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multum

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word multum

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables
Ultimate origin
Proto-Italic (*molto-)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈmʊɫ.tũː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈmul.tum][1]

Forms

multum (comparative plūs, superlative plūrimum)[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of multus “much, many”, used as a noun and as an adverb.[2][1] De Vaan derives ⟨multus⟩ from Proto-Italic *molto- and compares Ancient Greek μάλα (mála, “very”), but calls the further etymology weak.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from the Twelve Tables;[4] Plautus has multum amō tē, “I love you very much”.[2]

Semantic evolution

As a noun multum is “much, a large amount”, especially with a partitive genitive.[2] As an adverb it means “greatly, much” with verbs, “very” with adjectives (vir multum bonus “a very good man”), and “far, by much” with comparatives, like multō.[2][1] Ut multum means “at most”.[2] Its comparative is plūs and its superlative plūrimum.[2][1]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – Used in the Twelve Tables.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: mulier, multum et audāx et mala's, “woman, you are very bold and wicked”.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: vir multum bonus.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. much, greatly, a lot.[2][1][5]
  2. (with adjectives) very.[2][1]
  3. (with comparatives) Far, by much.[2]
  4. ut multum, at most.[2]
  5. Long, often.[5]

Noun

  1. Much, a large amount.[2]

Word family

  • multipotens

Usage notes

Döderlein says that valdē, admodum and multum simply strengthen a word, while perquam expresses an extraordinary degree with a note of astonishment.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
Cite this entry

“Multum.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/multum. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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