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