2 ms·
Perhaps a question of mere semantics but why use the word 'fold' when it means times? Is it just to sound more "sophisticated"?
by zeristor 7y ago
Perhaps a question of mere semantics but why use the word 'fold' when it means times? Is it just to sound more "sophisticated"?
- ben_w 7y agoApparently “fold” is an archaic suffix that means the same thing as times. I grew up with that so I haven’t really thought about it much.
- dwheeler 7y ago"Fold" is not archaic, but it may be more common in some regions compared to others (see "pop" vs. "soda"). The "-fold" suffix is in Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary and it does NOT have an "archaic" marking. It's also one of the answers when you ask Google to "define fold" (you have to look lower because suffixes are sorted after the main word). I use the suffix myself; it's nice and short when you need to express the concept.
- reitzensteinm 7y agoAccusing the author of using "122 fold" instead of "times 122" to sound smart with a comment containing the phrase "a question of mere semantics" just might be peak HN.