In "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness on the desert air"what does full mean?

The line is from " Gray's Elegy written in a country Churchyard."

In "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness on the desert air"what does full mean?
"Full many" means a lot, like the phrase "almost all" Full adds emphasis.



"Note: Full is placed before adjectives and adverbs to

heighten or strengthen their signification. ``Full

sad.'' --Milton. ``Master of a full poor cell.''

--Shak. ``Full many a gem of purest ray serene.'' --T.

Gray. Full is also prefixed to participles to express

utmost extent or degree; as, full-bloomed, full-blown,

full-crammed full-grown, full-laden, full-stuffed, etc.

Such compounds, for the most part, are self-defining."
Reply:maybe full as in full bloom. If has 'in' at the start it could read as 'in all, many a flower' etc
Reply:It's just an old-fashioned way of using words but the nearest I can come is that it is much more than many. Just omit the word FULL when you are reading it to yourself to get the meaning.
Reply:A good many flowers bloom and fade away in deserted places, seen by no one.



In its context in Gray's "Elegy" it is actually a metaphor for common folk who do heroic things that are never reported in the news or recorded in history. Like a precious stone unmined at the bottom of the ocean or a beautiful flower blooming in the deep woods, their work may not be seen or known, but it is nevertheless heroic. Rubies and roses are beautiful, Gray would say, whether anyone ever sees them or not.



Full many a gem of purest ray serene

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear:

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.



Some village-Hampden that with dauntless breast

The little tyrant of his fields withstood;

Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest,

Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood.
Reply:There are are lots of people who are born beautiful or talented or gifted in some way but they are born into situations where their beauty, talent or gift has no way to manifest itself and is utterly wasted.
Reply:Full is an adjective describing the flower. You could rephrase as "Many a flower is born full." Placing it at the front of the line emphasizes the fullness and makes it, as opposed to the flower, the subject of the line.



So, (all poetry can be interpreted in a very personal matter), but my plain english translation would be something like:

Many flowers open full and beautiful and are never even seen. Before anyone can enjoy their beauty, they dry up and waste away with no witnesses.



Its a beautiful, sad and nostalgic image. The innocent beauty blooming to full potential and greatness to be witnessed by none but the open sky. To exist in a quiet grace and greatness with full knowledge of ones own worth and with no one to share the moment and the truth.

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