MAH – ‘great desire to extend’

מאה or מאת, one hundred. The name of this number indicates an extension produced by the desire to be extended, to be manifested. The root of this word אוה, literally desire, is here governed by the sign of exterior action מ. One finds the Arabic expressing to extend and to dilate. In nearly all the tongues of Asia, mah signifies great. (D’Olivet)