triplex

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈtrɪ.pɫɛks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtriː.pleks]^[1]

Forms

triplex (genitive triplicis, adverb tripliciter); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from trēs “three” and -plex “-fold”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of something threefold.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant threefold, occurring three times, and with plural nouns three together, as in Plautus.^[2] In Horace the neuter meant three times as much, in Caesar it meant made of three equal parts, as a triple line of battle, and in Varro made of three different parts.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant triple, threefold.^[4] Medieval Latin used it as triplus “threefold”.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it of sets of three and in music of three-part writing.^[6] It was borrowed into Italian triplice and English triplex.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the threefold.^[2][3]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of three equal parts.^[2][3]
• 65–8 BC – Horace uses the neuter for three times as much.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Threefold, triple.^[2]
2. Three together.^[2]
3. Made of three parts.^[2]
4. As a noun, three times as much.^[2]
5. (Medieval Latin) (music) In three parts.^[6]

Word family

• triplicārius

Related words

• trēs
• triplus
• duplex
• simplex
• English triplex

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
5. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press