ˈməltəˌtüd, -tə.ˌtyüd noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin multitudo, from multi- + -tudo -tude
1. : the state of being many : numerousness
whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude — Deut. 28:62 (Revised Standard Version)
the mind falters, confused by the multitude and yet the harmony of the detail — Theodore Dreiser
of large numbers, note whether they are used precisely, or merely to express multitude — Notes & Queries on Anthropology
2. : a great number : host
multitudes in the valley of decision — Joel 3:14 (Revised Standard Version)
love covers a multitude of sins — 1 Pet 4:8 (Revised Standard Version)
a language in which the same sound has to stand for a multitude of ideas — Edward Clodd
a multitude of stories and traditions grew up around his name — D.E.Smith
3. : a great number of persons collected together : crowd , throng
all the multitude was astonished — Mk 11:18 (Revised Standard Version)
the tourist buses disgorged their multitudes — Mollie Panter-Downes
4. : populace , public
both scorns and seeks the understanding and approbation of the multitude — Arthur Knight
does not like his defeat in a matter of the heart to be known, and needs must dissemble to the multitude — Rex Ingamells