0

What is the origin of the weird phrase 'many a [singular noun]'? It's extremely odd: for one thing, 'many' here is a predeterminer (very unusual), for another, it goes with a singular noun. What is the explanation for this bizarre structure?

additional question you may not answer: Is it stylistically neutral? How would it sound to a native speaker's ear? Isn't it something literary?

CJ Dennis
  • 5,115
  • 7
  • 34
  • 67
Sergey Zolotarev
  • 131
  • English is quirky and this is one of its throwbacks. Today, it's regional or used in aphorisms. – Lambie Jan 13 '20 at 19:34
  • That’s just reminded me that there’s a song from Oklahoma! that begins “Many a new day ...” – David Garner Jan 13 '20 at 19:40
  • 1
    It's not just "many a". Walt Whitman: Many the burials, many the days and nights, passing away, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Many the souls that sped, Many the hearts that bled, By our stern orders. – Peter Shor Jan 13 '20 at 19:47
  • But according to the OED, many a goes back to the 13th century (not long after a entered English), while many the isn't even mentioned—I expect it's an invention of poets who used many a as a model. – Peter Shor Jan 13 '20 at 19:56
  • Comedy of Errors, the Bard: "Why, but there's many a man hath more hair than wit". There are tons of "many a" in Shakespeare. – Lambie Jan 13 '20 at 21:42
  • Henry IV, Part One: I can speak English, lord, as well as you; For I was train'd up in the English court; Where, being but young, I framed to the harp// Many an English ditty lovely well// And gave the tongue a helpful ornament, A virtue that was never seen in you. [Oh god, he was funny.] – Lambie Jan 13 '20 at 21:45
  • My question is about the phrase's origin, the other question is about how it's different from a similar structure. @tchrist, please reopen. – Sergey Zolotarev Jan 14 '20 at 08:27
  • Before I go read the linked answer let me aay that Ger viele GEN. der Männer"many of the man" is quite usual, though manch einer, mancher einer "many an" is as idiomatic as so mancher "so many; some, pl. some" and einige "some" (literally any, OE aenic). – vectory Jan 17 '20 at 04:19

0 Answers0