multiplus

Forms

multiplus (feminine multipla, neuter multiplum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin multus (“much, many”) + -plus (“-fold”),^[1] formed like multiplex (“manifold”), which Wiktionary compares.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its only ancient record is in Boethius' translation of Aristotle's Topics (2.3), in the sense “multiple, manifold”,^[2][3][4] from the first quarter of the 6th century AD.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Vitelo's Optics an angle is multiplus of another, many times greater than it, with the genitive, dative or ablative.^[6] Humanists used it for manifold or multiple: Lefèvre calls the rational way of philosophising multiplus, as opposed to the simplus intellect.^[7]

Timeline

• 1st quarter of 6th century AD – Boethius uses it in his translation of Aristotle's Topics.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Multiple, manifold.^[2][3][4][7]
2. (Medieval Latin) Many times greater (than), a multiple of.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
7. ^ a b Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de