| 释义 |
threefold, a., adv. (n.)|ˈθriːfəʊld|
Forms: see three and -fold.
[OE. þrífeald, þrýfeald: = OFris. thrífald, obs. Du. drijvoud, OHG., MHG. drivalt, ON. þrífaldr: see three and -fold.]
A. adj.
1. Consisting of three combined in one, or one thrice repeated; comprising three kinds, parts, divisions, or branches; triple.
c1000ælfric Hom. II. 606 Nis se ælmihtiᵹa God na ðryfeald, ac is Ðrynnys. c1200Twelfth Cent. Hom. 136 Crist arerde þreo men of deaþe to life, & þa þreo tacnoden þene ðreofealde deaþ þare sunfule sawle. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 65 God bad us turnen to him, and þat us bihoueð to don on þrefold wise. 13..Cursor M. 25943 (Cott.) And for we sin on maners thre, Vr scrift aght thrifald for to be. 1434Misyn Mending Life i. 107 Þis is þe threfold rope þat vnnethis may be brokyn. a1600Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801) II. 192 His popish pride, and threefald crowne. c1709Prior 1st Hymn Callimachus 66 The three-fold empire Of Heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath. 1793Martyn Lang. Bot., Terna folia, three-fold leaves, in threes, or three and three. 1857Toulmin Smith Parish 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.
c1200Ormin 14034 Twafald oþerr þrefald mett Þa fetless alle tokenn. 1858Lardner Hand-bk. Nat. Phil. 158 If the compressing force be increased in a threefold proportion, the volume of the air compressed will be diminished in a threefold proportion. 1870Bryant Iliad I. v. 140 A threefold courage now Inspired him.
B. adv.
1. In a threefold manner, triply; † in threes, three together (obs.); † in three ways (obs.); in or into three parts (now rare).
c1020Rule St. Benet i. (Logeman) 10 Þa twyfealde þreofealde oððe soðes anlepie gangende butan hyrde. 13..Cursor M. 26069 (Cott.) Als þe sin es wroght Thre-fald, wit word, dede, and thoght. 1486Bk. St. Albans, Her. C vij b, Rather it shall be calde a cros threfolde partitid flurri. 1558T. Phaer æneid iv. L j, On the threefoldshapen dame, And on Diana's virgins faces three she doth exclame. 1855Tennyson Brook 73 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.
c1400Brut 299 Ȝet were þey threfold so meny of hem as of Englisshe men. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. i. i. 116 'Tis threefold too little. 1594― Rich. III, ii. ii. 86 Alas! you three, on me threefold distrest: Power all your teares.
C. n. A name for the plant buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), from its threefold leaves. dial.
1788W. Marshall Yorksh. II. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Threefold, Menyanthes trifoliata, bogbean, buckbean. 1876in Robinson Whitby Gloss.
Hence ˈthreeˌfolded a. (rare), threefold (whence threeˈfoldedness = threefoldness); ˈthreefoldly adv., in a threefold manner; ˈthreefoldness, the quality or condition of being threefold.
1528Roy Rede me, etc. (Arb.) 29 Fye on his golden *three folded crowne. 1553T. Wilson Rhet. 6 b, Quintilian giueth warnyng to vse this threfolded order.
1905Chr. Progress Feb. 22 The word Trinity means *Threefoldedness.
a901Laws of ælfred c. 39 §2 ᵹif syxhyndum þissa hwæðer ᵹelimpe, *ðriefealdlice arise be ðære cierliscan bote. 13..Cursor M. 25939 (Cott.) Man he sinnes threfaldli, Þat es in thoght, in word, in wark. c1450Mirour Saluacioun 1591 How the feend temptede crist threfaldelye. 1901R. C. Moberly Atonem. & Person. viii. 154 The Three Persons [in the Trinity] are neither Three Gods, nor Three parts of God. Rather they are God Threefoldly.
1856Faber Creator & Creature ii. i. (1886) 110 The *Threefoldness of Persons and the Unity of Essence. |