English
many
Many comes from Middle English many, from Old English maniġ, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *managaz.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*managaz‘many’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*managreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150maniġ
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500many
- Englishearliest quotation 1611same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*managaz‘many’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*managreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150maniġ
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500many
- Englishearliest quotation 1611same form
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “Thou shalt be a father of many nations.”
Linked words
through Proto-Germanic *managaz
Today it means
det before a countable noun: A large, indefinite number of.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *managaz / many