Where does “zillionfold” come from?
zillionfold (English) comes from English fold, from Middle English fold, from Old English fald, from Proto-Germanic faludaz — an enclosed space, enclosure.
zillionfold (English): By a factor of a zillion
Definitions
- By a factor of a zillion
Ancestry of “zillionfold”, step by step
zillionfold traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English fold
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fold | To bend over so that it comes in contact with... |
| 2 | Middle English | fold | A pen, enclosure, or shelter for domesticated animals |
| 3 | Old English | fald | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | faludaz | an enclosed space, enclosure |
via English zillion
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | zillion | An unspecified large number (of) |