different between abundance vs cornucopia

English

Alternative forms

• (obsolete) abundaunce
• (obsolete) habundance
• (obsolete) boundance
• (card games) abondance

Etymology

• From Middle English abundaunce, habaundance, from Old French habundance, abondance, from Latin abundantia (“fullness, plenty”), from abund? (“to overflow”). See abound.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??b?n.dn?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??b?n.dn?s/, /??b?n.dn?ts/, /??bn?.dn?s/
• (Malaysia, Singapore) IPA^(key): /??b?n.d?nts/

Noun

abundance (countable and uncountable, plural abundances)

1. A large quantity; many. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

2. An overflowing fullness or ample sufficiency; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; plentifulness. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
   • c. 1610?, Walter Raleigh, A Discourse of War

     It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state.

3. Wealth; affluence; plentiful amount of resources. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
4. Frequency, amount, ratio of something within a given environment or sample. [First attested in the late 19^th century.]
5. (card games) A bid to take nine or more tricks in solo whist. [First attested in the late 19^th century.]

Usage notes

• Synonym notes: Abundance, Plenty, Exuberance. These words rise upon each other in expressing the idea of fullness.
  • Plenty denotes a sufficiency to supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc.
  • Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess; as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often, however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree.
  • Exuberance rises still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an exuberance of animal spirits, etc.

Synonyms

• abundation (Chester)
• (large quantity): heap, load; see also Thesaurus:lot
• (ample sufficiency): exuberance, copiousness, overflow, plenty, plenteousness, plenitude, plentitude; see also Thesaurus:excess
• (plentiful amount of resources): riches, affluence, wealth; see also Thesaurus:wealth

Related terms

• abound
• abundant

Translations

References

• abundance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Scots

Etymology

From Middle English abundaunce, from Old French habundance, from Latin abundantia. Equivalent to abund +? -ance.

Noun

abundance (plural abundances)

1. An abundance; enough.

References

• Eagle, Andy, ed. (2016) The Online Scots Dictionary, Scots Online.

English

Etymology

From Latin corn?c?pia (“mythical horn of plenty”), from corn? (“horn”) + c?pia (“abundance”)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k??.n??k??.pi.?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?k???.n??ko?.pi.?/, /?k???.nj??ko?.pi.?/

Noun

cornucopia (countable and uncountable, plural cornucopias)

1. (Greek mythology) A goat's horn endlessly overflowing with fruit, flowers and grain; or full of whatever its owner wanted.
2. A hollow horn- or cone-shaped object, filled with edible or useful things.
3. An abundance or plentiful supply.

   The store provided a veritable cornucopia of modern gadgets.

Synonyms

• horn of plenty
• See also Thesaurus:cornucopia

Derived terms

Translations

Italian

Noun

cornucopia f (plural cornucopie)

1. cornucopia

Spanish

Noun

cornucopia f (plural cornucopias)

1. cornucopia