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Mitt Romney thrills throngs of admirers in Apopka -- Orlando Sentinel headline, October 6, 2012
The Mall throng was a bizarre menagerie of groups ... that represent Obama's constituency, not the nation's majority. -- Capitalism Magazine, January 26, 2013
Geese come in gaggles, lions in prides, whales in pods. These are terms of venery, words for animals in groups. Throng is a collective noun like those, and a fortunate politician can have a throng of supporters, as is noted above. But how many are needed at a minimum to constitute a throng, and just how closely packed need they be? Could the people who "Like" you on Facebook constitute a throng?
While we're on the topic, what might be a worthwhile collective noun for politicians? In his 1968 classic An Exaltation of Larks, James Lipton offers only "An Odium of Politicians." Which is reasonably snarky. If someone has a better blanket name with which to amusingly cover the group, or sub-groups, please let me know.
Dave Sagarin (March 20, 2013)
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