twofold

Everyday

1. Twofold means having two parts or two sides, as in "a twofold problem". tree →
2. Twofold means twice as much or twice as many, as in "a twofold increase". tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science, a twofold increase means the amount doubles. In formal writing, "The reason is twofold" means there are two reasons. Phrases: "a twofold increase", "twofold purpose", "the reason is twofold", "increase twofold".

Examples

• The number of pupils in the club has increased twofold, from 10 to 20. tree →
• The purpose of the trip was twofold: to learn and to have fun. tree →
• The problem is twofold — no money and no time. tree →
• (formal) Prices have risen twofold in a short time. tree →
• Our garden produced a twofold harvest of tomatoes this year. tree →

Note

Written as one word: twofold. Similarly: threefold (three times), tenfold (ten times). In maths, "a twofold increase" means multiply by 2 (10 becomes 20), so the increase is 10 (100%). Be careful: some people use "a twofold increase" loosely, but strictly it means doubling.

In Jewish tradition

Here it is used in commentary, not the Torah, to mean in two parts, as in two groups of letters.

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah divides the Hebrew letters into groups, such as seven "double" letters with two sounds and twelve "simple" ones.

Examples

• Instead, the SY may be intimating a twofold pronunciation of Resh known among certain mediveal Jewish communities in Babylonia and elsewhere, which does indeed preserve a distinguish between ‘single’ Resh and ‘double’ Resh. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• As a matter of fact, he himself abandons the division of the letters into three parts, and rearranges them in a twofold division, one of ten and one of twelve letters. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Written as one word: twofold. Similarly: threefold (three times), tenfold (ten times). In maths, "a twofold increase" means multiply by 2 (10 becomes 20), so the increase is 10 (100%). Be careful: some people use "a twofold increase" loosely, but strictly it means doubling.