释义 |
fourfold, a., adv., and n.|ˈfɔəfəʊld| [f. four + -fold.] A. adj. 1. Consisting of four things; made up of four parts.
c1275Lay. 1356 To þan lond hii verden þare hii leof folk funden fouruald ferde. a1300Cursor M. 28974 Chastiyng o flexs foure fald to tak, In praier, fasting, wand, and wak. 1660Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. ix. 70 A four-fold Advantage. 1823H. J. Brooke Introd. Crystallogr. 58 A four-fold cleavage, or one in four directions, will produce a tetrahedron. 1838Thirlwall Greece II. xi. 4 The four⁓fold distribution of the country is the foundation of another tradition. 1877A. B. Edwards Up Nile xii. 341 The four⁓fold surroundings of Philæ—the cataract, the river, the desert, the environing mountains. 2. Four times as great or numerous: quadruple.
c1000Ags. Gosp. Luke xix. 8 Gif ic æniᵹne bereafode ic hit be feowerfealdum agyfe. 1557Recorde Whetst. B ij, Quadrupla. 4 to 1: 8 to 2..Fowerfolde. a1650May Old Couple iv. i, 2nd Neigh. All happiness betide you. 3rd Neigh. And a reward four-fold in th' other world. 3. Comb., as fourfold-visaged adj.
1667Milton P.L. vi. 845 Nor less on either side tempestuous fell, His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd foure. B. adv. In fourfold proportion.
1535Coverdale 2 Sam. xii. 6 The shepe also shal he make good foure folde. 1873B. Stewart Conserv. Energy i. 14 Its penetrating power is increased nearly fourfold. 1875Scrivener Lect. Text N. Test. 7 [They] amount to at least fourfold that quantity. C. n. A fourfold amount. † Also spec. in U.S., ‘A quadruple assessment for neglect to make return of taxable estate’; hence ˈfourfold v., ‘to assess in a fourfold ratio’ (Webster Compend. Dict. 1806).
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 209 Ȝif y have ought bigiled ony Y ȝelde aȝen þe forefold. 1611Bible Luke xix. 8, I restore him foure fold. 1779Vermont St. Papers (1823) 296 The listers shall add the sum total of such additions and four-folds, to the sum total before mentioned. |