a native English suffix meaning "of so many parts," or denoting multiplication by the number indicated by the stem or word to which the suffix is attached: twofold; manifold.
[ ME; OE -fald, -feald, c. OFris, OS -fald, G -falt, ON -faldr, Goth -falths, all repr. the Gmc base of FOLD 1 ; akin to Gk -ploos, -plous (see HAPLO-, DIPLO-), L -plus (see SIMPLE, DOUBLE, etc.), -plex -PLEX ]