Definition of multifarious
: having or occurring in great variety : diverse participated in multifarious activities in high school
multifariousness
nounExplore M-W
multifarious was our Word of the Day on 08/10/2015. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of multifarious in a Sentence
the multifarious interests and activities in which Benjamin Franklin immersed himself
Recent Examples of multifarious from the Web
-
In truth, our president matches only some aspects of Mangan’s personality because, like all of Shaw’s characters, Mangan is multifarious.
-
No other form of writing feels so strange, so multifarious, so completely and utterly new.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'multifarious'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Was Multifarious Used in Medieval Times?
Dictionary makers have dated the first appearance of "multifarious" in print as 1593 - and rightly so - but before that time another word similar in form and meaning was being used: multifary, meaning "in many ways" and appearing (and disappearing) in the 15th century. Before either of the English words existed, there was the Medieval Latin word multifarius (same meaning as "multifarious"), from Latin multifariam, meaning "in many places or "on many sides." "Multi-," as you may know, is a combining form meaning "many." A relative of "multifarious" in English is "omnifarious" ("of all varieties, forms, or kinds"), created with "omni-" ("all") rather than "multi-."
Origin and Etymology of multifarious
Medieval Latin multifarius, from Latin multifariam in many places
First Known Use: 1593
MULTIFARIOUS Defined for English Language Learners
multifarious
playDefinition of multifarious for English Language Learners
-
: of many and various kinds
Law Dictionary
multifarious
playLegal Definition of multifarious
: having or occurring in great variety : diverse; also : uniting usually in an improper way distinct and independent matters, subjects, or causes point one is multifarious, and we must break it down for analysis: a) the alleged reformation of the decree; and b) the order that appellant pay — Spradley v. Hutchison, 787 S.W.2d 214 (1990) — compare misjoinder
multifariousness
nounLearn More about multifarious
-
See words that rhyme with multifarious Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for multifarious Spanish Central: Translation of multifarious Nglish: Translation of multifarious for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up multifarious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!