plenty

Where does the word "plenty" come from? It comes from Latin plenus, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Plenty’s story begins in Latin: plenus meant “full.” The root of 'plenary', 'replenish' and 'complete'. Within Latin, it grew into plenitas by ancient. Fullness, abundance, from plenus. From there it passed into Old French as plente by medieval. Carried into French for a large or sufficient quantity. It reached English by 1200s as plenty. Settled as the English word for a large or sufficient quantity of something. Today, plenty means a large or more than sufficient quantity or amount of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient plenus "full", the root of 'plenary', 'replenish' and 'complete'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient plenitas "fullness, abundance", fullness, abundance, from plenus.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval plente "a large or sufficient quantity", carried into French for a large or sufficient quantity.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s plenty "a large or sufficient quantity of something", settled as the English word for a large or sufficient quantity of something.