The masses; the populace: the concerns of the multitude.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin multitūdō, from multus, many; see mel-2 in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These nouns all denote a very great number of people or things. Multitude is the most general term: a multitude of reasons. Host and legion both stress impressively, sometimes countlessly large numbers: a host of ideas; a legion of complaints. Army emphasizes order and often purposeful association: an army of ants.
Mul"ti*ply\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Multiplied; p. pr. & vb. n. Multiplying.] [F. multiplier, L. multiplicare, fr. multiplex manifold. See Multitude, Complex.]1. To increase in number; to make more numerous; to add quantity to. Impunity will multiply motives to disobedience. --Ames. 2. (Math.) To add (any given number or quantity) to itself a certain number of times; to find the product of by multiplication; thus 7 multiplied by 8 produces the number 56; to multiply two numbers. See the Note under Multiplication. 3. To increase (the amount of gold or silver) by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Multiplying gear (Mach.), gear for increasing speed. Multiplying lens. (Opt.) See under Lens.
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