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.
twofold (Middle English): double, twofold having two parts
Definitions
- double, twofold having two parts
Ancestry of “twofold”, step by step
twofold traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English twifold
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | twifold | double, twofold having two parts |
| 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 |
via Old English twēofeald
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | twēofeald | — |