Twy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic combining form meaning twice or double, found in old compounds such as those describing things folded or made in two parts
2. A obsolete prefix-like element expressing the idea of two or twofold, used in older English words
3. An old English form signifying double or two times, now seen mainly in historical or dialect compounds

Etymology: In older English and Scots, "twy" was a spelling of the number two, a variant of forms like "twey" and "twa." It descends from Old English "twā," the feminine and neuter form of "two," which goes back to the same Germanic root as the modern number. Medieval scribes spelled the vowel in several ways, so the "y" reflects spelling habits of the period rather than a different sound or meaning. The form survived longest in northern dialects, while standard English settled on "two."