trinity
Meaning
The state of being three in one, used especially to refer to the union of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God in Christian belief.
A group of three closely related people or things.
Structure
Usage
The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is a cornerstone of Christian theology.
The film completed a successful trinity of movies that defined the franchise.
In many mythologies, a trinity of goddesses represents different aspects of life.
Etymology
The word "trinity" originates from the Old French trinité, which itself derives from the Latin trinitas, meaning "triad" or "the number three." This Latin noun is formed from the root trinus, meaning "threefold" or "triple," combined with the abstract noun suffix -itas, denoting a state or condition. The core root tri-, meaning "three," is of Proto-Indo-European origin (trei-), a fundamental numeral that gave rise to similar terms across many Indo-European languages. While its most specific and famous application is to the central Christian doctrine of the three-in-one Godhead, the term's logic—from the literal concept of "threefoldness" to the abstract state of being a united triad—allows it to be applied to any closely knit group of three.
Analysis
- tri: From Latin tri- and Greek tri-, meaning "three." It is a numerical combining form. - nity: From Latin -nitas (via Old French -ité), a suffix forming nouns indicating a state, condition, or quality. The 'n' is part of the Latin root (e.g., trinitas).