different between infinitive vs many

English

Etymology

From Middle French infinitif, from Late Latin infinitivus (“unlimited, indefinite”), from Latin infinitus (“unlimited, infinite”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?f?n?t?v/, /?n?f?n?t?v/

Noun

infinitive (plural infinitives)

1. (grammar) the infinitive mood or mode (a grammatical mood)
   • 1847, J. J. P. Le Brethon and L. Sandier, Guide to the French language; especially devised for persons who wish to study that language without the assistance of a teacher. the tenth edition, revised and corrected, London, p. 69:

     The MANNERS of acting, in grammar called modes or moods, are four; Infinitive, Imperative, Indicative, Subjunctive or Conjunctive.

   • 1857, Henry Tindall, A grammar and vocabulary of the Namaqua-Hottentot language, p. 38:

     There are four moods, the Infinitive, Imperative, Indicative, and Subjunctive. [...] the Infinitive is used to express a thing in a general manner.

2. (grammar) A non-finite verb form considered neutral with respect to inflection; depending on language variously found used with auxiliary verbs, in subordinate clauses, or acting as a gerund, and often as the dictionary form.
3. (grammar) A verbal noun formed from the infinitive of a verb.

Hypernyms

• (mood or mode): grammatical mood, mood, mode
• (verb (form)): verb
• (verbal noun): verbal

Derived terms

• bare infinitive
• full infinitive
• perfect infinitive

Translations

See also

• gerund
• supine
• lemma
• verb

Adjective

infinitive (not comparable)

1. (grammar) Formed with the infinitive.
   • 1847, J. J. P. Le Brethon and L. Sandier, Guide to the French language; especially devised for persons who wish to study that language without the assistance of a teacher. the tenth edition, revised and corrected, London, p. 70

     INFINITIVE MOOD or MANNER.
     To Have,   Avoir.

   • 1858, C. P. Mason, English grammar; including the principles of grammatical analysis, London, p. 32:

     In English there are four moods:–1. The Infinitive Mood. 2. The Indicative Mood. 3. the Imperative Mood. 4. The Subjunctive Mood.

2. Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined.
   • a. 1823, Cunningham's Sermons (quoted in 1823, The Edinburgh Christian Instructor, volume 23, page 328)

     […] to search out in some higher region of infinitive space a spot where it was impossible for defilement to follow them […]

French

Adjective

infinitive

1. feminine singular of infinitif

Noun

infinitive f (plural infinitives)

1. infinitive clause, same as proposition infinitive

Italian

Adjective

infinitive f

1. feminine plural of infinitivo

Latin

Noun

?nf?n?t?ve

1. vocative singular of ?nf?n?t?vus

English

Alternative forms

• manie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English many, mani, moni, from Old English mani?, moni?, mane? (“many”), from Proto-West Germanic *manag, from Proto-Germanic *managaz (“some, much, many”).

The noun is from Middle English manye, *menye, from Old English manigeo, menigu (“company, multitude, host”), from Proto-Germanic *manag?, *manag?? (“multitude”), from the same root as the determiner. Cognate with Middle Low German menige, menie, menje (“multitude”), Russian ????? (mnogo).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?m?ni/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?m?ni/
  • Rhymes: -?ni
  • (pin–pen merger) IPA^(key): /?m?ni/
    • Homophone: mini (pin-pen merger)
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): /?mæni/
  • Rhymes: -æni
• Hyphenation: ma?ny

Determiner

many (comparative more, superlative most)

1. An indefinite large number of.

   • Thou shalt be a father of many nations.

   • The big houses, and there are a good many of them, lie for the most part in what may be called by courtesy the valleys. You catch a glimpse of them sometimes at a little distance from the [railway] line, which seems to have shown some ingenuity in avoiding them, […].
2. (in combinations such as 'as many', 'so many', 'this many') Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the number of people or things.

   We don't need this many bananas. Put some back.

   There may be as many as ten million species of insect.

   I don't have as many friends as my sister does.

Usage notes

• Many is used only with the plural of countable nouns (except in the combination many a). Its counterpart used with uncountable nouns is much. Many and much merge in the comparative and superlative forms, which are more and most for both determiners.

• It was once common to use the indefinite article with many (very a many years ago), as it still is with few (a few good men). However, this has fallen out of favor except in formations such as "a great/good many."

Synonyms

• a lot of

Antonyms

• few

Derived terms

Translations

Pronoun

many

1. An indefinite large number of people or things.
   • 1611 – King James Version of the Bible, Luke 1:1

     Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us...

Antonyms

• few

Derived terms

• many-to-many
• one-to-many

Related terms

• how many
• many a
• so many

Translations

Noun

many (plural (rare) manies)

1. A multitude; a great aggregate; a mass of people; the generality; the common herd.

2. A considerable number.

   A good many (of the elders) had been tone-deaf for a good many years.

   • 2005, Florence Dyer, A Mother's Cry!: Touches the Very Heart of God (page 22)

     I know that my mother cried a many of times from decisions I made.

Synonyms

• (multitude): crowd, mob; see also Thesaurus:commonalty
• (considerable number): abundance, buttload, deal; see also Thesaurus:lot

Translations

Adjective

many (comparative more, superlative most)

1. Existing in large number; numerous.

Synonyms

• multiple, several; see also Thesaurus:manifold

References

• many at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• MYAN, Myan., myna

Maricopa

Pronoun

many

1. (personal) you