Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “multiplying” come from?

Multiplying derives from English multiple, from French multiple, from Latin multus meaning "many," combined with Latin plico meaning "to fold," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ḱóm and līg-.

multiplying (English): present participle of multiply; An act of...

Definitions

  1. present participle of multiply; An act of...

Ancestry of “multiplying”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmultiplyTo increase the amount, degree or number of; To...
2EnglishplyA layer of material; A strand that, twisted...
3EnglishapplyTo lay or place; to put; To put to use; to use or...
4Middle Englishaplien—
5Old Frenchapplierto bend; to apply
6Latinapplicō—
7Latinad-to; usually prefixed to verbs, in which cases it...
8Latinīn-—
9Latinîn—
10Latinenlookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ
11Proto-Italicenin
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én →