MUCHES
MUCH
Much, a. [Compar. & superl. wanting, but supplied by More, and Most
(, from another root.] Etym: [OE. moche, muche, miche, prob. the same
as mochel, muchel, michel, mikel, fr. AS. micel, mycel; cf. Gr. mjök,
adv., much. *103. See Mickle.]
1. Great in quantity; long in duration; as, much rain has fallen;
much time.
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but
little in. Deut. xxviii. 38.
2. Many in number. [Archaic]
Edom came out against him with much people. Num. xx. 20.
3. High in rank or position. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Much, n.
1. A great quantity; a great deal; also, an indefinite quantity; as,
you have as much as I.
He that gathered much had nothing over. Ex. xvi. 18.
Note: Muchin this sense can be regarded as an adjective qualifying a
word unexpressed, and may, therefore, be modified by as, so, too,
very.
2. A thing uncommon, wonderful, or noticeable; something
considerable.
And [he] thought not much to clothe his enemies. Milton.
To make much of, to treat as something of especial value or worth.
Much, adv. Etym: [Cf. Icel. mjök. See Much, a.]
Definition: To a great degree or extent; greatly; abundantly; far; nearly.
"Much suffering heroes." Pope.
Thou art much mightier than we. Gen. xxvi. 16.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a
prince. Prov. xvii. 7.
Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong Life much. Milton.
All left the world much as they found it. Sir W. Temple.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition