A multitude is a very large number of people or things. It can also mean the general mass of ordinary people.
From Old French *multitude*, from Latin *multitudo* “a great number,” from *multus* “much, many.” It has long been used both for large numbers and for crowds.
“Multitude” sounds poetic, which is why writers use it instead of just saying “a lot.” It suggests both number and variety, like a crowd with many different faces. When someone says “a multitude of problems,” they’re hinting that the problems are not only many, but also messy and diverse.
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