An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Consisting of, having, or involving several or many individuals, parts, elements, etc.
Math.: A number that contains another number an integral number of times without a remainder: 25 is a multiple of 5.

Etymology (EN): From Fr. multiple, from L.L. multiplus “manifold,” from L. → multi- “many, much” + -plus “fold,” from base of plicare “to fold, twist.”

Etymology (PE): Bastâ-, from bas “many, much” (Mid.Pers. vas “many, much;” O.Pers. vasiy “at will, greatly, utterly;” Av. varəmi “I wish,” vasô, vasə “at one’s pleasure or will,” from vas- “to will, desire, wish”) + tâ “fold, plait, ply; piece, part,” also a multiplicative suffix; Mid.Pers. tâg “piece, part.”