- many (adj.)
- Old English monig, manig "many, many a, much," from Proto-Germanic *managaz (source also of Old Saxon manag, Swedish mången, Old Frisian manich, Dutch menig, Old High German manag, German manch, Gothic manags), from PIE *menegh- "copious" (source also of Old Church Slavonic munogu "much, many," Old Irish menicc, Welsh mynych "frequent," Old Irish magham "gift"). Pronunciation altered by influence of any (see manifold).
- many (n.)
- Old English menigu, from many (adj.). The many "the multitude" attested from 1520s. Compare also Gothic managei "multitude, crowd," Old High German managi "large number, plurality," German Menge "multitude."
