Tuesday, January 09, 2007
myriad(s)
merriam webster sez: myriad isn't just an adjective!! which is good, because i think the adjective version is ridiculously counterintuitive.
Main Entry: 1 myriad [noun]
1 : ten thousand
2 : a great number <a myriad of ideas>
Usage: Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it.
Main Entry: 2 myriad [adjective]
1 : INNUMERABLE <those myriad problems>; also : both numerous and diverse <myriad topics>
2 : having innumerable aspects or elements <the myriad activity of the new land -- Meridel Le Sueur>
Main Entry: 1 myriad [noun]
1 : ten thousand
2 : a great number <a myriad of ideas>
Usage: Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it.
Main Entry: 2 myriad [adjective]
1 : INNUMERABLE <those myriad problems>; also : both numerous and diverse <myriad topics>
2 : having innumerable aspects or elements <the myriad activity of the new land -- Meridel Le Sueur>
# posted by orange @ 3:14 PM 
