[L.; = plenty.] Plenty, a plentiful supply: now chiefly in the L. phrase copia verborum abundance of words, a copious vocabulary. Cf. COPY sb. 1 c.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 155, ¶ 3. Since they [women] have … such a Copia Verborum, or plenty of Words, ’tis pity they should not put it to some Use.
1729. T. Dale, trans. J. Freind’s Emmenol., xii. (1752), 147. A sufficient copia of spirits being thus wanting.
1749. Power Pros. Numbers, 61. Furnish yourself with a Copia of equivalent Words.
1822–56. De Quincey, Conf., Wks. 1890, III. 258. A critical familiarity with the syntax of the language, or a copia verborum.
