duplicate

Where does the word "duplicate" come from? It comes from Latin duo, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Duplicate’s story begins in Latin: duo meant “two.” Two, combined with plicare (to fold). Within Latin, it grew into duplicare by ancient. To double, to fold in two, from duo (two) and plicare (to fold). It reached English by 1400s as duplicate. Settled as the English word for an exact copy of something. Today, duplicate means an exact copy of something, or to make an exact copy.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient duo "two", two, combined with plicare (to fold).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient duplicare "to double, to fold in two", to double, to fold in two, from duo (two) and plicare (to fold).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s duplicate "an exact copy of something", settled as the English word for an exact copy of something.