▪ I. much, a., quasi-n., and adv.
(mʌtʃ)
Forms: 3–6 muche, miche, moche, 4–6 meche, mouche, mych(e, 5–6 moch, mich, 5 mech, 6 mutch, mitch, mytch, mushe, 3– much.
[Early ME. muche, moche, meche, miche, shortened from muchel, mochel, mechel, michel: see mickle.
The shortening may have been suggested by the relation of lut to the longer form lutel (see lite and little adjs., advs., and ns.). The cause, however, may have been phonetic; another instance of the loss of l after ch seems to exist in wench, 14th c. wenche, app. from early ME. wenchel.]
A. adj.
1. = great a., in various applications. † a. with reference to size, bulk, stature. Of persons, occas.: Adult, grown up. Obs.
Surviving in certain names of English villages, as Much Burstead, Much Leighes (now Great Leighs), Much Wenlock (in 17th c. also More Wenlock). Cf. great a. 6 e.
| c 1205 Lay. 28036 Al þere muche halle rof mid hire honden heo to-droh. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 4467 A stounde sate þey by me styl And drogh furþ a moche boke. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ix. 61 A Muche Mon, me þouhte lyk to my-seluen. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 323 In þis maner þou schalt bringe in þe boon of a child wel ynow. If it be a miche man, lete him ligge adoun streiȝt. c 1450 Merlin i. 97 Antor, that hadde this childe norisshed till he was a moche man of xv yere of age, he hadde hym trewly norisshed, so that he was faire and moche. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 132 This William mad Westminster Halle: and whan he sei it first, he seide it was not half mech inow. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) I. 112 Whiche in a nother's iye can spye a lytell mote And in his owne can nat fele nor espye A moche stycke. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 38 A sheepe marke, a tar kettle, little or mitch, two pottles of tar to a pottle of pitch. |
† b. with reference to power, rank, importance, or eminence.
Obs.| c 1205 Lay. 11537 Hercne Maximian þu ært of much cunne. c 1325 Chron. Eng. (Ritson) 11 A muche mon com from Troye, y wis, Wes icleped Bruyt Sylvius. a 1400 Pistill of Susan 315 Bi þe muche god, þat most is of miht. a 1450 Myrc 1268 Any mon myche or luyte. |
† c. with reference to amount or degree.
Obs.| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 203 Þe me ledeð fram miche wowe to michele wele. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 164 Al þai wonderd strongliche, For his feirhed was so miche. 1697 J. Blair in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 15 Those Gentlemen sold themselves so much bargains of the Kings tobacco that [etc.]. |
† d. said of a numerical aggregate, proportion, etc.
much deal: a great part; also
advb. in great part, largely.
Obs.| c 1205 Lay. 14224 A-buten he bilæde muche [c 1275 moche] del of londe. c 1275 Ibid. 3689 Ȝeo sal fare mid þee mid mochere [c 1205 mochelere] ferde. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4920 + 32 He lay muchedel of þe nyȝt in wo & in sorwe. Ibid. 7719 Monye heyemen of þe lond in prison he huld strong, So þat muchedel engelond þoȝte is lif to long. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xxvi. 72 What so euer the body hath done, he hath hit done by the, be it good or bad, and moch dele by thyn excitacion. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1874) I. 76 Of other folys yet is a moche nomber. 1531 Dial. on Laws Eng. ii. xxv. 54 b, Moche parte of the lawe is in suche speche that fewe men haue knowlege of it. 1566 Drant Horace, Sat. vi. D vj, My many muche, my traine of men. 1609 Bible (Douay) Exod. i. 9 Behold the people of Israel is much, and stronger than we. |
† e. qualifying the designation of a person with the sense: Entitled to the designation in a high degree.
Obs.| c 1325 Spec. Gy de Warewyke 102 Nu i wole nempne þe wicke þewes, þat beþ noht gode, ac muche shrewes. a 1400 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xviii, Sothly he were a moche foole. c 1400 Gamelyn 230 Whyl thou were a yong boy a moche schrewe thou were. |
† f. const. in,
of (some quality).
Obs.| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 4011 Florens was nat so moche yn lore, Yn preyours he was euermore. c 1460 Play Sacram. 194 In eraclea ys noon so moche of myght. |
2. a. A great quantity or amount of, existing or present in great quantity.
