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Multiple multiplies

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Embryo,_8_cellsThe popularity of a word may rise and fall over the years. A word whose use has been multiplying for some time is the adjective multiple, as shown by this Google Ngram of frequency in publications:

Until quite recently, the meaning of multiple tended to be restricted to the numerous aspects of a single thing. Common examples would be multiple copies (copies of a single thing) and multiple injuries (sustained in a single incident). This is why multiple can modify a singular noun, eg multiple choice, multiple personality, multiple authorship, multiple birth, multiple embryo transfer, multiple occupancy, multiple pile-up, multiple orgasm.

But in recent years multiple has been used more and more to mean simply ‘numerous’. In fact numerous has declined as multiple has multiplied:

The shift in usage is shown more specifically by comparing the phrases multiple injuries and multiple people. Obviously the word people is more common than the word injuries, but the modification of people with multiple is a recent phenomenon:

(The recent slight decline in multiple injuries may be due to the rise of the alternative term polytrauma.)

The use of multiple to mean simply ‘numerous’ is more common, I think, in the USA (and Australia):

  this is the same guy who’s trained multiple CEOs of very big companies

 

  he has won multiple Emmys and many awards

 

  political disruptions that could trigger multiple conflicts around the globe

 

  and when you go out into the world and listen to multiple languages

 

  this hugely destructive new technology almost was used multiple times

But the British are certainly following along:

  I can remember having multiple discussions with particular donors

 

  you can win multiple awards

 

  many tasks carried out by multiple people over whole careers

 

  this robot can understand and communicate in multiple languages

 

  Clarkson is said to have attempted to apologize to Tymon multiple times