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单词 much
释义

muchadj.adv.pron.n.

Brit. /mʌtʃ/, U.S. /mətʃ/
Forms:

α. Middle English mech, Middle English meth (transmission error), Middle English meyche, Middle English–1500s meche, Middle English–1500s mych, Middle English–1500s myche, Middle English–1500s mytch, Middle English–1600s miche, Middle English–1600s (1800s– (English regional)) mich, 1500s mische, 1500s mytche, 1500s (1700s– (English regional)) mitch; Scottish pre-1700 miche, pre-1700 mych, pre-1700 myche, pre-1700 1900s– mich.

β. Middle English mucche, Middle English muiche, Middle English–1500s moch, Middle English–1500s moche, Middle English–1500s mouche, Middle English–1600s muche, Middle English– much, 1500s mushe, 1500s mvche, 1500s–1600s mutch, 1500s–1600s mutche, 1500s–1600s mvch, 1600s motch; Scottish pre-1700 moch, pre-1700 moche, pre-1700 mouch, pre-1700 mouche, pre-1700 muche, pre-1700 muchte, pre-1700 mutch, pre-1700 mutche, pre-1700 mutsch, pre-1700 mwche, pre-1700 mwtch, pre-1700 1700s– much.

γ. Middle English mik, Middle English mike, 1600s micke.

δ. Middle English mek, Middle English meke.

Origin: Formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymon: mickle adj.
Etymology: Shortened < mickle adj. (see α, β, γ, and δ forms s.v.).This shortening may have been suggested by the relationship between lut (see lite n.4, adj.1, and adv.) and lutel (see little adj., pron., n., and adv.). However, the cause may have been phonetic; the loss of -l after -ch- seems to be paralleled in wenche (see wench n.). It is possible that the rare late Old English myce (one isolated attestation: see below) is an early example of much , but more likely that it is a scribal error for mycel (see mickle adj.) which occurs nineteen times in the same text and with the same sense:lOE Salisbury Psalter xxxvii. 5 Quoniam magna est gloria domini : forðam myce is wulder drihtenes.
A. adj. (determiner).
I. = great adj. in various applications. Cf. mickle adj. I.
1.
a. Of any physical object or entity: great in size or dimension; spec. (of a person) tall, large, bulky; (formerly also) †adult, grown up, mature (obsolete). Now only in place names.Attested earliest in place names. Among current English place names cf. Much Cowarne, Much Dewchurch, and Much Marcle, all in Herefordshire, Much Wenlock in Shropshire, and Much Hadham in Hertfordshire. Cf. great adj. 4c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > adult > [adjective]
mucha1154
of (formerly also at, to) agec1300
perfect agec1384
full-growna1393
ripea1393
greatc1515
adult1531
maturate1556
mellowed1575
mellow1592
full-aged1596
mature1609
timed1611
grown-upa1640
adulted1645
grown1645
upgrown1667
matured1805
coming of age1858
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [adjective]
unlittleeOE
mickleeOE
greateOE
mucha1154
mainc1275
boldc1300
fadec1330
largec1392
tallc1430
big1444
masterfula1450
grand1452
largy1558
fine1590
bonnya1600
large-sized1628
roomly1682
lumping?1706
maun1743
strapping1827
barn door1829
serious1843
jumboesque1893
jumbo1897
economy-sized1930
L1942
jumbo-size1949
economy size1950
a1154 in T. Madox Formulare Anglicanum (1702) 40 Sciatis me concessisse & confirmasse donationem illam quam Henricus de Ria fecit Deo & Monachis S. Trinitatis de Cantuaria, de Terra de Diepham, in Escambio Terræ Muchberdestona.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 647 (MED) [E]leusius..lette his men makien a muche fur.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13993 Al þere muche halle rof mid hire honden heo to-droh.
c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) 1083 (MED) A sarazin..bigan to neiȝen hem ner Oppon a muche blak stede.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 207 A stoon..was yfounde so grete and so moche þat phyladech made þer of an ymage of foure cubite longe.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 4467 (MED) Þey..drogh furþ a moche boke.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. viii. 70 (MED) A moche man..called me.
a1450 Mandeville's Trav. (Bodl. e Mus.) 135 (MED) His graue..the whiche shal ben mad meche and large to resseyue al that is ordeynyd for his sepulture.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 104 Þe Kyng..mad Westminster Halle, and whan he sei it first, he seide it was not half mech inow.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 97 (MED) Antor that hadde this childe norisshed till he was a moche man of xv yere of age, he hadde hym trewly norisshed so that he was faire and moche.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. liiiv Whiche in a nothers iye can spye a lytell mote And in his owne can nat fele nor espye A moche stycke.
1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 15v A sheepe marke, a tar ketle, litle or mitch, two pottles of tarre, to a pottle of pitch.
†b. Of a numerical aggregate, proportion, etc. Frequently modifying a noun denoting a part or proportion, esp. in much deal: a great part; (also as an adverbial phrase) in great part, largely. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase]
a great dealc1000
much dealc1225
on highc1400
little1483
good and proper1508
not smally1548
a deal1756
in a big way1840
more than somewhat1930
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adjective] > abundant, numerous
so manyc888
thickc893
muchc1225
rifec1275
stourc1275
unridec1300
copiousc1384
plentya1400
rivedc1400
numerable?a1425
numerous?a1475
many a several1543
rank1545
numberous1566
huge1570
multuous1586
multeous1589
numberful1594
numberable1596
numbery1606
numbersomea1617
multitudinousa1631
sand-like1630
voluminous1650
several1712
smart1750
powerful1800
multitudinarious1810
multitudinary1838
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a great part or proportion
much dealc1225
the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [adjective] > constituting main or major part
mosteOE
muchc1225
main1579
major1593
gross1692
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > in general [phrase] > for the most part
for the more party1372
for (also be, in) the most part (also deal, party)a1387
for the more partc1405
for (the) most partc1405
much dealc1425
in substancea1450
for the mostc1531
in (also for) the generality1580
for the general1581
in (also for, on, upon) the maina1591
largely1594
principally1600
in chiefa1616
mainly1640
nine times (parts, etc.) out of (also in, of) ten1648
greatly1742
as a rule1828
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 24 (MED) An unsehen unwiht, muche deale blackre þen eauer eani blamon.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 14224 A-buten he bilæde muche del of londe.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 3689 Ȝeo sal fare mid þee mid mochere [c1275 Calig. mochelere] ferde.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7719 Monye heyemen of þe lond in prison he huld strong, So þat muchedel engelond þoȝte is lif to long.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 202 (MED) Þe..emperour..rod out..wiþ alle his menskful meyne, þat moche was & nobul.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 1 Esdras x. 13 For þe puple ys myche..it is not þe werc on oon dai or of two.
c1425 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Harl.:Wright) l. 4920 + 32 He lay muchedel of þe nyȝt in wo & in sorwe.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) iv. xxvi. 72 What so euer the body hath done, he hath hit done by the, be it good or bad, and moch dele by thyn excitacion.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. xxxvii Of other folys yet is a moche nomber.
1530 St. German's Secunde Dyaloge Doctour & Student xxv. f. lxix Moche parte of the lawe is in suche speche that fewe men haue knowlege of it.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward V f. vijv Muche parte of the common people were therewith right well satisfied.
1609 Bible (Douay) I. Exod. i. 9 Behold the people of Israel is much, and stronger than we.
†c. Of great value or high rank; powerful, important, prominent, prestigious. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > of high or great importance > of rank
muchc1275
huge1430
highish1828
high-ranking1850
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > that is such in a high degree > entitled to designation in high degree
fullOE
muchc1275
greata1398
very1712
veritable1862
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 11537 Hercne, Maximian: þu ært of muche cunne.
?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) 11 in J. Ritson Anc. Eng. Metrical Romanceës (1802) II. 270 A muche mon com from Troye, y wis, Wes icleped Bruyt Sylvius.
c1390 Pistel of Swete Susan (Vernon) 315 Bi þe muche god þat most is of miht.
a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 1156 Any mon myche or luyte.
?1471 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 119 (MED) The..parson..brought with hym..writyng..makynge mension of Innybucions and other mucche maters.
c1500 in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 140 The moche men shuld nat the lytyll blame.
†d. Great in amount or degree. Obsolete.In later use merged in senses A. 2a, A. 2c and A. 2d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]
mickleeOE
wideOE
largec1300
greata1325
muchc1330
mightyc1390
millionc1390
dreicha1400
rudea1450
massive1581
massy1588
heavy1728
magnitudinous1777
powerful1800
almighty1824
tall1842
hefty1930
honking1943
mondo1968
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 164 (MED) Al þai wonderd strongliche, For his feirhed was so miche.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 2545 (MED) Muche was þe loue word..þat Abraham gat of mony mon.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. ii. 71 Much is the force of heauen-bred Poesie. View more context for this quotation
†e. Modifying the (adverse) designation of a person: entitled to the designation in a high degree. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 102 (MED) Nu i wole nempne þe wicke þewes Þat beþ noht gode, ac muche shrewes.
c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) 230 (MED) Whil þou were a ȝong boy, a moche schrewe þou were.
c1450 J. Metham Palmistry (Garrett) in Wks. (1916) 90 (MED) Yf this..lyne turne vpwarde..yt sygnyfyith a myche fole.
1494 W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (de Worde) ii. xviii Sothly he were a moche foole.
†f. Great or outstanding in, of (some quality). See also so much at so adv. and conj. 39. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > having some attribute in a great degree
micklec1330
violenta1393
mucha1400
intense1653
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 4011 (MED) Florens was nat so moche yn lore, Yn preyours he was euermore.