In
as much,
so much,
thus much,
how much,
that much,
this much, the
adj., like others of similar meaning, often loses its distinctive sense and expresses merely relative quantity (whether great or small). For idiomatic uses of these collocations, see the first words.
too much: see
too.
| c 1205 Lay. 136 Muche lond he him ȝef. a 1300 K. Horn 1211 (Camb. MS.) Wyn nelle ihc, Muche ne lite, Bute of cuppe white. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 305 For aquitaunce [þei] taken moche gold. c 1425 Hampole's Psalter Metr. Pref. 15 Mych vertu he may him wynne. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 1399 She toke the ryngis with moche care. 1458 in Parker Dom. Archit. III. 41 In labor & lavyng moche money was lore. 1523 [Coverdale] Old God & New (1534) H iv b, The tree hath miche worke to growe. 1535 ― Deut. xxviii. 38 Thou shalt cary out moch sede in to y⊇ felde, and shalt gather but litle in. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 177, I am glad that my weake words Haue strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus. 1710 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 10 Oct., Mr. Harley..presented me to the Attorney-General, Sir Simon Harcourt, with much compliment on all sides, etc. 1831 Coleridge Table-t. 1 Aug., There is much beast and some devil in man. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 81 There is much truth in that remark of yours. 1903 Mission Field May 17 Over as much space as possible. |
| ellipt. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. viii, An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much. |
† b. Qualifying
people, etc.: A great number of.
| c 1205 Lay. 23204 Muche moncum [c 1275 moche folk] he þer of-sloh. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. i. 36 There was..moche peple slayne. 1538 London in Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden) 225 Thys ys a towne of moch power people. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. vi. 7 Let vs know, If 'twill..carry back to Cicelie much tall youth That else must perish heere. 1611 Bible Num. xx. 20 And Edom came out against him with much people. |
† c. much thing: many a thing, many things.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 49 So schal I moche thing foryete. c 1450 Merlin i. 17 The Iuges seiden he moste be counynge of moche thynge yef he shulde saue his moder. |
d. Used (where
many would now be substituted) with a plural
n. taken collectively. Now chiefly
U.S. dial. and in echoes of
quot. 1602.
| 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. Ded., The same Emperour after much disputations and conferences had with the Arrians,..commaunded [etc.]. 1591 Sparry tr. Cattan's Geomancie 165 This figure..sheweth that the seruantes of the saide Lords shall get much friends. 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. i. 8 For this releefe much thankes. 1660 Gauden Brownrig 238 All these died..in the foresight and fear of much future miseries impending over us. 1664 Pepys Diary 17 July, After dinner walked to my Lord's, and there found him and much other guests at table at dinner. 1719 D'Urfey Pills III. 315 Much Pagan Pates, he made to tumble in Dust. 1889 Kansas City (Missouri) Times & Star 13 Dec., For the latter's fall-down, much thanks. 1890 S. Hale Lett. (1919) 253, I have much funny things to tell you. 1928 J. Peterkin Scarlet Sister Mary (1929) xxii. 217 How much chillen you had? 1952 E. O'Neill Moon for Misbegotten i. 17 You didn't get much thanks from Mike, I'll wager, for your help. |
e. Forming with its
n. a kind of combination, with the abstract sense ‘abundance of’ (what the
n. denotes).
| 1609 Bible (Douay) 2 Kings i. Comm., Elias was knowen by his much hayre. 1630 Winthrop New Eng. (1825) I. 377 My much business hath made me too oft forget Mondays and Fridays. 1650 W. Brough Manual (1659) 214 Keep me from the much evill of an Idle life! 1872 Tennyson Last Tourn. 724 Now mocking at the much ungainliness..of Mark. 1891 Kipling Light that Failed (1900) 39 A pale yellow sun..showed the much dirt of the place. |
f. ironically, where
no would be used in serious language. Also in the derisive wish
much good may it do you (formerly in many corrupt forms: see
dich = do it).
