-plex

Forms

-plex (genitive -plicis); third-declension one-termination suffix^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *-plek-s.^[2] De Vaan thinks duplex (“double”) was probably the model for the whole group, its first part being taken from duo (“two”).^[2] Ernout and Meillet's derivation from Proto-Indo-European *plek- (“to plait, twine”), giving the sense “-fold”, fits the meaning well in his view;^[2] Walde and Hofmann preferred a link with plaga² (“surface, area”), which he finds much less likely.^[2] The OLD compares plicō (“to fold”).^[3]

Cognate with Ancient Greek δίπλαξ (díplax, “in two layers, double”) and Ancient Greek τρίπλαξ (tríplax, “threefold”), from zero-grade *dui-plḱ- (“twofold”); Umbrian tuplak, of unknown meaning, may belong here, but it is hard to reconcile with that root.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Adjectives in -plex are found from Plautus on: simplex “single, simple”, duplex “double”, triplex “threefold”, quadruplex, centuplex “hundredfold” and multiplex “manifold”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The suffix is mostly added to numerals and corresponds to English “-fold”.^[3] Varro has decemplex “tenfold”,^[2] and the OLD sees the same element, probably, in supplex “suppliant”.^[3] Verbs in -plicāre were made from the adjectives: duplicāre “to double” from Naevius on, quadruplicāre from Plautus, decemplicāre in Varro.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 200 BC – Plautus uses simplex, duplex, triplex, quadruplex, centuplex and multiplex.^[2][4]
• 1st century BC – Varro has decemplex “tenfold”.^[2]

Meanings

Suffix

1. Forms adjectives from numerals and words of quantity, meaning “-fold”: duplex “twofold”, multiplex “manifold”.^[3][1]

Word family

• simplex
• duplex
• triplex
• quadruplex
• decemplex
• centuplex
• multiplex
• supplex

Related words

• plicō
• plectō¹

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de