twentyfold, a., adv., and v.
(ˈtwɛntɪfəʊld)
[f. twenty + -fold. Cf. OE. twentiᵹfeald.]
A. adj. Twenty times as many or as great; multiplied by twenty; twenty times repeated.
| 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 679 Rye with twenty fold encrease. 1653 T. C. in Blithe Eng. Improv. Impr. To Capt. W. B. C vj, To raise from one to ten, yea Twentyfold. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. xiv. iii. (1864) IX. 160 The interminable process of twentyfold assertion, twentyfold objection, twentyfold conclusion. 1897 P. Warung Tales Old Regime 207 Even in the twenty-fold perjurer and the thrice condemned murderer. |
B. adv. Twenty times (in amount); twenty times as much.
| 1872 Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 970 The savour of thy kitchen came upon me A little faintlier: but the wind hath changed: I scent it twentyfold. 1905 Standard 3 Mar. 2/5 After..heavy rains,..the volume of water..was twentyfold as great. |
† C. v. To multiply by twenty. Obs. rare—0.
| 1611 Florio, Ventiplicare, to twentyfold. |