multitudinous

adj

1. Existing in multitudes or great numbers; very numerous; innumerable.

   “The great impoſtume of the realme vvas dravvne / Euen to a head: the multitudinous ſpavvne / VVas the corruption, vvhich did make it ſvvell / VVith hop'd ſedition (the burnt ſeed of hell.)”

   “There vvas alſo another parting ſpeach, vvhich vvas to haue been preſented in the perſon of a youth, and accompanied vvith diuerſe Gentlemens yonger ſonnes of the Countrey, but by reaſon of the Multitudinous preſſe, vvas alſo hindred.”

   “[T]he foundation of all, the Trinity, undermined by thoſe numerous, thoſe multitudinous Anthills of Socinians, that overflovv ſome parts of the Chriſtian vvorld, and multiply every vvhere.”

   “For certainly it is as true in making our approaches and petitions to our Lord the king, as in the pouring out of our prayers and ſupplications to the Lord our God: the more multitudinous and united the Petitioners are, the more like to ſpeed.”

   “The City [was] at that time much peſtered vvith the Puritan Faction, vvhich vvas grovvn multitudinous and ſtrong by reaſon of the ſmall abode vvhich the Dean and Prebendaries made amongſt them, the dull connivance of their Biſhop, and the remiſs Government of their Metropolitan, […]”

2. Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple, myriad; also, having a large number of forms.

   “[I]n a State ſo multitudinous, where ſo many flocks of people muſt be fed, it is impoſſible to haue ſome Trades to ſtand, if they ſhould not Lye.”

   “VVhen all the Perſians ſoothed the King in the vnconquerableneſſe of his forces, Artabanus told him, that he feared no enemies but the Sea and the Earth; the one yeelding no ſafe harbour for ſuch a Navie; the other not yeelding ſufficient ſuſtenance for ſo multitudinous an Armie.”

   “It was the rocks of an isle beyond Inistore, which made that multitudinous roaring of the wind.”

   “Ethel knew that further remonstrance was useless; and, therefore, quietly offered her services to arrange the multitudinous wardrobe which was being unpacked.”

   “The pavement […] has grass enough growing in its chinks to show that it has not, of late days, been worn by any multitudinous resort of business.”

3. Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple, myriad; also, having a large number of forms.

   “From the whole extent of the invisible vale came a multitudinous intonation; it forced upon their fancy that a great city lay below them, and that the murmur was the vociferation of its populace.”

   “The multitudinous shouting confused his ears.”

   “When Irma returned to her guests she paused before she opened the doors of the salon, for a loud and confused noise came from within. It was of a kind that she had never heard before, so happy it was, so multitudinous, so abandoned—the sound of voices at play.”

4. (literary, poetic)Of a body of water, the sea, etc.: huge, vast; also, having innumerable ripples.

   “VVill all great Neptunes ocean vvaſh this blood / Cleane from my Hand? no: this my Hand vvill rather / The multitudinous Seas incarnardine, / Making the Greene one, Red.”

5. (obsolete, poetic)Followed by with: crowded with many people or things.

   “The transport of a fierce and monstrous gladness / Spread thro' the multitudinous streets, fast flying / Upon the winds of fear; […]”

   “[R]egard this Earth / Made multitudinous with thy slaves, whom thou / Requitest for knee-worship, prayer, and praise, / And toil, and hecatombs of broken hearts, / With fear and self-contempt and barren hope.”

   “Therefore the lot o' the master is, to live / In a home multitudinous with herds, […]”

   “In multitudinous London the memory of A. V. Laider and his trouble had soon passed from my mind.”

6. (obsolete, rare)Of or relating to the multitude (“common people; masses”).

   “You […] That preferre / A Noble life, before a Long, and VViſh / To iumpe a Body vvith a dangerous Phyſicke, / That's ſure of death vvithout it: at once plucke out / The Multitudinous Tongue, let them not licke / The ſvveet vvhich is their poyſon.”

7. (figuratively, obsolete, rare)Very fruitful or productive; prolific.

   “[T]wo very multitudinous versifiers, Mr. Nightshade and Mr. Mac Laurel, who followed the trade of poetry, but occasionally indulged themselves in the composition of bad criticism.”