What does Jmʿ al-kathraa mean?

Islam > Glossary > Jmʿ al-kathraa

Discover the meaning of the term Jmʿ al-kathraa (جمع الْكَثْرَة) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Jmʿ al-kathraa

Jmʿ al-kathraa according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

A plural form applied to anything above ten up to infinity. The sound plural, whether masculine or feminine, and anything other than the paucity plural, both fall under the plural of multitude. One of them may occasionally be used metaphorically for the other, as in His statement تعالى: ﴿ثَلَاثَةِ قُرُوءٍ﴾, and in another place: إقراء.

Jmʿ al-kathraa according to Maqalid al-'Ulum (As-Suyuti)

That which applies, literally, to what is above ten.

Jmʿ al-kathraa according to At-Tawqif (Al-Munawi)

The opposite of the paucity plural, and each of them may be used metaphorically for the other.