triliteral

[ trahy-lit-er-uhl ]

adjective

1. using or consisting of three letters.
2. (of Semitic roots) consisting of three consonants.

noun

1. a triliteral word or root.

triliteral

/ traɪˈlɪtərəl /

adjective

1. having three letters
2. (of a word root in Semitic languages) consisting of three consonants

noun

1. a word root of three consonants

Word History and Origins

Origin of triliteral¹

First recorded in 1745–55; tri- + literal

Example Sentences

Triliteral, trī-lit′ėr-al, adj. consisting of three letters.

From Project Gutenberg

We can recognise any Semitic dialect by the triliteral character of its roots.

From Project Gutenberg

Words like pity might be made triliteral (triconsonantal) by doubling the tt; words like pitted, by ejecting it.

From Project Gutenberg

Triliteral and Multiliteral Propositions (such as “All abc are de”).

From Project Gutenberg

As Egyptian roots seldom exceeded three letters, there was no need for triliteral phonograms to spell them.

From Project Gutenberg