| 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 84 In the waye of mockage, biddyng muche good dooe it hym. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. iv. iv, Much wench, or much sonne! 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. iii. 2 Is it not past two a clock? And heere much Orlando. 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. i. 109 So many Ryals (Gentlemen) and so many Maravedis miche yee God diche you, and you are hartily welcome. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 87 So mich God dich you with your sustenancelesse sauce. 1783 [see good C. 5 a]. 1843 Dickens Christmas Carol i, ‘Let me leave it [Christmas] alone, then,’ said Scrooge. ‘Much good may it do you. Much good it has ever done you!’ Mod. Much right he has to interfere with me! |
3. With agent-noun: that is much in the habit of performing the action.
rare. [From the
adv.]
| 1711 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 28 Apr., I have heard them say, ‘Much talkers, little walkers’. 1833 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Pref. (1865) 236 Your long and much talkers hated him. |
B. absol. and quasi-n. The word never completely assumes the character of a
n.; in sense 2 it admits of being qualified by
advs. like
very,
rather. Unlike
little, it never takes the indefinite article.
† 1. Used
absol. in the sense ‘great’. Only in the phrases
much and lite,
much and little = persons high and low; all (people) without exception.
Obs.| 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 1137 He let of-sende moche and lite, Hise neyebours to visite. a 1375 Cursor M. 23154 (Fairf.) Wite ȝe for-soþ al þat is suche sal be dampned litel & muche. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 494 He ne lafte nat..to visite The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lite. |
2. a. A great deal, a great quantity. Proverb
much will have more.
| 13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xlix. 53 Ȝif þou haue muchel, muche ȝiue also; Ȝif þou haue nouȝt, muche þou schalt ȝiue. c 1350 Old Usages Winchester in Eng. Gilds (1870) 355 To þe clerk a peny. ȝif he selleþ meche by ȝere; and ȝif he sulleþ lasse, vp-on þe quantite. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1906) 74, I wylle not say moche nor al. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 55 He misses not much. 1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 5 Much will haue more: and once poore, seldome or neuer rich. 1710 Tatler No. 241 ¶1 He who drinks much is a Slave to himself. 1814 Byron Lara i. xvii, In him inexplicably appear'd Much to be loved and hated, sought and fear'd. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 169 He bestowed much; yet he neither enjoyed the pleasure nor acquired the fame of beneficence. 1885 Times 25 May 10 Much is due to the prejudices of well-meaning but uncultured people. |
b. followed by
of partitive.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 438 Siche apostataes marren meche of Cristis ordre. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 38 The French king..lost muche of his people. 1655 tr. Com. Hist. Francion xii. 29 There must be much of Malice in his accusation. a 1761 Cawthorn Antiquarians 85 Pythagoras..With much of thought, and pains, and care, Found [etc.]. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India III. vi. i. 10 That friendship..which Mr. Hastings claimed so much of merit for maintaining. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 2) IV. xvii. 84 There was room for much of thoughtful consultation. |
c. with
the (or other defining word).
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 631 Therefore the French aucthors make of a litle, much, and yet their much (all things consydered) is in effect nothing at all. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits (1616) 11 Our vnderstanding is not filled by the much which wee read in little time. 1646 H. P. Medit. Seige 69 How apt are they to boast the little they have done, whilst they utterly forget the much that is behinde? 1700 Dryden Iliad i. 250 Nor grudge I thee, the much the Grecians give; Nor murm'ring take the little I receive. 1778 Burke Corr. (1844) II. 247 If I, or mine, can contribute our mite, or our much,..we shall not omit to serve you. 1804 E. de Acton Tale without Title III. 190 Every one endeavoured to say something of the much with which his heart was filled. 1866 G. Meredith Vittoria xxxi, The much which hangs on little was then set in motion. |
d. by much: by a great deal.
† Formerly often (with comparative or superlative, or
too)
= much adv.| c 1450 Myrc (1902) 1517 A-bregge hys penaunce þen by myche. 1536 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 16 Whiche his grace will neyther by moche seke ne yet refuse if it be put unto him. 1622 Gataker Spirituall Watch (ed. 2) 87 [Death] is neerer by much many times then we are aware of. 1628 Digby Voy. Medit. (Camden) 46 Now my shippe outsayled all my fleete by much. a 1634 Randolph Muses' Looking-Gl. iv. i, She hath made this cheek By much too pale. 1793 Minstrel III. 185 The third, by much the least hardened,..was struck with remorse. |
e. In negative or interrogative context: Any great amount, anything important.