?a1525 (?a1475) Play Sacrament l. 194 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 64 In graclea [read Eraclea] ys noon so moche of myght.
II. Chiefly attributive. Great in amount or quantity. Cf. mickle adj. II.
2. Modifying a mass noun. A great amount or quantity of, a lot of.In present-day colloquial usage, generally more common in negative and interrogative contexts, corresponding to a lot of in affirmative contexts.
a. Of an emotion or other internal state: intense, severe, great. Also: experienced by many people, widespread.In later use frequently with the implication of persistence or recurrence through time (cf. sense A. 2d), esp. when qualified by an adverb of degree.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > intense emotion > [adjective]
inmostc897
inlyeOE
mucha1200
deepa1400
inwardc1402
quickc1449
piercingc1450
sharpc1480
profound1526
feeling1531
visceral1575
infelta1586
hearty?1614
hearteda1616
home-felt1637
exquisitea1656
deep-rooted1669
intimate1671
exalted1704
bosom-felt1771
pathologic1891
bone deep1900
a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 203 Þe me ledeð fram miche wowe to michele wele.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 7323 A writ he lette makien mid muchere wraððe.
c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) 560 Ȝif ich..hadde y-suffred..in wildernisse miche sore.
?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 111 (MED) Þer is gret inflacioun & multitude of teres þe whiche ben þicke..& moche blerdenesse.
1555 W. Turner New Bk. Spirituall Physik f. 50v Wyth muche shame, they come wyth tythe pygges by theyr tayles, wyth tythe egges, and tythe hemp and flaxe.
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 50/2 This obstinate and stoburn rebellion of tharchbishop stirred vp much anger.
1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania ii. 147 All this iourney did Vrania passe with much griefe inwardly suffered.
1745 E. Haywood Female Spectator IV. xxi. 179 I wish her much Happiness with whoever she shall make Choice of.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. i. 4 We lived several years in a state of much happiness.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist III. xlii. 127 ‘Wot department has he got, Fagin?’ inquired Master Bates, surveying Noah's lank form with much disgust.
1885 Athenæum 17 Oct. 510/1 Upon the naturalizers of this and other noxious species..we cannot waste much pity.
1953 C. Beaton Diary 23 July in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xviii. 263 My friendship with him has brought me much joy, fun, and even a little more understanding of people.
1996 M. Burgess Junk (1997) vi. 57 Tar's had so much grief in his life.
b. Of a physical object: a great quantity or volume of, existing or present in great quantity. Also of something abstract, esp. learning, when conceived of as something which can be possessed: extensive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > specifically of people
muchc1200
worthya1333
important1581
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > much/a great amount/quantity of
mickleeOE
muchc1200
greata1325
felea1400
muchee1722
queer1865
lotta1870
mucho1870
lotsa1890
c1200 Serm. in Eng. & Germanic Stud. (1961) 7 64 Muche licch [read liccht] vas abuten heom.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 48 (MED) Muche mare is iȝeuen to þeo þe munieð þi nome.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 136 Muche lond he him ȝef.
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) 1131 (MED) Wyn nelle ihc Muche ne lite.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 387 (MED) Al his fre ferd þat hadde take þat time moche trye game, boþe bores & beres.
c1400 Bk. to Mother (Bodl.) 79 (MED) Þouȝ a man kunne speke muche Walsch, he is neuer þe grettur clerk but he kepe Godis hestis.
?c1430 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 305 For aquitaunce [þei] taken moche gold.
1458 in J. H. Parker Some Acct. Domest. Archit. (1859) III. 42 In labor & lavyng moche money was lore.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Deut. xxviii. 38 Thou shalt cary out moch sede in to ye felde, and shalt gather but litle in.
1541 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) 32 White wyne alayd with moche water.
1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 8 in Jewell House Unto man..the eating of much salt is very contagious, because it maketh the blood salt.
1619 in D. Forbes & C. Innes Acct. Familie Innes (1864) 210 Quhilk day is to be ane of mutch honor to me.
1661 N. Culpeper Pharmacopœia Londinensis 13/1 They are good for Rhewmatick people to chew in their mouth, for they draw forth much water.
1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 10 Oct. (1948) I. 50 Mr. Harley..presented me to the Attorney-General sir Simon Harcourt, with much compliment on all sides, &c.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. viii. 67 An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much.
1802 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1803) 6 333 During the time allowed before starting,..great clamour ensued, and much money was sported.
1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 357/3 Much wood..during warm and summer months, raining down great store of tree-flies.
1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux II. vi. 45 He was flushed with much wine.
1914 S. Lewis Our Mr. Wren vii I don't know much German. Course I know a few words.
1995 Toronto Life Jan. 27/1 Not that much sunlight penetrates to La Rotisserie.., wedged as it is between a coffee shop and a streetside café.
c. Of a quality, virtue, or attribute: manifested in a person, action, etc., to a high degree, or in a particularly outstanding or exemplary form.
ΚΠ
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 484 (MED) O ihesu..þe hauest þin hehe seotel o meiðhades mihte, hire to muche menske.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Psalms lxxxv. 5 Lord, sweete & mylde & of meche mercy.
a1450 (a1396) W. Hilton Eight Chapters on Perfection 6 (MED) For to purchace myche grace of Goddis cunfort.
c1475 MS Trin. Dublin 245 in J. H. Todd Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) p. xi (MED) This gospel tellith myche wisdom that is hid to many men.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) 1399 (MED) She toke the ryngis with moche care.
1548 R. Hutten tr. J. Spangenberg Sum of Diuinitie sig. Fijv That much infirmity and vice doeth remayne as yet, euen in them whyche be santifyed.
1577 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Three Bookes ii. f. 34 This hearbe which commonly is called Tabaco, is an Hearbe of muche antiquitie.
c1614 C. Cornwallis in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) I. 141 So would he use much sincerity and directness in the answer.
1673 W. Temple in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 119 I tooke occasion to make a short compliment from your Excy to my Lord Chancellor..My Lord Chancellor returned the compliment with much civility.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. ii. 181 So that each Horse and Mare eat their own Hay, and their own Mash of Oats and Milk, with much Decency and Regularity.
1796 R. Bage Hermsprong II. ix. 70 ‘It is not absolutely necessary, Miss Fluart,’ said his lordship, with much dignity.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxiv. 232 The phenomenon..now presented herself with much grace and lightness.
1878 H. A. Roche On Trek in Transvaal 143 They submit with much humility to the recognized authority of their ‘Kirk Raad’ or Council, composed of men like themselves.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 835/1 An element of ideal loftiness and much literary charm.
1940 B. L. Southwell et al. Swine Production in South vi. 114 The modern Duroc Jersey shows much trimness and smoothness.
1996 Observer 29 Dec. (Life Suppl.) 25/5 Astro-lore doesn't allow Capricorn much sensuality, but the desire to play Romeo or Juliet..looks overpowering in November.
d. Of an act, action, or an aspect of its performance: great in duration or extent, long-lasting; continuous, persistent, recurrent.
ΚΠ
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 15282 Þer wes blisse & muche song.
c1425 Concordance Wycliffite Bible f. 160 (MED) In myche drynkynge of wyn.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique i By muche observacion, and diligent practise.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xv. 69 Those..that be cumbred with much gaping & yawning.
1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 31 Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions.
1720 D. Manley Power of Love i. 123 With much Difficulty he got upon his Knees.
1784 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations (ed. 3) II. iv. v. 285 I cannot pretend to speak with much precision.
1838 J. H. Ingraham Burton I. i. vi. 89 She says to me, with much sighing and whispering, ‘Reverend father, [etc.]’.
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt II. xxvi. 159 The next morning, after much prayer for the needful strength and wisdom, Mr Lyon came down-stairs.
1918 W. Cather My Ántonia i. viii. 63 There was much dancing and drinking.
1955 Times 19 May 4/2 The jury would not have much difficulty in getting rid of that suggestion, because those two were obviously at loggerheads.
e. Modifying a noun designating a collection of people (esp. folk, people): a great number of, many. Now archaic and nonstandard.In nonstandard use probably an aspect of sense A. 3a.
ΚΠ
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11579 Muche moncun he þer of-sloh.
c1300 St. Hippolytus (Laud) 44 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 482 Huy brouȝhten him up-on an he de-grece þat muche folk him i-seiȝh.
c1330 Otuel (Auch.) (1882) 60 (MED) Muche poeple to him kam.
c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 147 (MED) Kynges hauen in þaire gouernaunce Myche folk at þaire comaundement.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) i. ix. sig. a.viv He put hem on bak, and slewe moche peple.
1538 J. London in T. Wright Three Chapters Lett. Suppression Monasteries (1843) 225 Thys ys a towne of moch power people.
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health ccxliii. 262 Much people in small roume, liuing vncleanly and sluttishly.
1611 Bible (King James) Num. xx. 20 And Edom came out against him with much people. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vi. 7 Let vs know, If'twill..carry backe to Cicelie much tall youth, That else must perish heere. View more context for this quotation
1680 T. Shadwell Woman-captain ii. 18 We have..committed other Outrages to the Confusion of much People.
1721 R. Blackmore New Version Psalms xxxv. 73 Among much People, Lord most high, I'll Thanks to Thee address.
1897 B. Stoker Dracula xi. 140 There wasn't much people about that day.
1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. I. i. 39 Lo, who mount, much people suing, From wide sea-strand, be messengers.
