MULTITUDE

multitude, masses, mass, hoi polloi, people, the great unwashed

(noun) the common people generally; “separate the warriors from the mass”; “power to the people”

multitude, throng, concourse

(noun) a large gathering of people

battalion, large number, multitude, plurality, pack

(noun) a large indefinite number; “a battalion of ants”; “a multitude of TV antennas”; “a plurality of religions”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

multitude (plural multitudes)

A great amount or number, often of people; abundance, myriad, profusion.

Synonym: hantel, hantle (Northern England, Scotland)

The mass of ordinary people; the masses, the populace.

Synonym: crowd

Source: Wiktionary

Mul"ti*tude, n. Etym: [F. multitude, L. multitudo, multitudinis, fr. multus much, many; of unknown origin.]

1. A great number of persons collected together; a numerous collection of persons; a crowd; an assembly. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them. Matt. ix. 36.

2. A great number of persons or things, regarded collectively; as, the book will be read by a multitude of people; the multitude of stars; a multitude of cares. It is a fault in a multitude of preachers, that they uttery neglect method in their harangues. I. Watts. A multitude of flowers As countless as the stars on high. Longfellow.

3. The state of being many; numerousness. They came as grasshoppers for multitude. Judg. vi. 5. The multitude, the populace; the mass of men.

Syn.

– Throng; crowd; assembly; assemblage; commonalty; swarm; populace; vulgar. See Throng.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition