different between abundance vs greatness

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 Middle English gretnesse, gretnes, greetnesse, from Old English gr?atnes. Equivalent to great +? -ness.

Pronunciation

• enPR: gr?t?n?s, IPA^(key): /???e?tn?s/
• Hyphenation: great?ness

Noun

greatness (countable and uncountable, plural greatnesses)

1. The state, condition, or quality of being great

   Due to the greatness of his size, he was an effective bodyguard.

   greatness of mind

   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night ACt 3 Scene 4

     Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
2. (obsolete): Pride; haughtiness.
   • 1627, Francis Bacon, New Atlantis

     It is not of pride or greatness that he cometh not aboard your ships.

Translations

See also

• magnum opus
• genius

Anagrams

• Tressange, estranges, seargents, sergeants