tres Latin · revision 4981

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Garigliano Bowl|origins=ine-pro *tréyes}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈtreːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtrɛs]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''trēs''' (neuter tria); third-declension two-termination numeral, plural only^(Wiktionary)

+ The accusative masculine and feminine is also ''trīs''; the Garigliano Bowl has the old ablative ''trifos''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*trejes|t=three]], [[inh|ine-pro|*tréyes|t=three]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[osc|trís|t=three]], Umbrian [[m|xum|trif|t=three]], [[sa|त्रयस्|tr=tráyas|t=three]], [[grc|τρεῖς|tr=treîs|t=three]], [[cu|триѥ|tr=trije|t=three]] and [[en|three]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The old Latin Garigliano Bowl has the ablative ''trifos'', and it is in the Twelve Tables.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was the number three, as Plautus' two or three minae and Cicero's three books on the nature of the gods.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) It was also a typically small number, as in Terence's “you won't exchange three words today”.^(OLD 2012) The ''trēsvirī'' were the triumvirs in charge of the prisons and police.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Its derivatives include ''tertius'' “third”, ''ter'' “thrice” and ''ternī'' “three each”.^(de Vaan 2008) Through Old French ''treis'' its neuter ''tria'' gave English ''trey'', the three at cards or dice.^(Etymonline) It survives as [[it|tre]], [[fr|trois]] and [[ro|trei]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of three minae.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a small number.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''trey'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Numeral===

+ # [[m|en|Three]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A few, a small number.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tribus]]

+ * [[en|three]]

+ * [[en|trey]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore names Hebrew, Greek and Latin as the three sacred languages.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}