triplus

Forms

triplus (feminine tripla, neuter triplum); first/second-declension numeral^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *triplos, from the root of trēs “three” and the suffix -plus “-fold”.^[1][2] The OLD compares Ancient Greek τριπλόος (triplóos, “threefold”).^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis and Short cite Plautus' triplō plūs scortōrum “three times as many harlots”.^[4] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant threefold, triple, three times as much, as Cicero's pars in his Timaeus, and as a neuter noun an amount three times as great.^[3][4][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for triple in size or number, and of the triple ordeal.^[6] It survives in Italian treppio, and Old French treble from it gave English treble in the late 13th century.^[1][7] Medieval Latin triplāre gave the verb English triple.^[1][7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses triplō plūs.^[4][2]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in his Timaeus.^[5][2]
• late 13th century – English treble is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Threefold, triple; as a noun, three times as much.^[3]

Word family

• subtriplus
• triplaris

Related words

• trēs
• duplus
• triplex
• English triple
• English treble

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com