ~i ad emendum confluxissent Bede HE II 1 p. 79; hoc ‥ in ~orum cordibus indignationem ‥ generavit M. Par. Maj. V 37.  d lucratus est Theodorus in illis partibus ~a Descr. Constant. 253. 2 (w. sb. in sg.) great in amount, number, or variety, numerous, abundant. in quibusdam locis pratum et silva, sed non ~a DB I 165ra; totam viam salubriter emensus ~oque auro introitum mercatus W. Malm. GR II 178; qualitas causarum ~a est: emendabilium et non emendabilium (Leg. Hen. 9. 1) GAS 554; in ~a audiencia verbum istud emiserunt Gir. SD 66 (cf. ib.: in audiencia magna). 3 (of time) long. tantorum et tot virorum victoriam ‥ unus Noricus ~a hora interpolavit W. Malm. GR II 228; ~o tempore antequam esset natus Ailr. Serm. 44. 21; alimentum quod est in ‥ parva flamma ~o tempore T. Sutton Gen. & Corrupt. 59. 4 great in degree, scope, or intensity. jacebat ~o ‥ dolore constricta Bede HE V 3 p. 286; ~a vi, magna virtute GlC M 318; multi multa mihi causa doloris adest L. Durh. Dial. II 22. 5 great in authority, influence, or sim., much of. aut sim magniloqui multus sectator Homeri Frith. 1313; multus ubique putabar: / multus in ecclesia, multus in urbe mea L. Durh. Dial. III 457. 6 (n. sg. as sb.) great amount, plenty; b (w. partitive gen.). si vero pro infirmitate aut quia longo tempore se abstinuerit, et in consuetudine non erit ei ~um bibere vel manducare ‥ Theod. Pen. I 1. 4; ideo ‥ in firma ~um perdit (Worcs) DB I 172ra.  b nec ~um temporis intercessit W. Malm. GR II 228; in castris Persarum ~um auri ‥ inventum est M. Par. Maj. I 62; est ‥ ~um discriminis inter elixir et medicinam Ripley 114. 7 (n. sg. acc. as adv.): a (w. vb.) greatly, much. b (w. adj. or adv.) very. a quem medici multum ruris per terga virentem / ‥ / quaesisse feruntur Aldh. Aen. 94 (Ebulus) 4; ~um quippe genus et species, hoc est generalitas et specialitas, abinvicem differunt Id. VirgP 58 p. 319; neque illis ~um obesse reor talem Paschae observantiam Bede HE III 25 p. 188; indoluit, ~um doluit GlC I 359; alteriusque liberalitatem et fidelitatem ~um commendantes Gir. SD 66.  b cum regius juvenis ‥ sederet ‥ ~um sollicitus Bede HE II 12 p. 109; dicunt ‥ burgenses ‥ ~um grave sibi esse DB I 252ra; ~um nefarie peremptus est M. Par. Maj. I 291; 1327 in ‥ tenementis ~um utilibus ecclesie ‥ assignatis AncD A 1940; 1448 charta ‥ impugnata erat coram ‥ baronibus [sc. Scaccarii], et implacitata ~um graviter per ‥ thesaurarium hospicii domini regis Reg. Whet. I 55. 8 (n. sg. abl. as adv.): a (w. adj. or adv. in compar. degree) by far, much. b (in specification of time) long (before or after). a objectionibus ‥ ~o his mordacioribus Gildas EB 1 p. 27 (v. mordax 3a); carceris et multo tenebris obscurior atris Aldh. Aen. 100 (Creatura) 55; c705 sed ~o magis, mi amantissime ‥ lectionibus divinis ‥ semper invigila Id. Ep. 8 p. 500; justius ~o est de incognitis bonum credere quam malum Bede HE III 25 p. 187; ~o fructuosius atque utilius facere hoc poteris Anselm (Ep. 101) III 233; ~o plures milites et servientes M. Par. Maj. V 24.  b non ~o post acrior gentem peccatricem ultio diri sceleris secuta est Bede HE I 14 p. 30; ut in illis locis ~o ex eo tempore fides intemerata perduraret Ib. 21 p. 41; templo ~o ante edificato Andr. S. Vict. Dan. 103.

