third English · revision 3644

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 750 (Cynewulf's Christ)|origins=ine-pro *trei-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /θɜːd/, US /θɝːd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|thridde]] (later [[m|enm|therdde]]), [[inh|ang|þridda]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*þriðjaz]],^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*tri-tyo-]], a suffixed form of [[m|ine-pro|*trei-|t=three]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Its relatives include [[de|dritte]], [[nl|derde]], [[la|tertius]] and [[grc|τρίτος|tr=trítos]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[three]], [[tertiary]] and [[tierce]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Next after the second: Old English ''þridda'', about 750, in Cynewulf's ''Christ''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary explains why ''three'' has ''r'' before the vowel and ''third'' after it: Old English ''þridda'' would have given ''thrid'', but the ''r'' and ''i'' changed places, a change that began in Northumbria in Old English times, as in the form ''þirdda'', and spread south in Middle English.^(AHD 2000) The same swap produced ''bird'' from ''bridd'' and ''nostril'' from ''thyrl''.^(AHD 2000) Etymonline dates the Northumbrian form to about 950 and notes that ''thrid'' lasted until the 16th century.^(Etymonline) The noun “a third part” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) when English also had ''thirding'' and ''thirdendeal'',^(Etymonline) and a musical interval from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''The third degree'' (1900, American) comes from the third degree of master mason in Freemasonry (1772).^(Barnhart 1988) The ''third rail'' is from 1890,^(Etymonline) and the ''Third World'' (1963) translates French ''tiers monde''.^(Barnhart 1988) In the 20th century ''third'' often suggested an alternative to a two-sided choice, as in ''third way''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – Old English ''þridda'' (Cynewulf).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 950 – Northumbrian ''þirdda''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1175 – ''therdde''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – noun, a third part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – a musical interval, and ''thirdly''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1890 – ''third rail''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1900 – ''the third degree''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1963 – ''Third World''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Coming next after the second in order.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Being one of three equal parts.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The one next after the second.^(AHD)

+ # One of three equal parts.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(music)'' An [[interval]] of three degrees in a [[diatonic]] scale.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # The third [[gear]] of a vehicle.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In the third place; [[thirdly]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[thirdly]]

+ * [[thirdhand]]

+ * [[third-class]]

+ * [[third-rate]]

+ * [[third-degree]]

+ * [[third-party]]

+ * [[petty officer third class]]

+ * [[third baseman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[riding]]

+ * [[third person]]

+ * [[three]]

+ * [[thirteen]]

+ * [[thirty]]

+ * [[tertiary]]

+ * [[tierce]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}