▪ I. twifold, twyfold, a. and adv. arch.
(ˈtwaɪfəʊld)
Forms: 1 twyfeald, (twiefeald, -fald, twiᵹfeald, tweofeald), 1–3 twifeald, 3 twifald, -feld, 4–5 tweyfold(e, 5–6 twifolde, 3– twifold, 5– twyfold, 7, 9 twy-fold.
[OE. twifeald, twyfeald: = OFris. twifald, OHG. zwifalt (MHG. zwivalt), ON. tv{iacu}faldr (Norw. dial. tvifald): see twi- and -fold, and cf. twofold.]
A. adj.
1. Twofold, double.
| c 890 tr. Bæda's Hist. i. x. [xiii.] (1890) 48 Betwih him twam we þus tweofealdne deað þrowiað, oððe sticode beoð oððe on sæ adruncene. c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxv. 238 Hu hefiᵹ ðæt twyfealde [v.r. twiefalde] ᵹeswinc bið. c 1200 Ormin 4997 Þatt fulle lufe..birrþ ben..Twifald..; Forr þe birrþ lufenn Godd & mann. c 1220 Bestiary 424 in O.E. Misc. 14 Twifold forbisne in ðis der..we muȝen finden her. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus Q j, Her twifolde murther committed on her selfe and Telamon. 1623 Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Gen. B ij, Adam..begat of his wife a twifold race of children. 1812 Cary Dante, Purg. xxxi. 122 Within those orbs the twyfold being shone. 1912 Eng. Rev. Apr. 1 Queen of the Shadows, Maid and Wife, Twifold in essence, as in life. |
† 2. fig. a. Double-dealing, deceitful, insincere: = double a. 5. b. Double-minded, irresolute. Obs.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxv. 244 Hwæt tacniað ðonne ða hean hwammas buton unclænu & twyfeald [v.r. twiefeald] mod? c 1200 Vices & Virt. 15 Bute he bie rihtwis and naht twifeald. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 187 Ðe twifealde man is unstedefast on alle his spechen, twifold oðer manifold is þe man þe nis stedefast. |
B. adv.
1. In two parts or divisions; (folded) double.
| 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Doblegar to double, to bend twifold. |
2. In two ways or respects, doubly.
| a 1619 Fletcher, etc. Q. Corinth iv. i, Your T beard..twifold doth express the enamour'd Courtier. |
▪ II. twifold, v. rare. arch.
[f. twi- + fold v.1; cf. OE. twifildan to double.]
trans. To fold in two; to bend double.
| 1875 Morris æneid xii. 927 Then falleth..Turnus with his hampered knee twifolded with the wound. |
¶ trans. and intr. [perh. f. twifold a.] (Sense uncertain; rendering L. distinguĕre, itself app. a mistranslation, in two passages of the Vulgate.) Obs.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter lxv[i]. 14 Mi hotes..Whilk twi-falded mi lippes. Ibid. cv[i]. 33 For þai gremed gast of him swa, And he twi-falded [v.r. twifolded] in his lippes. |