plethora

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 22, 2009 is: plethora • \PLETH-uh-ruh\ • noun : an excessive quantity or fullness; also : profusion Examples: A plethora of books on the American Civil War stood out among the many titles stacked here and there in the professor's office. Did you know? "Plethora" comes from a similar Greek word meaning "fullness." It was first used in English in the 16th century to describe a supposed medical condition marked by an excess volume of blood causing swelling and a reddish complexion. Later, the medical use of "plethora" was extended to indicate related medical conditions (such as an excess volume of bodily fluid or the red-skinned appearance of some newborns). These days, however, "plethora" is more often used in a general, non-medical sense, with the meaning "excess" or "abundance." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.