muchness

Everyday

1. (old, rare) Greatness in amount or size. tree →
2. (phrase, UK) «Much of a muchness» means nearly the same, with little difference: «The two shops are much of a muchness.» tree →

In the lessons

In Alice in Wonderland, at the Mad Tea-Party the Dormouse talks of drawing «all manner of things — everything that begins with an M — such as mouse-traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness — you know you say things are "much of a muchness"». It is a joke: you cannot draw «muchness». Today the word is used almost only in the phrase.

Examples

• The two films were much of a muchness. tree →
• «Did you ever see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness?» asked the Dormouse. tree →
• Both pizzas are much of a muchness, so pick either. tree →
• These tents are much of a muchness — buy the cheaper one. tree →
• The Dormouse listed things beginning with M, like muchness. tree →
• The teams were much of a muchness, so the match was close. tree →

Note

Used almost only in «much of a muchness» (UK, informal). Uncountable.