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Webster 1913 Edition

Abound

A-bound′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Abounded
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Abounding
.]
[OE.
abounden
, F.
abonder
, fr. L.
abundare
to overflow, abound;
ab
+
unda
wave. Cf.
Undulate
.]
1.
To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.
The wild boar which
abounds
in some parts of the continent of Europe.
Chambers.
Where sin
abounded
grace did much more
abound
.
Rom. v. 20.
2.
To be copiously supplied; – followed by in or with.
To abound in
,
to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by.
–
To abound with
,
to be filled with; to possess in great numbers.
Men
abounding in
natural courage.
Macaulay.
A faithful man shall
abound with
blessings.
Prov. xxviii. 20.
It
abounds with
cabinets of curiosities.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Abound

ABOUND'

,
Verb.
I.
[L. abundo. If this word is from L. unda, a wave, the latter has probably lost its first consonant. Abound may naturally be deduced from the Celtic. L. fons, a fountain.]
1.
To have or possess in great quantity; to be copiously supplied; followed by with or in; as to abound with provisions; to abound in good things.
2.
To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom. v.

Definition 2024

abound

abound

English

Verb

abound ‎(third-person singular simple present abounds, present participle abounding, simple past and past participle abounded)

  1. (intransitive) To be full to overflowing. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).][1]
  2. (intransitive, obsolete) To be wealthy. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 18th century.][1]
  3. (intransitive) To be highly productive.
  4. (intransitive) To be present or available in large numbers; to be plentiful. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).][1]
    Wild animals abound wherever man does not stake his claim.
    • Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. Romans 5:20.
  5. (intransitive) To revel in. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 18th century.][1]
  6. (intransitive) To be copiously supplied;
    The wilderness abounds in traps.
    • The wild boar which abounds in some parts of the continent of Europe. - Chambers.

Usage notes

  • (copiously supplied): Abound is followed by in or with.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 7

Etymology

  • First attested around 1325.
  • From Middle English abounden, abounde, from Old French abonder, abunder, from Latin abundāre, present active infinitive of abundō ‎(“overflow”), which comes from ab ‎(“from, down from”) + undō ‎(“surge, swell, rise in waves, move in waves”), from unda ‎(“wave”).

Pronunciation

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