Where does “multitude” come from?
multitude (Old French) comes from Latin multitudo, from Latin multus, from Proto-Italic moltos, from Proto-Indo-European ml̥tós, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
multitude (Old French): crowd of people; diversity; wide range
Definitions
- crowd of people; diversity; wide range
Ancestry of “multitude”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | multitudo | A great number; multitude, numerousness; A great... |
| 2 | Latin | multus | much; many |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | moltos | much, many |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ml̥tós | crumbled, crumpled |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |