abundant
əˈbʌndənt
adjective
Origin
Latin
abundare — to overflow
Overview
Meaning Now
- existing or occurring in large amounts; plentiful
- having plenty of something
Literal older meaning
overflowing, waving
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
abundaunt
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word entered English via Middle French during the 14th century. Its Latin root 'abundare' evokes the image of a tide rising or waves overflowing, which is the literal ancestor of the English concept of plenitude.
Evolution
- Latin
abundare
“to overflow, stream”
from ab- (away/off) + unda (wave)
- Old French
abondant
“plentiful”
present participle of the verb abondre
- Middle English
abundaunt
“plentiful”
adopted from Old French
Connections
Word parts
ab-
prefix
away from
unda
root
wave
-ant
suffix
tending to; state of
Related across languages
French
abondant
abundant
Spanish
abundante
abundant
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.