Mul"ti*tude (?), n. [F.
multitude, L. multitudo, multitudinis, fr.
multus much, many; of unknown origin.] 1.
A great number of persons collected together; a numerous
collection of persons; a crowd; an assembly.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved
with compassion on them.
Matt. ix. 36.
2. A great number of persons or things,
regarded collectively; as, the book will be read by a
multitude of people; the multitude of stars; a
multitude of cares.
It is a fault in a multitude of preachers, that
they utterly neglect method in their harangues.
I.
Watts.
A multitude of flowers
As countless as the stars on high.
Longfellow.
3. The state of being many;
numerousness.
They came as grasshoppers for
multitude.
Judg. vi. 5.
The multitude, the populace; the mass of
men.
Syn. -- Throng; crowd; assembly; assemblage; commonalty;
swarm; populace; vulgar. See Throng.