centuplicate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare (C2+)Formal, Technical, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “centuplicate” mean?
To make a hundredfold.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make a hundredfold; increase or multiply by one hundred.
Rarely, it can function as an adjective or noun meaning a hundredfold copy or amount. It is sometimes used hyperbolically to mean a very large multiplication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is so rare that any usage is likely in similar formal or academic contexts.
Connotations
Highly formal, technical, or deliberately archaic. Might be used for rhetorical effect in legal, historical, or mathematical texts.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties. It is not part of general vocabulary.
Grammar
How to Use “centuplicate” in a Sentence
[Verb] + [direct object] (e.g., 'to centuplicate the capital')[Verb] (intransitive use is virtually non-existent)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “centuplicate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The medieval scribe was instructed to centuplicate the manuscript for distribution to every abbey.
- If you centuplicate that initial investment, the returns would be astronomical.
American English
- The old contract contained a clause to centuplicate penalties for non-compliance.
- To model the population explosion, they had to centuplicate the base figure.
adjective
British English
- The centuplicate copies were stored in the vault. (archaic)
American English
- He demanded a centuplicate set of the documents. (archaic)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used. 'Increase a hundredfold' or '100x growth' are vastly preferred.
Academic
Potentially found in historical, mathematical, or philosophical texts discussing precise multiplication or medieval Latin translations.
Everyday
Virtually non-existent. Would sound bizarrely formal and obscure.
Technical
Extremely rare even in mathematics; 'multiply by 10^2' or 'scale by 100' are standard.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “centuplicate”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'duplicate' (x2) or 'triplicate' (x3).
- Pronouncing it as /ˈsentjʊplɪkət/ (stress on first syllable). The stress is on the second syllable.
- Using it in casual speech where 'multiply massively' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a legitimate but extremely rare English word, derived from Latin 'centuplicatus'.
Almost never in daily life. Its use is confined to highly formal, historical, technical, or rhetorical contexts where extreme precision or archaic flavour is desired.
They are synonyms. 'Centuplicate' is more commonly the verb form, while 'centuple' can be an adjective or noun (meaning a hundredfold amount). Both are exceedingly rare.
In British English: /sɛnˈtjuːplɪkeɪt/ (sen-TYOO-pli-kate). In American English: /sɛnˈtuːpləˌkeɪt/ (sen-TOO-pluh-kate).
To make a hundredfold.
Centuplicate is usually formal, technical, archaic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CENTURY (100 years) + DUPLICATE (to double) = to make 100 copies. A 'centurion' commands 100 men; to 'centuplicate' is to multiply by 100.
Conceptual Metaphor
GROWTH IS MULTIPLICATION (on an extreme scale).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'centuplicate'?