trichotomy

[ trih-kot-uh-mee ]
See synonyms for: trichotomytrichotomictrichotomous on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural tri·chot·o·mies.
  1. division into three parts, classes, categories, etc.

  2. an instance of such a division, as in thought, structure, or object.

  1. the three-part division of human beings into body, spirit, and soul.

Origin of trichotomy

1
1600–10; <New Latin trichotomia<Greek trích(a) in three parts + New Latin -tomia-tomy

Other words from trichotomy

  • trich·o·tom·ic [trik-uh-tom-ik], /ˌtrɪk əˈtɒm ɪk/, tri·chot·o·mous, adjective
  • tri·chot·o·mous·ly, adverb

Words Nearby trichotomy

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British Dictionary definitions for trichotomy

trichotomy

/ (traɪˈkɒtəmɪ) /


nounplural -mies
  1. division into three categories

  2. theol the division of man into body, spirit, and soul

Origin of trichotomy

1
C17: probably from New Latin trichotomia, from Greek trikhotomein to divide into three, from trikha triple + temnein to cut

Derived forms of trichotomy

  • trichotomic (ˌtrɪkəˈtɒmɪk) or trichotomous, adjective
  • trichotomously, adverb

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