1995 B. Zephaniah City Psalms 42 So much people heading fe dis exit door.
†f. much thing: many a thing, many things. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > a large number or multitude > of things
many-whatc1175
much thinga1393
fry1587
shoal1639
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. 224 So schal I moche thing foryete.
c1395 G. Chaucer Friar's Tale 1273 Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel.
c1440 S. Scrope in tr. C. de Pisan Epist. of Othea (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 3 Redoubted Homfray, cosin to the kinge..to whom longeth myche thinge.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 17 (MED) The Iuges seiden he moste be connynge of moche thynge yef he shulde saue his moder.
g. ironic. No, not any. Chiefly placed at the head of a clause, modifying abstract nouns expressing positive qualities, esp. good. Frequently in much good may it do you (also him, her, etc.). See also dich v.
ΚΠ
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 84 In the waye of mockage, biddyng muche good dooe it hym.
1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor iv. i. sig. I Much wench, or much sonne. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iv. iii. 2 Is it not past two a clock? And heere much Orlando. View more context for this quotation
1720 W. Congreve Impossible Thing 13 Much Good may't do you; for my Part, I wash my Hands of't from my Heart.
1783 Hist. Miss Baltimores II. 59 Well, much good may do you!
1815 W. Scott Antiquary II. i. 7 And much good that will do, when he has frightened the lad out of the country!
1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol i. 8 ‘Let me leave it [sc. Christmas] alone, then,’ said Scrooge. ‘Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!’
1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Real Charlotte II. xxix. 199 I spoke to her about it, and much thanks I got.
1911 J. M. Barrie Peter & Wendy ii ‘Much good,’ he said bitterly, ‘my wearing myself to the bone trying to be funny in this house.’
1991 B. Anderson Girls High (1992) xv. 186 Much good may it do you!
†h. Found or displayed in great quantity, abundant, copious. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [adjective]
goodeOE
broadOE
fullOE
large?c1225
rifec1225
fulsomea1325
abundanta1382
plenteousa1382
copiousc1384
plentifula1400
ranka1400
aboundc1425
affluentc1425
aboundable?1440
seedy1440
manyfulc1450
ample1472
olda1500
richa1500
flowing1526
fertilent1535
wallingc1540
copy1546
abounding1560
fat1563
numbrous1566
good, great store1569
round1592
redundant1594
fruitful1604
cornucopian1609
much1609
plenty?a1610
pukka1619
redundant1621
uberant1622
swelling1628
uberous1633
numerousa1635
superfluent1648
full tide1649
lucky1649
redounding1667
numerose1692
bumper1836
prolific1890
proliferous1915
1609 Bible (Douay) I. 2 Kings i. Comm. Elias was knowen by his much hayre.
1630 J. Winthrop Hist. New Eng. (1825) (modernized text) I. 377 My much business hath made me too oft forget Mondays and Fridays.
1650 W. Brough Sacred Princ. 158 Keep me from the much evill of an idle life!
1872 Ld. Tennyson Last Tournament in Gareth & Lynette 134 Now mocking at the much ungainliness..of Mark.
1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed iii. 46 A pale yellow sun..showed the much dirt of the place.
3.
a. Modifying a plural count noun: a great number of, many. Now Caribbean and in African-American usage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adjective]
feleOE
felefoldc1000
manifoldOE
unfewc1175
mucha1225
many one?a1300
greata1325
manyc1450
numerous1622
maint1706
right smart1825
a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 235 (MED) An þesser laȝe of þe witȝin wer laðieres moche.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. (1557) 714 Much horrible dedes.
1565 T. Stapleton in tr. Bede Hist. Church Eng. Ep. Ded. sig. *5v The same Emperour after much disputations and conferences had with the Arrians,..commaunded [etc.].
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie 165 This figure..sheweth that the seruantes of the saide Lords shall get much friends.
1660 J. Gauden Mem. Bp. Brounrigg 238 All these died..in the foresight and fear of much future miseries impending over us.
1664 S. Pepys Diary 17 July (1971) V. 211 After dinner walked to my Lord's—and there found him and much other guests at table at dinner.
1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth III. 315 Much Pagan Pates, he made to tumble in Dust.
1890 S. Hale Lett. (1919) 253 I have much funny things to tell you.
1928 J. M. Peterkin Scarlet Sister Mary xxii. 261 How much chillen you had?
1964 H. O. Patterson Children of Sisyphus 29 She didn't get much customers the night before.
1975 Torchlight (Grenada) 17 May 8 He prolonged his suffering, appealing so much times and failing.
1998 O. Kempadoo Buxton Spice (1999) 86 He give out so much jobs, all the government offices full'a half-asleep people.
b. much thanks: many thanks.This use partly echoes Shakespeare's (see quot. 1604) and preserves the former occasional employment of singular agreement with the plural of this noun (cf. thank n. 4b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > gratitude > [noun] > thanks > many thanks
much thanks1604
thanks loads1920
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 6 For this reliefe much thanks . View more context for this quotation
a1687 C. Cotton Poems (1689) 181 I..Gave his Worship much thanks for his kind Invitation.
a1764 R. Lloyd Capricious Lovers (1765) ii. iv. 29 Much thanks to my lord for his care.
1799 F. Reynolds Management ii. 23 For this relief much thanks.
1823 I. Pocock Nigel ii. i. 28 Good friend, much thanks.
1897 J. Conrad Nigger of ‘Narcissus’ iv. 70 Much thanks yer got for hit.
1952 E. O'Neill Moon for Misbegotten i. 17 You didn't get much thanks from Mike, I'll wager, for your help.
1992 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 11 May a10/1 Much thanks to the dedicated staff at St. Michael's Hospital.
4. Modified by adverbs of degree, as as much, how much, that much, too much, expressing quantity in the abstract, without the necessary implication of a large quantity. so much: see so adv. and conj. 39. this much: see this adv. Phrases. thus much: see thus adv. 3. Cf. senses B. 2, C. 2a.For idiomatic uses of these expressions, see the first element.
ΚΠ
c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 399 (MED) Wa is him..þet is wið to muche luue to ei eorðlich þing iteiet.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1362 (MED) Þanne told þei hire..at how miche meschef here men were formest.
c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 385 (MED) Þer may no stable reule be ȝouun and assigned to telle hou myche tyme precisely ouȝte be spende aboute oon kynde of þese meenal servicis.
1552 R. Record Ground of Artes (rev. ed.) ii. sig. Z.vi [Archimedes] putting the croune..into the vessell of water brymfull..marked howe muche water dyd run out.
1681 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. I iv. 367 Too much whifling up and down in the little levities of Fancy.
1780 J. T. Dillon Trav. Spain i. xxiii. 216 After they had, in a manner deflowered the mine, and got as much ore as they could easily extract.
1903 Mission Field May 17 Over as much space as possible.
1956 S. Parker Drawings & Dimensions vii. 52 How much force may be used when gauging?
1977 Early Music 5 482/1 It would be over-fastidious to continue discussing the rest of the lai in even that much detail.
†5. [From the adverb] Modifying an agent noun: that frequently or incessantly performs the action. Obsolete. rare.
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c1632 W. Mountfort Launching of Mary (1933) iv. iv. 108 A too much talker spends him selfe and dyes.]
1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 28 Apr. (1948) I. 255 I have heard them say, Much talkers, Little walkers.
1828 C. Lamb Char. Late Elia in Elia 2nd Ser. 226 Your long and much talkers hated him.
III. In other uses.
6. regional (now chiefly U.S. (southern)). [Probably from the predicative use of the noun (see sense C. 1c).] Well, in good health. Usually in negative contexts.
ΚΠ
1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. ‘How are ye to-day?’ ‘Not much, thank ye.’
1913 H. Kephart Our Southern Highlanders 224 John's Lize Ann she ain't much.
c1976 A. Garber Mountain-ese 2 I ain't much these cold winter days.
B. adv.
1.
a. Modifying a verb, a prepositional phrase, or the whole predicate: in a great degree; to a great extent; greatly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > by or to a great degree or extent
mickleseOE
mickleeOE
sevensitheOE
highOE
muchc1225
wellc1300
fara1400
goodlya1450
long?a1475
farlya1500
largea1522
muchly1621
very1641
heartily1727
lot1839
lot1855
big time1957
batshit1993
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 227 (MED) Ne ne mei na þing wiðstonden his wille, þah he muche þolie.
c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 417 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 65 (MED) Þe woundene..bi-bledde is cuyrtel..he carede muche hou he miȝhte stilleliche it a-wei do.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke vii. 47 Manye synnes ben forȝouun to hire, for sche hath loued myche.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 10941 Muche þerfore þei mournyng were.
a1450 in R. H. Bowers Three Middle Eng. Relig. Poems (1963) 42 (MED) To Thy mercy..moche nedeth me.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 51 (MED) Who þat is of þis complexioun, by cause of heete him lustiþ myche.
1526 Pylgrimage of Perfection (de Worde) f. 2 Some in religyon be ryght holy & moche exercysed in goostly conuersacyon.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. xxxix Yf yt chaunce me by your ayde..to recouer..I..shalbe so muche obliged and bounde vnto you.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie M 496 Saie that I am here much against my will.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. iii. 7 Ginger was not much in request, for the olde Women were all dead. View more context for this quotation
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 422 The Ambassadors..made him some other Presents, which..made him very much our friend.
1680 H. More Apocalypsis Apocalypseos 209 The ancient zeal..will be much relaxated, and wickedness will get head again.
1725 E. Haywood Masqueraders 25 It is very much to be wonder'd at.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. vii. 63 For my part I don't much like it.
1785 W. Cowper Let. 27 Aug. (1981) II. 373 The Publisher of it is neither much a friend to the cause of Religion nor to the Author's memory.
