duplex
UK[ˈdjuːplɛks]US[ˈduːplɛks]
adj
Having two parts; double.
n
A house divided into two separate apartments or residences.
n
A type of apartment with rooms on two floors.
Morpheme Breakdown
du
plex
du
two
plex
fold
Etymology
The word 'duplex' is a direct borrowing from Latin, where 'duplex' meant 'twofold' or 'double'. It is formed from 'duo-' (two) and '-plex' (folded), literally describing something folded or twisted into two layers. This literal sense of physical doubling evolved in English to describe anything composed of two identical or complementary parts, such as a two-part dwelling or a double-stranded molecule. The logic moves from a concrete, physical state of being folded upon itself to the more abstract concept of duality and paired structure.
Analysis
Structure: du (two) + plex (fold)
'du' is from Latin 'duo', meaning 'two'. 'plex' is from Latin 'plexus', the past participle of 'plectere', meaning 'to braid, twine, fold'.
Examples
The new duplex apartment features a living area downstairs and bedrooms upstairs.
They discovered a duplex DNA structure in the laboratory.
The system allows for duplex communication, meaning signals can be sent and received simultaneously.