Etymologically
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duplex

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdʊ.pɫɛks], [ˈdʊp.ɫɛks][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈduː.pleks], [ˈdup.leks][1]

Forms

duplex (genitive duplicis, adverb dupliciter); third-declension one-termination adjective[1] Horace has the ablative duplice.[2]

Etymology

It is from duo “two” and -plex “-fold”.[2][1][3] It may continue Proto-Italic ⟨*dupleks⟩, if Umbrian ⟨tuplak⟩, of uncertain meaning, is a cognate.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of something with a double part and of twice the amount.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Varro it meant folded over, and in Plautus having a double part, as a horse's double spine, and twice as much.[2] In Lucretius it meant two together, in Terence twofold, and in Varro taking two forms.[2] Isidore says man is twofold, inner and outer, soul and body.[5] Döderlein explains that duplex is double of countable things, duplum of quantities that are weighed or measured.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant twofold, double, insincere.[7] Medieval Latin used duplex for a gold coin.[8] British Medieval Latin used it of things with two parts and of double dealing.[9] It was borrowed into Italian duplice, and English duplex is recorded from 1817.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of double parts and amounts.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of the twofold.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of two together.[2][4]
  • 1817 – English duplex is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Folded over.[2]
  2. Having a double part; split.[2]
  3. Twice as much, double.[2]
  4. Two together; twofold.[2]
  5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Insincere, deceitful.[7][9]

Word family

  • duplicārius
  • duplicitas
  • duplicō

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from duplum.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press