Myriad



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj. 许多, 无数
• ［英］ adj. 许多, 无数 ( innumerable)
• ［记］ myria ( 许多) +d;
• ［同］ 参考: myriad-minded ( 多才多艺的)

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: Greek myriad-, myrias, from myrioi countless, ten thousand
• Date: 1555
• 1. ten thousand
• 2. a great number <a myriad of ideas>
• Usage:
  • Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it.

II. adjective

• Date: 1765
• 1. innumerable <those myriad problems>; also both numerous and diverse <myriad topics>
• 2. having innumerable aspects or elements <the myriad activity of the new land — Meridel Le Sueur>

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