| 释义 |
triennial, a. and n.|traɪˈɛnɪəl|
Also 7 tryenniall, triennuall, 8 trienial.
[f. L. trienni-s of three years, trienni-um a space of three years (f. tri-, tri- + annus year) + -al1. Cf. prec.]
A. adj.
1. Existing or lasting for three years, three-years'; changed every three years.
Triennial Act (Eng. Hist.), an act of 1640, limiting the duration of parliament to three years; also the name given to an act of 1694, following an earlier one of Charles II, providing against any longer intermissions of parliament than three years. Cf. sense 2.
1640Jrnls. Ho. Comm. II. 83 Amendments..to the Bill of Triennial Parliaments. 1643Prynne Sov. Power of Parl. ii. 25 The Admiralls Patents (which anciently were..but annuall or Triennuall at most). c1645Howell Lett. (1650) I. 70 My friends, whom I so much long to see after this triennial separation. 1701Lond. Gaz. No. 3756/9 When⁓ever the Dissolution of this Present..Parliament shall happen, either by Virtue of the Trienial Act, or Prerogative Royal. 1807Horsley Serm. (1812) II. 316 We, in the writings of the evangelists have a complete summary of his [Christ's] triennial preaching. 1863H. Cox Instit. i. vi. 35 The Triennial Act of William III limited the duration of Parliament to three years at the furthest.
2. Recurring every three years.
1642Howell For. Trav. (Arb.) 77 If these Lights grow dim, there is a Trienniall Snuffer for them. 1663Blair Autobiog. v. (1848) 77 Primate Usher's triennial visitation. 1782T. Warton Hist. Kiddington 8 To the bishop for Procurations, on account of his triennial visitation. 1821Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) II. vi. 140 We have been very gay..with our triennial theatricals. 1872Yeats Growth Comm. 182 There was a triennial change of officers.
B. n.
1. A period of three years; a triennium.
1661Sir H. Vane's Politics 13 During our Principality, which breathed out many Triennials. 1892Min. Nat. Counc. Congr. Ch. (U.S.) 143 No other triennial in the history of the society has a tithe of the work in the way of..printed appeals.
2. An event recurring every three years; spec. the visitation of his diocese by a bishop every three years.
1640Archdeaconry of Essex Minutes 29 July (MS.) We were this day inhibited for the Bp's. of London's tryenniall, by Gilson. 1724Bp. Downes in Nicolson's Epist. Corr. 576 The expence of the Triennial may leave your pocket empty.
Hence trienniˈality [cf. F. triennalité], the condition of being triennial.
1806W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. IV. 240 The parliament..produced fewer great men during its trienniality, than since the prolongation. 1817Bentham Parl. Reform Introd. (1818) 283 Moderate reform insists at stopping at the stage indicated by the word trienniality. |