English
plethora
Pronunciation
  • (RP) enPR plĕʹthərə, IPA: /ˈplɛθəɹə/, /ˈplɛðəɹə/, /plɪˈθɔːɹə/
  • (GA) enPR: plĕʹthərə, IPA: /ˈplɛθəɹə/
Noun

plethora (plural plethorae)

  1. (usually, followed by of) An excessive amount or number; an abundance.
    The menu offers a plethora of cuisines from around the world.
    • He labours under a plethora of wit and imagination.
    • 1849, Herman Melville, Redburn. His First Voyage
      I pushed my seat right up before the most insolent gazer, a short fat man, with a plethora of cravat round his neck, and fixing my gaze on his, gave him more gazes than he sent.
    • 1927, H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature (The Aftermath of Gothic Fiction)
      Meanwhile other hands had not been idle, so that above the dreary plethora of trash like Marquis von Grosse's Horrid Mysteries..., there arose many memorable weird works both in English and German.
    • 1986, Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Randy Newman, ¡Three Amigos! (film)
      Jefe: We have many beautiful piñatas for your birthday celebration, each one filled with little surprises!
      El Guapo: How many piñatas?
      Jefe: Many piñatas, many!
      El Guapo: Jefe, would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?
      Jefe: A what?
      El Guapo: A plethora.
      Jefe: Oh yes, El Guapo. You have a plethora.
      El Guapo: Jefe, what is a plethora?
      Jefe: Why, El Guapo?
      El Guapo: Well, you just told me that I had a plethora, and I would just like to know if you know what it means to have a plethora. I would not like to think that someone would tell someone else he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has no idea what it means to have a plethora.
      Jefe: El Guapo, I know that I, Jefe, do not have your superior intellect and education, but could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?
  2. (medicine, archaic) An excess of red blood cells or bodily humours.
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