an abundant source of something

Origin

The phrase 'an abundant source' isn't a quirky idiom with a hidden past, but rather a robust, descriptive pairing born from the very roots of language. 'Abundant' itself springs from the Latin 'abundare,' meaning 'to overflow,' evoking images of rivers bursting their banks or baskets spilling over with bounty. Meanwhile, 'source' traces its lineage back to the Old French 'sourse' and ultimately to the Latin 'surgere,' which means 'to rise'—most commonly referring to the bubbling origin point of a spring or river. Thus, when these two powerful descriptors merged, they painted a vivid picture: not just a simple origin, but one that rises forth ceaselessly, overflowing with a seemingly endless supply, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of English description for anything present in generous quantities.