[plen.ty] n [ME plente, fr. OF plente, fr. LL plenitat-, plenitas, fr. L, fullness, fr. plenus full--more at full] (13c) 1 a: a full or more than adequate amount or supply "had ~ of time to finish the job" b: a large number or amount "in ~ of trouble"
2: the quality or state of being copious: plentifulness
[2]plenty adj (14c) 1: plentiful in amount, number, or supply "if reasons were as ~ as blackberries --Shak."
2: ample "~ work to be done --Time" usage Many commentators object to use of sense
2. in writing; it appears to be limited chiefly to spoken English. Sense 1 is literary but is no longer in common use. [3]plenty adv (1842): more than sufficiently: to a considerable degree "the nights were ~ cold --F. B. Gipson" usage Many handbooks advise avoiding the adverb plenty in writing; "use very, quite, or a more precise word," they advise. Actually plenty is often a more precise word than its recommended replacements; very, fully, or quite will not work as well in these typical quotations "it's already plenty hot for us in the kitchen without some dolt opening the oven --C. H. Bridges" "may not be rising quite as rapidly as other health costs, but it is going up plenty fast --Changing Times". It is not used in more formal writing.