multus, (4) a, um, ¶ 1 nombreux, en grand nombre, beaucoup de : multæ et magnæ contentiones Cic. Phil. 2, 7, beaucoup de graves débats ; multi et graves dolores Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 119, beaucoup de douleurs cruelles ; multæ liberæ civitates Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 68, beaucoup de cités indépendantes ; multi fortes viri Cic. Cat. 3, 7, beaucoup dʼhommes énergiques ; minime multi remiges Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 89, le moins de rameurs || n. pris subst^t [v. multum 1 ], multa, beaucoup de choses ; nimis, nimium multa Cic. Fin. 2, 57 ; Fam. 4, 14, 3, trop de choses ; v. ne || m. pris subst^t , multi, beaucoup de gens, la multitude : numerari in multis Cic. Br. 333, être compté (confondu) dans la foule ; v. unus § 2 ; multi hominum Plin. 16, 96, beaucoup dʼhommes, cf. Plin. 16, 128 ¶ 2 au sing. a) [poét.] multa victima Virg. B. 1, 33, de nombreuses victimes ; avis multa Ov. Am. 3, 5, 4, beaucoup dʼoiseaux ; arbor Curt. 7, 4, 6, beaucoup dʼarbres ; b) abondant, en grande quantité : multa carne Cic. Pis. 67, avec beaucoup de viande ; multo labore Cic. Sulla 73, avec beaucoup de peine ; multo cibo et potione completi Cic. Tusc. 5, 100, remplis dʼune quantité de nourriture et de boisson ; lingua, qua multa utebatur Cæs. G. 1, 47, 4, langue dont il se servait beaucoup ; c) [temps] avancé : multo die Cæs. G. 1, 22, 4, le jour étant bien avancé, cf. Cæs. G. 3, 26, 6 ; 7, 28, 6 ; ad multam noctem Cæs. G. 1, 26, 3, jusquʼà un moment avancé de la nuit ; multo mane Cic. Att. 5, 4, 1, de grand matin || [poét.] multa pax, paix avancée, paix profonde : Tac. H. 1, 77 ; 3, 71 ; 4, 35 ; d) abondant en paroles, prolixe : est multus in laudanda magnificentia popularium munerum Cic. Off. 2, 56, il est prolixe dans lʼéloge de la magnificence des jeux donnés au peuple, cf. Cic. de Or. 2, 17 ; 2, 358 ; Nat. 2, 119 ; homo multus et odiosus Pl. Men. 316, bavard assommant ; e) actif, qui se prodigue : Sall. J. 96, 3 || acharné, pressant : Sall. J. 84, 1.

➳ compar. plus, superl. plurimus, v. ces mots.

multus , a, um. adj. c. pluris. s. plurimus.
多。常。幾様。大。— in orationibus 論之累贅。— in ea pugna fuit 此戰中其功爲多。— in opere 大用功。Multo mane 甚早。Nomen multum 大名聲。Multa nocte 深夜。Multa jam luce 天大亮之時。 Minus multi 不多。少。Nec multa moratus 遲緩之不久。Multa 屢次。s. \*Multissimus.

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multus adj.

• (for comp.and sup.in use see plūs, plūrimus).
• II. Plur., with subst., or with adjec. used as subst, many, a great number: multi alii, T.: multae sunt artes eximiae: tam multis verbis scribere, at such length: Quid multa verba?in short, T.: multa acerba habuit ille annus.—With other adjj., many: multae et magnae contentiones: multis magnisque praesidiis perditis, S.: multi et varii timores, L.: vectigalīs multos ac stipendiarios liberavit: multae liberae civitates, republics: multa libera capita, freemen, L.: multa secunda proelia, victories, L.: multa maiores magna et gravia bella gesserunt: multis suppliciis iustis: utebatur hominibus improbis multis: prodigia multa foeda, L.—As substm., many men, many: multi pecunias coëgerunt: alter multos fefellit: pro multis dicere.—The multitude, mass, common people, vulgar: unus de multis esse: orator unus e multis, commonplace: numerari in multis, in the herd (of orators): e multis una sit tibi, no better than others, O.: sum unus Multorum, H. —As substn. (only nom.and acc.), many things, much: quam multa te deficiant vides: quid multis moror?many words, T.: ne multa, in short: quid multa?H.—
• IIII. Sing., distributive, many a (poet.): trudit multā cane Apros in plagas, H.: multā victimā, V.: multā prece prosequi, H.—Of quantity, much, abundant, large, considerable, extensive: exstructa mensa multā carne: multum pro re p. sanguinem effudistis: multa et lauta supellex: lingua Gallica, quā multā utebatur, spoke fluently, Cs.: multus fluens, glibly, H.—In excess, superfluous: supellex modica, non multa, N.: qui in aliquo genere multus est, prolix.—Frequent, frequently, engaged, busy, diligent: ad vigilias multus adesse, S.: cum Timaeo multum fuisse: Multa viri virtus animo recursat, V.—Strong, influential: adeo teneris consuescere multum est, so strong is habit, V.—Of time, full, late: ad multum diem, till late in the day: multa iam dies erat, L.: multā nocte, late at night: multo mane, very early.