manyseveral

Manyseveral is a term that combines the concepts of "many" and "several." It is not a recognized word in standard English dictionaries but is sometimes used informally to express a quantity that is more than a few but not necessarily a large number. The exact meaning can be subjective and depends heavily on the context in which it is used.

The term often arises in casual conversation when someone is trying to convey an intermediate quantity. For instance, if someone asks how many people attended an event, an answer of "manyseveral" suggests a turnout that exceeded the expectation of "several" (which typically implies three to seven) but was not so large as to be considered "many" (which usually indicates a significant, uncountable number).

Linguistically, "manyseveral" can be seen as a portmanteau, though it is not a true blend in the way words like "brunch" or "smog" are. Instead, it functions more as a compound of two similar quantifiers, emphasizing a quantity that falls within a broad, undefined middle ground. Its usage is generally confined to informal settings and may be perceived as imprecise or even humorous by some speakers. The lack of a precise definition means its interpretation can vary significantly from person to person.