1854 H. Miller My Schools & Schoolmasters ii. 35 I was much a favourite with Uncle James.
1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting viii. 350 He complained much of his poverty.
1891 E. Peacock Narcissa Brendon I. 208 ‘Thank you very much,’ she said.
1902 E. Banks Autobiogr. Newspaper Girl 211 I'm much obliged to you.
1958 ‘J. Byrom’ Or be he Dead iii. 52 I'm sure Records will be much indebted to you.
b. Modifying an expression of comparison, esp. a comparative adjective or adverb or a phrase containing a superlative adjective or adverb: in a great degree, by far. Cf. so adv. and conj. 39d.With a superlative, and (sometimes in earlier use) with a comparative adjective, much precedes the determiner the. In the 17th cent., much sometimes preceded the determiner a or an in a noun phrase instead of coming between it and the comparative adjective (see quots. 1655, 1725,). Both constructions might more strictly be interpreted as belonging to sense A. 1a.
ΚΠ
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 413 He..het ham hihin toward him hare cume swiðe—&swa muche þe swiðere þet he bihet to medin ham.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 3201 He moche þe wodlokere wilnede þat mayde.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 9911 Riche was Aruiragus and moche richere was Maurus.
c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 600 Muche worse is forsweryng falsly and yet nedelees.
?c1430 (?1383) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 334 Ȝif it fare þus..it is moche þe werse on alle ordris.
c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner Hist. Coll. Citizen London (1876) 196 (MED) Hyt causyd moche the more herte brennyng a gayne the duke.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 4 He dought that yef he dide hym gretter damage that he wolde be moche wrothere.
1505 F. Marsin et al. Rep. Queen of Naples (modernized text) in J. Gairdner Historia Regis Henrici Septimi (1858) 231 Much the less we could come by the very knowledge of that cause for that the queen weared black kerchowes.
?1566 J. Alday tr. P. Boaistuau Theatrum Mundi sig. C iv b Spinners or Spiders..have a much better grace..in their industries, for there is no knots in their workings, nor wast.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. ix. sig. Ll5v Troy, that art now nought, but an idle name,..Though whilome far much greater then thy fame.
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron I. i. vi. f. 20 He was a much better Inquisitor after them, that had their purses plenteously stored with money, then of such as were slenderly grounded in Faith.
1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa III. ii. iii. 319 Shee..manifesting by the esteeme shee plac't upon the performance, how much a higher one shee had for him, for whome 'twas perform'd.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 1 May (1974) VIII. 196 Pegg Penn..with only her husband's pretty sister with her, both patched and very fine, and in much the finest coach in the park.
1669 A. Marvell Let. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 257 It will be some expense but much otherwise husbanded then formerly.
1711 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 170 The much major part of the souldiery.
1712 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 23 Feb. (1948) II. 495 The Secrty is much the greatest Commoner in Engld.
1725 J. Collier Several Disc. xii. 385 A grateful..Receiver is much a greater Man than such a pretended Benefactor.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xviii. 194 Our modern dialect is much more natural.
1801 Asiatic Ann. Reg. 1800 Hist. India 28/1 His talents were much more fitted for action than speculation.
1838 T. Moore Mem. (1856) VII. 218 Nothing much different to add in the subject.
1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 707/1 Much the largest river of the peninsula is the Halys.
1903 H. Hapgood Autobiogr. Thief (1904) x. 205 The boy had a much better chance to learn the graft than I had when a kid, for my father was an honest man.
1938 R. Hum Chem. for Engin. Students xxvi. 711 The kerosene fraction is common paraffin oil, and constitutes much the largest proportion..of the whole distillate.
1996 R. Mabey Flora Britannica 169/2 The few oxlip ‘outliers’ may be relics on a much grander scale, isolated remnants of a time when oxlips were more widespread.
c. Modifying a positive adjective or adverb: very. Now U.S. regional (chiefly southern).This use of much also survives when modifying like with a noun phrase complement (cf. like adj. 1a(a)), now taken as sense A. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > very
tooc888
swith971
wellOE
wellOE
fullOE
rightc1175
muchc1225
wellac1275
gainlya1375
endlyc1440
hard?1440
very1448
odda1500
great1535
jolly1549
fellc1600
veryvery1649
gooda1655
vastly1664
strange1667
bloody1676
ever so1686
heartily1727
real1771
precious1775
quarely1805
murry1818
très1819
freely1820
powerfula1822
gurt1824
almighty1830
heap1832
all-fired1833
gradely1850
real1856
bonny1857
heavens1858
veddy1859
canny1867
some1867
oh-so1881
storming1883
spanking1886
socking1896
hefty1898
velly1898
fair dinkum1904
plurry1907
Pygmalion1914
dinkum1915
beaucoup1918
dirty1920
molto1923
snorting1924
honking1929
hellishing1931
thumpingly1948
way1965
mega1966
mondo1968
seriously1970
totally1972
mucho1978
stonking1990
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 2061 (MED) Witerliche, muche wurð..is þes meidenes godd.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 49 (MED) Uele maneres þet ne byeþ naȝt to nemni, uor þe materie þet is to moche abomynable.
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2350 Gold ne siluer ben nat so muche worth as the goode wyl of a trewe freend.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 53 (MED) Y wolde not make me miche bisi forto seie ther aȝens.
1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 30 Yet is he moche dangerous.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos x. 40 Dydo toke grete playsir in his conuersacyon and deuysed wyth him moche gladely.
1539 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) II. 214 She confesseth in substance, the moche like wordes to have ben told her.
1550 T. Cranmer Def. Sacrament f. 65v And contra Adamantium he writeth much like, saying [etc.].
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Aiiiv Beynge muche lyke vncourteis, vnthankefull, and chourlishe guestes.
1612 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 32 In nature it is much a like matter.
1650 Earl of Monmouth tr. J. F. Senault Man become Guilty 212 Health so dearly bought, cannot be much delightfull.
1796 J. West Gossip's Story I. 156 'Twas much unkind to go.
1916 Dial. Notes 4 347 I don't guess she's much old.
1929 W. Faulkner Sound & Fury 268 I..went up front. ‘Been much busy?’ Earl says. ‘Not much,’ I says.
1955 J. Ritchie Singing Family of Cumberlands 213 I don't know the road much well.
1994 R. Hendrickson Happy Trails 163 She's not much old.
d. ironic. Not at all, absolutely not.In current use (originally and chiefly U.S.) frequently used with the force of an interjection expressing incredulity or scepticism. This use may in part represent a shortening of not much (see sense B. 1g).
ΚΠ
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1616) sig. E2 Vint... Come, giue it to me againe. Rob. I much, when can you tell.
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor i. iii. sig. Diiiv Here's a deuise, To charge me bring my Graine vnto the markets: I, much . View more context for this quotation
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. iv. 130 Since when, I pray you sir: Gods light, with two points on your shoulder? much . View more context for this quotation
1609 B. Jonson Case is Alterd iii. sig. E And to solicite his remembrance still, In his enforced absence, much, I faith. View more context for this quotation
1848 Life in Rochester 67 Maybe he didn't take my advice, and take himself off, much.
1873 ‘S. Coolidge’ What Katy did at School ix. 187 ‘Much you don't like oranges!’ he said... ‘Much! I've seen you eat two at a time, without stopping.’
1879 W. Besant & J. Rice Seamy Side in Time I. 596 ‘Oh! yes,’ he says, ‘you think it's yours, do you? Much. I'm the owner, I am.’
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker xxiii. 371 Much they cared!
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage lviii. 297 ‘Much you care,’ he muttered.
1944 A. G. Whitehouse Fledgling 169 There's no mud—much—and we sleep in decent beds every night.
1990 L. Hampton Fighting Strength 19 Nurses don't panic..much!
e. much as: (in concessive use) as much as; however much; although.
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1797 T. Jefferson Let. 13 May in Writings (1984) 1044 Much as I abhor war..I would yet go with my brethren.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. 268 Much as they thirsted for his blood, they forebore to launch a shaft.
1895 T. Hardy Jude v. vi. 383 This, and the necessity of ready money, compelled him to decide on an auction, much as he would have preferred to keep the venerable goods.
1949 F. Swinnerton Doctor's Wife comes to Stay 96 Don't be afraid, We shan't eat her, much as we should like to.
1990 E. Kuzwayo Sit down & Listen 11 Much as I love and admire Mookho, the last thing I would want is for you to rush into this union without weighing up the whole matter carefully.
f. colloquial (originally U.S.). not to go (also be) much on (or for): not to be enthusiastic about (something); not to like or care for; not to be useful or effective for (a purpose); to be no good at (something).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > dislike > not to like or care for [phrase]
not to go (also be) much on (or for)1871
to have a snitch on1943
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > be useless for [verb (transitive)]
not to go (also be) much on (or for)1928
1871 J. Hay Pike County Ballads 13 I don't go much on religion.
1876 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Tom Sawyer xiii People don't go much on hermits, nowadays, like they used to in old times.
1896 Dial. Notes 1 417 ‘I don't go much on that’, I don't care much for that.
1908 A. Bennett Buried Alive v. 111 ‘I'm not much for these restaurants,’ she said, over grilled kidneys. ‘No?’ he responded tentatively. ‘I'm sorry.’
1928 R. Bradford in B. A. Botkin Treasury S. Folklore (1949) iii. ii. 485 Angels is all right for singin' and playin' and flyin' round, but they ain't much on workin' de crops and buildin' de levees.
1968 A. Munro in R. Weaver Canad. Short Stories 2nd Ser. 262 They may not be much on intellectual conversation but their hearts are in the right place.
