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Where does the word "plethora" come from? It comes from Greek plēthōrē, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
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Where does the word "plethora" come from? It comes from Greek plēthōrē, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
Plethora’s story begins in Greek: plēthōrē meant “fullness.” Greek, from 'plēthein', to be full. It reached English by 1540s as plethora. First a medical term for too much blood. Today, plethora means an excessive amount.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient plēthōrē "fullness", Greek, from 'plēthein', to be full.
- Stage 2 · English · 1540s plethora "excess of blood", first a medical term for too much blood.