Double | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Double (dŭb'l), a.

adjective

Double (dŭb'l), a. [Fr. double, Pr. & Sp. doble, It. doppio, Pg. dobre, dobro, from Lat. duplus, double, twice as large or much, from duplex, twofold, double, from duo, two, and plicare, to fold, D. & Sw. dubbel, H. Ger. doppelt, L. Ger. dubbelt, Dan. dobbelt.]

Sense 1. Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent.

Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 2 Kings ii. 9.

Darkness and tempest make a double night. Dryden.

Sense 2. In pairs; presenting two in a set together; coupled; made up of two mutual equivalents or corresponding parts.

The swan, on still St. Mary's lake, Floats double, swan and shadow. Wordsworth.

Sense 3. Divided into two; vacillating; hence, deceitful; acting two parts, one openly and the other secretly.

And with a double heart do they speak. Ps. xii. 2.

Sense 4. (Bot.) Having several rows of petals formed by cultivation from stamens and carpels. See DOUBLE-FLOWER.

Double counterpoint (Mus.), that species of counterpoint or composition, in which two of the parts may be inverted, by setting one of them an octave higher or lower. — Double note (Mus.), a note of double the length of the semibreve or minim; a breve. See BREVE. — Double refraction. (Opt.) See REFRACTION.

Dōŭb'le, adv.

adverb

(dŭb'l), adv. Twice; twofold. I was double their age. Swift. ☞ Double is often used in composition, denoting two ways, or twice the number or quantity.

Doŭb'le, v. t.

verbtransitive

(dŭb'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. DOUBLE; p. pr. & vb. n. DOUBLING.] [Fr. doubler, Pr. & Sp. doblar, Pg. dobrar, It. doppiare, Lat. duplare, from duplus, and duplicare, from duplex. See supra.] 1. To increase by adding an equal number, quantity, length, value, or the like; to multiply by two; to make twice as great; to duplicate; as, to double a sum of money; to double a number, a length, and the like. Double six thousand, and then treble that. Shak.

To make of two thicknesses or folds by turning or bending together in the middle; to fold one part upon another part of; as, to double the leaf of a book, and the like;—often followed by up; as, to double up a sheet of paper or cloth. Prior.
To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth twice as much as.

Thus re-enforced, against the adverse fleet, Still doubling ours, Prince Rupert leads the way. Dryden. 4. To pass around or by; to march or sail round, so as to reverse the direction of motion. Sailing along the coast, he doubled the promontory of Carthage. Knolles. 5. (Mil.) To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one.

Dōŭb'le, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To be increased to twice the sum, number, quantity, length, or value; to increase or grow to twice as much.

’Tis observed in particular nations, that within the space of three hundred years, notwithstanding all casualties, the number of men doubles. Burnet.

Sense 2. To return upon one’s track; to turn and go back over the same ground, or in an opposite direction.

Doubling and turning like a hunted hare. Dryden.

Doubling and doubling with laborious walk. Wordsworth.

Sense 3. To play tricks; to use sleights; to play false.

What penalty and danger you accrue, If you be found to double. J. Webster.

Sense 4. (Print.) To set up a word or phrase a second time by mistake.

To double upon (Mil.), to inclose between two fires.

Dōŭb'le, n.

noun

n. [Lat. duplum, from duplus. See DOUBLE, a.] 1. Twice as much; twice the number, sum, quantity, length, value, and the like. If the thief be found, let him pay double. Ex. xxii. 7. 2. That which is doubled over or together; a doubling; a plait; a fold. *Rolled up in seven-fold double Of plagues.* Marston. 3. A turn or circuit in running to escape pursuers; hence, a trick; a shift; an artifice. These men are too well acquainted with the chase to be flung off by any false steps or doubles. Addison. 4. Something precisely equal or counterpart to another; a counterpart. My charming friend . . . has, I am almost sure, a double, who preaches his afternoon sermons for him. Atlantic Monthly.

A kind of beer of unusual, or twice the common, strength; strong beer. [Obs.] “Here’s a pot of good double.” Shak.
A roofing slate of the smallest size used, measuring about one foot by one foot and six inches.

Ogilvie.