multus

Meaning

(adjective, declension-1, declension-2, singular) much
(adjective, declension-1, declension-2, in-plural) many

much

more than one can poke a stick at

billions

more than one can shake a stick at

multī

πολλοί

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈmʊɫ.tʊs]

From Proto-Italic *moltos. The ultimate origin is uncertain. Ernout & Meillet, Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine marks it as d'origine obscure (“of obscure origin”). According to De Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 394, *moltos has been connected with a possible Proto-Indo-European form *ml̥tós (“crumbled, crumpled”), from the root *mel- (“to grind, to crumble”), which would link it to Ancient Greek μάλα (mála, “very, much”) and perhaps Latvian milns (“very many”). However, this derivation remains speculative and is not universally accepted.