Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MUCH, n.

1. A great quantity; a great deal. He that gathered much had nothing over. Exod. xvi. To whom much is given, of him much will be required. Luke xii. They have much of the poetry of Mæcenas, but little of his liberality. Dryden.
2. More than enough; a heavy service or burden. He thought not much to clothe his enemies. Milton. Who thought it much a man should die of love. Dryden.
3. An uncommon thing; something strange. It was much that one who was so great a lover of peace should be happy in war. Bacon. As much, an equal quantity; used as an adjective or noun. Return as much bread as you borrowed. If you borrow money, return as much as you receive. So we say, twice as much, five times as much, that is, twice or five times the quantity. #2. A certain or suitable quantity. Then take as much as thy soul desireth. 1 Sam. ii. #3. To an equal degree; adverbially. One man loves power as much as another loves gold. So much, an equal quantity or a certain quantity, as a noun; to an equal degree, or to a certain degree, as an adverb. Of sweet cinnamon half so much. Exod. xxx. In all Israel, there was none to be so much praised as Absalom. 2 Sam. xiv. Too much; an excessive quantity, as a noun; to an excessive degree, as an adverb. To make much of, to value highly; to prize or to treat witl great kindness and attention. Milner. #2. To fondle. Much at one, nearly of equal value, effect or influence. Dryden.