multiplicity

Noun

multiplicity (countable and uncountable, plural multiplicities)

1. The state of being made of multiple diverse elements.
   • Any failure of their predictions can be explained away by saying that the theory is not a schematic one, that a multiplicity of factors have to be considered, etc.1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume I: The Founders, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: powstanie (in...
   • Without consideration of the colony character of Malaysia in terms of its consistent interculturation with imperial and neoimperial power, multiplicity can easily be mistheorised as representing Saidian Orientalism or expatriates—such theorisations can be drawn from superficial reinterpretations of...2017, Francis Chia-Hui Lin, Architectural Theorisations and Phenomena in Asia, page 194

   Synonyms:

   manifoldness, manyhood, manyness, morefold, multeity, multipleness, nonunity, numerousness

2. A large indeterminate number.
   • The coronary Thorns did not only express the scorn of the imposers, by that figure into which they were contrived; but did also pierce his tender and sacred temples to a multiplicity of pains, by their numerous acuminations.1659, John Pearson, “Article IV”, in An Exposition of the Creed, 5th edition, published 1683, page 189
   • They saddled themselves with the handling of light flows on a multiplicity of branch lines, and they sacrificed the speed, reliability and low cost of through train operation, even over the main arteries of the system.1962 December, “Dr. Beeching previews the plan for British Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 377

   Synonyms:

   abundance, battalion, arseload, assload, bellyload, boatload, brimful, busload, bucketful, bucketload

3. The number of values for which a given condition holds.
4. The number of instances that can occur on a given end of a relationship.
5. (statistical mechanics) The number of microstates associated with a given macrostate.
   • In short , we are not replacing the old idea that “entropy is the logarithm of the multiplicity (times Boltzmann's constant). ” Rather , we are retaining that idea but are generalizing the notion of multiplicity.1999, Ralph Baierlein, Thermal Physics, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 329
   • ... the maximum-entropy (maxent) solution is the one which occurs with greatest multiplicity.1988, G. Erickson, C.R. Smith, Maximum-Entropy and Bayesian Methods in Science and Engineering: Volume 2: Applications, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 357
6. The condition whereby a person displays or experiences multiple distinct personalities or selves in one body.

   Synonyms:

   plurality, systemhood