double English · revision 3284

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la duo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdʌb.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|duble|t=twice, twofold]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|doble|t=double, twofold; two-faced, deceitful]], duble,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|duplus|t=twofold, twice as much]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|duo|t=two]] and [[m|la|-plus|t=-fold]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*dwo-|t=two]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The verb is from Old French dobler, from Latin duplāre.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is a doublet of [[duple]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest recorded use is about 1200 in double-feast, an important church festival;^(Etymonline) the adjective “twice, twofold” is probably from before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to make double”, is from about 1200^(Etymonline) or before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Twice as much or as large” and “of two layers, of extra thickness” are from about 1300,^(Etymonline) and “characterized by duplicity” from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) A duplicate copy is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) A backward turn to escape pursuers, of the noun, and “to turn in the opposite direction”, of the verb, are from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) An actor or singer able to replace a principal is by 1800, originally in opera, and the stunt double by 1945.^(Etymonline) ''Double time'' in the army is from 1833,^(Etymonline) the ''double bed'' from 1798, in Jane Austen's letters,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''double cross'', “an act of treachery”, from 1834.^(Barnhart 1988) A double measure of liquor is by 1922.^(Etymonline) The game of ''doubles'' in tennis is by 1884,^(Etymonline) and a two-base hit in baseball by 1938.^(Etymonline) ''Double take'' and ''doubletalk'' are from 1938, in American English.^(Barnhart 1988) “To work in a second job besides one's own” is about 1920, circus slang for performers who also played in the band.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – double-feast.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – twice as much; verb, to make double.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – deceitful.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – a backward turn.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1798 – ''double bed''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1800 – a stand-in performer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – ''double cross''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1884 – doubles in tennis.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1938 – ''double take''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Twice as much in size, strength or amount.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Made of two like parts; [[paired]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Made for two: ''a double bed''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # Deceitful; two-faced.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of flowers, having more petals than usual.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something twice as great.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A person or thing that closely resembles another; a [[duplicate]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # An actor who stands in for another, as a [[understudy|alt=understudy]] or in dangerous scenes.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(plural)'' A game with two players on each side.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A sharp turn, especially in running away.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become twice as great.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To fold in two.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To serve in an additional role: ''the sofa doubles as a bed''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To turn back sharply.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Twice; in twos: ''see double''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[doubleness]]

+ * [[doubler]]

+ * [[redouble]]

+ * [[undouble]]

+ * [[body double]]

+ * [[daily double]]

+ * [[ground rule double]]

+ * [[double up]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[duple]]

+ * [[duplicate]]

+ * [[duplex]]

+ * [[doubt]]

+ * [[dubious]]

+ * [[twofold]]

+ * [[doublet]]

+ * [[doubloon]]

+ * [[two]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}