Am"ple (&?;), a. [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for
ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L.
plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.]
Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely
extended.
All the people in
that ample house
Did to that image
bow their humble knees.
Spenser.
2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample fortune; ample justice.
3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an ample narrative. Johnson.
Syn. -- Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. --
Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words
agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations,
according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness,
producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for
every want; as, ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious
carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a
copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my
song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores;
plenteous harvests.
Hear it pronounced