onefold en · ADJ
Etymology
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.
Meanings
- (not-comparable) Constituting or being indicative of a single aspect or theme.
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(not-comparable) 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:
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(not-comparable) 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
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(not-comparable) 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:
Antonyms
multifold · manifold · morefold · twofold