bevy
bevy
Pronunciation
/ˈbevi/
bev: /bev/
/b/ as in boy
/e/ as in bed
/v/ as in voice
y: /i/
/i/ as in see
Word Form Variations
bevy (singular): A group of birds, especially quail, or a group of people or things of a similar kind. This is the most common form.
bevies (plural): More than one bevy. For example, "There were several bevies of quail in the field." This is the standard plural.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1 (Birds): A group or flock of birds, especially quail.
Synonyms: flock, covey (specifically for quail), flight, gathering, assemblage
Antonyms: (While there isn't a direct antonym, concepts like "lone bird," "individual," or "scattered birds" could represent the opposite idea.)
Definition 2 (People or Things): A large group or collection of people or things of a similar kind.
Synonyms: group, collection, assemblage, gathering, crowd, multitude, throng, array, assortment, company, cluster
Antonyms: individual, singleton, lone item, scattered items, few, handful
Example Sentences:
Birds: A bevy of quail scattered as the dog approached.
People/Things: The bar boasted a bevy of beautiful wines. The tech conference attracted a bevy of innovative startups.
Examples of Use
Literature:
"A bevy of painted butterflies / That never flit by day" (Emily Dickinson, Poem 1747). This classic example uses "bevy" in its sense of a group, though applied poetically to butterflies.
News/Online Publications:
"A bevy of tech companies are vying for dominance in the metaverse." (This is a hypothetical example, but reflects the kind of usage you'd find in tech news. News articles frequently use "bevy" to describe groups of companies, products, or other related entities.)
Entertainment:
"The film featured a bevy of Hollywood stars." (This is a common way to use "bevy" when discussing a film or other entertainment event with a large group of well-known performers.)
General Public Discourse:
"We saw a bevy of ducks on the pond." (This is a straightforward use of "bevy" in its original meaning related to birds. It's the kind of sentence someone might say while on a walk or describing something they saw.)
"There was a bevy of options to choose from." (This is a more generalized use, referring to a large number of choices or possibilities. It's common in everyday conversation.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bevy
“A bevy of ideas can overwhelm unless purpose chooses which to follow.” (Unknown)
“My mentor said a bevy of excuses still amounts to none worth keeping.” (Unknown)
“History turns on a bevy of small decisions more than a single grand moment.” (Unknown)
“A bevy of admirers means little if none understand your truth.” (Unknown)
“The poet wrote that joy arrives in a bevy of tiny, almost unnoticed moments.” (Unknown)
“Revolutions are often sparked by a bevy of grievances long ignored.” (Unknown)
“A leader gathers a bevy of perspectives before choosing a course.” (Unknown)
“Regret grows from a bevy of unspoken words.” (Unknown)
“Success rarely comes from one action but from a bevy of disciplined habits.” (Unknown)
“Love survives through a bevy of choices made daily, quietly, deliberately.” (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "bevy" has an interesting little story! It comes to us from way back in the mists of time, specifically from Old French. The Old French word was "bevée," which meant "a drink." Think of it like "beverage," and you're on the right track.
Now, how did "a drink" turn into "a group of birds"? That's the cool part. It seems "bevée" was also used to describe a flock of birds, particularly quail, perhaps because people associated the birds coming to water to drink. It's a bit like how we might say "a gathering" – it could refer to people at a meeting or, in a different context, animals at a watering hole.
The first recorded use of "bevy" in English was around the 15th century, and it was already being used to mean a flock of birds, especially quail. So, even though its original root was about drinks, it quickly became associated with groups of birds. Later, the meaning broadened to include any group of things or people, but the connection to birds, especially quail, remains its most classic association.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bevy
Original Phrases (playing on the meaning):
A bevy of blessings: This evokes the idea of a large and welcome collection of good things.
A bevy of beauties: This uses "bevy" in its sense of a group of attractive people or things.
A bevy of bright ideas: This suggests a collection of clever thoughts.
A bevy of challenges: This phrase indicates a large number of difficulties.
Using Synonyms for a Similar Effect (and creating phrases):
Since "bevy" often implies a large and pleasing collection, we can use synonyms to create similar phrases:
A host of opportunities
A multitude of sins (a more traditional, biblical phrasing)
A throng of admirers
An array of choices
A collection of memories
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bevy from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
