1. aspidistra

    aspidistra New Member

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    multiplicity

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by aspidistra, Mar 2, 2013.

    I wanted to use the word multiplicity as an adjective today yet discovered that form doesn't officially exist.

    Why is it that the similar word duplicity has the adjective form 'duplicitous' but multiplicity doesn't?

    Perhaps I'm not thinking about the word logic in the right way. I'm trying to say something like 'of many' or 'multitudinous' but multiplicitous sounded better and I guess would have a meaning slightly closer to what I want.

    In that same vein, why doesn't the word multiplicit exist, like explicit.

    Please tell this noob what's what :)
     
  2. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    The adjectival form of "multiplicity" is in the Oxford English Dictionary as "multiplicious", not "multiplicitous", but it is listed as obsolete. The modern adjective that means the same thing is "multiplex."

    I hope this helps!
     
  3. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    thankfully, the oed is not the only authoritative source... the word 'multiplicitous' does exist in other dictionaries... as does 'multiplicious'...
     
  4. aspidistra

    aspidistra New Member

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    sweet! thanks guys! Multiplex - that might be even better.
     
  5. GhostWolfe

    GhostWolfe New Member

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    The Collins & Random House dictionaries show multiplicity as a non-obsolete word, as well as being a physics term.

    Because multiplicity & explicit have unrelated meanings & come from different etymological backgrounds.

    Also: hallo, fellow Brisbanite.
     

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