English
quadruple
Quadruple comes from Latin quadruplus ‘fourfold, quadruple’, from quattuor ‘four’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwṓr.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷetwṓrreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kʷettwōr‘four’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEquattuor‘four’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEquadruplus‘fourfold, quadruple’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500quadruple
- Englishearliest quotation 1950same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷetwṓrreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kʷettwōr‘four’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEquattuor‘four’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEquadruplus‘fourfold, quadruple’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500quadruple
- Englishearliest quotation 1950same form
Earliest quotation: 1950, Network News: Watford Tunnel, L.M.R.: “On June 8, 1872, the London & North Western…”
Formed from quadri- + -ple
The story
Can be analyzed as quadri- + -ple.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwṓr
through Proto-Italic *kʷettwōr ‘four’
through Latin quattuor ‘four’
square, squad, cater, quarry, cadre, quadratic, quatre, cuatro, quatrain, 28 more
Today it means
adj Being four times as long, as big or as many of something.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwṓr / quadruple