different between wantonness vs abundance

English

Etymology

From Middle English wantonnesse, wantonesse, wantounesse, wantownesse, equivalent to wanton +? -ness.

Noun

wantonness (usually uncountable, plural wantonnesses)

1. (uncountable) The state or characteristic of being wanton; recklessness, especially as represented in lascivious or other excessive behavior.
   • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act IV scene ii^[1]:

     The spirit of wantonness is, sure, scared out of him: if the devil have him not in fee-simple, with fine and recovery, he will never, I think, in the way of waste, attempt us again.

   • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, ch. 16:

     The sweetness was turned to adamantine, heartless cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous wantonness.

2. (countable, dated) A particular wanton act.
   • 1882, John Gorham Palfrey, History of New England during the Stuart Dynasty, Little Brown (Boston), v. 3, p. 366:

     These were simply the wantonnesses of a dishonest man.

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.