1978 J. Anderson Angel of Death x. 112 He's..radically-minded, and doesn't go much for that old-fashioned religion.
1994 Generator Dec. 51/1 I received this album a month or so ago on tape, and didn't go much on it.
g. colloquial. not much: certainly not, far from it, ‘not likely’. Now frequently ironically: certainly, ‘not half’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > [adverb] > no > certainly not
for nothinglOE
not (to do something) for the worlda1375
for foul or fairc1405
not for a moment1785
not on your life1791
not for Joe (Joseph)1844
no siree1845
not much1871
a thousand times, no1896
not on your tintype1900
not for all the tea in China1937
1871 M. M. Pomeroy Brick-dust ix. 75 Old Powlowker wanted me to come and black boots... He said it was an honor he would confer upon me. I went—not much!
1882 H. H. Kane Opium-smoking in Amer. & China 11 ‘Do you think the habit will gradually die out?’.. ‘Not much. It will rapidly increase.’
1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms I. xviii. 248 Starlight and I wasn't likely to break down—not much—whatever the jury did.
1911 A. Bennett Card x. 255 Do you suppose I was going to let you go by that steamer? Not much.
1928 D. L. Sayers Unpleasantness at Bellona Club xvi. 188 ‘They can get it from Robert or George Fentiman,’ warned Wimsey. ‘Not much, they won't,’ said Salcombe Hardy feelingly.
1970 A. Ross Manch. Thing 81 ‘Got a going over, did you?’ ‘Not much, I got a going over. Want to see the bruises?’
1973 J. Porter It's Murder with Dover i. 1 ‘I am not asking for any preferential treatment,’ said Lord Crouch... Not bloody much! thought the Chief Constable..and tried to work out what His Nibs was up to.
1996 BBC Good Food Oct. 88/1 As sure as eggs is eggs, they'll either say ‘yes’ or get very excited and splutter something like ‘phwooor, not much!’
h. colloquial (originally U.S., frequently ironic). With a preceding adjective, infinitive verb, or noun phrase, forming an elliptical comment or question.The use was popularized by the film Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and the television series derived from it.
ΚΠ
1978 Saturday Night Live (transcript of TV programme) in www.languageandhumor.com (O.E.D. Archive) Todd (points at Lisa’s chest and mock laughs to a pretend audience): Underdeveloped much?
1980 R. L. Forward Dragon's Egg 79 'Do you realize that..I am going to be getting more in royalties from children's books than I will in salary for being a space scientist?' 'Well, none of us are jealous—much!' Jean said.
1988 D. Waters Heathers (film script) (O.E.D. Archive) 15 God Veronica, drool much? His name's Jason Dean.
1992 J. Whedon Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film script) (O.E.D. Archive) 8 A stranger, walking the other way, bumps into Buffy, doesn't stop... Buffy. Excuse much! Not rude or anything.
1992 J. Whedon Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film script) (O.E.D. Archive) 25 Pike and Benny have entered the diner, quite drunk... Kimberly (to the other girls) Smell of booze much.
1998 M. Burgess & R. Green Isabella (HBO TV shooting script) 42 in Sopranos 1st Ser. (O.E.D. Archive) Anthony Jr. Probably I can't go to that dance now either. Meadow. God, self-involved much?
2000 Buffy the Vampire Slayer in M. Adams Slayer Slang (2003) iii. 93 [referring to repeated apologies] Broken record much?
2001 Cosmopolitan Dec. 178 You've seen them: the kinds of couples who finish each other's sentences... Jealous much? Damn right.
2. Modified by adverbs of degree, as as much, how much, that much, too much, expressing degree in the abstract, without the necessary implication of a high degree. so much: see so adv. and conj. 39. this much: see this adv. Phrases. thus much: see thus adv. 3. Cf. senses A. 4, C. 2a.For idiomatic uses of these expressions, see the first element.
ΚΠ
c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) l. 372 He wille..Honure þe so muche so he may.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4853 Þanne viȝteþ hii aȝen vs as moche as is hor miȝte.
1598 R. Haydocke tr. G. P. Lomazzo Tracte Artes Paintinge ii. 13 To obserue, how much any one humor aboundeth in the body.
1713 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 22 Feb. (1948) II. 625 Miss is recovering [from smallpox], I know not how much she will be marked.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. i. 5 Thy strong-muscled bony face was as much admired by thy mother, as if it had been the face of a Lovelace.
1854 E. Ronalds & T. Richardson Knapp's Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 292 The short pipes v are consequently allowed to project about that much above the level of the plate, while their lower extremities dip into shallow cups which remain filled with liquid.
1989 Blitz Jan. 98/1 How much are your films about you?
3. Pretty nearly, approximately. Chiefly in expressions denoting similarity, as much as, †much at one, much of an age, much of a size, much of a piece. See also much of a muchness at muchness n. 4. Cf. much about at about adv., prep.1, adj., and int. Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > closeness to accuracy > [adverb]
much1560
nearly1594
muchwhat1619
nigh about1632
closely1682
roughly1768
close1833
approximatively1835
proximately1839
in the rough1841
approximately1845
along1852
nearbouta1857
in a sort of (sorta) way1868
in the (right) ballpark1945
grosso modo1952
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > equality [phrase] > equal
of a rate1542
much at one1686
on a par1726
much of a muchness1728
much of a piece1741
up to ——1809
honours even1864
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cciij Moche aboute thys same tyme.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) Pref. to Rdr. I heare saie, you haue a sonne, moch of his age.
1683 J. Poyntz Present Prospect Tobago 9 The Mamme Apple grows to the Magnitude of a Pound Pear... Then there's the Mamme Supporter, much of the same Nature with the former.
1686 J. S. Hist. Monastical Convent. 100 The word Allon, which is much at one with Allons in French.
a1699 W. Temple Ess. Health & Long Life in Wks. (1720) I. 257 All of them left the World much as they found it.
1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. F. Dedekind Grobianus 136 Old Men are much at one.
1741 Countess of Pomfret in Countess of Hartford & Countess of Pomfret Corr. (1805) II. 256 The siege and the soldiers are much of a piece with the fire.
1763 L. Scrafton Refl. Govt. Indostan 59 He marched against his relation..who was much such a giddy abandoned youth as himself.
1824 W. Carr Horæ Momenta Cravenæ 10 Shoe hods mitch at you like.
1859 W. Collins in All Year Round 13 Dec. 24 I..lose myself in my memory now, much as I lost myself in my own feelings at the time.
1884 J. G. Bourke Snake Dance Moquis xv He sprinkled water upon the ground, very much as a Catholic priest would asperse his congregation.
1915 V. Woolf Voy. Out ix. 124 [It] made his life strange at many points where his friends' lives were much of a piece.
1964 H. Hodges Artifacts i. 33 The clay may be applied in a fairly fluid form using for the purpose a container with a nozzle, much as a cake is iced by bakers.
1975 D. H. Strutt Fashion in S. Afr. 349 A Durban mother dressed her young African umfaan very much as she dressed her sons.
4. Often, long, for a large part of one's time. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1671 J. Caryll Sir Salomon ii. 31 This little Betty is so much in my head, and (I'm afraid) in my heart too.
1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar iii. ii. 36 You pine, you languish, love to be alone; Think much, speak little; and, in speaking, sigh.
1798 J. Baillie Tryal v. ii, in Series Plays Stronger Passions I. 286 I have been pretty much with him these two days past, and I don't believe he gives me great thanks for my company.
1839 C. Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) I. 300 Read little, was much unwell, and scandalously idle.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. xv. 234 I resolved to mention a thought concerning them that had been much in my head.
1908 N.E.D. (at cited word) I have not been much away from home of late.
C. pron. and n.The word never completely assumes the character of a noun; in sense A. 1 it can be modified by adverbs like very, rather, and (unlike little) it very rarely takes the indefinite article.
1.
a. A great deal, a great quantity. Also (Proverb) much will have more.to make much of: see make v.1 12c, 29a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > (a) great quantity or amount
felec825
muchc1230
good wone1297
plentyc1300
bushelc1374
sight1390
mickle-whata1393
forcea1400
manynessa1400
multitudea1400
packc1400
a good dealc1430
greata1450
sackful1484
power1489
horseloadc1500
mile1508
lump1523
a deal?1532
peckc1535
heapa1547
mass1566
mass1569
gallon1575
armful1579
cart-load1587
mickle1599
bushelful1600–12
a load1609
wreck1612
parisha1616
herd1618
fair share1650
heapa1661
muchness1674
reams1681
hantle1693
mort1694
doll?1719
lift1755
acre1759
beaucoup1760
ton1770
boxload1795
boatload1807
lot1811
dollop1819
swag1819
faggald1824
screed1826
Niagara1828
wad1828
lashings1829
butt1831
slew1839
ocean1840
any amount (of)1848
rake1851
slather1857
horde1860
torrent1864
sheaf1865
oodlesa1867
dead load1869
scad1869
stack1870
jorum1872
a heap sight1874
firlot1883
oodlings1886
chunka1889
whips1888
God's quantity1895
streetful1901
bag1917
fid1920
fleetful1923
mob1927
bucketload1930
pisspot1944
shitload1954
megaton1957
mob-o-ton1975
gazillion1978
buttload1988
shit ton1991
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 207 Her nabbe ich þe nawt muches [a1250 Nero mucheles] to ȝelden.
a1350 ( in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 16 Muche haþ scotlond forlore..Ant lutel pris wonne.
c1390 in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 525 Ȝif þou haue muchel, muche ȝiue also; Ȝif þou haue nouȝt, muche þou schalt ȝiue.
a1400 in K. W. Engeroff Untersuchung ‘Usages of Winchester’ (1914) 64 To þe clerk a peny ȝif he selleþ meche by ȝere.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 74 I wylle not say moche nor al.
