English
unfold
Unfold comes from Old English unfealdan ‘to unfold’, from fealdan ‘to fold’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pel-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pel-‘to fold’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*falþaną‘to fold’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*falþan‘to fold’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fealdan‘to fold’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150unfealdan‘to unfold’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500unfolden
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602unfold
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pel-‘to fold’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*falþaną‘to fold’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*falþan‘to fold’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fealdan‘to fold’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150unfealdan‘to unfold’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500unfolden
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602unfold
Earliest quotation: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pel- ‘to fold’
film, felt, simple, simply, push, filter, powder, complain, pulse, pillow, repeal, flaw, palate, compulsive, expel, pollen, repel, palpable, palladium, propel, palatable, pall, pelt, wallow, peloton, tuple, polemic, palatal, muffle, pollinate, apoplexy, peplum, pulver, palp, pillion, interpolate, 63 more
Today it means
verb To undo a folding.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pel- / unfold