a. Forms: 4–6 -yous, -iouse, 4–9 copious, (5 -yowse, -yose, -iose, 6 -eus). [ad. L. cōpiōs-us plentiful, f. cōpia plenty: cf. F. copieux (16th c. in Littré).]
† 1. Furnished plentifully with anything; having or yielding an abundant supply of; abounding in; Obs. exc. as in copious sources, where it passes into 3.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 17 (Mätz.). Þe erþe of that lond is copious of metal ore. Ibid. (1398), Barth. De P. R., XIII. vii. (1495), 444. Eufrates … is moost copyous in gemmes and precyous stones.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 287. A copious londe, and habundant in marchaundise.
a. 1533. Frith, Bk. agst. Rastell (1829), 218. He is more copious in labours, in stripes above measure.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 135. The Trumpet sounds, be copious in exclaimes.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (1885), 14. A certane toune copious in citizenis.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. (1682), 106. It is indifferent copious of all things necessary for humane life.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), I. 172. Newgate’s copious market.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 162. Copious of flow’rs the woodbine, pale and wan.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is. (1846), I. Introd. 53. More copious sources of knowledge.
2. In pregnant sense: a. Abounding in information; full of matter.
a. 1500. Orolog. Sapient., in Anglia, X. 327. Þei þat bene copiose and habundant in þe letterere science.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, I. H iv. Those studyes shall make him copyous.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 102. Our learned Diuinity Professors are full and copious in this point.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 41. Touching which particular both the Canonists and Civilians are very copious.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxviii. 149. This copious subject has drawn me from my description of the exchange.
1775. Johnson, Lett. Mrs. Thrale, 20 July. You have two or three of my letters to answer, and I hope you will be copious and distinct, and teil me a great deal of your mind.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, i. (1870), 13. The Iliad and Odyssey give a picture of the age to which they refer, alike copious and animated, comprehensive and minute.
† b. Having a plentiful command of language for the expression of ideas. Obs.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xvi. And of wordes wonder copyous.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. (Arb.), 94. It is a signe that such a maker is not copious in his owne language.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 50. Our author seems copious, but is indeed very poor of expression.
c. Profuse in speech; diffuse or exuberant in style or treatment.
c. 1430. Lydg., Stans Puer, 74, in Babees Bk. (1868), 28. Be not to copiose [v.r. copious] of langage.
1528. More, Dialogue, I. xxiii. Wks. 153. She will waxe copious and chop logicke.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 244, ¶ 2. When you see a Fellow watch for Opportunities for being Copious.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., III. § 15. Declaimers of a copious vein.
1851. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., iii. (1858), 112. A copious Archdeacon, who has the command of immense papers, of sonorous language.
d. Of a language: Having a large vocabulary.
1549. Compl. Scot., Prol. 17. Oure scottis tong is nocht sa copeus as is the lateen tong.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlvi. 379. French, English, or any other copious Language.
1772–7. Sir W. Jones, Poems, Ess., i. 172. Their language is the most copious, perhaps, in the world.
3. Existing in rich abundance; plentiful; abundant. Now chiefly used with sbs. expressing production or supply, or in reference to quantity produced; with names of material substances, it is obs. or arch., but is used of literary materials.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xxii. 6. In the mydday … a copious liȝt schon aboute me.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 399. There lyme is copious and slattes for house.
1414. Brampton, Penit. Ps., cix. 41. Oure raumsoun is ful copyous, For thou art redy thi grace to sende.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., C j b. If the coloure of the poynt be more copiose or gretter in thos armys.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. ix. 35. To desire … that they would lend him their provision which was copious.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 325. Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred Their branches hung with copious Fruit.
1691. Ray, Creation, I. (1704), 67. Sea-water, containing a copious Salt.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 287. The copious Use of Vinegar brings Paleness.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., I. 158. The copious produce of her fertile plains.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 212. The moisture … is quickly condensed … and falls down in copious dews.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 714. Diacetate of lead throws down a copious white precipitate.
1845. Florist’s Jrnl., 94. Which … induces a more copious display of flowers.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm., vi. (1857), 98. A clear and copious spring comes bubbling out at its base.
1860. Trollope, Framley P., i. 3. Her hair which was copious.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xix. 455. The evidence collected is exceedingly copious.
† b. Multitudinous, numerous. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Macc. x. 1. Kyng Demetrie … gadride an oost ful copiouse.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 321. The peple of hit is copious, of semely stature.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. v. 6. A strong band, and a copious people.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, I. 534. To heap the shores with copious death.
1741. Betterton, Eng. Stage, vi. 82. We shall … conclude with the Actions of the Hands, more copious and various than all the other Parts of the Body.
4. as adv. = COPIOUSLY.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XVII. 104. And from his wide wound bleeding copious still.
1808. J. Barlow, Columb., II. 397. Buried gold drawn copious from the mine.
