Factsheet
What does the word much mean?
There are 41 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word much, ten of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
How common is the word much?
About 500occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word much pronounced?
British English
/mʌtʃ/
mutch
U.S. English
/mətʃ/
mutch
See pronunciation
Where does the word much come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word much is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for much is from before 1154.
much is formed within English, by clipping or shortening.
Etymons: muckle adj.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- Mu'allaqat, n.1772–
- muance, n.1480–89
- muant, adj.c1460
- Muay Thai, n.1959–
- mubble fubbles, n.1589–1654
- mucage, n.1657
- mucaginous, adj.1657–1806
- mucate, n.1815–
- mucedin, n.1871–
- mucedinous, adj.1854–
- much, adj., adv., pron., n.a1154–
- much, v.1640–
- muchacha, n.1811–
- muchacho, n.1591–
- muchalka, n.1679–
- muchee, adj.1722–
- muchet, n.1601
- muchfold, adj.c1384–1532
- much good, n.1597–1728
- muchhead, n.a1425
- muchity, n.1534–1621
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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