few(adj.)
古英语 feawe(复数形式缩写为 fea)“不多,少量; 很少,甚至一点点”,源自原始日耳曼语 *fawaz(也是古撒克逊语 fa 、古弗里西亚语 fe 、古高地德语 fao 、古诺尔斯语 far 、丹麦语 faa 的来源),源自 PIE 词根 *pau-(1)“少,小”。
在古英语中始终为复数形式,根据 OED“根据副词 fela 的类比”,意为“许多”。短语 few and far between 自1660年代开始使用。在 quite a few(1854年)中的不寻常的反讽用法,意为“许多”,早期为 a good few(1803年)。
There is likewise another dialectical use of the word few among them [i.e. "the Northern Counties"], seemingly tending to its total overthrow; for they are bold enough to say—"a good few," meaning a good many. [Samuel Pegge, "Anecdotes of the English Language," London, 1803]
同样,在他们(即“北部县”)之间,单词 few 有另一种方言用法,似乎趋向于完全推翻它; 因为他们足够大胆地说—— "a good few,",意思是 a good many。[塞缪尔·佩吉,“英语语言轶事”,伦敦,1803年]