| 1847 A. Brontë Agnes Grey xvii. 251, I paid more attention to dress than ever I had done before... This is not saying much, for hitherto I had been a little neglectful in that particular. 1871 G. Meredith H. Richmond xl, It was comical and not likely to lead to much. Mod. I do not think the evidence amounts to very much. Does all this come to much? No! |
f. to think much of: see
think v.
to make much of: see
make v. 18 d, 21,
of 20.
g. Used predicatively.
to be much: to be a great thing, an important point, matter, etc.
to think (it) much (with
inf.): to regard as important or onerous; to be ‘shy of’ (doing something).
not to be much to look at: to be of insignificant or unattractive appearance.
a bit much: see
bit n.2 5. Also in similar phrases with the same sense, as
a trifle much,
rather much.
| c 1325 Spec. Gy de Warewyke 150 Sinful men Þat þinkeþ it were muche for hem To haue gret worldes honour. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 301 They thought it much if they coulde bring the French King..in safetie to Burdeaux. 1610 Shakes. Temp. i. ii. 252 Thou..thinkst it much to tread y⊇ Ooze Of the salt deepe. 1618 W. Lawson New Orchard (1623) 24 For men not knowing..this secret of needfull distance,..thinke much to pull vp any [trees], though they pine one another. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII 234 It was also much, that one that was so great a Louer of Peace should bee so happy in Warre. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 219 He..thought not much to cloath his Enemies. 1671 Tillotson Serm. i. 30 It is much, if Men were from eternity, that they should not find out the way of Writing in all that long long duration which had past before that Time. 1700 Dryden Wife of Bath 78 The ladies..thought it much a man should die for love, And with their mistress join'd in close debate. 1861 Dickens Gt. Expect. v, You are not much to look at. 1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 252/1 All men allow their beards, whiskers, and moustaches full growth, though none of these are much to speak of. 1911 O. Onions Widdershins 265, I too smiled... ‘It was rather much, wasn't it?’ I said. 1930 R. Lehmann Note in Music v. 200 After all, perhaps it would have been a trifle much, applied to mother. 1964 J. Symons End of Solomon Grundy i. i. 27 It's enough to break up any party. I must say I thought it was rather much. |
h. much of a{ddd} (
colloq.): in negative contexts
= ‘a great{ddd}’, ‘a{ddd}of any noteworthy quality’, ‘a{ddd}in any great degree’.
| 1843 Dickens Christmas Carol iii, What's the consequence? He don't lose much of a dinner. 1889 J. K. Jerome Three Men in Boat 114 You don't look for much of a voice in a comic song. Mod. He is not much of a scholar. |
i. ironically (
cf. A 2 e above).
| Mod. Much you know about the matter! |
3. a. With modified sense, in absolute uses of the
adj. as qualified by
as,
so,
thus,
how,
that,
this,
too: see those words and A 2 above.
† b. like much or
a like much: a similar quantity.
Obs.| 1544 T. Phaer Regim. Lyfe (1560) B iv b, Take lytarge of Sylver, and Brymstone, of eche lyke muche, and seethe them. Ibid. D iij, Of eche a lyke muche. c 1550 Lloyd Treas. Health H iij, Take of Castoreum, of Pellytory, of Pyonye rootes, of eche lyke muche make pylles wyth Triakell. |
4. Comb., objective with
pr. pples., as
much-containing,
much-devouring,
much-enduring,
much-suffering adjs.| c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiii. 631 The much-suffering man. 1725 Pope Odyss. viii. 172 A..much-enduring man. 1828 Pusey Hist. Enq. i. 156 In his concise but deep and much-containing essay. 1873 Longfellow Wayside Inn iii. Interlude iii. 32 Wood, To feed the much-devouring fire. |
