onefold
adjEtymology From Middle English onfold, anfald (“single, simple, honest, onefold”), from Old English ānfeald (“single, simple”, literally “onefold”), from Proto-West Germanic *ainfald, from Proto-Germanic *ainafalþaz (“onefold, simple”), equivalent to one + -fold. Cognate with Dutch eenvoud (“simplicity, easiness”), German Einfalt (“simplicity”) and einfach (“simple”), Icelandic einfaldur (“simple”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍆𐌰𐌻𐌸𐍃 (ainfalþs, “simple”). More at one, -fold.
1
Constituting or being indicative of a single aspect or theme.
2
Consisting of a single undivided part; whole; complete.
- There the soul is onefold, pure and chaste, and empty of all things.2005, Boeve, Geybels, Van den Bossche, Encountering transcendence:
3
Simple, plain, straightforward.
- [Her] object was simple enough; but it was too simple—too onefold (if I may borrow an expressive word from my native tongue: ae-fauld we write it in Scotch) for the apprehension of ordinary persons[.]1875, Mrs. Oliphant, Whiteladies
4
Singular, as opposite to plural.
- Ye see how ready men are to misconstrue and pervert the onefold meaning of the Lord.1844, Robert Rollock, Select works of Robert Rollock:
- Derived terms
- onefoldness