threefoldadj.adv.n.
/ˈθriːfəʊld/, /ˌθriːˈfəʊld/, U.S. /ˈθriˌfoʊld/ A. adj.
1. Consisting of three combined in one, or one thrice repeated; comprising three kinds, parts, divisions, or branches; triple.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > condition of being threefold > [adjective]
thrilec725
threefoldc1000
treblec1374
trinec1386
thrinfalda1400
tripartitec1420
triparted1429
ternaryc1430
trinary1474
triplicate?a1475
trivial?a1475
triplage1526
threefolded1528
triple1552
treblefold1561
trifold1578
trinal1590
tripart1592
ternal1599
triplexa1616
tergeminous1656
ternarious1656
triplasian1678
triplet1697
ternarian1732
triangular1812
Trinitarian1812
triplasic1864
three-body1936
triplexed1974
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 606 Nis se Ælmihtiga God na ðryfeald, ac is Ðrynnys.
c1200 Twelfth Cent. Hom. 136 Crist arerde þreo men of deaþe to life, & þa þreo tacnoden þene ðreofealde deaþ þare sunfule sawle.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 65 God bad us turnen to him, and þat us bihoueð to don on þrefold wise.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 25943 And for we sin on maners thre, Vr scrift aght thrifald for to be.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Mending of Life 107 Þis is þe threfold rope þat vnnethis may be brokyn.
a1600 in J. G. Dalyell Scotish Poems 16th Cent. (1801) II. 192 His popish pride, and threefald crowne.
c1709 M. Prior 1st Hymn Callimachus 66 The three-fold empire Of Heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
1793 T. Martyn Lang. Bot. sig. T6 Terna folia, three-fold leaves, in threes, or three and three.
1857 J. Toulmin Smith Parish (new ed.) 104 Highways, bridges, and military defence, constituted the three fold conditions (trinoda necessitas) always..attached to the tenure of land.
2. Three times as great or numerous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > multiplication by three > [adjective]
thrina1012
threefoldc1175
trebled?c1400
triplatec1430
triplicate?a1475
triplated1486
triple1549
tripled1583
thrice1602
triplicated1635
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14034 Twa fald oþerr þre fald mett Þa fetless alle tokenn.
1858 D. Lardner Hand-bk. Nat. Philos.: Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, & Heat (new ed.) 158 If the compressing force be increased in a threefold proportion, the volume of the air compressed will be diminished in a threefold proportion.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. v. 140 A threefold courage now Inspired him.
B. adv.
1. In a threefold manner, triply; †in threes, three together (obsolete); †in three ways (obsolete); in or into three parts (now rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > condition of being threefold > [adverb]
threefoldlya901
threefoldc1020
tripartedly1569
trebly1590
trinely1606
tripartitely1656
triply1660
c1020 Rule St. Benet (Logeman) i. 10 Þa twyfealde þreofealde oððe soðes anlepie gangende butan hyrde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 26069 Als þe sin es wroght Thre-fald, wit word, dede, and thoght.
1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. C vij b Rather it shall be calde a cros threfolde partitid flurri.
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iv. sig. L.j On the threefoldshapen dame, And on Diana's virgins faces three she doth exclame.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Brook in Maud & Other Poems 105 The chestnut, when the shell Divides threefold to show the fruit within.
2. Three times, thrice (in amount); three times or thrice as much. See also thick adv. 6.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > multiplication by three > [adverb]
treble13..
thricea1400
threefoldc1400
treblefold1532
triplefold1570
triplewise1594
triple1606
c1400 Brut 299 Ȝet were þey threfold so meny of hem as of Englisshe men.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III ii. ii. 86 Alas, you three on me threefold distrest, Poure all your teares. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. i. 107 'Tis threefold too little. View more context for this quotation
C. n.
A name for the plant buckbean ( Menyanthes trifoliata), from its threefold leaves. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > aquatic, marsh, and sea-shore plants > [noun] > buckbean
buck-bean1578
marsh clover1597
marsh trefoil1597
water trefoil1597
bog bean1785
threefold1788
water trefoil1860
bog hop1866
bog trefoil1884
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 360 Threefold, menyanthes trifoliata; bogbean; buckbean.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby
Derivatives
ˈthreeˌfolded adj. rare threefold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > condition of being threefold > [adjective]
thrilec725
threefoldc1000
treblec1374
trinec1386
thrinfalda1400
tripartitec1420
triparted1429
ternaryc1430
trinary1474
triplicate?a1475
trivial?a1475
triplage1526
threefolded1528
triple1552
treblefold1561
trifold1578
trinal1590
tripart1592
ternal1599
triplexa1616
tergeminous1656
ternarious1656
triplasian1678
triplet1697
ternarian1732
triangular1812
Trinitarian1812
triplasic1864
three-body1936
triplexed1974
1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. a vii Fye on his golden thre folded crowne.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 6 b Quintilian giueth warnyng to vse this threfolded order.
threeˈfoldedness n. = threefoldness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > condition of being threefold > [noun]
trinity?c1425
triplicity1555
triunion1650
ternariness1662
triunity1816
threeness1829
triadism1846
threesomeness1853
threefoldness1857
trinality1864
triality1872
triplenessc1881
trebleness1888
threefoldedness1905
1905 Christian Progress Feb. 22 The word Trinity means Threefoldedness.
ˈthreefoldly adv. in a threefold manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > condition of being threefold > [adverb]
threefoldlya901
threefoldc1020
tripartedly1569
trebly1590
trinely1606
tripartitely1656
triply1660
a901 Laws of Ælfred c. 39 §2 gif syxhyndum þissa hwæðer gelimpe, ðriefealdlice arise be ðære cierliscan bote.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 25939 Man he sinnes threfaldli, þat es in thoght, in word, in wark.
c1450 Mirour Saluacioun 1591 How the feend temptede crist threfaldelye.
1901 R. C. Moberly Atonem. & Personality viii. 154 The Three Persons [in the Trinity] are neither Three Gods, nor Three parts of God. Rather they are God Threefoldly.
ˈthreefoldness n. the quality or condition of being threefold.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > three > condition of being threefold > [noun]
trinity?c1425
triplicity1555
triunion1650
ternariness1662
triunity1816
threeness1829
triadism1846
threesomeness1853
threefoldness1857
trinality1864
triality1872
triplenessc1881
trebleness1888
threefoldedness1905
1857 F. W. Faber Creator & Creature ii. i. 119 The Threefoldness of Persons and the Unity of Essence.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.n.a901