triple English · revision 6093

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1375|origins=la triplus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtrɪp.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|triple]] or directly [[bor|la|triplus|t=threefold]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|tri-|t=three]] and [[m|la|-plus|t=-fold]] (as in duplus, see [[double]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) which corresponds to [[grc|τριπλοῦς|tr=triploûs]].^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) The verb is from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|triplāre|t=to triple]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Etymonline dates the adjective, threefold, to the late 12th century;^(Etymonline) the verb is first in John Barbour's ''The Bruce'' (1375), in Scots,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and the noun, a triple sum or quantity, is from about 1425.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad dates the adjective in common use from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) A set of three, a triad, is from 1653,^(OED 1989) and triple time in music from 1597.^(OED 1989) In bell-ringing a triple is a peal on seven bells with the tenor behind (1798).^(OED 1989) The baseball sense, a three-base hit, is attested by 1880,^(Etymonline) and in horse racing the triple, a [[trifecta]], is from 1972.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) ''Triple-decker'' is from 1940 of sandwiches and wedding cakes.^(Etymonline) English also has [[treble]], an earlier borrowing of the same Latin word through Old French.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – to triple, in Barbour's ''The Bruce''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1425 – the noun, a triple amount.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1597 – triple time in music.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1653 – a set of three.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1880 – a three-base hit.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1940 – triple-decker.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made up of three parts or members; [[threefold]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Three times as great or as many.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(music)'' Having three beats to the bar.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A number or amount three times as great as another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of three; a [[triad]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(baseball)'' A three-base hit.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make or become three times as great.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tripletail]]

+ * [[tripleton]]

+ * [[triple-double]]

+ * [[triple-team]]

+ * [[triple-decker]]

+ * [[triple-header]]

+ * [[triplet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[duple]]

+ * [[treble]]

+ * [[triplicate]]

+ * [[triplex]]

+ * [[double]]

+ * [[tri-]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}