triquetrus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈtrɪ.kʷɛ.trʊs], [trɪˈkʷɛt.rʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtriː.kʷe.trus], [triˈkʷɛt.rus]^[1]

Forms

triquetrus (feminine triquetra, neuter triquetrum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

The second element is unclear.^[2][1] De Vaan considers *tri-quadro-, with a noun *quadro- “rectangle, angle” (compare quadrus), though the sound changes would point to an early date, or a form of quater “four times”.^[2][3] Walde and Hofmann derive it from the root of Germanic *χwat- “to whet, sharpen”, as in English whet, which is phonologically possible but semantically difficult.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Lucretius, who speaks of shapes some triangular, others square.^[2][4] Köbler's first source is Cicero.^[5] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant three-cornered, triangular, as Caesar's Britain, an island triangular in shape, and Columella's triangular field.^[3][4][6] In astronomy it described bodies a third of the zodiac apart, at an angle of 120°.^[3] In poetry it meant Sicilian, from the shape of Sicily.^[1][6]

In Medieval Latin, as triquadrus, it meant tripartite, of the world with its three continents, and Triquetra was a name for Sicily.^[7]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of triangular shapes.^[4][5]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar describes Britain as triangular.^[4][5]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a field.^[4][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Three-cornered, triangular.^[3]
2. (astronomy) In trine aspect, 120° apart.^[3]
3. (poetic) Sicilian.^[1][6]

Related words

• quattuor
• quadrus
• quater
• English whet

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ 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