thronged, ppl. a.
(θrɒŋd, poet. ˈθrɒŋɪd)
[f. throng v. + -ed1.]
1. Closely packed, as a multitude of people or things; crowded.
| 1652 Benlowes Theoph. vii. iv, Those throng'd figures sum not Thee. 1713 Addison Cato ii. i, The thick array Of his thronged legions. 1822 J. MacDonald Mem. J. Benson 463 He addressed a thronged audience. 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 270 The mariners..ask Jonah thronged questions. 1908 E. Wharton Hermit & Wild Wom. 41 The air shone with thronged candle-flames. |
2. a. Of a place, etc.: Closely packed with people or things; crowded.
| 1594 [see throng v. 6 c]. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. v. 115 As vnder their [trees'] command the thronged Creeke Ran lessened vp. 1746–7 Hervey Medit. (1818) 251 To slip away from the thronged city. 1831 Scott Ct. Rob. xxiii, A loud and varied murmur, resembling that of a thronged hive. 1889 Gretton Memory's Harkb. 189 To me these thronged places are wearisome in the extreme. |
b. Of time: Full of work or business; busily occupied; busy. Chiefly dial.
| 1791 Isabella Wilson in Mem. (1825) 36 We have had a thronged time with our harvest. 1832 Yorkshire Dial., We had a very thronged day. 1943 R.A.F. Jrnl. Aug. 15 Members of the R.A.F. who in the midst of their thronged days find time to encourage and assist the Air Training Corps squadrons. |