multiply

multiply
\ \ [13] Multiply is one of a large family of English words based on Latin multusmuch’, a word of uncertain origin which may be related to Greek málavery’ and Latin meliorbetter’. Multiply itself comes from the Latin derivative multiplicāre, formed with the element plic- ‘fold’ found also in complicated, explicit, etc, and therefore very closely parallel to the native English compound manifold. Other members of the family include multiple [17], from late Latin multiplus (the -plus is a relative of the -plic- in multiplicāre); multitude [14], from Latin multitūdōcrowd’, formed with the abstract noun suffix -tūdō; and of course the host of words formed since the 16th century with the prefix multi-, including multifarious [17] (based on Latin -fāriusdoing’), multilateral [17], multinational [20], multiracial [20], and multistorey [20].
\ \ Cf.FOLD

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • multiply — mul‧ti‧ply [ˈmʌltplaɪ] verb multiplied PTandPP [intransitive, transitive] 1. to increase greatly or to make something increase greatly: • Program length commercials are multiplying nationwide. • This year we hope to multiply exports to about… …   Financial and business terms

  • Multiply — Mul ti*ply, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Multiplied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Multiplying}.] [F. multiplier, L. multiplicare, fr. multiplex manifold. See {Multitude}, {Complex}.] 1. To increase in number; to make more numerous; to add quantity to. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Multiply — Mul ti*ply, v. i. 1. To become greater in number; to become numerous. [1913 Webster] When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Gen. vi. 1. [1913 Webster] 2. To increase in extent and influence; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Multiply — est un album de Jamie Lidell produit par Warp Records. Cet album a des sonorités soul et funk, ce qui est assez inhabituel pour Warp records qui produit surtout des albums de musique électronique. Il y a des invités sur cet album comme Gonzales… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • multiply — Ⅰ. multiply [1] ► VERB (multiplies, multiplied) 1) obtain from (a number) another which contains the first number a specified number of times. 2) increase in number or quantity. 3) increase in number by reproducing. ORIGIN Latin multiplicare …   English terms dictionary

  • multiply — index accrue (increase), accumulate (enlarge), bear (yield), compound, enlarge, expand …   Law dictionary

  • multiply — (v.) mid 12c., multeplier, to cause to become many, from O.Fr. multiplier, mouteplier (12c.) increase, get bigger; flourish; breed; extend, enrich, from L. multiplicare to increase, from multiplex (gen. multiplicis) having many folds, many times… …   Etymology dictionary

  • multiply — *increase, augment, enlarge Analogous words: propagate, reproduce, breed, *generate: expand, spread, stretch (see corresponding nouns at EXPANSE) Contrasted words: *decrease, diminish, lessen, reduce, abate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • multiply — [v] increase; reproduce accumulate, add, aggrandize, aggregate, augment, boost, breed, build up, compound, cube, double, enlarge, expand, extend, generate, heighten, magnify, manifold, mount, populate, procreate, produce, proliferate, propagate,… …   New thesaurus

  • multiply — multiply1 [mul′tə plī΄] vt. multiplied, multiplying [ME multiplien < OFr multiplier < L multiplicare < multiplex,MULTIPLE] 1. to cause to increase in number, amount, extent, or degree 2. Math. to find the product of by multiplication vi …   English World dictionary

  • multiply */ — UK [ˈmʌltɪplaɪ] / US [ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪ] verb Word forms multiply : present tense I/you/we/they multiply he/she/it multiplies present participle multiplying past tense multiplied past participle multiplied 1) [intransitive] to increase by a large… …   English dictionary

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