Word of the Day:

June 22, 2009

plethora

noun PLETH-uh-ruh

What it Means

: an excessive quantity or fullness; also : profusion

Plethora in Context

A plethora of books on the American Civil War stood out among the many titles stacked here and there in the professor's office.

More example sentences

Did You Know?

"Plethora" comes from a similar Greek word meaning "fullness." It was first used in English in the 16th century to describe a supposed medical condition marked by an excess volume of blood causing swelling and a reddish complexion. Later, the medical use of "plethora" was extended to indicate related medical conditions (such as an excess volume of bodily fluid or the red-skinned appearance of some newborns). These days, however, "plethora" is more often used in a general, non-medical sense, with the meaning "excess" or "abundance."

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