different between plenteous vs plentiful

English

Etymology

From Middle English plentewos, plentevous, et al., circa 1300, from Old French plentiveus (“fertile, rich”) (early 13th century), from plentif (“abundant”), from plenté (“abundance”) (Modern French pleinté, English plenty), from Latin plenitatem, accusative of plenitas (“fullness”), from plenus (“complete, full”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl?h?nós (“full”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pl?n.ti.?s/

Adjective

plenteous (comparative more plenteous, superlative most plenteous)

1. In plenty; abundant.

   His farm, though small, nevertheless allowed him a plenteous supply of healthy food.
2. (obsolete) Having plenty; abounding; rich.

   • The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods.

Related terms

• plenteously
• plenteousness
• plentiful
• plenty

References

English

Alternative forms

• plentyful, plentifull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English plentiful, plentyfull, plentefull, equivalent to plenty +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pl?nt?fl?/

Adjective

plentiful (comparative plentifuller or plentifuler or more plentiful, superlative plentifullest or plentifulest or most plentiful)

1. Existing in large number or ample amount.

   a plentiful harvest

   a plentiful supply of water

   She accumulated a plentiful collection of books.

2. Yielding abundance; fruitful.

   Some years, the tree is a plentiful source of apples.
3. (obsolete) lavish; profuse; prodigal
   • 1625, Francis Bacon, Of Expense

     He that is plentiful in expenses will hardly be preserved from decay.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:plentiful

Derived terms

• plentifully
• plentifulness

Related terms

• plenteous
• plenty

Translations

Further reading

• plentiful in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• plentiful in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• plentiful at OneLook Dictionary Search