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Today it means

multiple

consisting of, or involving, more than one part, element, or instance

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Where does the word "multiple" come from? It comes from Latin multiplex, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "multiple" come from? It comes from Latin multiplex, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

Multiple’s story begins in Latin: multiplex meant “having many folds.” Having many folds, from multus (many) and plicare (to fold). It reached English by 1650s as multiple. Settled as the English word for consisting of more than one part. Today, multiple means consisting of, or involving, more than one part, element, or instance.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient multiplex "having many folds", having many folds, from multus (many) and plicare (to fold).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1650s multiple "consisting of more than one part or element", settled as the English word for consisting of more than one part.

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