C. adv. 1. In a great degree; to a great extent; greatly.
a. qualifying a verb or the whole predication.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 229 Ne ne mei na þing wiðstonden his wille, þah he muche þolie. 1382 Wyclif Luke vii. 47 Manye synnes ben forȝouun to hire, for sche hath loued myche. a 1425 Cursor M. 10941 (Trin.) Muche þerfore þei mournyng were. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2 Some in religyon be ryght holy & moche exercysed in goostly conuersacyon. 1573 Baret Alv. M. 496 Saie that I am here much against my will. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. iii. 9 Ginger was not much in request, for the olde Women were all dead. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 422 The Ambassadors..made him some other Presents, which..made him very much our friend. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. vii, For my part, I don't much like it. 1785 Cowper Let. to Newton 27 Aug., The publisher of it is neither much a friend to the cause of religion nor to the author's memory. 1854 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. ii. (1857) 37, I was much a favourite with Uncle James. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting viii. 350 He complained much of his poverty. 1891 E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 208 ‘Thank you very much,’ she said. 1902 E. Banks Newspaper Girl 211 I'm much obliged to you. |
b. qualifying comparatives or words implying comparison; occasionally with the intervention of
the (
pron.) before a comparative.
In the 17th c., when
a or
an preceded the comparative,
much was sometimes interposed instead of being placed first. (Strictly, this construction belongs rather to 1 a.)
| c 1275 Lay. 3201 He moche þe wodlokere wilnede þat mayde. Ibid. 9911 Wel riche was Aruiragus and moche richere was Maurus. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 334 And ȝif it fare þus wiþ hiere penytaunceris..it is moche þe werse on alle ordris. c 1450 Merlin 4 He dought that yef he dide hym gretter damage, that he wolde be moche wrother. 1505 in Mem. Hen. VII (Rolls) 231 Much the less we could come by the very knowledge of that cause for that the queen weared black kerchowes. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. ix. 33 Troy, thou art now nought but an idle name,..Though whilome far much greater then thy fame. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 370 She manifested by the esteem she plac'd upon the performance, how much a higher one she had for him for whom 'twas performed. 1668–9 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 267 It will be some expense, but much otherwise husbanded then formerly. 167. Prideaux Lett. (Camden) 64 The translation of æmilius Porta is much the best. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 255 Euripides..is much a graver writer. 1688 Collier Sev. Disc. xii. (1725) 385 A grateful..Receiver is much a greater Man than such a pretended Benefactor. 1711 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 170 The much major part of the souldiery. 1711–12 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 23 Feb., The Secretary is much the greatest commoner in England. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xviii, Our modern dialect is much more natural. 1838 Moore Mem. (1856) VII. 218 Nothing much different to add in the subject. 1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 707/1 Much the largest river of the peninsula is the Halys. |
c. qualifying positive or uncompared
adjs. and
advs.;
= very.
Obs. exc. with
like (now only as quasi-prep.) and in
U.S. dial.| c 1449 Pecocke Repr. i. x. 53 Y wolde not make me miche bisi forto seie ther aȝens. c 1483 Caxton Dialogues 32 Yet is he moche dangerous. 1490 ― Eneydos x. 40 Dydo toke grete playsir in his conuersacyon and deuysed wyth him moche gladely. 1539 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 214 She confesseth in substance, the moche like wordes to have ben told her. 1550 Cranmer Defence 65 b, And contra Adamantium he writeth much like, saying [etc.]. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. Ep. P. Giles (1895) 11 Beynge muche lyke vncourteis, vnthankefull, and chourlishe guestes. 1612 Bacon Ess., Parents & Child. (Arb.) 276/1 In nature it is much a like matter. 1650 Earl of Monmouth tr. Senault's Man bec. Guilty 212 Health so dearly bought, cannot be much delightfull. 1796 Mrs. J. West Gossip's Story I. 156 'Twas much unkind to go. 1916 Dialect Notes IV. 347, I don't guess she's much old. 1929 W. Faulkner Sound & Fury 268, I..went up front. ‘Been much busy?’ Earl says. ‘Not much,’ I says. |
d. Used ironically for ‘not at all’. Also (now only
U.S.)
ellipt. as a derisive exclamation indicating incredulity.
not much: certainly not, far from it, ‘not likely’; also
occas. (ironically), certainly, ‘not half’ (
colloq.).
