-plex

Word Origin

a combining form meaning “having parts or units” of the number specified by the initial element, occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (duplex; quadruplex); recent English coinages ending in -plex, especially denoting structures with a given number of dwelling units, are probably in part new formations with this suffix and in part based on the noun complex: fourplex; eightplex; Cineplex; Metroplex.

Origin

< Latin -plex, -plic- (akin to plicāre to fold, bend, plectere to plait, braid; see -fold) + -s nominative singular ending

Related Words

-fold
duplex
simplex
triplex
complice
diplex

-plex
noun combining form

ETYMOLOGY partly from Latin -plex (as in duplex); partly from complex

1. a figure of a given power
    googolplex
2. a building divided into an often specified number of spaces (as apartments or movie theaters)
    fourplex
    multiplex

▪ I.-plex, suffix¹|plɛks|[The L. suffix -plex (related to plicāre to fold).]A terminal element equivalent to Eng. -fold, attached chiefly to cardinal numbers (and adjs. meaning ‘many’) to form adjs., as simplex, duplex, triplex, multiplex, etc.; occurring in Eng. adjs. deriving directly from these (the earliest of which are recorded in the late 16th cent.). The use of duplex and related words in Telegr. led to the occasional development of further terms on L. analogies, as contraplex, diplex, in the late 19th cent. From the early 20th cent. the sequence duplex, triplex, etc. has been used for nouns designating ‘a building or dwelling divided into two (three, etc.) floors, residences, or the like’, and has given rise to analogous formations, as fourplex, eightplex, etc., esp. in the U.S. (illustrated below).1974R. J. Bond Calif. Real Estate Pract. i. 4/2 The duplex, triplex, and quadruplex (or fourplex) are forms of housing where the owner..can live in one unit while renting the others.1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 16 June 11-c/5 (Advt.), Year old 8 plex [etc.]... Pocket the income from our well located four plex.1986Toronto Star 28 May d1/4 (Advt.), Large Victorian triplex. Potential for legal 6 plex. Lane, private drive.▪ II.-plex, suffix².|plɛks|[A clipped form of complex n.]A terminal element in several blends designating integrated industrial facilities or other organizations characterized by (the expanded form of) the initial element, as *metroplex n., nuplex n., wasteplex.1975Nature 17 Jan. 149/1 A project..which is intended to estimate how much of the raw materials needs of such a typical area could be met by a wasteplex, a single, central, all-purpose recycling centre.

1. suffix¹ | 2. suffix²

1
-plex /plɛks/ suffix¹.

ORIGIN: Latin, from plicare to fold. Cf. -fold.

Forming adjectives from cardinal numerals (and adjectives meaning ‘many’) with the senses ‘multiplied by’, ‘having so many parts or elements’, as simplex, duplex, multiplex, etc., and parallel nouns (esp. US) with the senses ‘a building or dwelling divided into a specified number of floors, residences, etc.’, as duplex, triplex, etc.

2
-plex /plɛks/ suffix².

ORIGIN: from complex noun.

Forming nouns with the sense ‘an integrated industrial facility or other organization characterized by (the expanded form of) the initial element’, as metroplex, nuplex, wasteplex, etc.

-plex
\ˌpleks\ noun combining form
(-es)
Etymology: partly from Latin -plex (as in duplex duplex); partly from complex (III)
1. : a figure having a given power
< googolplex >
2. : a building divided into an often specified number of spaces (as apartments or movie theaters)
< fourplex >
< multiplex >

词汇	-plex
词根词缀	AHD Dictionary.com MWCD OED SOED Webster Wiktionary -plex suff.（后缀） Divided into a specified number of parts: (几)重的：被分割成指定数量各个部分的： fourplex. 四重的语源 From Latin -plex [-fold] as in duplex [two-fold] * see plek- From Latin -plex [-fold] as in duplex [two-fold] 参见 plek- -plex Word Origin 1 a combining form meaning “having parts or units” of the number specified by the initial element, occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (duplex; quadruplex); recent English coinages ending in -plex, especially denoting structures with a given number of dwelling units, are probably in part new formations with this suffix and in part based on the noun complex: fourplex; eightplex; Cineplex; Metroplex. Origin < Latin -plex, -plic- (akin to plicāre to fold, bend, plectere to plait, braid; see -fold) + -s nominative singular ending Related Words -fold duplex simplex triplex complice diplex -plex noun combining form* ETYMOLOGY partly from Latin -plex (as in duplex); partly from complex 1. a figure of a given power googolplex 2. a building divided into an often specified number of spaces (as apartments or movie theaters) fourplex multiplex ▪ I.-plex, suffix¹\|plɛks\|[The L. suffix -plex (related to plicāre to fold).]A terminal element equivalent to Eng. -fold, attached chiefly to cardinal numbers (and adjs. meaning ‘many’) to form adjs., as simplex, duplex, triplex, multiplex, etc.; occurring in Eng. adjs. deriving directly from these (the earliest of which are recorded in the late 16th cent.). The use of duplex and related words in Telegr. led to the occasional development of further terms on L. analogies, as contraplex, diplex, in the late 19th cent. From the early 20th cent. the sequence duplex, triplex, etc. has been used for nouns designating ‘a building or dwelling divided into two (three, etc.) floors, residences, or the like’, and has given rise to analogous formations, as fourplex, eightplex, etc., esp. in the U.S. (illustrated below).1974R. J. Bond Calif. Real Estate Pract. i. 4/2 The duplex, triplex, and quadruplex (or fourplex) are forms of housing where the owner..can live in one unit while renting the others.1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 16 June 11-c/5 (Advt.), Year old 8 plex [etc.]... Pocket the income from our well located four plex.1986Toronto Star 28 May d1/4 (Advt.), Large Victorian triplex. Potential for legal 6 plex. Lane, private drive.▪ II.-plex, suffix².\|plɛks\|[A clipped form of complex n.]A terminal element in several blends designating integrated industrial facilities or other organizations characterized by (the expanded form of) the initial element, as metroplex n., nuplex n., wasteplex.1975Nature 17 Jan. 149/1 A project..which is intended to estimate how much of the raw materials needs of such a typical area could be met by a wasteplex, a single, central, all-purpose recycling centre. 1. suffix¹ \| 2. suffix² 1 -plex /plɛks/ suffix¹. ORIGIN: Latin, from plicare to fold. Cf. -fold. Forming adjectives from cardinal numerals (and adjectives meaning ‘many’) with the senses ‘multiplied by’, ‘having so many parts or elements’, as simplex, duplex, multiplex, etc., and parallel nouns (esp. US) with the senses ‘a building or dwelling divided into a specified number of floors, residences, etc.’, as duplex, triplex, etc. 2 -plex /plɛks/ suffix². ORIGIN: from complex noun. Forming nouns with the sense ‘an integrated industrial facility or other organization characterized by (the expanded form of) the initial element’, as metroplex, nuplex, wasteplex, etc. -plex* \ˌpleks\ noun combining form (-es) Etymology: partly from Latin -plex (as in duplex duplex); partly from complex (III) 1. : a figure having a given power < googolplex > 2. : a building divided into an often specified number of spaces (as apartments or movie theaters) < fourplex > < multiplex > -plex Suffix comprising a number of parts, as in duplex Etymology From Latin past tense of plectere to weave, braid, twine, entwine See also -fold
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-plex

Related Words

-plex

Suffix

Etymology

See also