Suffix · forms adjectives and adverbs
From Old English "-feald" (layer, fold): forms multipliers. Tenfold = ten times; manifold = multiple; twofold = double. Very common in journalism and formal prose.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
-fold comes from Old English "-feald" (fold, layer) and forms adjectives and adverbs meaning "multiplied by X". twofold = double (multiplied by two). threefold = triple (multiplied by three). tenfold = ten times as great. hundredfold = a hundred times as great. manifold = multiple, of many layers (many + fold). In a sentence: "a tenfold increase" = an increase to ten times the original.
"manifold" = multiform, varied, of many kinds. From "many + fold" (many layers). In philosophy: the "manifold of experience" (Kant) = the raw data of experience before it is organised by the mind. In engineering: a "manifold" = a pipe fitting that connects several outlets from one inlet. In literary prose: "manifold difficulties" = multiple and varied difficulties. "the manifold forms of injustice." C2, very formal.
In economic and scientific journalism, -fold is extremely frequent: "a tenfold increase in cases" = cases multiplied by ten. "profits rose fourfold" = profits quadrupled. "a hundredfold improvement" = an improvement of a hundred times. It is more precise and more formal than "ten times more" or "quadrupled." Appears constantly in The Economist, Financial Times, Nature, Science. Note: "increase tenfold" = multiply by ten (the final total is ten times the original). Do not confuse with "increase by ten" (adding ten to the original).
Number or quantifier + fold. Produces multiplying adjectives/adverbs.
"Manifold" is the only non-numerical form that survives as a standalone adjective with its own meaning (multiple, varied). "Sevenfold" is also used as a band name (Avenged Sevenfold). All -fold forms can be used as adjectives ("a tenfold increase") or adverbs ("profits rose tenfold").
-fold/foʊld/ · rhymes with cold
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
If something goes from 100 to 1000, it increased tenfold. -fold always signals multiplication, not addition.
"manyfold" is not a standard word. The correct form is "manifold" for the meaning of "multiple and varied". In technical contexts: manifold = a pipe fitting with multiple outlets.
"The problem is twofold" = the problem has two dimensions. "a twofold increase" = an increase to double. Both uses are correct and frequent.
A trick to remember it
-fold = multiplied by. Essential in journalism: tenfold (×10), hundredfold (×100), fourfold (×4). Literary: manifold (multiple/varied). "profits rose tenfold" = profits multiplied by 10. Do not confuse with "an increase of ten".
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"Profits rose tenfold" means...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"The problem is twofold" means...
The suffix -fold from Old English "-feald" (layer, fold): forms multipliers. Tenfold = ten times; manifold = multiple; twofold = double. Very common in journalism and formal prose. In Spanish it usually maps to times / multiplied by.
The ending -fold is pronounced /foʊld/ · rhymes with cold. For example, "twofold".
"two" becomes "twofold". It is a typical example of the -fold suffix.
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
From Old English "-mast": forms superlatives of absolute position or degree. Utmost, foremost, innermost, uttermost, topmost, northernmost.
From Old English "-weard" (direction): forms adverbs and adjectives of direction or tendency. Inward, outward, forward, wayward, awkward.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.