1582 R. Mulcaster 1st Pt. Elementarie iii I haue said much allredie concerning this choice.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke ii. 70 But the common Prouerb is in me verified, that much would haue more.
1615 W. Lawson Country Housewifes Garden (1626) 5 Much will haue more: and once poore, seldome or neuer rich.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 61 He misses not much.
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) 89 He that doth much in a short life products his mortality.
1710 Tatler No. 241. ⁋1 He who drinks much is a Slave to himself.
1758 B. Franklin Poor Richard's Almanack 9 'Tis true there is much to be done.
1778 P. Cortland Let. 15 Nov. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 275 It being too far advanced in the Season to attempt doing much in the Expidition way this Fall.
1814 Ld. Byron Lara i. xvii. 290 In him inexplicably appeared Much to be loved and hated, sought and feared.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 169 He bestowed much; yet he neither enjoyed the pleasure nor acquired the fame of beneficence.
1885 Times 25 May 10 Much is due to the prejudices of well-meaning but uncultured people.
1897 J. McCarthy Hist. Own Times V. 131 ‘Much will have more’, the old proverb says; but in this case..much is compelled for the sake of security to try to have more.
1908 Garden 30 May 263/3 Much has been done in the way of improving the Schizanthus.
1929 J. S. Fletcher Ransom for London (N.Y. ed.) i. iv. 167 Why should ten millions satisfy these people?.. There is an old adage to the effect that much wants more.
1955 Times 30 June 17/3 The grant-in-aid..has done much to encourage the realization of these various plans.
2001 Baptist Times 15 Mar. 10/6 It should be possible for a young person to..learn a great deal as well as contribute much.
b. A large amount of, a large number of people; the larger, or a considerable, part or fraction of; a good deal of.The construction in which of is followed by an abstract noun without a determiner is not uncommon from the 17th to the 19th centuries, but is now archaic.
ΚΠ
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1212 (MED) Ich at chirche come ilome An muche leorni of wisdome.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) Prol. 325 (MED) He lefte moche be-hynde Of the story.
c1475 (?c1400) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 438 (MED) Siche apostataes marren meche of Cristis ordre.
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 107 (MED) The paynemes of Affryke and the Englishmen..slough moche of the people.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 47/2 Muche of this mischiefe..myghte bee amended, with greate thank of god and no breache of the priueledge.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 38 The French king..lost muche of his people.
1574 T. Newton tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes 46 They loose muche of their toughe clamminesse and glewish humoure.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. xxii. 187 There is much of that wood which they call Lignum sanctum,..fit to cure the pox.
1655 tr. C. Sorel Comical Hist. Francion xii. 29 There must be much of Malice in his accusation.
1687 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 238 Dr. Dolbein..did read much of his sermon before the king.
1704 I. Newton Opticks i. i. 75 This Circle by being placed here, stopt much of the erroneous Light.
a1761 J. Cawthorn Poems (1771) 215 Pythagoras..With much of thought, and pains, and care, Found [etc.].
1780 Mirror No. 89 Much of the employment a shop~keeper gets, is owing to the attraction of a happy-fancied sign, advertisement, or shop-bill.
1808 W. Scott Misc. Prose Wks. (1870) IV. 35 She had lost much of the lightness of her figure.
1833 Q. Rev. 49 72 Much of their time was employed in unteaching them to read.
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest IV. xvii. 83 There was room for much of thoughtful consultation.
1902 Settler's Handbk. N.Z. 6 The Natives still own about 20,000 acres, but not much of it is fit for settlement.
1940 Economist 11 May 863/1 Much of the apparent speculation taking place in markets..is, in fact, justifiable hedging.
1987 W. Hagelund Whalers no More ii. 23 The old timbers holding the station above the muskeg that covered much of the rockbound island.
c. In predicative use, frequently with infinitive or clause as object complement: an important point, matter, etc. Chiefly in phrases: to think (it) much (see think v.2 13e). not to be much to look at: to be of insignificant or unattractive appearance. a bit much (see bit n.2 and adj.2 Phrases 2b(b)); similarly a little much, a trifle much, rather much.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > unattractive [phrase]
not to be much to look at1861
to have a face like a bag of spanners1976
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > excessively [phrase] > that which is excessive
too much of a good thinga1616
a bit thick1884
a trifle much1930
c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 150 Sinful men, Þat þinkeþ it were muche for hem To haue gret worldes honour.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 301 They thought it much if they coulde bring the French King..in safetie to Burdeaux.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 253 Thou..thinkst it much to tread ye Ooze Of the salt deepe. View more context for this quotation
1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden viii. 25 For men not knowing..this secret of needfull distance,..thinke much to pull vp any [trees], though they pine one another.
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 234 It was also much, that one that was so great a Louer of Peace should bee so happy in Warre.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 219 He..thought not much to cloath his Enemies. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Tillotson Serm. i. 30 It is much, if Men were from eternity, that they should not find out the way of Writing in all that long long duration which had past before that Time.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Wife of Bathe's Tale in Fables 482 The Ladies..thought it much a Man should die for Love. And with their Mistress join'd in close Debate.
1821 T. G. Wainewright Ess. & Crit. (1880) 194 Our historical wood-cutters have thought it much to follow..those lines ready-pencilled by the inventor on the blocks.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. v. 76 You are not much to look at.
1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 252/1 All men allow their beards, whiskers, and moustaches full growth, though none of these are much to speak of.
1904 J. London Sea-wolf xx. 192 Not that he is much to speak of now.
1911 O. Onions Widdershins 265 I too smiled... ‘It was rather much, wasn't it?’ I said.
1930 R. Lehmann Note in Music v. 200 After all, perhaps it would have been a trifle much, applied to mother.
1964 J. Symons End of Solomon Grundy i. i. 27 It's enough to break up any party. I must say I thought it was rather much.
1986 C. Bukowski You get so Alone at Times 66 Mary Lou was skinny and not much to look at.
1992 New Republic 8 June 51/1 Comparing the current political scene to tragedy is a little much.
d. by much: by a great deal; to a great extent, greatly, much. Formerly also occasionally †much by much.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > to a great extent or by far
great quantityc1330
far forthly1362
by farc1380
well awayc1390
by half?a1400
by mucha1450
far (and) away1546
by a great sort1579
to stand head and shoulders abovea1683
(by) a long way1741
by a jugful1831
by all odds1832
by a long, damn, etc., sight1834
out and away1834
(by) a long chalk1835
by chalks1835
by long chalks1835
by a street1886
a whole lot1886
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. iii. 349 (MED) Þe soule þat þe sonde taketh bi so moche is bounde.]
a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 1517 (MED) A-bregge hys penaunce þen by myche.
1536 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) II. 16 Whiche his grace will neyther by moche seke ne yet refuse if it be put unto him.
1603 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues (new ed.) 749 Cæsar caried it by much.
1609 G. Markham Famous Whore 9 Good priest he vsed me much by much too well.
1622 T. Gataker Spirituall Watch (ed. 2) 87 [Death] is neerer by much many times then we are aware of.
a1635 T. Randolph Muses Looking-glasse iv. i. 64 in Poems (1638) Shee hath made this cheek By much too pale.
a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 46 Now my shippe outsayled all my fleete by much.
1710 D. Hilman Tusser Rediv. Sept. (1744) 119 Sedge Collars [for plough-horses] are by much the lightest and coolest.
1793 Minstrel III. 185 The third, by much the least hardened,..was struck with remorse.
1829 R. Mudie Picture of Austral. 131 Eucalyptus robusta is by much the largest of the species.
1877 S. Powers Contrib. N. Amer. Ethnol. III. 346 By much the largest nation in California, both in population and in extent of territory, is the Miwok.
1948 G. H. Johnston Death takes Small Bites vii. 159 He couldn't have been any great shakes as a driver because he didn't beat you by much.
1991 Inside Sports Feb. 31/1 Lind somehow survived Sabo's crash-slide, but not by much.
e. Chiefly literary. With the or another determiner, esp. a possessive adjective. The great quantity or amount of something referred to in a specific context. (In quot. 1913 with reference to a person's character or qualities.) Now rare.
ΚΠ
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 631 Therefore the French aucthors make of a litle, much, and yet their much, (all things consydered) is in effect nothing at all.
1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Exam. Mens Wits i. 11 Our vnderstanding is not filled by the much which we read in little time.
1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour i. i. sig. B3 Pitty Of the much that your confederate hath suffer'd.
1646 H. Peake Medit. upon Seige 69 How apt are they to boast the little they have done, whilst they utterly forget the much that is behinde?
1700 J. Dryden tr. Homer 1st Bk. Ilias in Fables 198 Nor grudge I thee, the much the Grecians give; Nor murm'ring take the little I receive.
1778 E. Burke Corr. (1844) II. 247 If I, or mine, can contribute our mite, or our much,..we shall not omit to serve you.
1804 ‘E. de Acton’ Tale without Title III. 190 Every one endeavoured to say something of the much with which his heart was filled.
1867 G. Meredith Vittoria II. xxxi. 285 The much which hangs on little was then set in motion.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers i. 16 She could not be content with the little he might be; she would have him the much that he ought to be.
f. In negative or interrogative context: any great amount, anything important. not up to much: weak, tired, incapable; poor in quality, second-rate.
ΚΠ
1748 B. Franklin Let. June in Writings (1987) 436 Two of Benny's letters of complaint, which, as you observe, do not amount to much.
1847 A. Brontë Agnes Grey xvii. 251 I paid more attention to dress than ever I had done before..this is not saying much, for hitherto I had been a little neglectful in that particular.
