Make Your Point > Archived Issues > PLETHORA
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pronounce
PLETHORA:
Say it "PLETH uh ruh."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Online, you'll find a plethora of versions of this joke:
At a funeral.
Me: Do you mind if I say a word?
Widow: Please do.
Me: *clears throat* PLETHORA!
Widow: *tears up* Thank you. That means a lot.
Plethora: it means a lot! And it originally meant "a lot of blood: an overabundance of blood in the body."
Speaking of blood aplenty, see if you can recall an adjective that sometimes means "bloody" but most often means "cheerful, hopeful, and confident, as if with rosy cheeks." It's sa____ne.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
The word "plethora" comes through Latin and Greek and traces back to a word meaning "to be full."
When we first used "plethora" in English, it meant "an overabundance of bodily fluid, usually blood." From there it grew to mean, more generally, "an unhealthy amount of anything," and then, even more generally, "a large amount of anything."
That's how we use it today: if you have a plethora of things, you have a large amount of them.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Noun, the countable kind: "a plethora of options."
Other forms:
None are common.
We can make it plural, "plethoras," but we hardly ever do.
And there's an adjective, "plethoric," said "PLETH uh rick" or "pluh THOR ick."
The adverb, should you ever need it (spoiler: you won't), is "plethorically."
how to use it:
The word "plethora" is common, formal, fun to say, and very often positive in tone: "a plethora of ideas," "a plethora of opportunities," "a menu with a plethora of irresistible tacos."
But it can also have a negative tone: "this plethora of risks," "that plethora of diseases."
It can describe literal objects: "a plethora of candy bars." And figurative concepts: "a plethora of dreams," "the plethora of diverse and strong female characters" (Forbes).
As you can see, we most often talk about a plethora of countable things. But, sometimes, we talk about a plethora of uncountable stuff: "his plethora of paperwork" (Philip K. Dick), "a plethora of exciting research" (Scientific American).
examples:
"The mayor's house... rises up four stories, the roof topped by a plethora of cupolas and gables, looking very fancy and imposing."
— Justina Ireland, Dread Nation, 2018
"Beijing saw a plethora of new hotels open for the 2008 Summer Olympics, so finding good deals is possible even in the peak travel times in the spring and fall."
— Justin Bergman, New York Times, 18 February 2015
has this page helped you understand "plethora"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "plethora" without saying "a big number of" or "a surplus of."
try it out:
Think of something you like that's complex and interesting: something that seems like its own little universe. It might be a hobby, a cuisine, or a type of music.
Fill in the blanks: "(Something) (offers or includes) a plethora of (things)."
Here's an example from Salon: "The 'Star Trek' universe... includes a plethora of novels, comic books, and video games."
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for March is "Yup, that's a real word."
Check out the definition of a silly-sounding word--yes, a real one, from the Oxford English Dictionary--and see if you can come up with the word itself. To see the answer, scroll all the way down.
Here's an example: "This three-syllable noun ending in the -ship suffix (as in 'friendship' and 'fellowship') means 'skill in traversing snow.'" The answer is "snowmanship." (Yup, that’s a real word!)
Try this one today:
This two-syllable verb with a familiar prefix means "to force (a pope) out of office."
review this word:
A. PALETTE.
B. PAUCITY.
C. PENCHANT.
2. From ¡Three Amigos!:
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 _____ piñatas?
A. in
B. of
C. for
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Online, you'll find a plethora of versions of this joke:
The word "plethora" comes through Latin and Greek and traces back to a word meaning "to be full."
Part of speech:
The word "plethora" is common, formal, fun to say, and very often positive in tone: "a plethora of ideas," "a plethora of opportunities," "a menu with a plethora of irresistible tacos."
"The mayor's house... rises up four stories, the roof topped by a plethora of cupolas and gables, looking very fancy and imposing."
Explain the meaning of "plethora" without saying "a big number of" or "a surplus of."
Think of something you like that's complex and interesting: something that seems like its own little universe. It might be a hobby, a cuisine, or a type of music.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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