| c 1590 Marlowe Faustus (2nd vers.) (1631) E 2, Vint... Come giue it to me againe. Rob. I much, when can you tell? 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 143 Since when, I pray you, Sir? what, with two Points on your shoulder? much. 1598–9 B. Jonson Case is Altered iii. i, And to solicite his remembrance still In his enforced absence, much, I faith. 1599 ― Ev. Man out of Hum. i. iii, To charge me bring my Graine into the markets: I, much, when I haue neither Barne nor Garner. 1873 ‘Susan Coolidge’ What Katy did at Sch. ix, ‘Much you don't like oranges?’ he said... ‘Much! I've seen you eat two at a time, without stopping.’ 1879 Besant & Rice Seamy Side 114 ‘Oh! yes,’ he says, ‘you think it's yours, do you? Much. I'm the owner, I am.’ 1886 Harper's Mag. Dec. 148/1 ‘Go home?—explain?’ he began, more calmly. ‘Not much.’ 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms I. xviii. 248 Starlight and I wasn't likely to break down—not much—whatever the jury did. 1904 E. Nesbit Phoenix & Carpet xi. 212 ‘He didn't mean stay and be roasted,’ said Robert. ‘No boys on burning decks for me, thank you.’ ‘Not much,’ said Cyril. a 1908 Mod. Much you care about my feelings! 1911 A. Bennett Card x. 255 Do you suppose I was going to let you go by that steamer? Not much. 1928 D. L. Sayers Unpleasantness at Bellona Club xvi. 188 ‘They can get it from Robert or George Fentiman,’ warned Wimsey. ‘Not much, they won't,’ said Salcombe Hardy feelingly. 1970 A. Ross Manchester Thing 81 ‘Got a going over, did you?’ ‘Not much, I got a going over. Want to see the bruises?’ 1973 J. Porter It's Murder with Dover i. 1 ‘I am not asking for any preferential treatment,’ said Lord Crouch... Not bloody much! thought the Chief Constable..and tried to work out what His Nibs was up to. |
e. not to be (or go) much on (or for): (
a) not to be enthusiastic about (something); not to like or care for; (
b) not to be useful or effective for (a purpose); to be no good at (something).
colloq.| 1896 Dialect Notes I. 417 ‘I don't go much on that’, I don't care much for that. 1908 A. Bennett Buried Alive v. 111 ‘I'm not much for these restaurants,’ she said, over grilled kidneys. ‘No?’ he responded tentatively. ‘I'm sorry.’ 1928 R. Bradford in B. A. Botkin Treas. S. Folklore (1949) iii. ii. 485 Angels is all right for singin' and playin' and flyin' round, but they ain't much on workin' de crops and buildin' de levees. 1968 A. Munro in R. Weaver Canad. Short Stories 2nd Ser. 262 They may not be much on intellectual conversation but their hearts are in the right place. |
2. In modified sense, qualified by
as,
how,
so,
too (
cf. A 2, B 3 above): see those
advs. 3. Pretty nearly, approximately. Chiefly qualifying expressions denoting similarity, as in
much as,
much of an age,
much of a muchness,
much of a size,
much of a piece;
† much at one. Also prefixed to
about prep., to emphasize the notion of indefiniteness.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 203 Moche aboute thys same tyme. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. Pref. (Arb.) 20, I heare saie, you haue a sonne, moch of his age. 1662 J. Davies tr. Mandelslo's Trav. 112 The death of Derma, and that of the King of Candy..happened much about a time. 1686 J. S[ergeant] Hist. Monast. Convent. 100 The word Allon, which is much at one with Allons in French. a 1699 Temple Misc. iii. i. Wks. 1720 I. 257 All of them left the World much as they found it. 1704 N. N. tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. III. 340 It was much about that time. 1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. Dedekindus' Grobianus 136 Old Men are much at one. 1741 Corr. betw. C'tess Hartford & C'tess Pomfret (1805) II. 256 The siege and the soldiers are much of a piece with the fire. 1763 Scrafton Indostan (1770) 56 He marched against his relation..who was much such a giddy abandoned youth as himself. 1859 W. Collins ‘Blow up with the Brig!’, I..lose myself in my memory now, much as I lost myself in my own feelings at the time. 1884 J. G. Bourke Snake Dance of Moquis xv, He sprinkled water upon the ground, very much as a Catholic priest would asperse his congregation. |
4. ‘Often or long’ (J.); for a large part of one's time.
