three English · revision 1857

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=803|origins=ine-pro *trei-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /θriː/^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|thre]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|þrēo|t=three (feminine and neuter)]], masculine [[m|ang|þrī]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*þrijiz]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*trei-|t=three]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[nl|drie]], [[de|drei]], [[non|þrír]] and [[got|𐌸𐍂𐌹𐌾𐌰|tr=þrija]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Klein 1966) and to [[la|trēs]], [[grc|τρεῖς|tr=treîs]], [[sa|त्रयः|tr=tráyaḥ]], [[lt|trys]] and [[ga|trí]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The number one more than two, recorded in Old English in 803 and as ''thre'' in the ''Peterborough Chronicle'' in 1123.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The number word has kept its meaning; its history lies mostly in compounds and phrases.^(Etymonline) ''Threesome'', a group of three, dates from 1375 and ''threescore'' from about 1388, in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988) The three dimensions were so called from the late 14th century, and ''3-D'', short for ''three-dimensional'' (1878), is attested by 1952.^(Etymonline) From about 1535 ''three or four'' was used loosely for a small number.^(HTOED) Modern phrases include ''three cheers'' (1751), ''three-piece suit'' (1897), ''three-ring circus'' (1898), ''three-sixty'', a complete turnaround, first among aviators (1927), and ''three-martini lunch'' (1972);^(Etymonline) the saying ''third time lucky'' dates from the mid 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 803 – Old English ''þrī'', ''þrēo''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1123 – ''thre'', in the ''Peterborough Chronicle''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1375 – ''threesome''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – the three dimensions.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1535 – ''three or four'', a few.^(HTOED)

+ * 1751 – ''three cheers''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1898 – ''three-ring circus''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1927 – ''three-sixty''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1952 – ''3-D''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Numeral===

+ # The [[cardinal number]] one more than two; 3.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The figure 3 or the Roman numeral III.^(Collins 2023)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # A set or group of three people or things.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # The third in a set or series, such as a [[playing card]] with three pips.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Three o'clock; the age of three years.^(Collins 2023)^(Chambers 2008)

+ # ''(basketball)'' A three-point shot.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Amounting to three in number.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[third]]

+ * [[thrice]]

+ * [[triple]]

+ * [[thirteen]]

+ * [[thirty]]

+ * [[trio]]

+ * [[triad]]

+ * [[trinity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}