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."
There has been a plethora of plays in recent years whose claim to modernity is based on indicated rather than felt emotion. Arthur Miller, Harper's, March 1999The plethora of short-lived ceasefires in the Balkans and the Caucasus constitute proof that we are no longer in a world where the old rules of state warfare apply. Robert D. Kaplan, Atlantic, February 1994… served at the long plank table in the banquet hut, amid a plethora of toasts to progress, amity, and the overthrow of imperialism—the meal passed in a blur. John Updike, Trust Me, (1962) 1987In their view, there are the very few hard-pressed good guys losing the landscape to a plethora of bad guys. Carol Bly, Letters from the Country, 1981 A plethora of books have been written on the subject. a biology textbook that is helpfully illustrated with a plethora of excellent illustrations See More
Recent Examples on the WebThere are no refrigerators in the gourmet food section, but that doesn't stop World Market's buyers from providing customers with a plethora of meat and fish products. Lauren Mcdowell, Chron, 13 Sep. 2022 The barriers to entry are also lower for apps with a plethora of offerings such as MyFitnessPal, Libra and Happy Scale that employ a freemium model. Spencer Jakab, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 With a plethora of talented returners across Howard County, the league is expected to be one of the deepest and most competitive in the Greater Baltimore area. Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2022 Increasingly, data’s path to value is filled with a plethora of impediments. Dave Mosley, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Surrounding you with a plethora of pixels, this 34-inch curved display comes with gaming capabilities too, including a high refresh rate and accurate colors. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 13 July 2022 In a controversy some have likened to Daily Harvest's deadly Lentil Crumbles debacle, the colorful condiment has come under fire for a plethora of possible health and safety issues. Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 25 July 2022 Namely, Wisconsin Dells, 20 minutes north, which is famed for its plethora of water parks.Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2022 Advances in chemistry and other technologies over the past century have made food more affordable and transportation more convenient and paved the way for a plethora of consumer goods. Kyle Bagenstose, USA TODAY, 18 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Greek plēthōra, literally, fullness, from plēthein to be full — more at full