Middle English Dictionary Entry
four-fōld adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | four-fōld adj. Also -fald, -vald, foure-. |
| Etymology | OE fēowerfeald. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Having four parts or divisions; consisting of four things; (b) as noun: the ~, four times as much, four-fold amount; as adverb: in a fourfold manner, in four ways.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1356 : Þare hii leof folk funden, fouruald ferde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28974 : Chastiyng o flex foure fald [Glb: es fourfald] to tak, In praier, fasting, wand, and wak.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Corp-O 4)71 : The foure fold abice [WB(2): the iiij maner abece] in dyuerse metres.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)9/19 : A litel hole þurgh which shal be putte þe two endez of grete þrede four folde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)175 : Fowre folde: Quadruplus.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)6327 : Þis cheyn..Had foure lynkys or fourefold degre.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)8.65 (v.1:p.88) : Tweyn fals witnessis accusid hym openly of fourefolde blasphemyes, as ageyns God, ageyns Moyses, ageyns the lawe, and ageyns the temple.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)50b : Fowrefalde: quadruplex.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)108/38 : Þat ffourfald ordynance ys necessary.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 19.8 : I ȝelde the fourefold [Magd-C 6: fourth foold; WB(2): foure so myche; L quadruplum].
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)319/34 : I schal hit ȝelde aȝeyn foure-folde.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)33 : He shal ȝelde to vs þe fowrefold.