1858 R. M. Ballantyne Coral Island xxvii. 334 I don't feel up to much just now.
1876 W. S. Gilbert Princess Toto ii. 32 Our Brigands are not up to much. They're a very weedy lot.
1925 V. Woolf Mrs. Dalloway v. 157 The difference between one man and another does not amount to much.
1948 A. Christie Taken at Flood i. xvi. 95 I know service isn't up to much nowadays—but I still think they run a mop under the furniture.
1988 Which? Dec. 582/1 Some of you have been put off because you thought the quality of the wine wouldn't be up to much.
g. An outstanding example of a type of person, quality, etc. Only in negative or interrogative contexts except in U.S. regional (southern) use. Frequently depreciative.
ΚΠ
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xiii. 183 ‘Was there a fight?’ ‘Not much of a fight—only a bit of a skrummage—three crowner's inquests, no more.’
1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol iii. 108 What's the consequence? He don't lose much of a dinner.
1889 J. K. Jerome Three Men in Boat 114 You don't look for much of a voice in a comic song.
1902 O. Wister Virginian ii. 16 It was not much of a toilet that I made in the first wash-trough of my experience, but it had to suffice.
1939 R. Chandler Big Sleep iii. 29 You're not much of a gusher, are you, Mr. Marlowe?
1940 J. Stuart Trees of Heaven 254 He can lick three men his size. Anse is a much of a man.
1965 L. F. Wills Pioneer Boatman tells of Okeechobee Boats 145 Now there was much of a man, standing six feet two, with shoulders like a cargo hatch.
1980 A. Tyler Morgan's Passing iv. i. 98 Bonny wasn't much of a cook. She leaned heavily on sherry.
h. ironic. Placed at the head of a clause: nothing, little. Cf. sense A. 2g, a fat lot at fat adj. 10c.
ΚΠ
1849 C. Dickens David Copperfield (1850) i. 6 Much he knew about it himself!
1864 C. M. Yonge Trial I. 65 Much you know of hills, you level landers!
1888 T. Hardy Distracted Preacher in Wessex Tales II. 122 You yawned—much my company is to you!
1908 N.E.D. (at cited word) Much you know about the matter!
2.
a. In noun phrases expressing quantity in the abstract (without the necessary implication of a large quantity), formed from adverbially modified uses of the adjective, as as much, how much, that much, too much. so much: see so adv. and conj. 39. this much: see this adv. Phrases. thus much: see thus adv. 3. Cf. senses A. 2b, B. 2.For idiomatic uses of these expressions, see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > [phrase] > as much (as)
as muchc1300
as well asc1300
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2342 (MED) Þere was..of wyn..Rith al so mik and gret plente So it were water of þe se.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 190 (MED) He clepede his spendere and him acsede hou moche he hedde y-yeue to þe kniȝte.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. iii. 140 Heo may as muche do In a Mooneþ ones, As [ȝoure] secre seal In Seuen score dayes.
1582 Bible (Rheims) Luke xix. 15 How much every man had gained by occupying.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. D6v That such a thing cost them so much, & so much, and it is woorth this much, and that much.
1797 Encycl. Brit. I. 276/1 One sward-cutter will cut as much in one day as six ploughs will plough.
1889 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 4 24 Mixed agriculture, properly directed, returns to the soil as much as it takes therefrom.
1988 A. Lurie Truth about Lorin Jones vi. 105 People don't mean that much to Laura.
1995 Accountancy Nov. 72/2 For instance, we could compare how much it costs to process a client in different parts of the business.
†b. (a) like (also †ylike) much: the same amount, an equal quantity; an equivalence. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?a1425 (?1373) Lelamour Herbal (1938) f. 67 (MED) Stampe hym and marche like myche to-gedir.
c1450 Med. Recipes (BL Add. 33996) in F. Heinrich Mittelengl. Medizinbuch (1896) 178 (MED) Tak a potel of lyf-hony..& do hyt to þy lycour, so þat þou haue of boþe lyche meche.
?a1500 in G. Henslow Med. Wks. 14th Cent. (1899) 8 (MED) Take blac mynte and wos of the rewe, of boþe y-lych moche.
?1543 T. Phaer tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe ii. f. viv Take litharge of syluer, and brymstone, of eche lyke moche, and seeth them.
?1543 T. Phaer tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe xi. f. lxiiiiv Of euerye one a lyke moche.
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie xliv Dishonest woordes ech part of other, Do speake a like much: which showth like dishonestee, In both these parts.
†3. Great, powerful, or high-born people collectively. Chiefly in much and lite, much and little: all people without exception. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > people collectively > [noun] > all people
all the worldOE
all ledea1275
more and minc1275
most and leasta1300
much and litec1330
mo and lessc1426
the whole world1530
cut and long tail1576
universal1596
general1604
universality1606
university1677
all outdoors1833
John Q.1937
c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 1127 He let of sende moche and lite, Hise neyebours to visite.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 494 He ne lafte nat..to visite The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 23154 Wite ȝe for-soþ al þat is suche sal be dampned litel & muche.
c1500 in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 140 The moche of the lytyll taketh oft shame.

Compounds

C1. Objective compounds of the noun, as much-containing, much-devouring, much-enduring, much-suffering, etc., adjs.
ΚΠ
c1454 R. Pecock Folewer to Donet 55 (MED) In comune speche it is vsid forto be seid of a ful mych kunnyng geometrer þat he is a wise geometrer.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiii. 322 Then the-much-suffering-man.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. viii. 172 A..much-enduring man.
1828 E. B. Pusey Hist. Enq. Rationalist Char. I. i. 156 In his concise but deep and much-containing essay.
1873 H. W. Longfellow Interlude in Aftermath i. 34 Wood, To feed the much-devouring fire.
1904 H. James Golden Bowl II. iv. i There was now in this much-thinking little person's state of mind no mere crudity of impatience.
c1951 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. (1981) 161 I do not feel much can now be done to heal the faults of this large and much-embracing tale.
C2. Compounds of the adverb.
a. With past participles (virtually unlimited in number).
much-abused adj.
ΚΠ
1675 Bp. G. Burnet Royal Martyr 5 Among the much-abused words of the late time were Incendiary and Incendiarism.
1680 J. Chamberlaine Sacred Poem i. 24 As Jesus was Teaching aright the much abused Laws Unto the People.
1879 W. James Coll. Ess. & Rev. (1920) 95 The much-abused subject of mental physiology.
1936 Discovery Dec. 382/1 The much abused engine..gave out utterly.
1999 Current Anthropol. 40 s83/1 The much-abused Descartes.
much-admired adj.
ΚΠ
1595 E. C. Emaricdulfe vii Ile sacrifice my richest treasure Vnto thy name and much admired honour.
1800 C. Anstey Contentment 14 Mrs. Hannah More: the Author of..the much admired Strictures on Female Education.
1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 23 Feb. 75/1 The next big price was 3,000gs paid by exporter Mr. James Schofield for Westdrums Winson, Messrs. Boots' much-admired reserve best two-year-old.
1996 H. Carruth Scrambled Eggs & Whiskey 54 The much admired Dead-blue sky.
much-beloved adj.
ΚΠ
1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion xvi. 252 To much beloued Lee, this scarcely Sturt had spoke.
1922 T. Hardy Late Lyrics & Earlier 152 My much-beloved grand semibreves went living on.
1996 Jrnl. Econ. Perspectives 10 185 Economists do not behave in a manner that is consistent with their much-beloved model of homo economicus.
much-branched adj.
ΚΠ
1824 D. Douglas Jrnl. 10–11 Aug. (1914) 81 One with large and much-branched bunches with large and globular white berries.
1830 Withering's Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 7) IV. 98 Much-branched Pedunculated Fucus.
1927 J. B. S. Haldane & J. S. Huxley Animal Biol. i. 35 Most glands..are many-celled tubes or pockets of epithelium, either unbranched or slightly branched..or much-branched like the liver or salivary gland.
1995 Internat. Jrnl. Plant Sci. 156 903 (caption) Diagram of much-branched vegetative specimen.
much-criticized adj.
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1887 Mind 12 556 The much-criticised Newtonian canon.
1915 A. H. Shaw Story of Pioneer xv. 321 The much-criticized and chastened writer of these reminiscences.
1970 T. J. Ross Film & Liberal Arts 148 The much-criticized woodenness of her playing is of small matter.
1996 Jrnl. Econ. Lit. 34 649 Britain's much-criticized decision to try to restore its prewar mint parity.
much-debated adj.
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1843 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic I. 9 To this science [sc. metaphysics] appertain the great and much debated questions of the existence of matter.
1956 Nature 11 Feb. 262/2 The whole of the much-debated line up Borrowdale.
1999 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 71 216 The much-debated significance of the French Revolution.
much-discussed adj.
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1654 J. Horn Διατριβὴ περὶ Παιδο-βαπτισμου̃ To Rdr. sig. A2 I propound unto your consideration this ensuing Discourse upon this much-discussed point of Infant Baptism.
1873 A. Dobson Vignettes in Rhyme 128 To know how I shall really bear This much-discussed rejection, I answer you.
1997 Amer. Econ. Rev. 87 343 The much-discussed productivity slowdown.
much-dreaded adj.
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1700 R. Blackmore Paraphr. Job 215 How will thy once much dreaded Name..be despis'd By all the Nations of th' Uncircumcis'd?
1865 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 150 You may trust Your footing now to the much-dreaded dust.
1998 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 70 580 In a period of peace, Nikolaev could hope to achieve emancipation without risking much-dreaded conscription.
much-examined adj.
