treble English · revision 1003

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɹɛbəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|treble]], [[bor|fro|treble]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|triplus|t=threefold]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the AHD citing it through [[la-med|triplum]].^(AHD) It is a doublet of [[triple]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, threefold, triple (late 13th century);^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) as a noun, anything threefold (1324–25).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early harmonized music the main melody was in the [[tenor]], and the voices added above it were the alto and the treble, the third part;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) so ''treble'' came to mean the highest part (before 1338 as a noun; c. 1440 as an adjective).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) From this came the senses “high-pitched, shrill” (1562)^(OED 1989) and, in sound recording, the higher range of audio frequencies.^(MW Collegiate) The verb “to make three times as great” dates from before 1325.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 13th century – adjective, threefold.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1325 – verb, to multiply by three.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1338 – noun, the highest part in music.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1440 – adjective, of the highest part.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1562 – high-pitched, shrill.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Threefold; [[triple]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of or having the highest part, voice or range in music.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # High-pitched; [[shrill]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The highest part, voice, instrument or range; a [[soprano]], or a singer or player who performs this part.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A high or shrill voice or sound.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The higher range of sound frequencies in recording and broadcasting.^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something threefold; three times as much.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become three times as great; to triple.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trebleness]]

+ * [[trebly]]

+ * [[treble clef]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[triple]]

+ * [[bass]]

+ * [[tenor]]

+ * [[double]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}