Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Three?

\Three\, a. [OE. [thorn]re, [thorn]reo, [thorn]ri, AS. [thorn]r[=i], masc., [thorn]re['o], fem. and neut.; akin to OFries. thre, OS. thria, threa, D. drie, G. drei, OHG. dr[=i], Icel. [thorn]r[=i]r, Dan. & Sw. tre, Goth. [thorn]reis, Lith. trys, Ir., Gael. & W. tri, Russ. tri, L. tres, Gr. trei^s, Skr. tri. [root]301. Cf. 3d {Drilling}, {Tern}, a., {Third}, {Thirteen}, {Thirty}, {Tierce}, {Trey}, {Tri-}, {Triad}, {Trinity}, {Tripod}.] One more than two; two and one. ``I offer thee three things.'' --2 Sam. xxiv. 12. Three solemn aisles approach the shrine. --Keble. Note: Three is often joined with other words, forming compounds signifying divided into, composed of, or containing, three parts, portions, organs, or the like; as, three-branched, three-capsuled, three-celled, three-cleft, three-edged, three-foot, three-footed, three-forked, three-grained, three-headed, three-legged, three-mouthed, three-nooked, three-petaled, three-pronged, three-ribbed, three-seeded, three-stringed, three-toed, and the like.
\Three\, n. 1. The number greater by a unit than two; three units or objects. 2. A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii. {Rule of three}. (Arith.) See under {Rule}, n.