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1879 T. H. Huxley Hume i. 56 This full-crammed and much-examined generation.
1994 Amer. Naturalist 144 s14 The much-examined Hamilton-Zuk proposition.
much-galleried adj.
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1873 W. D. Howells Chance Acquaintance i. 18 A much-galleried hotel.
† much-known adj. Obsolete
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1604 J. Marston Malcontent ii. v. sig. D3v Before he casts a plot, Or further blaze my honours much knowne blot.
much-loved adj.
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1639 L. Carlell Arviragus & Philicia I. iii Their Generall, th' much loved Arviragus.
1786 R. Burns Cotter's Sat. Night xx, in Poems & Songs (1968) I. 151 A virtuous Populace may rise the while, And stand a wall of fire, around their much-lov'd Isle.
1867 J. Ingelow Story of Doom v. 78 Blue as the much-loved flower that rims the beck.
1997 S. Hill Violet 66 It was a much-loved dog.
much-maligned adj.
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1846 W. M. Thackeray Notes Journey Cornhill to Cairo vii. 120 If he melts at his daughter's agony, he is a man and a father. There are men and fathers too in the much-maligned orient.
1928 E. Waugh Decline & Fall ii. vi. 208 ‘To Fortune,’ he said, ‘a much-maligned lady!’
1994 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 9 Jan. 1/3 But now four sympathetic authors come mightily to the defense of the much-maligned Generation X.
much-needed adj.
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1824–5 J. F. Cooper Lionel Lincoln I. xi. 180 Until the much-needed repast was ended.
1886 E. G. White Notes of Trav. in Hist. Sketches Seventh-Day Adventists 236/1 We might obtain a little much-needed rest.
1936 Burlington Mag. Apr. 202/2 It is a pity not to have given the Birth of Venus..a much-needed rest.
1964 Ann. Reg. 1963 229 The United States and Canada traditionally supplied much-needed grain.
much-quoted adj.
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1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt III. xxxviii. 72 The much-quoted Gallio.
1927 Mod. Philol. Nov. 224 The much-quoted example..does not illustrate sound change.
1996 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 101 1175 A much-quoted story about Harding's fabled ignorance of economics.
much-travelled adj.
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a1862 H. D. Thoreau Maine Woods (1864) iii. 278 You come back with the air of a much-travelled man.
1928 C. Singer From Magic to Sci. i. 12 This erudite and much travelled man exhibits great industry.
2000 A. Stevenson Granny Scarecrow 27 Much travelled, valuable, voluble Clyde.
much-troubled adj.
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a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. ii. 73 A much troubled brest. View more context for this quotation
1832 E. Brydges Lake of Geneva 37 After sickness Of more than four much-troubled years.
1976 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 81 145/1 The much-troubled central organization of the British military establishment.
2000 Driving Mag. Mar. 40/1 The much-troubled bookings service.
much-used adj.
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1653 Mercurius Democritus No. 70. 558 They had the skill to bring into subjection, The Fiends of Hell by their much us'd suggestion.
1810 S. Green Romance Readers i. 11 The dirty, much-used, marblepaper cover of the volume he had just thrown down.
1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xviii. 58 In one it [sc. cerebral injury] will throw a much-used brain-tract out of gear; in the other it may affect an unimportant region.
1994 H. Dunmore Recovering Body 33 You are eight millimetres long and pulsing, bright in the centre of my much-used womb.
much-valued adj.
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1650 L. Lawrence Epithalamium 1 Consecrated to the honoured fame of His much valued Friends, Mr. Abraham Cullen, and Mrs. Abigail Rushout.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1756 I. 176 His much valued friend.
1993 Demography 30 243 Location is a much-valued and guarded resource.
much-vaunted adj.
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1807 W. H. Ireland Stultifera Navis xxxii. 134 As to the much vaunted music of a pack, it may do very well for gentlemen.
1939 W. S. Churchill Into Battle (1941) 150 The magnetic mine..may perhaps be Herr Hitler's much vaunted secret weapon.
1974 Times 9 Dec. 12/2 Mr Tanaka rashly published his much vaunted plan for decentralizing industry.
b. With adjectives composed of a past participle and a preposition, based on verbs in the prepositional passive.
much-longed-for adj.
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1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina 13 They began to descry the top of the much longed-for Castle.
1878 G. Barlow Marriage before Death 7 If I should give thee this much longed for flower, Wilt thou believe in God?
1902 Sporting News (Launceston, Tasmania) 25 Oct. 3/3 At last got the much-longed for ‘skinner’ on a big race.
1998 Pi Mag. (Univ. Coll. London Union) Nov. 2 (advt.) Early menopause means that I cannot conceive a much longed-for baby. We desperately need a kind woman to anonymously donate eggs.
much-sought-after adj.
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1892 Jrnl. (Grahamstown, S. Afr.) 11 July 1/2 (advt.) The Veld consists of much-sought-after Karoo.., with Mimosas in the valley.
1957 C. W. Mankowitz & R. G. Haggar Conc. Encycl. Eng. Pottery & Porcelain 78/2 A much sought after variety of Swansea soft-paste porcelain.
1998 USA Today (Electronic ed.) 15 June ‘Soccer moms’ have become a much sought after demographic by both politicians and marketers.
much-talked-about adj.
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1875 Ld. Neaves Songs & Verses (ed. 4) 101 A certain much-talked-about Major Had very near found to his cost.
1928 Manch. Guardian Weekly 7 Sept. 184/3 A striking proof of the reality and significance of the much-talked-about new entente.
1997 Esquire Feb. 26/1 The book includes his much-talked-about cruise ship satire of the same title.
much-talked-of adj.
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1645 R. Baillie Let. 25 Apr. (1841) II. 267 The much-talked of weakness of our army.
1773 Ann. Reg. 1772 69 Last night was opened..the much-talked-of receptacle of fashionable pleasure, The Pantheon, to a crouded company.
1876 E. R. Lankester tr. E. Haeckel Hist. Creation I. i. 19 This ‘purposiveness’ no more exists than the much-talked-of ‘beneficence’ of the Creator.
1912 ‘Saki’ Chron. Clovis 196 The County..mustered in full strength to witness the much-talked-of production.
1969 E. Wilson Jrnl. 11 May in Sixties: Late Jrnl. (1993) 795 Glyn..ties up the general disquietude with the much talked-of ‘identity’ problem.
c. With adjectives composed of to be and a past participle, as much-to-be-admired, much-to-be-lamented, much-to-be-pitied, etc., adjs.
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1656 in R. Fletcher Poems in Ex Otio Negotium 231 (title) On the much to be lamented death of that gallant antiquary and great master both of law and learning, John Selden Esquire.
a1661 W. Brereton Trav. (1844) 175 Although there be many grafts of the old thorn engrafted, yet all (save this) degenerate from this much-to-be-admired budding and blossoming at this time.
1820 R. Southey Life Wesley I. 180 This so much-to-be-admired eternal Providence.
1859 Harper's Mag. Feb. 342/1 Mrs. Beebe is probably alone in her much-to-be-lamented duplicity.
1883 H. James in Partial Portraits (1888) The much-to-be-pitied Lady Mason.
1898 T. Haydon Sporting Reminisc. 105 A most marked and much-to-be-admired characteristic of our friends.
1959 M. Gilbert Blood & Judgement (1974) xi. 113 The much-to-be-preferred atmosphere of Queen's Bench.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

muchv.

Brit. /mʌtʃ/, U.S. /mətʃ/, Caribbean English /mʌtʃ/
Forms: 1600s– much; English regional 1800s– mutch, 1900s– mooch, 1900s– mouch.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: much pron. and n.
Etymology: < much pron. and n.
Now chiefly U.S. regional and Caribbean.
transitive. To make much of; to behave affectionately towards; spec. to seek to win over (a dog) by friendly talk and gestures. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > affection > [verb (transitive)] > treat or behave affectionately
to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395
to make of (also on)1601
much1640
endear1683
to be sweet on (upon)1694
to be all over (a person)1912
1640 J. Mabbe tr. M. de Cervantes Exemplarie Novells vi. 316 She came unto him, and laying her face to his, muching him with strickt embracements, shee sayd unto him, what ayl'st thou sweet-heart?
c1736 S. Pegge Alphabet of Kenticisms (1876) (at cited word) To much a child, to fondle it when it is peevish.
1773 H. Walpole Let. 7 Oct. (1965) XXXII. 154 Our hostess much'd him as Mrs Quickly does Falstaff.
1848 J. R. Lowell Fable for Critics (ed. 2) 59 As soon as she's touched it, And, (to borrow a phrase from the nursery,) muched it.
1868 S. Hale Lett. (1919) 60 They all ‘muched’ me and I was a heroine.
1896 J. C. Harris Sister Jane 143 Man wid black beard come 'long, take de chil' in he arms an' much 'im.
1913 H. Kephart in B. A. Botkin Treasury Southern Folklore (1949) iv. iii. 685 Much that dog and see won't he come along.
1931 Sat. Evening Post 20 June 9 The old boy would enjoy it. He likes being muched over.
1939 Sun (Baltimore) 19 Jan. 10/3 It is the mark of a good watchdog..that he can't be muched by any passer-by, but only by persons of rare talent.
1944 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. ii. 47 I muched the dogs up, and they got so they'd follow me.
1960 V. Williams Walk Egypt 257 Toy told her, ‘Well, much it, see won't it come.’ Both children squatted and extended puckered fingers in the age-old wooing. ‘Come on, puppy. Come on.’
1990 Callaloo 13 4 He came muching her up behind his wife's back.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.adv.pron.n.a1154v.1640
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