quadruple

Where does the word "quadruple" come from? It comes from Latin quadru, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Quadruple’s story begins in Latin: quadru meant “four.” Four, combined with plicare (to fold). It reached English by 1400s as quadruple. Settled as the English word for four times the amount. Today, quadruple means four times the amount, size, or number of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quadru "four", four, combined with plicare (to fold).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s quadruple "four times the amount, size, or number", settled as the English word for four times the amount.