Throng | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Thrŏng, n.

noun

n. [A-S. thrang, throng, Icel. thraung, Sw. trång, Dan. trang, D. & Ger. drang, from A-S. & O. Sax. thringan, to press; Eng. thring, Icel. throngia, threngia, Sw. trönga, Dan. trånge, O. H. Ger. dringan, thringan, thrangôn, drangôn, N. H. Ger. dringen, drängen, D. dringen, Goth. threihan, to press. Cf. THRING.]

A multitude of persons or of living beings pressing or pressed into a close body or assemblage; a crowd.
A great multitude; as, the heavenly throng.

Syn. — Multitude; crowd. — THRONG, MULTITUDE, CROWD. Any great number of persons form a multitude; a throng is a large number of persons who press together into a collective body; a crowd is a mass of persons who press so closely together as to bring their bodies into immediate or inconvenient contact. A dispersed multitude; the thronged streets of a city; a crowded coach; a crowded table. So, with this bold opposer rushes on This many-headed monster, multitude. Daniel. Not to know me argues yourself unknown, The lowest of your throng. Milton. I come from empty noise, and tasteless pomp, From crowds that hide a monarch from himself. Johnson.

Thrōng, v. i.

verbintransitive

[imp. & p. p. THRONGED; p. pr. & vb. n. THRONGING.] [From the noun, supra.] To crowd together; to press into a close body, as a multitude of persons; to come in multitudes.

I have seen The dumb men throng to see him. Shak.

Thrŏng, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To crowd, or press, as persons; to oppress or annoy with a crowd of living beings.

Much people followed him, and thronged him. Mark v. 24.

Thrŏng, a.

adjective

a. Thickly crowded together; thronged; pressed; thick. [Very rare.]

Lancers are riding as throng . . . as leaves. W. Scott.