From Latin 'multiplex' (many-fold) — the original image is folding something many times, each fold increasing the layers.
To increase in number or quantity; to perform the mathematical operation of multiplication.
From Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre (to increase manifold, to make many times greater), derived from multiplex (having many folds, manifold), composed of multus (much, many) + plicāre (to fold) / -plex (fold, from PIE *plek- (to plait, to fold)). The original metaphor was of folding something many times over, each fold doubling the layers — like folding a sheet of paper. Latin multus comes from PIE *mel- (strong, great), and plicāre from PIE *plek- (to fold, to plait), which also underlies
A 'multiplex cinema' and the mathematical operation of 'multiplication' share the same root — both from Latin 'multiplex' (many-fold). A multiplex has many screens folded into one building; multiplication folds a number many times. Even 'simple' (from Latin 'simplex,' one-fold) is part of this family — the opposite of complex
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