overmultitude

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ multitude.

Noun

overmultitude (plural overmultitudes)

1. An large excess in numbers.
   • 1643, MSS. of the Borough of King's Lynn:

     it is informed to this House that not only a great companie are now to come into this burge, but that an overmultitude of such strangers will suddenly pester the said burgh;

   • 1903, Hans Claude Hamilton, Ernest George Atkinson, Calendar of the State Papers Relating to Ireland, page 217:

     […] and having considered with the best foresight we can how, in this great inequality of numbers, Her Majesty's forces might best be employed, to answer the service in all parts, whereby these barbarous proud rebels might be brought to chastisement, we see not that, in such an odds and overmultitude of the traitors above her Majesty's forces, I, the Deputy, shall be able to do that against them which both I would and ought

   • 1928, Plutarch, Roland Orvil Baughman, The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romanes -Volume 5, page 53:

     For when Agesilaus counselled him to trye it by battell as soone as he could, and not to prolonge this warre against ignoraunt men that had no skill to fight, but yet for their overmultitude, might intrenche him rounde about, and prevent him in divers thinges: then he beganne to feare and suspect him more, and thereuppon retyred into a great citie well walled about, and of great strength.