Where does “eightfold” come from?

Eightfold derives from Old English eahtafeald, combining Old English aht (eight) with the suffix -feald from Proto-Germanic -falþaz (fold, multiplied), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pel- (to fold).

eightfold (English): Eight times as much; multiplied by eight;...

Definitions

  1. Eight times as much; multiplied by eight;...

Ancestry of “eightfold”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englisheahtafealdeightfold
2Old English-fealdsuffix denoting multiplication, or consisting of...
3Proto-West Germanic*-falþ—
4Proto-Germanic-falþaz-fold
5Proto-Indo-European-poltos-fold
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

Words derived from “eightfold”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic -falþaz →Every word from Old English -feald →