Etymologically
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triplex

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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

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