Where does “twofold” come from?
twofold (Middle English) comes from Middle English twifold, from Old English twifeald, from Proto-Germanic twifaldaz, from Proto-Germanic twi-, from Proto-Indo-European dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ — two.
Ancestry of “twofold”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | twifold | — |
| 2 | Old English | twifeald | twofold, double, twice as much, twice the amount,... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | twifaldaz | twofold; double |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | twi- | two, double |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dwi- | two; apart, asunder |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dwóh₁ | two |
Words derived from “twofold”