[a. Fr. affluence, ad. L. affluentia, n. of state f. affluent-em flowing towards, pr. pple. of afflu-ĕre: see AFFLUE.]
1. A flowing towards a particular point; a general movement of people in any direction, a concourse, a moving crowd.
1600. Holland, Livy, XLV. vii. 1205 d. The affluence of the people was so great … that for the very prease he could not march forward.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., I. 8. Others die, when there is not a sufficient Affluence to the heart to continue the Circulation.
1759. Symmer, Electr., in Phil. Trans., LI. 380. The effluence and affluence of electrical matter.
1782. Kirwan, ibid., LXXII. 223. Phlogisticated air may also be formed by a rapid and copious affluence of phlogiston.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., III. VIII. v. 37. There had been great affluence of company, and no lack of diversions.
2. A plentiful flow (of tears, words, feelings, and fig. fortune’s gifts); profusion, exuberance.
1447. Bokenham, Lyvys of Seyntys, Introd. (1835), 4. Demostenes of Grece more affluence Never had in rethoryk.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, vi. 26. Her eyen better semed two grete sourges wellynge vp grete affluence of teerys.
1610. Healey, trans. S. Aug., City of God, 511. How could they either feare or grieve in that copious affluence of blisse?
1633. Earl Manchester, Contempl. Mort. (1636), 84. Man that thus lives at ease in delicacie with affluence of all things.
1849. Longfellow, Kavanagh, xii. 56. Winter … with its affluence of snows.
1867. Swinburne, in Fortn. Rev., Oct., 420. The ambient ardour of noon, the fiery affluence of evening.
3. ellipt. Profusion or abundance of worldly possessions; wealth.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 35. A heavenly goate whose influence Brings in riches with affluence.
1608. J. King, Serm., 1 Chron. xxix. 26–28, 29. The very wormes that growe out of their [Kings’] fulnes & affluence.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 22, ¶ 3. They lived in great affluence.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. Wakef., xxxii. As merry as affluence & innocence could make them.
1807. Southey, Lett., II. 35. It was not possible to make a better use of affluence than he did.
1840. Macaulay, Ess., Clive, II. 521. Trade revived; and the signs of affluence appeared in every English house.
