Recent criticism of the use ofmyriad as a noun, both in the plural formmyriads and in the phrasea myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective. As the entries here show, however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The nounmyriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (pluralmyriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it.

You don’t need ten thousand justifications to usemyriad as a noun, only one: with more than 400 years of usage history behind it, the nounmyriad, as in the phrase “a myriad of,” is a well-established and respectable member of the English language. Still, we understand that “myriad of” raises thehackles of myriad folks who were taught at one point or another thatmyriad is only to be used as an adjective, and that phrases like “a myriad of emailers vexed aboutmyriad” should be shunned in favor of “myriad emailers vexed aboutmyriad.” Now, to each their own lexical peeves and pleasures, but let it be known thatmyriad entered the English language in the mid-1500s as a noun, and since its introduction has been used in the senses of “ten thousand,” “a set of ten thousand,” “an immense or indefinitely large number,” and “a great multitude”; furthermore, it has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton, Thoreau, Twain, and DuBois—no slouches when it comes to wielding words.Myriad the adjective is about 200 years younger, but both continue to enjoy wide use today.

Noun and Adjective

Greekmyriad-, myrias, frommyrioi countless, ten thousand

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined atsense 1

Adjective

1654, in the meaning defined atsense 2

Articles Related tomyriad

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster onmyriad

Nglish:Translation ofmyriad for Spanish Speakers

Word of the Day