| 1798 J. Baillie Tryal v. ii, I have been pretty much with him these two days past, and I don't believe he gives me great thanks for my company. 1839 Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) I. 300 Read little, was much unwell, and scandalously idle. Mod. I have not been much away from home of late. |
5. Comb.: (
a) with
pa. pples., as in
much-abused,
much-admired,
much-branched,
much-criticized,
much-debated,
much-discussed,
much-dreaded,
much-loved,
much-needed,
much-quoted,
much-travelled,
much-used,
much valued,
much-vaunted; (
b) with
pples. of indirect passive, as in
much talked of; (
c) with adjectival phrases composed of
to be and
pa. pple., as in
much-to-be-admired,
much-to-be-pitied.
| 1879 W. James Coll. Ess. & Rev. (1920) 95 The *much-abused subject of mental physiology. 1936 Discovery Dec. 382/1 The much abused engine..gave out utterly. |
| 1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 23 Feb. 75/1 The next big price was 3,000gs paid by exporter Mr. James Schofield for Westdrums Winson, Messrs. Boots' *much-admired reserve best two-year-old. |
| 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. xvi. 311 To *much beloued Lee, this scarcely Sturt had spoke. |
| 1927 Haldane & Huxley Animal Biol. i. 35 Most glands..are many-celled tubes or pockets of epithelium, either unbranched or slightly branched..or *much-branched like the liver or salivary gland. |
| 1970 T. J. Ross Film & Liberal Arts 148 The *much-criticized woodenness of her playing is of small matter. |
| 1843 Mill Logic I. 9 To this science [sc. metaphysics] appertain the great and *much debated questions of the existence of matter. 1956 Nature 11 Feb. 262/2 The whole of the much-debated line up Borrowdale. |
| 1946 Ibid. 23 Nov. 759/2 The *much-discussed hypothesis that galactic noise is analogous to the noise associated with solar flares. |
| 1865 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 150 You may trust Your footing now to the *much-dreaded dust. |
| 1879 Huxley Hume i. 56 This full-crammed and *much-examined generation. |
| 1873 Howells Chance Acquaintance i. (1883) 23 A *much-galleried hotel. |
| 1785 Burns Cotter's Sat. Night xx, A virtuous populace may rise the while, And stand a wall of fire around their *much-lov'd Isle. |
| 1886 E. G. White Notes of Trav. in Hist. Sk. Foreign Missions Seventh Day Adventists 236/1 We might obtain a little *much-needed rest. 1936 Burlington Mag. Apr. 202/2 It is a pity not to have given the Birth of Venus..a much-needed rest. 1964 Ann. Reg. 1963 229 The United States and Canada traditionally supplied much-needed grain. |
| 1927 Mod. Philology Nov. 224 The *much-quoted example..does not illustrate sound change. |
| 1645 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (Bannatyne Club) II. 267 The *much-talked of weakness of our army. 1912 ‘Saki’ Chron. Clovis 196 The County..mustered in full strength to witness the *much-talked-of production. |
| 1634–5 Brereton Trav. (Chetham Soc.) 175 Although there be many grafts of the old thorn engrafted, yet all (save this) degenerate from this *much-to-be-admired budding and blossoming at this time. 1820 Southey Wesley I. 180 This so much-to-be-admired eternal Providence. |
| 1928 C. Singer From Magic to Sci. i. 12 This erudite and *much travelled man exhibits great industry. |
| 1595 Shakes. John iv. ii. 73 A *much troubled brest. |
| 1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xviii. 58 In one it [sc. cerebral injury] will throw a *much-used brain-tract out of gear; in the other it may affect an unimportant region. |
| 1791 Boswell Johnson (1831) I. 310 His *much-valued friend. |
| 1939 W. S. Churchill Into Battle (1941) 150 The magnetic mine..may perhaps be Herr Hitler's *much vaunted secret weapon. 1974 Times 9 Dec. 12/2 Mr Tanaka rashly published his much vaunted plan for decentralizing industry. |
▪ II. much, v. dial. (
mʌtʃ)
[f. much quasi-n.] trans. To make much of; to pet, fondle, caress.
| 1736 Pegge Kenticisms (E.D.S.) 38 To much a child, to fondle it when it is peevish. 1848 Lowell Fable for Critics Poet. Wks. (1879) 154 As soon as she's touched it And (to borrow a phrase from the nursery) muched it. |